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Create a fun DIY glow-in-the-dark skeleton costume with your kids using a black hoodie, sweatpants, glow sticks, and tape. This simple project is perfect for lighting up Halloween!
Eek, Halloween is around the corner! If you’re looking for a last-minute DIY Halloween costume that will light up trick or treating, look no further than this glow-in-the-dark skeleton costume!
This fun and easy DIY skeleton can be done in less than half an hour, using simple items like a black hoodie and sweatpants, glow sticks, and tape. It’s a perfect last-minute costume idea that will make Halloween shine extra bright this year!
My son LOVED trying on his new costume and the lights look so cool when you dance to a little music so we highly recommend a dance party before the big night!
DIY Glow In The Dark Halloween Costume – Materials:
- Black hoodie
- Black sweatpants
- Glow sticks
- Thick double-sided tape or clear packing tape (**we originally made this with the double stick tape as shown in the video and photos, but ended up securing it with packing tape over to make it extra secure so you can skip to just using packing tape!)
Do I have to wear a black hoodie and black pants?
No! This costume works best when you’re in the dark so no one will really notice the color of your hoodie top and bottom! You don’t really need a hood unless you’re doing the head glow-in-the-dark like we did!
How to make a glow in the dark skeleton costume
Step 1: Design your skeleton
Start by laying out your black hoodie and sweatpants on a flat surface.
Activate your glow sticks by snapping and shaking them until fully lit.
Use your glow sticks to create a visual of how you want your skeleton to look. Place the sticks on top of the clothing. so you can remember where to tape them.
Be mindful of your color patterns and make sure you have enough glow sticks to get the look and colors you want!
Step 2. Tape the glow sticks
We first used strong double-stick tape but ended up placing packing tape over it. So for this step, skip straight to placing packing tape over your glow sticks where you have them laid out.
NOTE: if you are doing anything long that is connected like the hoodie, you’ll need to use the glow stick connectors that come in the package.
TIP: It may be easier to have your child get into the hoodie and pants and THEN tape the sticks so you know exactly how the skeleton will look on him or her.
How long do glow sticks last?
The ones we got last 10-14 hours, so if you create this costume a few hours before Halloween you should be good to go! Make sure to read the packaging and bring a few glow sticks to activate and tape in case some start dying while trick or treating!
Show off your glow in the dark costume!
Now your kids are ready to glow! This costume not only looks super cool in the dark but is also super comfortable to wear! Whether you’re heading out for trick-or-treating or attending a Halloween party, this glow-in-the-dark skeleton costume will be the highlight of the night.
Happy Halloween! Stay safe out there 🙂
Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.