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This gas pump Halloween costume pretty much sums up the inflation we’ve all been feeling in 2022! Regardless of what year it is, this is a super fun recycled costume you can make with kids with minimal materials like a cardboard box.
We love DIY Halloween costumes and every year try to think of one that is iconic of the year, like last year’s viral Pop It Costume or the Fidget costume from when fidget spinners were around. We love making Halloween costumes out of boxes like this cardboard Dinosaur costume.
This year, inflation has pretty much affected every household globally and rising, historic gas prices have been a huge symbolic indicator of this economic trend. Most households have suffered from increased gas prices and so this year we decided to make a gas pump costume.
I know economic distress is nothing to joke about but my little one is obsessed with cars and vehicles and loves going to the gas station whether to watch me pump gas or to go through the car wash! So regardless of how relatable this is to the inflation we’ve experienced this year, if your kids love gas stations, this gas pump costume is for them!
How do you make a gas pump costume?
This one is SO simple trust me! I created it in about an hour’s time. It’s a great way to recycle a cardboard box and comes together super easy with our gas pump printables. We give you the printed price one as shown and a blank template so you can write down your own local prices and gallons!
Get the gas pump printables!
You’ll print the templates and glue them onto foam or construction paper (whatever you have lying around). Then take a box that fits your child’s body and cut out two arm holes. Use elastic bands to support your child inside.
Glue all the signage on to the front.
We happened to have some black tubing in our garage but this is cheaply found in any home improvement store.
We really wanted to complete the gas pump costume so splurged on this real gas nozzle! we Duct taped it to to our hose and just inserted the hose through one of the arm holes.
Note the nozzle is a bit heavy so we wouldn’t recommend it for kids who can’t hold something heavy like that.
An easy alternative is to simply create a nozzle out of cardboard, cut it into a nozzle shape. Use paint markers, paint or markers to color it in and glue it to your hose! Easy peasy 🙂
Gas Pump Costume – Materials:
- Rectangle cardboard box (we used a 12″ x 18″ box as shown here, my son is almost 5 years old and 36″ tall)
- White elastic band
- Blue foam or blue construction paper
- Black plastic tubing
- Gas nozzle
- Gas pump printables
- Stick glue
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors or craft knife
- Strong tape like Duct tape
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Fold your box by taping it into a rectangle and cut open the top and bottom.
- Cut out two arm holes
- Print the gas pump printables
- Cut a piece of blue construction paper or blue foam paper and glue onto the front of your box.
- Cut out the gas pump printables and glue onto the blue foam or paper.
- Cut two pieces of white elastic and hot glue to the top of the box to secure your child when they are in the box. Use a clothespin if needed to hold the two pieces together in the back – we like doing this to make sure the box won’t keep falling down e.g. having the elastic straps slip down the shoulders.
- Take your black tubing and cut slits on one opening so it becomes smaller in diameter. Tape those slits together and then push that into the gas nozzle.
- Slip the other end of the hose through one of the arm holes and have your child hold the gas nozzle. ***NOTE: using a real gaz nozzle is heavy for little kids to carry so keep that in mind during trick or treating. Use it as a prop but be prepared to carry it for them during trick or treating unless they are older and stronger. Alternatively, make a gas nozzle out of cardboard, and use paint or markers to color it in.
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Get the gas pump printables!
Gas Pump Costume: The Best Inflation Costume for Halloween 2022
Materials
- Rectangle cardboard box (we used a 12" x 18" box as shown here, my son is almost 5 years old and 36" tall)
- White elastic band
- Blue foam or blue construction paper
- Black plastic tubing
- Gas nozzle
- Gas pump printables
- Stick glue
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors or craft knife
- Strong tape like Duct tape
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.