Every year I show off group Halloween costumes on KTLA Los Angeles and every year we do one DIY group costume. This year I decided I wanted a DIY mermaid costume that we made with the new Cricut Explore Air 2. We ended up with three costumes in varying colors and every girl was so excited to wear the costume. It shows in their faces in the photos. And the bonus – it’s not hard to make the costumes.
DIY Mermaid Costume
DIY guru, Kelle Meschede shared her instructions for creating a DIY mermaid costume with the new Cricut Explore Air 2. The Cricut Explore Air 2 is two times faster than the previous Explore, it cuts over 100 different materials plus it will draw for you too. You can choose from over 60,000 images or 3,000 ready-to-make projects.
1. Measure girl’s body from waist to floor, and mark that length on a piece of plain felt.
2. Measure girl’s waist. Slice number in half and add two inches. Mark on the felt. That is the width of the top of the tail.
3. With chalk, draw mermaid tail shape and cut out with scissors.
4. Lay the “fin” on a piece of Glitter Cricut Iron On. Trace the fin with a sharpie and cut out with scissors.
5. Follow Cricut Iron on instructions and adhere glitter fin to the front of the tail.
6. I used glitter tulle that comes in a roll. 6in wide. Fold in half and stitch to the top of tail. Make sure ends are long enough to tie in a not around girl.
7. Use Cricut to cut scales out of THIN GLITTER CARDSTOCK!!! Thick cardstock will be too hard to adhere, and your tail will be less bendy. (I only found thin glitter cardstock sold in packs, not individually.)
8. Use E6000 on the top of each scale, leaving the bottom free to curl.
9. Cut scales with scissors on the ends to match up with felt ends, and curl ends of scales with finger or pencil to give it more texture.
10. When you get to the curve of the tail keep the pattern going but let the stripes angle like a candy cane.
11. Use a safety pin and fishing wire, or silver ribbon to attach the fin to girls wrist.
Here’s Charley wearing it on KTLA Los Angeles.
We added pink and purple color to her hair with easy to use Splat Hair Chalk.
Style Expert Alison Deyette is a TV + digital host and Los Angeles stylist known best for her dynamic personality and her sharp sense of style. She has worked extensively for national news and entertainment programs, magazines and online media outlets. Known as “The Fixer,” she can help you solve your fashion conundrums, take the reins of a home decorating transformation, share the latest beauty must have product or hand you the hottest trend without breaking a sweat.