• Home
  • About
    • About Crafts by Amanda
    • Visit Our Recipe Site
  • Work With Us
  • Join
    • Free Newsletters
    • Join our Facebook craft group
↑
  • Tutorials
    • Tutorial Index
    • Adult Crafts
    • Crafts for Kids
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Recycled Crafts
    • Seasonal Crafts
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Free Printables
    • Craft Collections
  • Adult Crafts
    • Bath & Body
    • Beach Crafts
    • Clay Pot Crafts
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Decoupage Crafts for Adults
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Garden Crafts
    • Home Decor Projects
    • Kitchen Crafts
    • Light Bulb Crafts
    • Luminary Crafts
    • Mason Jar Crafts
    • Needlework
    • Photo Display Ideas
    • Recycled Crafts for Adults
    • Wearable Crafts for Adults
  • Crafts for Kids
    • Animal Crafts for Kids
    • Back to School Crafts
    • Beach Crafts for Kids
    • Camp Crafts
    • Cardboard Tube Crafts for Kids
    • Decoupage Crafts for Kids
    • Easy Crafts for Kids
    • Nature Crafts for Kids
    • Other Kid’s Crafts
    • Paper Plate Crafts for Kids
    • Recycled Crafts for Kids
    • Slimes, Doughs, & Clay
    • Wearable Crafts for Kids
  • Holiday Crafts
    • 4th of July Crafts
    • Christmas Crafts
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Earth Day Crafts
    • Easter Crafts
    • Father’s Day Crafts
    • Halloween Crafts
    • Memorial Day Crafts
    • Mother’s Day Crafts
    • New Year’s
    • Other Holidays
    • Patriot Day Crafts
    • St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
    • Thanksgiving Crafts
    • Valentine’s Day Crafts
  • Seasonal Crafts
    • Winter Crafts
    • Spring Crafts
    • Summer Crafts
    • Fall Crafts
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Crafts by Amanda

crafts for adults and kid's crafts

  • Tutorials
    • Tutorial Index
    • Adult Crafts
    • Crafts for Kids
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Recycled Crafts
    • Seasonal Crafts
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Free Printables
    • Craft Collections
  • Adult Crafts
    • Bath & Body
    • Beach Crafts
    • Clay Pot Crafts
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Decoupage Crafts for Adults
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Garden Crafts
    • Home Decor Projects
    • Kitchen Crafts
    • Light Bulb Crafts
    • Luminary Crafts
    • Mason Jar Crafts
    • Needlework
    • Photo Display Ideas
    • Recycled Crafts for Adults
    • Wearable Crafts for Adults
  • Crafts for Kids
    • Animal Crafts for Kids
    • Back to School Crafts
    • Beach Crafts for Kids
    • Camp Crafts
    • Cardboard Tube Crafts for Kids
    • Decoupage Crafts for Kids
    • Easy Crafts for Kids
    • Nature Crafts for Kids
    • Other Kid’s Crafts
    • Paper Plate Crafts for Kids
    • Recycled Crafts for Kids
    • Slimes, Doughs, & Clay
    • Wearable Crafts for Kids
  • Holiday Crafts
    • 4th of July Crafts
    • Christmas Crafts
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Earth Day Crafts
    • Easter Crafts
    • Father’s Day Crafts
    • Halloween Crafts
    • Memorial Day Crafts
    • Mother’s Day Crafts
    • New Year’s
    • Other Holidays
    • Patriot Day Crafts
    • St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
    • Thanksgiving Crafts
    • Valentine’s Day Crafts
  • Seasonal Crafts
    • Winter Crafts
    • Spring Crafts
    • Summer Crafts
    • Fall Crafts
Craft Tutorials | Crafts for Kids | Recycled Crafts for Kids | Doll in a Box Costume
Recycled Crafts for Kids

Doll in a Box Costume

Author by Jennifer Tammy on October 16, 2020 Updated on October 15, 2020

5 from 5 votes
Make yourself or your little girl a doll in a box costume that's perfect for Halloween or great to use as a photo prop for a little girl's birthday party!
Jump to Project
Cute! Doll in a box costume
1525 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • Email

I order a lot of the things I need in my day-to-day life online, which means I collect plenty of boxes. So this year it only made sense to recycle some of those

  boxes and make a “Boxtume!” We decided to go with a doll in a box costume using materials we already had lying around the house. Didn’t this kids’ costume turn out adorable?

girl standing inside a pink doll box costume

My daughter is the kind of girl that wears a princess costume nearly every day, so Halloween needs to be stepped up a notch to be truly special.

I’ve been working hard on instilling a DIY mentality in my daughter. I’ll encourage her to make a homemade tiara instead of buying one or customizing plain costumes to make them ultra-unique. That’s why encouraging her to DIY her Halloween costume was exciting to her!

Why this costume works

Her idea was to be a “Doll in a Box” for Halloween. At first, I envisioned a box with cutouts for arms and legs, but after playing around with the concept a bit we created a cute costume – or “Boxtume” if you will – that is practical for parties, trick or treating, or wearing to school. This would even be fun as a photo prop!

While we used spray paint for a quicker project, kids can use acrylic or poster paint for the same effect. You may even choose to cover your box in pink wrapping paper! A grown-up should be the one to handle the box cutter, but kids can help outline where the box should be cut and can trim off the rough edges with scissors afterward.

little girl as a doll in a box

All of these materials can be purchased on Amazon – and you can use the box that they’re shipped in to make your boxtume!

Doll in a box costume collage

How to make a doll in a box costume

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this project. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!

Disassemble and lay your box flat on a surface that can be spray painted.

Spray an even coat of the pink spray paint over the box and let dry at least 2 hours. (Mine dried outside for 2 hours, then I placed it in my shed to off-gas overnight.)

cutting out a window on a pink box

Using a pencil, draw the doll box window and then cut out using the box cutter.

Trim any rough edges.

box with cut outs

Spray adhesive on the inside uncut box sides and press the wrapping paper from one edge to the other, smoothing it down carefully as it will stick immediately.

spray adhesive on box

Use your glittery duct tape to re-assemble the box.

glitter duct tape on pink box

Use a medium-sized brush to apply the pink acrylic paint to outline the box cut out.

pink painted box with wrapping paper inside

Once the pink paint is dry, write out the name of your doll in pencil and then go over with the white acrylic paint.

air drying the pink paint on the box

Let dry before wearing.

girl in a painted box as a costume

You can optionally attach handles using your duct tape or cut handles in the box but we didn’t find that necessary. Another option is to create two holes in the back, insert a belt through the holes and around your child’s waist to help hold the box up. We’ve even seen a doll in a box costume that uses this method but with a backpack so that your shoulders carry the boxtume!

My daughter was pleased as punch with her unique Halloween costume and is super excited to show her friends and classmates at their Halloween party next week.

little girl in a pink painted box

What boxtume will you be making?

More DIY Halloween Costumes

  • Shower Pouf Costume
  • Pirate Costume
  • Bullseye Costume
  • Duct Tape Skeleton Costume
  • Prisoner Costume

I love to create and share my projects with you! I know it’s hard to remember to come back and search, so I’ve made it easy for you with my weekly newsletter! You can subscribe for free and I’ll send you fun crafts every week right to your email.

Cute! Doll in a box costume
Print Project
5 from 5 votes

Doll in a Box Costume

Make yourself or your little girl a doll in a box costume that's perfect for Halloween or great to use as a photo prop for a little girl's birthday party!
Age Group: Kids Crafts
Project Type: Halloween

Supplies

  • 1 large box or multiple small boxes taped together
  • Pencil
  • Pink spray paint
  • Light pink acrylic paint
  • White acrylic paint
  • 1 paintbrushed one thin, one medium sized
  • Glitter duct tape or pink duct tape
  • Spray adhesive
  • Pretty wrapping paper

Craft tools

  • Box cutter

Instructions

  • Disassemble and lay your box flat on a surface that can be spray painted
  • Spray an even coat of the pink spray paint over the box and let dry at least 2 hours. (Mine dried outside for 2 hours, then I placed it in my shed to off-gas overnight.)
  • Using a pencil, draw the doll box window and then cut out using the box cutter.
    Trim any rough edges
  • Spray adhesive on the inside uncut box sides and press the wrapping paper from one edge to the other, smoothing it down carefully as it will stick immediately.
  • Use your duct tape to re-assemble the box.
  • Use a medium-sized brush to apply the pink acrylic paint to outline the box cut out.
  • Once the pink paint is dry, write out the name of your doll in pencil and then go over with the thin paintbrush and white acrylic paint.
  • Let dry before wearing.

Expert Tips & FAQs

You can optionally attach handles using your duct tape or cut handles in the box but we didn't find that necessary. Another option is to create two holes in the back, insert a belt through the holes and around your child's waist to help hold the box up. We've even seen a doll in a box costume that uses this method but with a backpack so that your shoulders carry the boxtume!

This post originally appeared here on Oct 17, 2017.

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Jennifer Tammy
Latest posts by Jennifer Tammy (see all)
  • Rainbow Crafts for Kids - February 14, 2023
  • 25 New Year’s Crafts - December 9, 2022
  • Doll in a Box Costume - October 16, 2020
1525 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • Email

Filed Under: Halloween Crafts, Recycled Crafts for Kids, Wearable Crafts for Kids Tagged With: box, costume, doll, girls, recycle

Reader Interactions

Free CraftsBy email every week

Latest crafts straight to your inbox!

Comments

  1. Gail says

    October 19, 2020 at 3:23 pm

    Great idea for girl or boy or even adult.

    Reply
  2. Carol Beevers says

    October 9, 2019 at 7:35 am

    It looks lovely, a great idea! For something a bit more ghoulish, also recycling a box, I remember many years ago my daughter (now 42!) and myself used a box to cover her head and shoulders, made holes in the front of the box so she could see where she was going, and we had an old shoulder cape which covered her head and shoulders, and underneath she wore a long dress. I believe we used crumpled red crepe paper in the neckline, and she carried a Styrofoam head with a wig on. It was very effective, certainly made my dad jump when this ‘headless lady’ walked past his front window!

    Reply
  3. Auntiepatch says

    October 1, 2019 at 12:26 pm

    Adorable!

    Reply
  4. SANDRA WEIDNER says

    November 12, 2017 at 8:18 pm

    How neat. My daughter’s name is Babbett. She is 49, and I am just now seeing Babbett with many different spellings around.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      November 24, 2017 at 6:04 pm

      Fun!

      Reply
  5. Jyl Pattee says

    October 25, 2017 at 1:22 pm

    This is sooooo cute! And her little face. Love that smile.

    So creative!

    Reply
  6. Sharon says

    October 24, 2017 at 8:17 am

    This is a really cute idea and the little girl is adorable! I’m just wondering how they carry their bag or pumpkin to hold the candy if they have to hold onto the box?

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      October 26, 2017 at 3:45 pm

      Hi Sharon! :) There’s a couple of suggestions in the post about attaching the box with a belt or a backpack. Hope that helps! :)

      Reply
5 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate This Project




The maximum upload file size: 640 MB. You can upload: image, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I’m Amanda and I’m the founder and head designer of Crafts by Amanda. I have spent over 25 years creating projects to share, but it’s not just me anymore! It’s turned into a complete family affair. Come and meet the Creative Team!

Free CraftsBy email every week

Latest crafts straight to your inbox!

All Time Favorites

Learn to make these adorable ladybug painted rocks. use special outdoor paint for this adorable garden craft so you can keep garden ladybugs all summer!

Ladybug Painted Rocks…

These colorful little ladybug painted rocks are the ... Go To project

snowy pinecone candle jar luminaries

Winter Luminaries: Snowy Pinecone…

Make pretty winter luminaries that appear to be covered ... Go To project

Make this wonderful deco mesh pumpkin wreath to hang on your door this fall!

Deco Mesh Pumpkin Wreath…

Adorn your door this fall with a pretty deco mesh ... Go To project

Reuse those empty prescription pill bottles in all sorts of ways. From organizing to making cookies. Yes, cookies! See how to use your empty pill bottles!

20 Uses for Prescription Pill…

You've been collecting prescription pill bottles for ... Go To project

Meet the Family

Amanda

Founder and Designer

Kristen

Editorial Manager

Lindsay

Social Media Manager

As seen on:

Footer

Favorites

  • Jar Photo Frames
  • No-Sew Roman Shade
  • Paper Flowers
  • How to Make a Scrunchie
  • Mermaid Slime

About

  • Home
  • Meet the Creative Team
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us

Images/text copyright Amanda Formaro 2020. To feature a post from Crafts by Amanda, you may use one photo credited and linked back directly to the project post.

Free CraftsBy email every week

Latest crafts straight to your inbox!

Copyright ©2025, Crafts by Amanda. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs

Rate This Tutorial

Your vote:




To share a photo with your comment click here!

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.