DIY Rain Cloud and Rainbow Costume: Easy 30-Min Build

DIY rain cloud and rainbow costume built from gray t-shirt or sweatshirt, white cotton balls or polyester stuffing, and blue paper raindrops

AI-generated concept photo

Pictured: the rain cloud and rainbow looks.

Time30 minEffortEasy

⏱️ We timed it, but results may vary.

Plan this costume →No signup · 2 minutes.

One wears gray with cotton clouds and paper raindrops; the other wears rainbow stripes. The weather, together. Thirty minutes, easy: a gray t-shirt or sweatshirt, white cotton balls, and blue paper raindrops. The raindrops should hang from strings, not lie flat.

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Still need:

Gray t-shirtStuffing / cotton ballsBlue paperString / yarn / ribbon +1Glue (any kind)Rainbow-striped shirt

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Tip: hang the raindrops at staggered lengths, not all even.

Materials

Gray t-shirt or sweatshirt, 1 (buy: thrift store, or own: from closet)
White cotton balls or polyester stuffing, 1 bag (buy: dollar store or craft store)
Blue paper raindrops, about 15 (own: cut from blue construction paper)
String, 1 spool, and tape, 1 roll (own: household tools)
Fabric glue, 1 tube (buy: craft store)
Rainbow-striped shirt, 1, or a white shirt, 1, plus rainbow fabric markers, 1 set (buy: thrift store or craft store)
Blue non-toxic face paint for one rain streak, 1 tube (buy: drugstore, optional)

Steps

Arrange the cotton balls on the shirt dry first.
Step back and check.
Plan for full coverage, no gray showing in the middle.
Glue the cotton balls in clumps across the gray t-shirt.
Tape blue paper raindrops to short pieces of string.
Hang the strings from the bottom edge of the t-shirt.
The rainbow person: wear the rainbow-striped shirt.
Or draw rainbow arcs across a white shirt with the markers.
Stand side by side: cloud arms out wide, rainbow peeking out behind.
Add one blue rain streak on a cheek if you like.
Optional pro finish: hang the raindrops at staggered lengths, not all even.

Start this costume in the planner

Common questions

How many cotton balls for a full cloud shirt?

Most of a dollar-store bag, plan on 40 to 60 for an adult shirt, 25 to 35 for a kid. Skimpy clouds show gray through the middle and read as lint, not weather.

How do the raindrops stay hanging?

Fix each blue paper raindrop to a short piece of string with tape, then tape the strings along the bottom edge of the shirt. Short strings, about 4 inches, tangle less than long ones.