DIY Sun and Moon Costume: 40-Min Cardboard Build

DIY sun and moon costume built from yellow shirt and pants, navy or black shirt and pants, and yellow cardstock

AI-generated concept photo

Pictured: the sun and the moon.

Time40 minEffortEasy

⏱️ We timed it, but results may vary.

Plan this costume →No signup · 2 minutes.

One in yellow with cardboard rays, one in navy with paper stars and a crescent. The sky, together. Forty minutes, easy: a yellow shirt and pants for the Sun, navy or black for the Moon, and yellow cardstock. The rays should be different lengths; uniform rays look like a starfish.

2 of 6 things covered, counting basics we assume you have.

Tap a supply to tick what you own.

Still need:

Yellow shirt and pants for the SunYellow paperGray paperWhite paper +1

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Tip: glue the rays in pairs back to back so they are stiff, and edge the crescent with silver marker.

Materials

Yellow shirt and pants for the Sun, 1 set (own: from closet)
Navy or black shirt and pants for the Moon, 1 set (own: from closet)
Yellow cardstock, 2 sheets (buy: craft store; construction paper works too)
Silver star stickers, 1 sheet (buy: craft store; cut paper stars work too)
White and yellow paper, 1 sheet each, for the crescent (own: from home)
Tape, 1 roll, and scissors, 1 pair (own: from home)

Steps

One person dresses head to toe in yellow.
The other in navy or black.
Buy the yellow cardstock and the silver star stickers.
Safety: Cut the cardstock slowly and keep fingers clear of the scissors.
Cut one ray first.
Tape it to the neckline to test the length.
Cut the other nine rays after the test.
Make the sun rays: cut 10 long triangles from the yellow cardstock.
Tape them around the neckline and sleeves, pointing out.
Cut a large crescent from the white paper.
Tape it to the chest of the navy shirt.
Scatter the silver star stickers across the shirt and arms.
The Sun spreads arms wide.
The Moon holds one hand near the crescent.
Optional pro finish: glue the rays in pairs back to back so they are stiff, and edge the crescent with silver marker.

Start this costume in the planner

Common questions

How do you keep the sun rays from flopping over?

Tape each ray in pairs back to back so the cardstock is double thick, and tape a full inch of the ray base flat to the shirt. Short wide triangles flop less than long skinny ones.

Will the tape damage the shirts?

Masking tape or painter's tape peels off clean. Packing tape holds better but can pull at fabric, so stick with the gentler tapes on clothes you want to keep.