Want to dress yourself or your little one up as G.I. Joe this Halloween? With the new movie that was just released in August, 2009, G.I. Joe is back in style, and is a great choice for a costume. This can be an easy and inexpensive look to put together. To learn more, read this guide on how to make a G.I. Joe costume.
Introduction
G.I. Joe is a simple costume to make, as all of the components can be purchased (no sewing required). Even the face paint can be as basic or complicated as you please. To find cheap wardrobe options, head for the nearest Army surplus store, or try a thrift store such as Goodwill or Salvation Army. Face paints can be found at costume shops, or even drug stores.
How to Make Camouflage Face Paint
This video will show you how to make your own army camouflage face paints right at home. The makeup is made up of a base of clay and acrylic paint purchased from a craft store. It may be more expensive to use this method instead of buying a cheap face painting kit, but it can be a fun project and is great for do-it-yourselfers.
Step 1: What You Need for the G.I. Joe Costume
- A long-sleeved shirt in tan, olive or camouflage
- Camouflage pants
- Camouflage, tan or black boots
- White socks
- An Army-style canteen
- A tan or camouflage backpack
- An Army hat
- A utility belt
- Walkie talkies
- A water gun
- Face paints in camouflage colors http://www.ehow.com/how_18744_create-gi-joe.html
Step 2: Put the Costume Together
The costume itself is pretty basic. Just wear the long-sleeved shirt with pants, and finish with white socks and boots. Finish off with the hat and utility belt.
The backpack, canteen and water gun work well as accessories. If you want to go for a more authentic look, try finding various patches or medals to decorate your costume with. If you are handy with a needle and thread, you can even embroider "G.I. Joe" on the shirt.
Step 3: Paint Your Face
The makeup can be the trickiest part of the costume. If you are not so artistically inclined, you can get away with smudging some black, tan or olive face paint under your eyes and around your cheeks. If you want to go all out, however, try painting a camouflage pattern on your full face. Basically, you will want to alternate green, brown, black and white colors all over. To learn how to make your own army camouflage face paint, take a look at the featured video above.
