The Gumball Machine Costume

The complete gumball costume
 with "Boo" candy container.

       Vintage gumball machine costumes are very popular with trick-or-treaters in the U.S. right now. The costumes are also a nice alternative theme for dress-up party for children or their dolls. 

       However, this costume craft requires the skills of an adult or much older child to accomplish it. It takes a steady hand and great caution to attach all of those pom poms with hot glue! 

Supply List:

• a large bag of pom poms
• old tee shirt for a doll
• scrap red fabric for a short skirt
• felt scraps: black, grey and an extra bit to match the tee shirt
  
• snaps: 3
• hot glue gun and hot glue
• elastic 
• 1 button that looks like a coin
• wax paper
  

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1. Use an old, unwanted doll tee shirt for the base of this costume top. Cut the back half of the tee shirt, from the center of the neck down, completely open. Use matching felt or similar color to attach additional support to the closure of the tee shirt.
2. Sew on three snaps, evenly spaced to these new felt pieces so that the shirt may be snapped shut. This alteration will make it far easier to dress the doll in this part of the costume. See photo below.
3. Before attaching the pom poms make sure to work on a sturdy surface and stuff the tee shirt with wax paper. This will prevent the inside of the tee from sticking together while layering pom poms with hot glue.
   
4. Hot glue pom poms to the front and back surfaces of the tee to represent the gumball candies. Do not put many under the arms of the tee or the doll will be unable to keep her arms down by her side!
5. Make a simple short red skirt to be the bottom half of the gumball machine. Cut to fit loosely around the doll's waist. Measure the length to come to just above the doll's knees after a hem is sewn.
6. Turn over the top 1/2 inch to create a "pocket" for the elastic to be threaded through using a safety pin. Then sew the opening shut.
7. To make the slot for the ''coin" and opening for the gumballs to drop through: cut a series of simple squares and circles from the grey and black felt. See photo just below, left.
8. I found a button that looks somewhat like a coin and attached this inside the machines coin slot.
9. Last, I attached the last pom pom to the suggested felt opening using a needle and thread.

 

Left, is the felt pieces used to mimic a coin slot and opening for the gumballs to drop down from
 the machine. Right, is the detail of how I cut open the doll tee shirt and added snaps.

Left, is a close-up shot of our doll's candy container shaped like a "BOO" ghost.
Right are all the pieces of the doll sized gumboil machine costume we used to dress the doll:
 a top, short skirt, red shoes and striped socks complete the look.

Gumball Costumes for Kids:

• Dovie shows you how to make a DIY Gumball Machine costume for a young girl...

More Gumball Crafts:

• Craft a Small Wooden Gumball Machine for a Doll
• Make a gumball ornament with the kids