What age group is this costume for?
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School

Estimated time required to make this costume:
15-20 Minutes - a snap for the last minute!

Difficulty level:
Quick and easy - no sewing required

Items you will need: (Hit your return key to start a new line)
1 White pillowcase
3-4 Squares black or red felt
1 foot of 1-inch wide elastic
Hot glue gun and glue
A bit of stuffing
Pencil or pen
Scissors

Instructions:
To Make a Playing Card:
This is so easy!

Cut along the MIDDLE of the SHORT seam at the end of the pillowcase, just big enough for your child's head (you can always cut some more, so start small.)

Stuff both corners of the pillowcase lightly so they stay pointy. Hot glue the stuffing a bit so it will stay put. These will be sitting on your child's shoulders, so adjust to fit.

Near the top of each long seam, cut armholes. Try it on first so you can see the pointy shoulders and where your child's arms need to come out. Mark it.

Cut two pieces of the felt into large shapes according to what playing card you pick (i.e. red felt for hearts or diamonds, black felt for spades or clubs.) Attach one of the cutouts to the front of the pillowcase, and one on the back, with the glue gun, centering them. You have a card! Reserve the last piece of felt.

Now for the headband:
Cut two 2-inch strips from the long side of the last piece of felt. Set aside. Fold the remaining piece of felt the fat way and cut in half. Cut two small pieces to match the large ones on the pillowcase (hearts, spades, etc.) Glue the edges together, but leave a small space unglued! When cool, stuff it lightly and then glue the remaining edges together. You now have a sort of small flattish pillow.

Wrap the elastic around your child's head to measure for a comfortable fit. (Fold the elastic in half, and make a mark at the middle. Then start by centering the middle of it on the child's forehead.) Not too tight! A snug fit that does not stretch the elastic is best, and won't give them a headache. Now MARK the elastic where it fits. Cut the elastic one inch extra on either side of your marks.

Lay the elastic flat on the table. From your middle mark, glue one felt strip ALMOST to the end mark. Repeat with second strip.

Place the little "pillow" in the center and securely glue it. At the ends of the elastic, overlap extra, lining up your "head measure" marks. Glue it. Finish gluing felt over the ends, cutting off any extra. Turn band inside out and finish by gluing edges over.

You are finished! Well Done!

Other information to consider:
*Make absolutely sure glue is cool to the touch before trying it on your child! Especially those stuffed corners.

*An extra piece of felt can be used to make small matching designs for each corner, if you have the time (hearts, etc.). Remember, on a real playing card it is two opposing corners per side.

*Cardboard can be used to line the inside, making the costume more stiff - Glue it! :)