Easy Bumble Bee Halloween Costume

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye: Golden Yellow
• Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative
• White and Black Striped Dress
• Container for Dyeing
• Measuring Cup
• Salt
• Liquid Dish Detergent
• Rubber Gloves
• Paper Towels
• Plastic Table Cover
• If Creating Wings Yourself:
• Poster Board
• Craft Wire
• Acrylic Paint
• Jersey Knit Fabric
• Tissue Paper: Pink, Yellow + Green
• Chicken Wire
• Masking Tape
• Hot Glue Gun/Glue Gun Sticks

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills. Gather supplies.
2. For best results, prewash dress to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption. Leave damp.
3. Wearing rubber gloves, fill a large container or stainless-steel sink with 3 gallons of very hot water. The water should ideally be 140F. If tap water is not hot enough, heat water on the stove and add to the dyebath.
4. Add 1/2 cup of well-shaken Golden Lemon dye into dyebath.
5. To enhance the color, add one cup of salt. Add 1 teaspoon of liquid dish detergent to help promote level dyeing. Stir well.
6. Test color by dipping a paper towel into the dyebath. If color is too light, add more dye; if color is too dark, add more water.
7. Immerse dress in dyebath. Stir slowly and continuously. The first 10 minutes are the most critical. Stirring helps to ensure an even color with no splotches.
8. The dress can remain in the dyebath from 10 minutes up to one hour. When desired color is achieved, remove from dyebath. The dyed dress will appear darker when wet and will dry lighter. Squeeze out excess dye.
9. We recommend using Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative immediately after dyeing and before washing to enhance color, increase color retention and prevent dye from bleeding. Follow package instructions.
10. Rinse in cool water until the water runs clear.
11. Wash in warm water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.
12. Once dry, wings and an oversized flower were added to the costume. If you want to make your own, follow these steps:

1. Draw a wing template on poster board.
2. Take craft wire and bend it into the same shape and size as the template.
3. Cut out white jersey knit fabric slightly larger than the template.
4. Sew the jersey knit fabric around the wire.
5. Add black felt tape around the edges of the wings.
6. Draw a template for the wing detail.
7. Paint the wing detail on with acrylic paint.
8. Sew the wings together and add elastic to make the wings wearable.

1. Petal: Cut out small, medium and large petal shapes from tissue paper.
2. Bunch together the small petals and tape base together tightly.
3. Using medium size petals, wrap around the base. Repeat with large petals.
4. Crumble up the yellow tissue paper and adhere to center of flower.

1. The stem is made of chicken wire, wrapped in masking tape with green tissue paper applied with craft glue.