3. The Two-fer: Deadmau5 and Skrillex In One
This is probably the most difficult one of all the tutorials, but arguably the most impressive. This two-in-one costume is designed to morph from one to the next with ease.
Two-fer #1: Deadmau5
Deadmau5 photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage
Known for his giant grinning mouse helmet, the headpiece has gone through a number of redesigns, adding lights, screens and multiple colors. His most common one is black, but I chose red because it would stand out more in the night at a party. You can chose whatever color you want.
What you need:
- A round paper lantern. Almost any party supply store will have these in multiple colors. I found mine at a specialty craft store in Los Angeles, but Party City also carries them. But before you buy one, make sure it's much bigger than your head! I chose a 14'' lantern, but would go for 12'' next time since it flattened a bit because it was too big. (Moskatels, $3.00)
- Scrap cardboard. Make sure you use corrugated cardboard for the ears, not poster board or anything flimsy. Otherwise the ears will flop over. Learn from my mistakes! (Use old moving boxes, dumpster dive, etc.)- Paper for the mouth. Flimsy is fine since it will have to bend a bit around the lantern. (Empty cereal boxes, scrap paper)
- Wire cutters
- Paint that matches your lantern and black paint (Michaels, $2.50)
- T-pins, or straight pins you use for sewing (Office Max, $3.50)
- Black electrician's tape and clear packing tape (Hardware store and Staples, $6.00)
- Styrofoam ball, cut in half (Jo-Ann fabrics, $4.00 for pack of 2)
- Black t-shirt
- Chain wallet or fake it with a thick necklace
- Big, dj-looking headphones
- Whatever dark pants and sneakers you like
How to make:
Step 1: Cut the corrugated cardboard into large ear shapes. Cut the poster board into a big freaky smile. Be sure to measure the pieces next to the unfolded paper lantern to see if they look right.
Step 2: Paint the ears red, or whatever color that matches the lantern. Paint the mouth black (or leave white. Deadmau5's red helmet actually has a white smile, oops). Let them dry.
Step 3: You'll see that in order for the lantern to stay open, there is a metal piece that props it open from the inside. Toss it out, your head is the new metal thing. While open, use the wire cutters to cut open the bottom ring on the lantern and cut a slit up the lantern to make a larger opening. Cut only as much as you need to squeeze your head in. There will be sharp wires poking out now, so cover the tips with tape to both re-enforce the opening and prevent wires from scratching you up.
Step 4: With the ears and mouth dry, you'll tape them on using a clear packing tape. Cut a few notches in the bottom edge of the ears and fold them back to help prop the ears up. Tape the crap out of them so they stand up. If it looks terrible, you can paint over the tape to match. But this is last minute, so who cares?
Step 5: Using the black electrician's tape, make crosses on the Styrofoam ball halves. Tape them with a loop of tape so it's hidden, then reinforce them buy sticking a few t-pins in through the back from inside the lantern.
Step 6: Get x-ray vision, because I don't know how you're supposed to see out of your awesome new helmet. Or you can carefully poke holes in the lantern wherever your eyes line up.
Step 7: Put on your black t-shirt, wallet chain and big headphones. Top it off with your impressive DIY Deadmau5 helmet!
Crank it up: Buy glow stick necklaces and tape them around the edges of your ears. To really get crazy, get a flashing LED light keychain/photon and tape it to the inside of your helmet so it glows. Who needs drugs when there's a party in your face? (Besides prescription epilepsy drugs.)
Time to create: 59 min, including consultation from event designer and fellow DIY connoisseur Mr. Caballero.
Cost: $19.00
Things to keep in your back pocket for your costume change:
- Large, black-framed sunglasses with the lenses popped out (Gas station, drug store etc., $6.00)
- Any kind of long necklace
- Bobby pins
- Piece of paper that matches your skin tone, cut to fit the side of your head. I used makeup foundation to color it. Or if you have short hair, make some crappy fake hair by cutting long fringes from an old black t-shirt. I'm not kidding. This is DIY, people.
- Scotch tape
- Cut-out paper circles for fake plug earrings
Two-fer #2: Skrillex
I'm not gonna lie, while that helmet may look incredibly cool, it is pretty terrible after a minute. Just taking the photos was long enough for me, but I'm pretty claustrophobic. For the average person, he or she will eventually tire of bumping into people, lacking oxygen and drinking through a straw fed through the bottom of the lantern. So toss the helmet, give it to a cute boy/girl, set it on fire, what have you. It was cheap to make, so nothing lost. But you still want to stay in costume, so here's the easy transition to fellow dj, Skrillex!
How to make:
Step 1: Excuse yourself to the car, bathroom, anywhere with a mirror. Lose the helmet.
Step 2: Tape the paper circles to your ear lobes.
Step 3: Part your hair to one side, bobby pin the piece of flesh-colored paper to your head, or bobby pin/tape the fabric fringe to your head on the side.
Step 4: Put on glasses and necklace. Look dismayed.
And you're done! A completely new costume in minutes.
Crank it up: Bring along a cardboard Grammy with the words "WHY?" scrawled across it.
Cost: $6.00 + dignity
Next: A Three-fer: Lionel, Oates and Bruce!