3 Easy DIY Disney Princess Costumes — Because You’re Officially Out of Time

DIY Ariel Halloween costume

Materials:

• 2 yards teal or green knit fabric
• 1/4-inch elastic (enough for your waist and your ankles)
• Oversized white tee
• Light purple fabric paint
• Cardboard
• Sponge brush
• Yellow purse (or stuffed Flounder)
• Red wig

Directions:

For the mermaid skirt:

Step 1

Fold 1 yard of your fabric in half with the stretch of the fabric going across the width, as shown. Cut a simple tube skirt (either using a fitted skirt you already own or your measurements as a guide).

Step 2

Fold the second yard of fabric in half with the stretch of the fabric going across the length, as shown. Cut a symmetrical half circle as big as your fabric will allow, and then cut a symmetrical circle in the middle to make it a donut shape. This will be the bottom of the skirt for the “mermaid tail.”

Step 3

Take the tube skirt and fold it in half with right sides of the fabric together and sew along the back of the skirt from top to bottom with a straight stitch, as shown.

Step 4

Measure loosely around your ankles (where the end of the tube skirt will meet the ruffle), and cut a piece of elastic in that length. Sew the ends of the elastic together to make a loop, and then stretch it to pin all the way around the opening of the skirt ruffle. Sew all the way around the skirt opening, stretching the elastic as you sew. Once you finish sewing and let go of the elastic, it will scrunch up and become a ruffle.

Step 5

Pin the ruffle on the skirt with right sides together (as shown), and sew across the elastic again, stretching as you sew.

More: Classic Wonder Woman Makeup Will Make You Feel Like a Badass on Halloween

Step 6

Fold the waistband of the skirt over and sew around it with a straight stitch. Leave a few inches open, as shown, and then insert a piece of elastic cut to your waist measurement. Once the elastic is inserted, sew the ends together, then tuck them inside the waistband and sew the waistband completely closed.

For the mermaid top:

I’m not one to let it all hang out on Halloween, so I came up with a cute and covered-up alternative for Ariel’s upper half — a fun seashell bra painted crop top!

Step 1

Cut a piece of cardboard in a seashell shape.

Step 2

Cut your cardboard up, as shown, to create lines in the seashell.

Step 3

Take a white T-shirt and cut off the bottom to your desired length. Then try the shirt on and mark with a pin where you want each seashell painted.

Step 4

Using a sponge brush, paint each piece of cardboard and then stamp each piece 1 by 1 until your seashells are painted.

Pair your seashell crop top with your mermaid skirt, and then finish the look with a red wig, red lipstick and a stuffed Flounder fish (or a bright yellow bag like I did for a little modern take on the look).

Next Up: Gorgeous DIY Disney princess Belle Halloween costume