3 ways to make a ninja turtle costume

Our green friends were cool 20 years ago and still are today, possibly even more. If you need a costume for Halloween, a themed party, or an outfit for Sunday's family meal, here are the steps to get you started.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Turtle Skin

Step 1. Gather your supplies

The top area should be your focus. For your legs, put on some green sweatpants (ideally match your shirt). The pants will hardly have any changes, but you do have to twist the shirt. You will need the following:

• Green t-shirt or sweatshirt

  

• Yellow and brown textile paint

  

• Disposable plates

  

• Sponge brush

  

• Paperboard

  

Step 2. Insert the cardboard inside the shirt

This will separate the sides without the paint penetrating one another. If you don't have cardboard, use another material that you can paint on.

• Spread the shirt and smooth out the wrinkles. The cardboard should be slightly smaller than the width of the extended shirt.
• If you're wearing a t-shirt, consider wearing a sweatshirt under the same color as the turtle.

Step 3. Paint a large yellow rectangle in the center of the shirt

For design ideas or a template, look online. See the performances of the Turtles and their uniforms by other artists. The yellow will be the bottom of the shell. Do it according to your body size.

It is easier to use disposable plates as a color palette. You just have to throw them away without worrying about the mess

Step 4. Paint the brown lines of the shell over the yellow rectangle

As so many variations have been created over time, it is impossible to say with 100% certainty what the shell should look like. But a basic design is almost always made up of a brown line just inside the edges of the rectangle and lines separating the block into 6 squares, with a line down the center.

If you want to give your turtle a strong appearance, try to make the rectangles look like abdominal muscles. Sketch your shell while the shirt dries

Method 2 of 3: The Shell

Step 1. Make a space to organize your materials

This part is a bit ambitious and messy, so take everything off the table, put some newspaper, find something to drink, and sit down to work. You will need the following:

• Disposable aluminum turkey mold

  

• Lots of newspaper (in addition to the one you already have covering the table).

  

• Materials for papier-mâché: bowl, water, white glue, or flour

  

• Pair of scissors

  

• Dark green and brown paint (or duct tape)

  

• Drill (or something you can use to pierce the aluminum mold)

  

• Wide brown ribbon

  

Step 2. Fold your aluminum mold into a shell shape

Basically, take the sides and push them out a bit and round the inside edges as well. Take advantage and make the whole shell is rounded. Everything needs circular shape.

Step 3. Cover the mold with papier-mâché

Using 2 parts glue or 1 part flour, create a paste with the water and cut strips of newspaper to 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide. The length does not matter much.

• Completely cover the outside of your shell. Go in all directions, creating layers of the same thickness on the mold. If you want to add textures by accumulating strips in different places, you can do that too, but the shape of the mold should already be quite similar to that of a shell before you begin.
• Let it dry for 2 hours.

Step 4. Draw the turtle shell design on your mold

If it makes it easier for you, paint everything white first. Find a hexagonal template on the internet and size it up. The shells bear a resemblance to a soccer ball, but the final decision on how you want your shell to look is yours. Horizontal lines will look good too.

Then you will paint or glue things on it, so it does not matter if the lines are dark, because they will be covered

Step 5. Paint the shell or cover it with duct tape

Use green duct tape and brown paint, or vice versa, for a more textured look. Paint is easier to use, but duct tape will give it a sturdier and firmer appearance.

If you painted, it may take several layers. Be patient. Let it dry well after you finish

Step 6. Drill 2 holes in the top and bottom of your mold

There are 4 holes in total. You will have to use strips to get through the holes, so place them as if they were the strips of a backpack.

It's easier with a drill, but anything that pierces the material will work as well. Even if you don't use a drill, make the hole the size of one made by a drill

Step 7. Thread the ribbon through the top hole

Don't cut it yet, because you don't know how much you will need. Put the mold on your back. When you've threaded the ribbon into the top hole, pass it over your shoulder and then through the bottom hole. Leave 3-4 inches (10 cm) to tie the knots and cut them. Then, take the same length from that strip and cut an identical size for the other side.

Tie the top and bottom knots. It is best if you have it on your back while you do it. Find a friend to tie your knots

Method 3 of 3: The Finishing Touches

Step 1. Gather your headband and strap supplies

A good ninja turtle is composed of the details, otherwise you would be a simple turtle. You will need the following:

• Wide brown ribbon

  

• Cardboard in circular shape

  

• White paper

  

• Markers with the color of your turtle.

  

• Wide ribbon the color of your turtle

  

Step 2. Wrap the ribbon around your waist

Cut it so that it looks like a loose belt.

Step 3. Cut small circles out of white paper and cardboard of the same size

They only need to be 3 inches in diameter. Draw the letter of your turtle on the white paper (of the appropriate color) and glue it on the cardboard.

Step 4. Glue the circle to the belt

With duct tape it is easier, although with glue or staples it also works. If you don't want your belt to have a knot, use the circle to join the ends.

The letter should go front and center. Make sure the belt is tight enough so that it cannot rotate too much

Step 5. Cut the length of the ribbon for your head, arms and legs

Turtles can be identified by the color of the bandages and strips on the arms and legs. Put the bandage on your forehead; you throw them on your arms, on your biceps; and those from the legs to the calf.

If your tape is wide enough, you can cut holes for the eyes and use it as a mask

Step 6. Put a mask around your eyes

We repeat: make it the color of your turtle. It's a simple solution to avoid getting too upset with the mask, which will obstruct your field of vision.

Paint lines up to the eyebrows, just below the eye, a narrow bridge over the nose, and up to the ears. The ninja turtle masks weren't very wide

Step 7. Put on the costume

Now will be the time to remove the pillow or stuffed toy, unless you already have the body of a bodybuilder. Fill in your chest, your biceps and your thighs. Give it the shape you like the most.

Stuffing the costume is not really necessary, but it will make your costume stand out even more

Advice

• Let each piece dry properly.
• Buy cheap toy guns and put them on your belt.
• In addition to ribbons, cut pantyhose work like straps.