Easy Halloween Costume Idea: DIY Gumball Machine Costume

***This post was originally published October 2019* *and updated as of August 2022.***

If you can wield a hot glue gun, you can make this DIY Gumball Machine Costume! This Halloween costume is legitimately cute and so comfy and easy to wear!

Easy Halloween Costume Idea: DIY Gumball Machine Costume

This adorable gumball machine costume is made out of a little bit of felt and pom poms! I have seen variations of this costume floating around on Pinterest and wanted to try it out myself to see if it was as easy of an execution as it seemed, and GUYS, this one wins!

This costume requires no sewing and zero special skills, so, if you can wield a hot glue gun you can make a tiny person into an adorable gumball machine. This costume is legitimately cute and so comfy and easy to wear. Let’s make it!

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Supplies needed to make your own DIY Gumball Machine Costume

Plain T-Shirt
1 inch Pom Poms
12″ x 18″ Red Felt Sheet (you can find these precut at most craft stores!)
Red Ribbon (I used ribbon that was about 2 inches wide)
Plain Headband
Silver Heat Transfer Vinyl
Black Heat Transfer Vinyl
Hot Glue Gun + Sticks
Craft Cutter or Scissors
Iron
Cardboard Piece

How do you make a gumball machine costume?

Step 1: Cut a piece of cardboard to the size of the shirt (this can just be from an old Amazon box) and slide it inside the shirt to prevent the hot glue seeping through the shirt and gluing it shut.

Step 2: Using a hot glue gun, attach the pom poms to the shirt in a dense cluster. You can cover the entire shirt or just a portion, as desired. I covered about 3/4 of the shirt and put the top of the poms in a curved shape to mimic the shape of a gumball machine.

Step 3: Attach the pom poms to a headband (using hot glue) in a dense cluster.

Step 4: Cut the ribbon to the desired length. Length will depend on the size of the person’s waist wearing the costume and how excess you would like to have after tying it.

Step 5: Lay the felt sheet piece down, horizontally. Next, using a hot glue, attach middle of the length of ribbon to the top, horizontal edge of the felt sheet to create the apron.

Step 6: Using scissors or a craft cutter, cut out the heat transfer vinyl. I cut the silver vinyl in a rectangle shape, and used black to make the turning handle, the 25 cents sign and the slot where the gumball comes out.

Step 7: Attach the heat transfer vinyl pieces to the apron with a hot, dry iron, according to HTV brand package directions. Attach the silver pieces first, followed by the black pieces.