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ADAM & BARBARA MAITLAND BEETLEJUICE COSTUME TUTORIAL

These DIY Adam & Barbara Maitland Costumes are so freaking awesome for Halloween!  Follow the detailed step-by-step tutorial to make these epic Beetlejuice costumes this year.
Active Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours
Yield: 2
Author: Heather Painchaud

Materials

  • Round helmet
  • White poster paper 24″ x 36″
  • Duct tape
  • Scissors
  • Knife
  • Air dry clay
  • 1 ″ Styrofoam balls
  • Acrylic paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Mod podge
  • Thin black fabric
  • Glove
  • Spray foam
  • Short black wig
  • Hot glue gun
  • Hot glue
  • Stapler
  • White glue
  • Craft paper or newsprint
  • Sun visor
  • Cardboard cereal box
  • Scraps of cardboard
  • Six sponges
  • Masking tape
  • Square wooden beads
  • Long brown curly wig
  • Floral dress
  • Plaid shirt
  • Tan pants

Instructions

ADAM MAITLAND COSTUME:

  • 1. Start the base of the mask using a helmet and large 24″ x 36″ sheet of poster paper.  
  • 2. Cut two elongated eyes in the poster paper.
  • 3. Wrap the poster paper in a cone shape around the helmet. Use duct tape to fix it into place.
  • 4. Tear craft paper into strips and small pieces. Use a mixture of one part white glue, two parts water to cover the mask in paper mache.
  • 5. Allow the paper mache to dry completely.
  • 6. Fill the glove with spray foam and allow it to set. Depending on the kind of foam that you use, it may take overnight.
  • 7. Cut the glove from the foam, shape the sides of the hand with a knife and glue it to the back of the helmet.
  • 8. Use the air dry clay to shape three stretch marks on either side of the mask and add an upper ridge line to the tops of the eyes.
  • 9. Paint the entire mask tan using acrylic paint.
  • 10. Carve a hole into the back of ten of the styrofoam balls.
  • 11. Paint the eyeballs using acrylic paint. Seal with mod podge.
  • 12. Make about 75 teeth using the square wooden beads and air dry clay. Paint the teeth white.
  • 13. Glue about 20 teeth to the bottom of the mask and glue the short black wig to the back of the mask.

BARBARA MAITLAND COSTUME:

  • 1. Start by cutting out two shapes from cereal boxes that are approx 12″ x 18″ with a curve at the top.2. Shape one of the pieces over the top of the sun visor and tack into place with staples or hot glue.3. Use two scraps of cardboard to create an elongated jaw along the sides of the visor and tape the second cereal box piece to the bottom.4. Glue and shape sponges to the inside top and bottom mouth pieces.5. Cover sponges with masking tape to make a smooth surface.6. Use scrap cardboard to cover the center of the mouth with a hole cut out for seeing out of.7. Cover the entire mask in duct tape to create a sturdy base.8. Create a tongue using this same technique (not pictured).9. Tear craft paper into strips and small pieces. Use a mixture of one part white glue, two parts water to cover the mask in paper mache.10. Allow the paper mache to dry completely.11. Use air dry clay to form elongated eyes, stretch marks on the sides of the mask and a ridge around the gum line on the top of the mask.12. Paint the outside of the mask tan using acrylic paint.13. Then paint the inside of the mouth and tongue pink and red14. Paint the inside of the eyes black.15. Glue the remaining 50 teeth to the inside edges of the mouth.16. Paint two styrofoam balls to look like eyes. Seal with mod podge if desired.17. Glue the tongue into place and cover the face hole with black fabric.