No-Sew Donkey Hodie Costume

Break apart the empty cereal box by cutting along one of the side panels. Lay it flat with the side panel in the center. (If you don't have a cereal box, you can also use watercolor paper, cardstock paper, or paper plates to create the costume.)

Draw Donkey Hodie's ears on the back panel of the cereal box. You can use your child's hand to determine the size of the ears. Simply draw a line above their middle finger and a line below their palm. Then, connect them together by drawing an oval shape. Cut out the shape and then create a second ear by tracing your shape onto your panel. Cut out the other ear and set them both aside.

Use the remaining panel to create the base for the mane. Draw a large raindrop, preferably as tall as the ears and wide as your palm. Cut it out and trace it three times onto the white paper. Ask your child to color the mane using the pink crayon on the bottom and the purple crayon on the top. This coloring activity will give you enough time to prepare the rest of the costume.

Use the side panel of the cereal box to make a headband which will be the foundation for the ears and mane! Cut it along the edges and then cut it in half vertically. Save one half of the side panel for later to strengthen the headband if needed. Use a hole punch on the other half to make one hole at both ends. Set it aside.

Let’s create a Donkey Hodie visor! (You can choose to skip this part of the costume if you like!) Draw a crescent shape with rounded edges on the last panel of the cereal box and cut it out. Punch a hole on each side of the rounded edges of the visor.

It’s time to paint! Gather the ears, the headband, and the visor. Ask your child to paint the ears with white paint first. If only yellow paint is applied on the back of the cereal box, it will become translucent. By adding the white paint, you will increase the opacity of the yellow color. Once your child paints the ears white, yellow paint can be applied on top of the white coat. Let both ears dry.

Ask your child to paint the headband white and then yellow. Let it dry.

If you decide to create the visor, keep on reading. If not, go to step 14. Have fun painting with your child — let them lead the way! Once the visor is covered in yellow paint, let it dry.

While you and your child wait for the paint to dry, design Donkey Hodie’s eyes! Draw two oval shapes on the white paper using the black marker. Then, draw another smaller oval shape inside the big one. This will be the eyeball of Donkey Hoodies' eye. Color it black. Repeat the same process for the other eye. Cut out both eyes.

Use the black marker to create a line for each eye. Simply trace the edges of both eyes. Use the hole punch to create two little white circles and glue them onto each eyeball. These will be the light reflection you see in Donkey Hodie’s eyes.

Ask your child if the paint on the visor is already dry. They can use their fingers to determine if the paint is wet or dry. If the paint is dry, ask them to apply glue on the back of the eyes and help them to stick both eyes on the visor. Then, draw three eyelashes on both sides of the eyes.

You are almost done with Donkey Hodie’s visor! Ask your child to use the pink crayon to draw and color a 1-inch long rectangle. Cut out two little circles by using the hole paper punch. These will be Donkey Hodie’s nostrils. Glue them on the bottom of the visor, right between the big eyes.

Thread the elastic through one of the holes and make a knot. Wrap the elastic around your child’s head. Then thread the other end of the elastic through the hole on the other side and tie a knot. The visor should fit snugly. Cut any excess elastic from the ends.

To complete the look of the ears, you can use either white paper or felt. Simply sketch the inner ear on a piece of paper, cut it out and trace it two times onto the white paper or felt. Cut both parts and ask your child to glue them onto the ears.

The only missing piece of this no-sew Donkey Hodie costume is the mane! If your child did not finish coloring the three parts of the mane, work together to complete the look. Then, cut out all the three parts of the mane.

Remember the base for the mane you cut out from the cereal box in step 3? You and your child will make it 3-dimensional! Fold all the colored manes long ways with the colored sides facing in. Then, take one piece and glue one half to the mane base made out of the cereal box. Glue the other half and stick the next piece to it. Continue until you have glued all of the colored manes together. Then stick the last half to the base. This 3-D piece will make this no-sew Donkey Hodie costume to stand out from the crowd.

Now stick the 3-dimensional mane and ears on the headband. Glue the mane first! Apply the glue on the back of the mane and press it firmly in the center of the headband. Next, glue the ears on the back side of the headband. You can also use tape to make sure the ears will hold in place!

Thread the elastic through one of the holes and make a knot. Place the headband on your child’s forehead and wrap the remaining elastic around your child's head to see how much elastic you need. Thread the elastic and make a knot on the other side.

Time to put on your yellow clothes! If you have brown mittens/gloves and brown shoes these would be perfect for Donkey Hodie's hooves! Then, help your child to put on their visor, and then finally their headband with the ears and mane! Take a lot of photos of your very own no-sew Donkey Hodie costume and share them with your family and friends, so they can make one, too!