Halloween rolls around, or maybe there’s a comic-con in town, and you think, “I need a costume.” But then you look online and see the prices for officially licensed stuff. Ouch. My wallet actually recoiled last year when I looked up a simple hoodie costume. That’s when I realized the best path forward is usually the one covered in hot glue and felt.
Specifically, I’m talking about everyone’s favorite Pixar sidekicks: The Little Green Men. You know the ones. The claw-worshipping, squeaky-voiced aliens from the Pizza Planet truck in Toy Story. They’re adorable, instantly recognizable, and honestly, they’re the perfect DIY project because their design is simple but their personality is huge.
So, whether you need a group costume for you and the kids, a last-minute solo gig, or just an excuse to paint yourself green, I’ve got you covered. I’ve broken down four totally different ways to tackle this costume. From “I have five minutes” to “I want to win a prize,” there’s a method here with your name on it. Let’s get crafting.
1. The Classic “Pillowcase” Alien (The Easiest Option)
Ever wondered why this works so well? It’s because the alien’s body is basically a potato sack with arms. We can replicate that using something you probably already have in your linen closet. This is my go-to method when I’m procrastinating and need something that looks good but requires zero sewing skills.
What You’ll Need to Grab
- A green pillowcase. The greener, the better. A standard size works for kids, but you might need a king-size for adults. I once used a green t-shirt that was way too big for me, and it worked in a pinch, but a pillowcase gives you that perfect tube shape.
- White felt.
- Black felt.
- Fabric glue or a hot glue gun. (Hot glue is faster, fabric glue is less likely to melt something—your call).
- Scissors.
Let’s Make Some Magic
First, cut holes in the pillowcase. You’ll need one for your head and two for your arms. Don’t just cut random circles! Put the pillowcase on first (over your clothes) and mark with a piece of chalk or a safety pin where your arms naturally fall. Take it off and cut. Trust me, I’ve cut armholes way too high before and looked like a T-Rex. Not a good look.
Next, we need the classic alien tunic markings. Cut a large, simple triangle out of your white felt. This goes on the chest. Then, cut three circles out of the black felt. These are the “buttons” or decorations that go down the center.
Glue the white triangle to the front of the pillowcase. Then, glue the three black circles down the center of the triangle. Boom. You have the basic alien tunic.
But What About the Head?
This is the “classic” costume for a reason—you’re going as the alien, so you need the alien head. You have two choices here:
- The Full Head Mask: You can buy a green character mask or a cheap alien mask online and pair it with the pillowcase body. This is the easiest on the eyes, literally.
- The Headband Method: This is my personal favorite because it’s less claustrophobic. Take a simple green headband. Cut out two large white felt circles for the eyes, and even larger black felt circles for the pupils. Glue the black onto the white, and then glue the whole eye onto the headband so they stick up like antennae. Pair this with some green face paint, and you’re golden. Plus, you can drink a soda without lifting a mask. 😉
2. The “Comfy Hoodie” Alien (For the Practical Cosplayer)
Look, sometimes you want to be cute, but you also want to be warm. Or maybe you just hate the feeling of a pillowcase shifting around while you walk. I feel you. This version is for the person who values comfort above all else but still wants to nail the aesthetic. It’s basically building the costume around a piece of clothing you already own.
The Base Layer is Key
You need a green hoodie. Not dark green, not olive green. We’re talking that classic, almost neon, Pizza Planet green. If you can’t find one, a light green hoodie and a can of fabric spray paint (follow the instructions carefully!) can work, but it’s a commitment.
You’ll also need a pair of green sweatpants or leggings. Again, the goal is to become one solid, vaguely terrifying, green blob.
Crafting the Details
This is where it gets fun. You’re going to create the same tunic details as the pillowcase costume, but you’re attaching them directly to the hoodie.
- Cut a large white felt triangle.
- Cut three black felt circles.
- Pin everything in place before you glue. You want the triangle centered on the torso, and the circles going down the middle.
- Use fabric glue to attach them. If you want to be extra sure they’ll survive a night of dancing, you can hand-stitch them, but glue is fine for a one-night stand… I mean, a one-night costume. 😉
The Head: Embrace the Hood
Here’s the genius part—the hood does the work for you.
- The Basic Look: Pull the hood up. If the hood is big and floppy, you can stitch the corners to make them a bit pointier, like the alien’s head shape.
- The Eyes: You need big eyes on the hood. You can buy styrofoam balls, cut them in half, paint them white, and glue on black pom-poms for pupils. Then, glue or sew these half-balls onto the sides of the hood.
- The Antenna: For the single antenna on top, you can use a green pipe cleaner or a strip of green felt stuffed with a little batting to make it stiff, and top it with a small black pom-pom.
IMO, this is the most wearable version. You can unzip it when you get hot, you have pockets (!!), and you look like a high-fashion alien ready for a casual stroll on Zircon. I wore a version of this to a movie premiere, and honestly, it was the best decision I ever made.
3. The “DIY Group Costume” (The Claw is Our Master)
This isn’t so much a single costume as it is a philosophy. If you have a group of three or more, you can’t just be separate aliens. You have to be the aliens in their iconic pose—stacked up, arms out, ready to be scooped up by The Claw.
The Individual Costume Formula
For this, I recommend using Method #2 (The Hoodie Method) for everyone. It’s consistent, comfortable, and allows for the acrobatics required for a good group photo. Make sure everyone has the same shade of green. Color variation will drive you crazy in photos, trust me.
The Magic is in the Stacking
Here’s how you make the photo-op magic happen:
- The Base Alien: This person stands normally. They are the foundation. They need to be sturdy.
- The Middle Alien: This person stands directly behind the base alien, but they lean forward and drape their arms over the base alien’s shoulders. Their head should be poking up just above the base alien’s head.
- The Top Alien: This is the brave one. They stand on a small, sturdy step stool or a strong box hidden behind the middle and base aliens. They lean forward and put their hands on the middle alien’s shoulders. Their head should be the highest point.
From the front, it looks like a tower of aliens! Practice your poses. You all need to look straight ahead with wide, unblinking eyes, hypnotized by the imaginary claw machine above you. It’s goofy, it’s perfect, and it gets a huge reaction every time.
Prop It Up
- The Claw: Have a friend or a fourth person carry a giant “claw.” You can make one by spray-painting a garden rake head or a plastic toy grabber claw silver and attaching it to a long pole. Have them “dangle” it over your stacked group.
- The Sign: Carry a sign that says “The Claw!” on one side and “I was chosen!” on the other. It adds a whole new layer of nerdery that people absolutely love.
4. The “Budget-Friendly” Alien (Under $10)
We’ve all been there. Payday is next week, the party is tonight, and your bank account is crying. Fear not. You can absolutely cobble together an alien costume with stuff from the dollar store and your recycling bin. It won’t last forever, but it will last the night, and that’s all that matters.
Raid Your House First
Look for a plain green t-shirt. If you don’t have one, a white t-shirt and a package of green dye (or even green food coloring mixed with water in a spray bottle) can work in an emergency. It might look a little tie-dye, but hey, it’s an alien from outer space—who’s to say what’s accurate?
The Main Body Hack
Put on the green shirt. Now, take a large piece of green construction paper or a green trash bag. Cut a hole in the top for your head and two holes for your arms. Slide it on over your shirt. Voila! Instant tunic.
- Use white duct tape to create the chest triangle and the three dots. Duct tape comes in every color now, so it’s a perfect crafting supply.
- If you’re using a trash bag, be careful! Don’t do any crazy gymnastics, or you’ll hear a very sad ripping sound. I learned this the hard way at a house party in college. :/
The 10-Minute Headpiece
Forget store-bought masks. You’re a DIY warrior.
- Take a green headband or even just a strip of green cardstock stapled into a ring that fits your head.
- Cut two large eye shapes out of white cardstock.
- Cut two smaller circles out of black cardstock for pupils.
- Glue the pupils onto the eyes.
- Staple or tape the eyes to the headband so they stick up.
- For the antenna, crumple up a bit of green tissue paper into a ball, wrap it in a square of green plastic bag, tie it off with a green pipe cleaner or a twist tie, and tape that to the headband.
Slap on some green face paint (a $1 tube from the drugstore) and you are ready to be abducted by style. It’s cheap, it’s cheerful, and it’s surprisingly effective. People will be impressed by your ingenuity, I promise.
Don’t Forget the Finishing Touches!
You’ve got the costume, but do you have the soul of the character? This is what elevates a good costume to a great one. It’s all in the performance.
- The Voice: You have to try. Even if you’re bad at it. That high-pitched, slightly confused squeak. Just try saying “Ooooh” and “The Claw!” in a squeaky voice. It’s impossible to do without smiling.
- The Walk: Stand with your back straight, arms slightly out, and take stiff, small steps. You’re a puppet, remember? You’ve just been activated.
- The Catchphrase: Any time someone points a camera at you, or even a remote control, point at it reverently and whisper, “The Clawwww.” It’s the law.
So, Which Alien Are You Building?
Whether you go for the ultra-comfy hoodie version, the budget dumpster-diver special, or the full group commitment, you really can’t go wrong. The Little Green Men are the perfect blend of cute and funny, and they show that you don’t need to spend a ton of cash to have an amazing costume.
My personal advice? Try the hoodie version. You’ll thank me when you’re not freezing halfway through October. Now get crafting, and remember—the claw decides who will go and who will stay. Make sure it decides on you.
Got any other clever hacks for an alien costume? Drop them in the comments—I’m always looking for a smarter way to glue something to my face.
