DIY Heartburn Dragon Maternity Costume

When I realized I’d be pregnant just before Halloween, I knew I had to do a costume blog post! I was kinda hoping for a whole set of them, but sadly I didn’t leave enough time for brainstorming and I ended up racing against the clock just to do this one. It was completed less than a week before my due date, and baby came a day early! I got the idea when I woke up one night with terrible heartburn. It feels like you’re breathing fire and that’s when it hit me- a dragon costume! Might as well put those terrible side effects to good use, right?

This costume is super easy and cheap to make, which is perfect for any expectant momma. You can also add it to a maternity dress without ruining it by using safety pins, which makes it perfect for being frugal. Plus, you can use any color dress you have or even a t-shirt and pants, or a hoodie. Really, whatever you have at home would work! Plus it’s actually pretty funny and super comfortable.

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You will need:

Green Dress (similar here)
Felt (similar here)
Ribbon (similar here)
Colored cardstock (similar here)
Wooden skewer (similar here)
Glue gun (similar here)
Scissors (similar here)
Safety pins (optional)

Directions- Dress

1. Measure a piece of ribbon going down the back of your dress. It can go all the way down, or only to a certain point. The choice is yours. I went with just above my booty so it would be comfy to sit in!

2. Start cutting triangles out of your felt. You’ll want 2 of each piece. You can either randomly cut triangles, then trace the same shape to make a copy, or fold your felt in half and cut the triangle so you end up with 2 identical pieces.

3. Line up your triangles on either side of your ribbon. Make sure all your spikes are facing the same way! What we’re going to do is glue them down so that they stick up on the ribbon.

4. Starting at either the top or the bottom of your ribbon, take your triangle and add a line of glue to the “bottom” edge, aka the one facing the ribbon.

5. Place the triangle down to glue it onto the ribbon. You want it to be laying down across the ribbon, over to the other side. Once it’s cooled, fold it back over to the side and add another line of glue, then press the other side of the next triangle onto the ribbon. You should now have two flaps facing each other.

6. Glue the flaps shut, and repeat all the way up the ribbon for all your spikes.

7. Once you’re done, you can either glue these spikes to your dress or safety pin them on so you can wear the dress again normally!

Directions- Fire

1. Pick out the colors for your fire. I used red and 2 shades of orange.

2. Draw a flame shape on your first piece of cardstock. In retrospect, I kinda wish it was a little thinner so it looked more like I was breathing it out, but you can do whatever you like for the shape!

3. Cut out the shape you drew, then place it on the next paper. You want to be sure the pencil edge is facing up (so you have a good side and a bad side that both match), then trace a larger version of your fire onto the next paper. Cut it out, and repeat again. Then, flip them all over and stack them in size order.

4. Glue your layers together, trimming as needed so they fit well together. I added glue to the bottom edge and left the flame side unglued so it would dance and look like it was moving when I waved it!

5. Glue your flames onto a wooden skewer. For safety, I cut off the pointy edge with some scissors.

Hah don’t mind these silly posed photos- 39 weeks preggo and had to have my husband help with the pics. He was pleased as punch and I was pretty much ready to plop my butt back on the couch. But, now that I don’t have this bump anymore I’m missing it- go figure!

What do you think of this costume idea?! Is it super clever and perfect for your heartburn? Or, did you have a different symptom you’d rather “show off”? Let me know in the comments below!