After so many of you dubbed those tie-dye treats “Lisa Frank S’mores,” I knew we had to turn this obsession into costumes. I’m kicking myself for not thinking of these group costume ideas back in high school and college — imagine the nostalgia! If you still have an excuse to dress up with friends, here are three playful Lisa Frank–inspired looks you can recreate: Markie the Unicorn, Spotty & Dotty the Dalmatians, and Painter Panda. I’ve also included extra character ideas for larger groups. These are bright, cheerful, and easy to DIY, making them perfect for a standout group costume.
First up is Markie the Unicorn. A unicorn costume on its own is adorable, but this Lisa Frank interpretation is all about vibrant tissue tassels, a glittery horn, and playful details.
Supplies:
Holographic dress or a simple white dress
Tissue paper in hot pink, orange, yellow, lime green, turquoise, and purple
Unicorn horn template (or party hats)
Metallic cord or string
Scissors, hot glue, safety pins, and bobby pins
Fun pink shoes (optional, but encouraged)
How to make the mane and tail:
1. The mane and tail are tassel garlands made from tissue. Fold two sheets of tissue together width-wise and then into fourths.
2. Cut fringe through all layers, leaving about an inch at the folded end uncut.
3. Roll the paper along the folded edge to form a tassel.
4. Tie each tassel onto a length of cord or string, spacing tassels about five inches apart. Make one mane and one tail strand, using each color once for a rainbow effect.
5. Make the unicorn horn by printing and cutting the template, rolling it, and securing the seam with hot glue. Poke two small holes and thread string through to tie the horn around your head.
6. Assemble: safety pin the top tassel to the center back of your dress. Put your hair in a high ponytail, tie the mane string around the ponyholder, and add bobby pins for extra hold. Tie the horn behind your ears.
Next are Spotty and Dotty, a colorful take on a dalmatian duo. These costumes pair a white base with rainbow spots for an instantly recognizable Lisa Frank look.
Supplies:
White romper or dress
Felt in white, purple, hot pink, orange, yellow, green, and turquoise
Headband, hot glue gun, and scissors
Optional prop: paintbrush
How to make Spotty & Dotty:
1. Cut spots in various sizes from each color of felt.
2. Cut two ear shapes from white felt (a teardrop with a flat top). Wrap and glue each ear around a headband, securing both the felt edges and the headband.
3. Glue a few colored spots onto each ear, following a rainbow palette.
4. Lay the romper or dress flat and arrange the felt spots, fading through the colors in rainbow order.
5. When you’re happy with the layout, glue each spot with a bead of hot glue. Work one color at a time, then flip the garment and repeat on the back.
The final look is Painter Panda. This costume combines playful overalls with painted props and a colorful hat — perfect for a cheerful, creative vibe.
Supplies:
Overalls and a purple & white baseball tee
Rainbow heart patch, white sneakers, and a propeller hat
Paints in pink, orange, yellow, lime green, turquoise, and purple
Pink and purple felt, scissors, hot glue gun
Props: empty paint bucket and wide paint brush
How to make Painter Panda:
1. Cut two ear shapes from purple felt and two slightly smaller ones from pink felt. Glue the pink to the purple and pinch each ear in the middle, adding glue to secure the fold.
2. Paint the propeller hat by removing the top propeller, then repainting the red sections hot pink and the royal blue sections turquoise. Paint the brim top green and the underside turquoise. Let dry and glue the ears to the hat using the pinched tab.
3. Attach the rainbow heart patch to the overalls with a safety pin so the garment remains reusable.
4. For the paint bucket, paint a rainbow band around it and add thicker “globs” of paint for a drippy look. To make the brush look painted, place dime-sized dots of each paint color touching on scrap paper, drag the brush through them, and let it dry.
If you want to outfit a larger group, there are so many other Lisa Frank characters to choose from. A few ideas to round out your crew include:
Dolphin
Ballet Bunnies
Casey the Labrador
Hunter the Leopard
These costumes are ideal for big groups, families, or anyone who loves bold color and nostalgic characters. If you make a Studio DIY costume, share it on Instagram with #studiodiyincostume to be featured on the blog and for a chance at some fun surprises.
p.s. Don’t forget those Lisa Frank S’mores for a themed snack to match your costumes!