At last — a rainbow costume, and a whole DIY family weather theme to match. I’d been wanting to make a rainbow outfit for years but never liked my earlier ideas for a wearable version. The wagon solved that. It makes the perfect base, and placing a child as a fluffy cloud inside sealed the concept. This setup is easy to expand for a group: add a lightning bolt, a tornado, a snowflake or even a blizzard. With more kids or friends you can build a whole weather-themed group costume. Below are step-by-step instructions for three looks: the sun, the rain, and the rainbow-with-cloud wagon.
How To Make A Family Weather Costume
DIY Family Weather Costume
Total Time: 4 Hours
Supplies
For the Sun Costume:
Smoothfoam half sphere or similar foam dome
Yellow paint and brush
Yellow cardstock
Scissors
Clear tape
Hot glue gun
Sturdy headband
Yellow outfit
For the Rain Costume:
Umbrella
Blue cardstock
Scissors or cutting tool
Glue stick
Fishing line
Sewing needle or small hand-sewing supplies
Blue outfit
For the Rainbow Wagon + Cloud Toddler Costume:
40 x 60″ foam core or a large cardboard sheet
Box cutter or utility knife
Acrylic paints in rainbow colors and paintbrushes
Zip ties
Pillow stuffing or polyfill
White onesie or white clothing for the toddler
White felt (enough to cover the wagon outer surface, roughly 2 yards depending on wagon width)
Hot glue gun
Small wagon
Directions
For the Sun Costume:
1. Paint the foam half-sphere a bright yellow and allow it to dry fully.
2. Cut 12–14 triangles from yellow cardstock for the sun’s rays. Varying two sizes gives a layered look.
3. Arrange the triangles in a circle with slight overlaps and secure them together with a small piece of tape in the center.
4. Hot-glue the painted foam sphere onto the center of the rays.
5. Attach the headband to the underside of the rays with hot glue so the sun sits securely on the head.
6. Wear with a yellow outfit to complete the look.
For the Rain Costume:
1. Cut roughly 40 or more raindrop shapes from blue cardstock. A cutting machine helps but hand-cutting works fine.
2. Pair the raindrops, sandwich the end of a length of fishing line between two drops and glue them together so the line is secured inside. Leave generous lengths of fishing line so you can trim later.
3. Thread the fishing line onto a sewing needle and stitch or fasten the lines to the underside of the umbrella. If you prefer not to sew, glue the fishing line to the umbrella’s interior but be mindful of visible glue. Stagger the raindrops at varying lengths around the umbrella for a natural look.
4. Match the umbrella with a blue outfit.
For the Rainbow Wagon + Cloud Toddler Costume:
1. Hot-glue pillow stuffing onto the upper half of a white onesie or toddler pajamas to create a fluffy cloud effect.
2. Cut a large rainbow shape from foam core or cardboard, sizing it about 4–6 inches wider than the wagon so it frames the child inside.
3. Paint the rainbow in bright stripes. The stripes don’t need perfect precision—varying widths can look more organic. Allow the paint to dry completely.
4. Wrap white felt around the wagon front-to-back and side-to-side, securing ends underneath with hot glue. The felt provides a surface to attach stuffing and hides the wagon’s fabric.
5. Hot-glue stuffing all over the felt-wrapped exterior of the wagon to create fluffy clouds. Full coverage isn’t necessary—aim for a soft, puffy appearance.
6. Position the rainbow along the wagon’s side where you want it to sit. Poke two small holes near the wagon’s metal rim on each side, thread zip ties through the rainbow and around the wagon frame, and tighten securely. Trim excess zip-tie length.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
We had several people on set keeping the toddler entertained during the shoot. If you zoom in on the wagon shots you can even spot the child’s head peeking out — he was playing hide-and-seek. If you try one of these costumes, tag your photos on social when sharing so others can see your version.