[Did Pinterest bring you here? Perhaps a blog post on children’s Halloween costumes? John Deere inspiration? Welcome. This is by far our most popular post, especially in September and October. Ask questions!]
John Deere Tractor Costume (Halloween 2009)
All kids love John Deere Tractors. Ethan wanted to take his interest in John Deere to the next level and be one for Halloween. This costume was mostly prepared by Laura. She did a fine job with it. The key part to this costume was finding the right size box for our 3 year old so it was snug on the sides and easy to carry. Once that was found, it wasn’t very hard.
- Ethan and his John Deere Tractor costume (2009)
- John Deere Tractor Halloween Costume
- John Deere Tractor Halloween Costume
- John Deere Tractor Halloween Costume
Fire Engine Costume (Halloween 2010)
The rain poured and poured and poured this weekend. But it wasn’t that terrible to be confined indoors with two sick little kids. We spent plenty of time with Legos, firefighter toys, superhero capes, short walks outdoors, a few movies, carving a pumpkin, and finishing Ethan’s Halloween costume.
When we asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween this year, he was insistent that he wanted to be a fire engine. Of course not just any ‘ol fire engine. He wanted to be a ladder engine. Hmmmm. Laura scoured the internet for ideas to see how other parent’s assisted children’s Halloween costume dreams. She found many ideas but none that exactly fit Ethan’s vision. We put our minds together and began to cut, glue, and paint.
The final product took a few weeks to assessmble. Here are the steps we followed:
- We found an old moving box in the attic, sized up Ethan, cut out the hole, and painted a few coats of red, then white for the cab and striping.
- We cut some black construction paper to size and glued on a couple front and side windows.
- The lights were Ethan’s idea. Ethan and I found front headlights at a nearby hobby store and grabbed a set of back bike lights from Fred Meyer.
- The ladder was essential. I picked some 3′ long 1/4″ x 1/4″ pieces of wood from the lumber store. Both ladders are the same sizes, except one is attached to the base with screws so it can swivel around.
- The two side hoses are 5/8″ rounds of wood. They are tied on with a couple of ties.
- The side hose reel is an old bike tube wrapped around a black painted toilet paper roll.
- The front and back bumpers are packing styrofoam wrapped in aluminum foil and screwed to the box.
- The tires are two paper plates glued together and then glued to the fire engine.
- We grabbed a couple fire stickers and stuck them on the front grill and two side doors.
- Laura personalized it with the words “Ethan’s Fire Engine” on the back.
- Laura picked up a set up rainbow colored suspenders so that the box would balance well on Ethan (it’s a little back heavy).
- Last, duct tape not only holds the world together, but also this costume.
Ethan loves his costume. Actually Autumn loves it too because of the working lights. We spent about $40 on this project, but we know that the lights and suspenders can be used again, while all the other materials were from other projects.
Here are few more photos of the fire engine costume.
Fire Rescue Boat (Halloween 2011)
We made Ethan a Fire Rescue Boat for Halloween 2011. It was based off the Seattle Fire Rescue Boat Leschi and not terribly difficult to make. Despite my initial skepticism to create this, it came together very well and Ethan enjoyed wearing it around and showing it off to his friends. The only change I’d make next time is to use duct tape rather than paint for the entire boat.
Astronaut Jet Pack (Halloween 2012)
Ethan’s interest in space has grown tremendously. This year he wanted to head to the stars with an astronaut suit and jet pack.
This was a fairly easy costume to make. All the materials are seen in the photo. The one item that may not be easily available is an extra set of backpack straps. You could make them with duct tape if you choose. The costume held up quite well and took one evening to make.
Can you please describe how you made the john deere costume?
Dear Brett and Laura,
I am editor for the German women’s magazine BRIGITTE MOM and am currently looking for nice and creative costumes for kids. On your site I saw your awesome John Deere Halloween costume
Could we maybe show one picture in our article on http://www.brigitte-mom.de – we would of course name the source and include a link to your website for the whole tutorial.
Thank you very much for your answer via e-mail!
Thanks!
Michèle
Awesome job! They look great! Just wondering what kind of paint was used to stick to the box? I’m using a diaper box so it’s a little glossy. What would be the best paint to use for it so it doesn’t peel off? Thanks!
Hi, do you have a better pic of the lights used on the fire truck? Im in the midst of making that costume for my son and can’t seem to find good working lights like those anywhere! Where did you find them?? Thanks
Hi Jessica….the top lights are actually bike lights that go the back of a helmet or bike seat. I bought them at a bike shop for a few dollars. The front lights are from a hobby store and are specifically for remote race cars. They were about $20.
I love the John Deere costume! My nephew wants to be a John Deere tractor for Halloween & you did such an awesome job on your sons Costume that I would like to try to replicate it. I was wondering if you could give me a little bit more information on how you got the box to stay up? I didn’t noticed any suspenders in the pictures… Thank you!
Hi Stephanie…the box is held up with small 6mm or so cord. If you look closely in the photo the cord is reddish and goes along my son’s overall strap lines. I just duct taped the cord in the box and crossed them so it stays on my son better.
Love them! I have a son who has been a garbage truck, train and this year we are doing the fire truck.. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the costumes. This year our son went for an astronaut with a jetpack.
Pingback: Friday Fun: Halloween Tractor Costumes! | John Deere MachineFinder
Halloween is going to be so much fun!!!!! Love the creativity!
Thanks. He love all of it!
Your kids are absolutely adorable! Great job on the costumes!!
Thank you Jeannine!
Wow, that is brilliant — I especially love the lights and use of an old bike tube!
I thought it was a nice touch Kathy.