"Nothing Runs Like A Deere Costume"

Costume Instructions

Costume Materials
Materials for Farmer:
*1 pair bib overalls
*farmer hat
*John Deere hankerchief for neck

Materials for Tractor:
*cardboard box (close to child's shoulder width)
*1 1/2 yards of green felt
*1/2 yard of black felt
*yellow felt stick-on letters
*3 thick sheets of 8.5 x 11 black foam
*1 sheet of 8.5 x 11 yellow foam
*4 screws with nuts
*1 toilet paper roll
*steering wheel from old ride-on toy
*wood dowel with two screws with washers
*spray adhesive
*self-stick (2) reflectors and (2) mirrors
*slow-moving vehicle sign
*John Deere tractor stickers
*back-pack sized box and backpack straps

Costume Instructions
1. Find an appropriate sized box.
2. With the box upside-down, trim the box so that it will fall to about the child's knees.
3. Cut half of the box down to make the front of the tractor.
4. Cut a hole in the top of the box to fit the child.
5. Using spray adhesive cover box with green felt.
6. Cut black foam sheets to make two large and two small black circles for wheels, then cut smaller circles from the yellow foam sheet for the insides of the wheels.
7. Using the screws and nuts, attach the wheels through the box.
8. Cut two black strips from the black felt and attach the yellow felt self-stick letters to spell "JOHN DEERE".
9. Using spray adhesive, attach the black strips to the box and attach black felt to the toilet paper roll.
10. Cut two holes in the front top of the box for the steering wheel and the exhaust pipe (slightly smaller than needed). Gently poke them through.
11. Using the two screws and washers, attach the wood dowel in front of where the child will stand to allow them to hold up the tractor front.
12. Attach the two reflectors and slow sign in rear, and the two mirrors in front.
13. Attach John Deere tractor stickers.
14. Using spray adhesive to cover backpack box with black felt to resemble a tractor seat. Make holes in the box to fit backpack straps through.
15. To wear the costume, put the backpack box on the child and then slide the tractor over the child. The backpack fits snugly inside the back of the tractor box to keep it from tipping down too much.