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Fortune Teller Machine Costume

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65 votes
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Fortune Teller Machine Costume

Mystical Fortune Teller Sees All, Knows All!

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Photo #1 - Mystical Fortune Teller Sees All, Knows All! Photo #2 - Fortune Teller Machine Photo #3 - Fortune Teller Machine Photo #4 - Here you can see the fortune dispensaing from the slot. Photo #5 - Some of the 40 unique fortune cards I created. Some were made up, and others i found online. Photo #6 - Here you can see the humble water heater box beginnings! Photo #7 - Primer coat was a must! Photo #8 - As the paint is going on Photo #9 - Curtains, trim, and detils are added! Photo #10 - A wig, corset, and some fake tattoos completed the look
Costume type:  Costumes for Women
Category:Halloween Costumes

This homemade costume for women entered our 2018 Halloween Costume Contest.

A word from Laura, the 'Fortune Teller Machine' costume creator:

I always like to challenge myself to do something fun and different for Halloween. I came across the idea of a fortune teller machine while searching the internet for costume ideas and decided to give it a go.

I started with a water heater box I found on the side of the road. I cut out windows in the front and sides, then I added some architectural "trim" details to give it some depth. I used Adobe Illustrator to draw out the top cornice element, and work out the text.

Once the construction was done, I applied a coat of primer to cover the existing print on the box. Applying with a roller keeps the surface smooth. Then I painted the body of the box using a dark red. By using heavy brush strokes and spreading the paint thin, I was able to make it look like wood.

For the lettering, I used the wax paper/ inkjet method to print, then rubbed the letters on to the box.


Next I used black duct tape to create straps to support the box and allow me to walk around hands free. The straps attach at the back, and to extra supports that I added under the ledge in front. I was having issues with the whole thing tilting forward when I was wearing it, so I also added a waist belt that connected to the back of the box. That kept everything level.
With the straps installed, I then added the curtains and remaining tassles and trim.

Using extra cardboard and hot glue, I put a little box under the money slot to catch coins (I made $4.37 at the debut party!). There is aslo a small box to hold the fortune cards I made. When someone inserted a coin (or pretended to because no one had any change!), I could grab a card from the box inside the costume, and slide it out through the fortune slot.


Using a plastic snow globe ball I got at Michaels, I made a crystal ball, and I printed off a few tarot cards to carry around.

For the fortune teller herself, I wore a silver wig, a ratty head scarf, and some wild jewelry. I also bought some sleeve length temporary tattoos which really made the outfit!

This costume was a lot of fun to make, but it was a LOT of work. If I'd known how much, I probably would have done something different. But I'm glad I saw it through, because it was a lot of fun to wear!

Rating: 4.2 of 5. Votes: 65

65 votes

Comments

#1 comment by Shauna October 21, 2020

Where you get the box, I can't find one. Thanks.

#2 comment by Laura October 21, 2020

I found it on the road, but you could probably find something like it at an appliance store!

#3 comment by Damian May 10, 2021

How did you keep the box around you when standing and walkign around?

#4 comment by Nicki February 20, 2024

We used this design as a template to make a fortune teller booth at our library. Such a wonderful idea -- it turned out amazing. Thank you so much for sharing.

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