Spike the Pufferfish Costume

#1 comment by mary December 16, 2017

Great Costume... how were you able to hold it up? Where were you able to buy the large exercise ball?

#2 comment by Sara Sina December 23, 2017

I think the exercise ball was just one we bought on Amazon. We wrapped the exercise ball in plastic wrap first to make it easier to remove from the papier mache. We set it on a copy paper box lid to keep it from rolling around as we were working on it, and left a hole open in the bottom that matched up with where the air fill hole was on the ball. Once we had 5-6 layers of papier mache done, we deflated the ball and removed it.

#3 comment by Katherine February 22, 2018

I am going to try and make this for my son. He has a play. How did you make the fins. Thank you.

#4 comment by SLDJ September 23, 2018

I did a similar thing for my daughter to be Mdme Blueberry but it did not stay on. How did you secure this to her shoulders? Thanks.

#5 comment by Sara September 24, 2018

The fins are made from upholstery foam hot glued on and painted. We cut the head hole just barely big enough to get her head through,so the shell just rested on her shoulders. We did put a piece of pipe insulation around the neck hole for padding.

#6 comment by Sldj September 24, 2018

Thank you. Great idea about pipe insulation.

#7 comment by Amy September 30, 2018

I have never used craft foam before. Did you use a different type for the spikes than for the fins and the mouth? Did the hot glue hold them while she walked around for trick or treating?

#8 comment by Sara October 1, 2018

Same foam for spikes, mouth, and fins. It was a 1" thick upholstery foam. We did lose a couple of spikes, but only because of young trick or treated pulling on them. Otherwise they held well. They styrofoam eyes did not hold with hot glue, we used some roofing nails from the inside to help.

#9 comment by Marcia April 13, 2019

How did you cut the spikes from the upholstery foam? They look so uniform.

#10 comment by Sara Sina April 14, 2019

Just used a sharp scissors, like the king for cutting fabric. We cut them into long triangles, then did a bit of trimming to even them out.

#11 comment by Amberlee Holland November 9, 2019

This looks amazing! Honestly, how many hours would you say you spent on it?

#12 comment by Sara Sina November 10, 2019

Hey Amberlee! The papier mache was the most time consuming, probably took about an hour to mix the flour/water, tear up scraps of newspaper, and then apply for each layer - so 6 hours just for that part. After that, the rest (gluing on the spikes and fins, securing the eyes, and then spray painting) was maybe another 3 hours total.

#13 comment by Ally August 9, 2021

This is terrific! I'd like to make one. How do you do the bottom where the legs go? Is the hole for the ball extraction the width of bottom part or do you cut more off the bottom after the papier mache is set?

#14 comment by Leyna October 23, 2021

Can you share your paper mache recipe?

#15 comment by Melanie June 11, 2022

Hi Amberlee, did you waited until each layer of paper mache dried? Or can you stick layer after layer on, while wet?

I'm currently using cardboard papier-mâché

I love the result of your pufferfish, it looks amazing

Thanks melanie

#16 comment by Pat Sperring June 24, 2022

Hi Amberlee, Looks amazing, we have an under the sea quiz night and was going to try make it. Could you please let me know what size or dimensions of the spikes?
Thanks Pat

#17 comment by Rebecca September 20, 2022

Hi there what type of glue did you use to attach the fins and spikes?

#18 comment by Paul October 9, 2022

Just love it and all the info you shared

#19 comment by Betsy January 25, 2024

Do you want to sell it?