Looking ahead to Halloween-any ideas on how to do a turtle shell?

[Dmmetler]

The turtle shell backpack vanished before I could get to it, and is pretty expensive on Amazon. Does anyone have a good idea on how to make a box turtle shell for an 11 yr old? She doesn't want the toy Ninja turtles ones, and they'd be really small on her.

[JustEm]

My bil made a bowser shell using a stuffed Jansport backpack, cardboard, and colored duct tape. It looked very good. Essentially he built the shell around the backpack with cardboard pieces and then covered the cardboard in the color pattern of a shell

[Guest]

You could just scale this a little larger if you could find the fabric cheap enough:

 

http://thealmostperfectionist.blogspot.com/2012/10/homemade-turtle-costume.html

 

My other suggestion would be getting a plastic domed outdoor trash can lid, spray paint it and add elastic fasteners. 

[Sherry in OH]

Last year several teenagers in my area sported turtle costumes with shells made from disposable aluminum baking pans.  

[meena]

Many years ago I made a turtle shell for my little brother. I used a cardboard rectangle, trimmed the corners to make them rounded, then cut slits diagonally on the corners so they could be folded in and taped on the underside to make the shell shape. Then we painted it with the shell pattern. It's been a long time, so I can't remember exactly how he wore it. But I think we attached ribbon to the upper corners, had them extend down for straps, which then were threaded through the lower corners, crossed behind the back, then brought around to tie in front. You could also make a front piece (is that called the carapace? ETA: nope, it's the plastron. The upper shell is the carapace.) and wear it and the shell sandwich-board style.

Edited September 10, 2016 by meena

[meena]

This is the first in a series of three videos on directions for making a cool looking shell:

 

This is a blog from someone who used those videos as inspiration: http://activerain.com/blogsview/4518243/how-to-make-a-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle-shell

 

Your DD could modify her version to make it look more like a box turtle.

Edited September 10, 2016 by meena

[heartlikealion]

The turtle shell backpack vanished before I could get to it, and is pretty expensive on Amazon. Does anyone have a good idea on how to make a box turtle shell for an 11 yr old? She doesn't want the toy Ninja turtles ones, and they'd be really small on her.

 

I'm not sure if this would fit your needs? http://www.hottopic.com/product/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-foam-shell/10451051.html

 

It's not a backpack, just the shell.

 

Also, Hot Topic sells the TMNT backpack (not sure if you are against those? They aren't a toy and adults can wear them so I don't think they'd be too small. Similar to what is on Amazon but lower price).

This is the backpack on Hot Topic: http://www.hottopic.com/product/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-mini-shell-backpack/883368-001.html

 

Walmart has this less expensive version but it may not be the right size (also saw this item on Amazon but for a higher price on Amazon): https://www.walmart.com/ip/Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-Turtle-Shell-Kids-Backpack/52616049?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227043155088&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=87051206089&wl4=pla-193504312129&wl5=9013896&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=52616049&wl13=&veh=sem

[heartlikealion]

Ok I see when I googled box turtle shell they are probably not the same color as the ones I linked, sorry.

[KungFuPanda]

Got a round sled? Can you decorate that?

[ScoutTN]

Take a walk through Hope Depot and see what you could use to make it. We find amazing things there and at the thrift shop. ;)