Light Up Princess Barbie Costume

by Lisa Marie
(La Habra, CA)

Light Up Princess Barbie Costume

What's better than a plain old Barbie doll? A Barbie that lights up!

This years costume was a remake of an old one I've done a few years back, but it was always a hit so i had to give it one more go.


Entirely handmade and hand painted by myself, because anyone can glue pictures to a box. I made my costume out of a large wardrobe box.

It did take some planning to figure out how to make it look like a better doll box than the ones i've seen so that my accessories were visible. I cut one side of the box out to open it up like a display. I then used that peice for the front of my box where it says "Princess Barbie".

Then I had to figure out how to put the straps on so i am able to walk around hands free. i cut holes in the back that are measured to my height, i'm only 5'3". I made straps for my shoulders and one for around my waist.

The staps were made from pink duct tape around some parachute clips from a backpack. The whole box is painted free-hand. I'm pretty good at drawing so I tried to copy an actual Barbie box in as much detail as I could. The only part that isn't drawn is the little girl with the tiara on the side of the box.

Barbie also isn't complete without her accessories. I added a signature pink brush that i spray painted and a special "Tiara for you!" along with a princess wand! I even made the dress myself because I had a hard time finding a dress that was barbie enough and that also fit. Since i wanted to be a doll that lights up, I added the battery powered fairy lights which i sewn into the tutu under my skirt.

The jewelry I used was child costume jewelry that also lit up. And to complete my look I tried to doll myself up with pretty pink makeup along with blue contacts and a blonde wig to hide my latina features :)

The entire thing took about a month to make including sewing the dress. Well worth the work though.

Editor's Notes

Thanks for all the details about your light up princess Barbie costume and for so many great photos! Readers will love knowing how you pulled it off!