Welcome back to the second day of my Disneyland Party Series! Today, we’re talking about one of my favorite parts of planning: the birthday outfit.
When I first started prepping for H’s big Disney birthday bash, I fully intended to outsource the outfit, fearing I wouldn’t have the time or the patience to craft one of my own. I browsed Etsy, Storenvy, all the usual places – because let’s be honest, there are some seriously adorable options out there. But after pricing things out and looking at everything else I was making for the party, I decided to go full DIY. Budget-friendly, cute, and completely personalized? Yes, please!
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What I Used To Make The Birthday Outfit:
- Simple white onesie
- Red pants (that I converted into shorts)
- Disney ribbon roll
- Heat N Bond
- Printable fabric transfer paper
- My trusty iron
- Digital pattern download (sweater pattern via Etsy)
- A fabric cutter (or scissors if you’re like me and typically avoid fabric crafts)
Creating the DIY Outfit
This honestly came together on the fly, which just proves how easy it is if you don’t overthink it. I wanted the classic Mickey colors without being too costume-y.
Step 1: The “Suspenders” Look
- Measured and cut two lengths of Disney ribbon to create faux suspenders on the onesie.
- Cut matching lengths of Heat N Bond.
- Ironed the ribbon onto the onesie, folding the ends under the flaps for a clean finish.
Step 2: Custom Shorts
- Took the red pants and trimmed them into shorts using a fabric cutter (with help from my cousin because full transparency: fabric cutting isn’t my strong suit).
- Left them long enough for little chunky baby legs, but still very “Mickey-inspired.” (I didn’t need my little chunkster sporting Daisy Dukes! 🤣)
Adding the Birthday Graphic
I wanted a big “1” to mark the occasion, so so I used Picmonkey create a #1 in a color pattern that reflected the theme. I’d bought this sweater pattern digital download years ago from an Etsy seller, and one of them was perfectly suited to my color scheme. I made the best use of the paper by printing two, in case I fudged up the first one.
- Used a sweater-style digital pattern download I had purchased from Etsy to add texture and fun color.
- Printed the design onto fabric transfer paper. (I made the best use of the paper by printing two, in case I fudged up the first one.)
- Cut out the transfer and ironed it onto the onesie.
Pro tip: Test your transfer paper brand beforehand. Mine started peeling mid-party (which, yes, was mildly embarrassing during the cake smash). I’d go with a higher-quality transfer next time, or perhaps linger over the iron longer. I’ve gotten my heat-press since this was originally posted, and have not had similar issues.
👉 Don’t forget—you can download my printable “1” design at the bottom of this post!
The End Result
It turned out better than I hoped – fun, personal, and perfectly themed for the party without breaking the bank. And clearly, H was feeling himself in his little outfit too (proud mom moment).
It was one of H’s many costume changes for his big day, but I think he looked spectacular!!
Clearly, he did too. 🤣 Here come some more shameless pics of the birthday boy!!
Love that he retained his daddy’s beautiful blue eyes!!
Cake Smash Moment
Yes, we had to remove the fondant Mickey head from his smash cake before he completely inhaled it. My cousin made the cake and, in hindsight, might have overestimated how much one small child can actually eat. (Even my chunky monkey!) Still, it made for some amazing photos!
He wasn’t thrilled that we didn’t let him finish the whole thing. Tough break.
Hopefully this gives you some fun ideas for DIY Disney Birthday Outfits for your littles!! Be sure to check back for the next post in my Disneyland Birthday Party Series!
Also, make sure you didn’t miss yesterday’s post, my DIY Invitations!
Grab Your Free Printable!
Want to create your own version of this Disney birthday outfit? Grab my free printable “1” graphic and customize it for your little one.
These printables are for personal use only. Please don’t resell or redistribute.
Would you do a Disney theme for your child’s birthday? What character would you choose?
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