How do I make the costume look like the actual BFDI art style?

Keep the face elements incredibly simple. Use perfect circles for the eyes and a basic, unlined open mouth shape, which perfectly mimics the show's Flash-animated aesthetic.

Is this costume comfortable for kids to wear all day?

Yes, using lightweight EVA foam or poster board makes the tabard incredibly light and easy to wear over normal, comfortable clothing.

Can I make other BFDI characters using this method?

Absolutely. You can use the exact same sandwich-board technique to make Firey (orange flame shape), Bubble (blue circle), or Coiny (yellow circle).

Battle for Dream Island

Battle for Dream Island Costume

Bring your favorite animated object character to life with simple DIY.

Battle for Dream Island (BFDI) is a wildly popular animated web series featuring anthropomorphic objects competing for a luxury island. Dressing up as Leafy, one of the show's most iconic and beloved contestants, is a massive hit for fans of the series. This guide shows you how to easily craft her signature leaf shape and classic cartoon face using simple craft foam and green base layers.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~60 min
Budget: $20–50

See yourself as Battle for Dream Island →What you need Buy the Battle for Dream Island costume

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See yourself as Battle for Dream Island

One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.

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One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.

Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.

Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.

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You as Battle for Dream Island

Result

What you need for a Battle for Dream Island costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete Battle for Dream Island costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.

Shop Battle for Dream Island at Spirit ↗

Green poster board or large EVA foam sheets
Two large sheets of bright green foam or sturdy poster board to cut into the iconic leaf shape.
DIY: Use cardboard painted with bright green acrylic paint.
Amazon
Green long-sleeve shirt
A solid, bright green crewneck long-sleeve shirt to wear as a base layer.
DIY: Any solid green t-shirt or sweatshirt you already own.
Amazon
Green leggings or sweatpants
Matching solid green pants to complete the monochrome base layer.
DIY: Use black jeans or neutral pants if green is unavailable.
Amazon
Black adhesive felt sheets
Sticker-backed black felt to easily cut out the simple dot eyes and open-mouthed smile.
DIY: Draw the face directly onto the foam using a thick black permanent marker.
Amazon
Green ribbon or webbing straps
Sturdy green ribbon or fabric straps to connect the front and back leaf panels over your shoulders.
DIY: Use safety pins or hot glue to attach the panels directly to an old green shirt.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Battle for Dream Island costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Draw a large, symmetrical leaf outline on your two green foam sheets and cut them out to create the front and back panels.
2
Cut two simple circles for eyes and a wide, curved open mouth shape from the black adhesive felt.
3
Peel and stick the felt face pieces onto the center of the front leaf panel to recreate Leafy's signature minimalist BFDI expression.
4
Hot glue two parallel fabric straps to the top inner shoulders of the front and back leaf panels, creating a wearable sandwich-board style tabard.
5
Put on your green long-sleeve shirt and matching green pants.
6
Slip the leaf tabard over your head so the panels rest comfortably on your chest and back.

Makeup & hair

No complex makeup or hair styling is required. If desired, you can style your hair in a simple ponytail or wear a matching green beanie to blend in with the costume.

Battle for Dream Island for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: Pair up as Leafy and Firey by making a matching orange flame-shaped foam tabard for your partner.
group: Have friends dress as other BFDI contestants like Bubble (using a blue hoop), Flower (using a flower petal collar), or Blocky (using a red cardboard box).
kids: This lightweight foam tabard design is highly customizable and perfectly scaled down for kids' school events or trick-or-treating.
Plus size: The sandwich-board style is naturally size-inclusive; simply adjust the length of the shoulder and side ribbon straps for a comfortable fit.
pet: Create a miniature felt leaf cape that attaches to your pet's collar or harness.

Tips

Keep the side straps loose enough so you can easily sit down and move your arms while wearing the tabard.
If wearing this outdoors in cold weather, choose a thick green hoodie as your base layer to stay warm.
For the best photos, stand straight and face the camera directly to showcase the flat, 2D cartoon aesthetic of the character.

Battle for Dream Island costume FAQ

How do I make the costume look like the actual BFDI art style?: Keep the face elements incredibly simple. Use perfect circles for the eyes and a basic, unlined open mouth shape, which perfectly mimics the show's Flash-animated aesthetic.
Is this costume comfortable for kids to wear all day?: Yes, using lightweight EVA foam or poster board makes the tabard incredibly light and easy to wear over normal, comfortable clothing.
Can I make other BFDI characters using this method?: Absolutely. You can use the exact same sandwich-board technique to make Firey (orange flame shape), Bubble (blue circle), or Coiny (yellow circle).

Did you know? Battle for Dream Island was created by teenage brothers Cary and Michael Huang in 2010, pioneering the entire 'object show' subgenre on YouTube.