Beanie Baby Costume
Bring the '90s plush craze to life with an easy DIY tag.
The Beanie Baby costume is a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing favorite that transforms you into a classic '90s Ty collectible. This look is incredibly popular because it is comfortable, budget-friendly, and highly customizable. The entire costume revolves around a cozy animal outfit paired with the iconic red heart-shaped 'Ty' tag.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $15–45
Try it on
See yourself as Beanie Baby
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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.
What you need for a Beanie Baby costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Beanie Baby costume — one box instead of 4 pieces.
Animal onesie or plush outfit
A hooded fleece animal pajama onesie (such as a bear, cat, dog, or frog) in your choice of animal style.
DIY: Wear a matching solid-colored sweat suit and attach clip-on animal ears and a tail.
Red poster board or cardstock
Thick, sturdy red paper or cardboard to cut into the classic heart shape.
DIY: Paint a piece of recycled shipping cardboard bright red.
White and yellow paint pens
Acrylic paint pens or markers to draw the 'ty' logo and the gold border on the tag.
DIY: Cut the letters out of white printer paper and glue them onto the red heart.
Gold ribbon or yarn
A short length of ribbon or string to loop through the tag and hang it around your neck or attach to your collar.
DIY: Use any thick string, yarn, or a metal key ring you have at home.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Beanie Baby costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on your chosen plush animal onesie or matching sweat suit.
- 2
Fold your red poster board in half and cut out a large, symmetrical heart shape (about 6 to 8 inches wide).
- 3
Use the white paint pen to write the lowercase letters 'ty' in the classic bubbly font in the center of the heart.
- 4
Use the yellow paint pen to draw a thin gold border around the entire edge of the red heart.
- 5
Punch a small hole in the upper left corner of the heart tag.
- 6
Thread the gold ribbon through the hole and tie it loosely around your neck, or safety pin the tag directly to the collar of your onesie.
- 7
Optional: Write a custom poem and birthdate on the inside of the tag if you made a folding version.
Makeup & hair
Keep it simple with a clean face, or use face paint to draw a small black nose and whiskers on your cheeks to match your animal persona.
Beanie Baby for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up as two different animals, like a matching bear and dog, each with their own Ty tags.
- group
- Have a whole squad wear different animal onesies with custom Ty tags for a giant collector's box look.
- kids
- Use a warm, plush animal romper or footie pajamas and safety pin a soft felt Ty tag to the zipper.
- Plus size
- Animal onesies are naturally loose-fitting and comfortable; choose a size up for extra room.
- pet
- Attach a miniature laminated Ty tag to your dog or cat's collar for an instant, effortless pet costume.
Tips
- If you are attending an outdoor event, a fleece onesie will keep you incredibly warm.
- Laminate your paper tag or cover it in clear packing tape to prevent it from tearing or getting ruined by spills.
- Write a funny, personalized poem on the back of the tag to entertain people when they flip it over.
- Wear comfortable sneakers that match the color of your animal onesie.
Beanie Baby costume FAQ
- How do you make the Ty tag for the costume?
- Cut a heart shape out of red cardstock, paint the lowercase 'ty' letters in white bubble font, add a yellow border, punch a hole, and hang it with a gold ribbon.
- What is the best outfit to wear under the tag?
- A plush animal onesie is the easiest and most recognizable option, but a matching solid-color sweat suit with animal ears works perfectly too.
- Can I make a folding Ty tag?
- Yes! Fold a piece of red cardstock in half, cut out the heart shape leaving the fold intact on one side, and write your custom birthdate and poem on the inside.
Did you know? Ty Beanie Babies were introduced in 1993 and became the world's first internet sensation and toy craze, with collectors obsessing over the tags to preserve the toy's value.