How do you make a TY tag for a costume?

Cut a heart out of red poster board, paint the lowercase white 'ty' logo with a yellow outline, punch a hole in the top left, and hang it with a red ribbon.

What animal should I pair with the TY tag?

Any animal works! Popular choices include bears, leopards, dalmatians, or cats, which can easily be done with a simple onesie or headband.

Can I make a folding TY tag?

Yes. Fold a larger piece of red cardstock in half, cut the heart shape leaving the fold intact on one side, and write a custom poem and birthdate on the inside.

AI-generated example

TY Beanie Baby Tag Costume

Turn any animal outfit into a nostalgic 90s Beanie Baby.

The TY Beanie Baby Tag is the ultimate low-effort, high-nostalgia costume accessory. By pairing a handmade red heart tag with any animal onesie or ears, you instantly transform into a classic 90s collectible. It is a favorite choice for last-minute costumes, group themes, kids, and pets alike.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: ~30 min
Budget: $5–25

See yourself as TY Beanie Baby Tag →What you need Buy the TY Beanie Baby Tag costume

Try it on

See yourself as TY Beanie Baby Tag

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

Choose or drop a photo of yourselfJPG · PNG · HEIC

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.

TY Beanie Baby Tag costume — Example look · AI-generated

You as TY Beanie Baby Tag

Result

What you need for a TY Beanie Baby Tag costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete TY Beanie Baby Tag costume — one box instead of 4 pieces.

Shop TY Beanie Baby Tag at Spirit ↗

Red poster board or cardstock
Thick, bright red cardstock or poster board to form the base of the heart-shaped tag.
DIY: Cut a heart shape out of a cardboard shipping box and paint it bright red.
Amazon
White and yellow acrylic paint
Standard craft paint to paint the lowercase 'ty' letters and their thin yellow border.
DIY: Use white and yellow paint pens or cut the letters out of colored paper and glue them on.
Amazon
Red ribbon or lanyard
A length of red ribbon or yarn to hang the finished tag around your neck or collar.
DIY: Use a red shoelace or a piece of red yarn.
Amazon
Animal onesie or headband
Any animal-themed outfit, such as a plush bear onesie, cat ears, or a dog headband.
DIY: Wear solid brown or black clothes and make simple construction paper animal ears on a headband.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made TY Beanie Baby Tag costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Cut a large, symmetrical heart shape out of the red poster board, making it about 6 to 8 inches wide.
2
Lightly sketch the lowercase letters 'ty' in the center of the heart using a pencil.
3
Paint the letters solid white, then paint a thin yellow outline around the white letters to replicate the classic logo.
4
Once dry, punch a single hole in the upper left curve of the heart tag.
5
Thread your red ribbon through the hole and tie the ends together to create a loop that fits easily over your head.
6
Put on your animal onesie or animal ears, then hang the red heart tag around your neck so it sits visibly on your chest.

Makeup & hair

Keep makeup simple with a painted-on black animal nose and whiskers using eyeliner. Hair can be styled in high space buns to mimic rounded animal ears if you are not wearing a headband.

TY Beanie Baby Tag for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: One person dresses as a Beanie Baby with a tag, and the other dresses as a 90s toy collector with a clipboard.
group: A pack of different animals (bears, cats, leopards) all wearing matching handmade TY tags.
kids: An incredibly cozy option using a plush animal footie pajama set with a small, lightweight paper tag attached.
Plus size: Use a comfortable, oversized animal onesie or hoodie as the base and scale up the tag size for visual balance.
pet: The perfect pet costume: attach a mini laminated TY tag directly to your dog or cat's collar.

Tips

Laminate your paper tag or back it with thick cardboard so it does not bend or crease during parties.
Make a folding book-style tag and write a custom 'birthdate' and a short, humorous poem on the inside.
Keep the neck ribbon loose and comfortable so you can easily slip the tag off when sitting or driving.

TY Beanie Baby Tag costume FAQ

How do you make a TY tag for a costume?: Cut a heart out of red poster board, paint the lowercase white 'ty' logo with a yellow outline, punch a hole in the top left, and hang it with a red ribbon.
What animal should I pair with the TY tag?: Any animal works! Popular choices include bears, leopards, dalmatians, or cats, which can easily be done with a simple onesie or headband.
Can I make a folding TY tag?: Yes. Fold a larger piece of red cardstock in half, cut the heart shape leaving the fold intact on one side, and write a custom poem and birthdate on the inside.

Did you know? The original Ty Beanie Baby tags featured a short four-line poem and a specific birth date for each animal, making them highly collectible in the late 1990s.