Thesaurus Costume Guide
DIY Costume Items
How to Make a Thesaurus Costume
Turn a dark-green dinosaur onesie into a “Thesaurus” costume by adding six white cards with real synonym pairs, such as BIG / HUGE and FAST / QUICK. The dinosaur suit supplies the “saurus” sound while the paired words make the reference-book pun clear.
Write both words on each card, let the ink dry, then scatter the cards over the front, an outer sleeve, hip and legs at different heights and slight angles. Pin both top corners of each card to the outer fabric. Wear comfortable shoes from home because the onesie has open feet.
ProjectPun costume
TechniqueWrite six synonym pairs, scatter the cards over the suit, and pin both top corners.
Build the Dinosaur Thesaurus
From the Kit
Choose a Green Dinosaur Onesie that fits; the selected suit has a dark-green hood and body, lime-green belly panel, dinosaur face details and attached tail. Add six White Index Cards, one Black Fine Point Marker and twelve Silver Safety Pins. The card and pin packs contain enough for the build; cards and writing tools are not included with the onesie.
From Home
Wear comfortable dark closed-toe shoes or slippers from home because the onesie leaves the feet open. Write and arrange the cards on a flat, well-lit surface before putting on the suit.
Scatter a readable word display
Use six blank 3 x 5 cards, one true synonym pair per card. Plan varied positions on the front, an outer sleeve, hip and legs; tilt a few cards slightly while keeping both words readable. Start with BIG / HUGE and FAST / QUICK, then use the remaining pairs in the instructions below.
Pin only the outer fabric
Use two Silver Safety Pins at the top corners of each card, twelve in all, through the outer costume fabric only. Close every pin and keep its point away from skin. Leave the dinosaur hood, tail, zipper, pockets and bending joints free so the suit moves comfortably.
Make the Synonym Cards
Put one complete synonym pair on each of six cards. Keep both words large, correctly spelled and readable from a short distance, then place the cards irregularly over the front, sleeve, hip and legs instead of lining them up.
Set out six synonym pairs
Set out six White Index Cards and choose one pair for each: BIG / HUGE, FAST / QUICK, OLD / ANCIENT, LOUD / NOISY, HAPPY / GLAD and BRAVE / BOLD. Each pair contains words with the same or closely matching meaning.
Lay out a few cards at a time as you plan where all six will go. Spreading them down the suit gives the words room to breathe and makes the joke visible from more than one angle.
Check: Six cards are ready, one for each of the six true synonym pairs.
Write both words on each card
Use the Black Fine Point Marker to write one complete pair on each of the six cards. Center both words in large uppercase lettering on separate lines or with a clear gap; BIG above HUGE is an easy model.
Let the ink dry. Check every card against the list and rewrite any word that is misspelled, cramped, faint or difficult to read.
Check: All six cards show their complete, correctly spelled synonym pairs.
Scatter the cards over the suit
Lay the dinosaur onesie flat, front facing upward. Place one card high on the chest, one on an outer sleeve, two at different torso heights, one near a hip or upper thigh, and one lower on a leg. Put BIG / HUGE up top and BRAVE / BOLD down a leg if you like; vary the angles and spacing to suit the wearer.
Keep all six pairs visible. Move any card that folds, hides a word or bunches the fabric before pinning; the display should look playful rather than lined up.
Check: Six complete synonym pairs are visible at varied positions and angles across the body, sleeve and legs.
Pin the cards safely
Use twelve Silver Safety Pins, two at the top corners of each card, to secure all six cards through outer fabric only. Close every pin fully and keep its point away from skin.
Put on the onesie carefully and check the display while standing and walking. The cards should keep their varied placement, face outward and remain readable without pulling the fabric or limiting movement.
Check: All six cards stay secure and readable, with two closed pins per card through outer fabric and movement unrestricted.
Quick Fixes
A card tilts or slips
Unfasten it and reset both top-corner pins through the outer fabric. A slight angle is part of the scattered look, but both words should still face outward. Move the card clear of seams, pockets and bending joints, then test it while standing and walking.
A synonym pair is hard to read
Remove the card and rewrite both words in larger, widely spaced uppercase letters with the Black Fine Point Marker. Check the spelling, let the ink dry, then return it to a visible spot.
Wear and Photograph the Dinosaur Thesaurus
Wear the dark-green dinosaur onesie with comfortable dark closed-toe shoes or slippers from home. Let the six synonym cards pop up at different heights and angles over the front, outer sleeve, hip and legs while the lime belly, hood and tail remain visible.
For a clear photo, turn slightly so several cards on the sleeve and legs can be read along with the torso cards. The dinosaur suit plus real synonym pairs makes the “Thesaurus” wordplay clear wherever the cards land.
Thesaurus Costume FAQs
These answers explain how to make and safely wear the dinosaur Thesaurus costume with six true synonym-pair cards.
No. Use six of the selected blank White Index Cards and the Black Fine Point Marker to make the synonym-pair cards.
Use BIG / HUGE, FAST / QUICK, OLD / ANCIENT, LOUD / NOISY, HAPPY / GLAD and BRAVE / BOLD, with one complete pair per card.
Scatter them at varied heights and slight angles over the front, outer sleeve, hip and legs. Keep the hood, tail, zipper, pockets, seams and bending joints clear. Pin only through outer fabric.
No. The selected onesie has open feet and does not include slippers. Wear comfortable dark closed-toe shoes or slippers from home.
Use large, well-spaced lettering, let the ink dry and pin both top corners of every card. Check that all six pairs face outward and remain legible when you move.
About Thesaurus
“Thesaurus” combines the familiar dinosaur ending “-saurus” with a reference book of words and their synonyms. Six scattered cards make the wordplay plain; BIG / HUGE and FAST / QUICK are two examples.
The dark-green dinosaur onesie has a bright lime-green belly panel, dinosaur face details and a matching tail. Add six synonym cards to the suit with two safety pins at each top edge.
