Little Ghosties--No Sew Costumes

Our preschooler wanted to be a "Scary Ghost" this year for Halloween-- which, by the way, is the first year he's had any opinions on the matter. And where did he get the "scary" part anyway? 

My mom said to just put an old sheet over his head and cut holes, Charlie Brown style. I'm not really big on over-the-head costumes because of the whole suffocation thing. I'm an overprotective mother like that.

Besides, I wanted the boys to match this year and there is no way my baby was going to stay under a sheet for more than a second or two. I'd like to see us even try to make him. 

Furthermore, I don't have an old white sheet. We'd have to buy a new one just to cut holes in it. 

And the whole suffocation thing.

Since my official Halloween costume motto is "semi-homemade is good enough for us" I headed to Wal-Mart and grabbed two white tee shirts per boy (I'll explain) and black sweat pants, then picked up tulle and lightweight cotton fabric from Hobby Lobby.

For each costume, I ripped strips of the fabric and hot glued them around the collar of one of the shirts. Then I cut thicker strips of the tulle and bunched it at the end before gluing over the fabric. I wanted them to seem gauzy, scrappy and whimsical (not scary--don't tell the four year old).

For the hats, I used the extra tee shirt (in each boy's size), and cut the neck/collar out. This was the perfect base for each hat. I left about half an inch of tee shirt around the edge when I cut it out.

Then I cut the remaining tee shirt into strips and glued them around the band, on the non-stretchy 1/2" of fabric. That way the hat could still stretch.

I placed the rim on each boy's head and gathered the strips at the top and knotted.

A friend of mine said they looked a little bit like ghost robbers, but in a cute way. Ha!

I love the hats! I'm thinking about remembering this technique for winter caps--but using lots of overlapping strips so there are no holes.

For the mask, I used black felt and measured a sideways "8" shape. I put in over my boy's eyes to properly measure where the holes would need to be cut. Then I added a strap of elastic to the back.

These little guys enjoyed running in the front yard and looking at a favorite spooky story book.

Trick-or-treating is going to be a lot of fun this year, too!

Shared with: Tatertots and Jello

Tetris Halloween Costume from Duck Tape

I am the t-shirt transformation queen when Halloween rolls around every year. I've made Davy Crockett, some funny shirts for Jeremy and I to wear to pass out candy last year, and I even made my oldest an Elvis costume out of a black t-shirt and black pants when he was two. Maybe I'll dig up those photos and share them sometime.

Give me a glue gun and a Wal-Mart shirt and I can whip something up.

My philosophy is, why start from scratch?

This was no exception and, if you follow on facebook, you probably recognize this picture below. I had a little contest going to see if anyone could guess what game we had picked for the theme party.

Some of you guessed Angry Birds, Candy Land, and Sorry! All of those would have been fun themes, but nothing beats how simple cutting squares of Duck tape was for Tetris.

I even sort of felt like I was playing Tetris as I lined everything up. Ha! 

These shirts took 10 minutes and if you want to make your own, I recommend using a square template to make sure every shape goes on straight.

My boys' costumes are completed, too, and as soon as I can get their pictures made, I'll share them with you. 

I guarantee you'll see a couple more tee shirt transformations!

Shared with: Sugar Bee Crafts, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Tatertots and Jello

Ghosts Say "BOO"

I had both boys in bed at 8:30 last night when my craftiness started flaring up... 

now doesn't THAT sound flattering?

 It happens every single night. Dinner done, boys bathed, jammies on, teeth brushed, prayers said, drink of water-- check! And mommy is running on fumes.

But just as soon as I tell the man-cubs their "nighty-nights" and "I love you forevers"and the door gently latches shut...

WHOOSH!

 A surge of energy rushes through me-- I want to slide across the floors in my socks and turn up the music!

I feel this need to be free with my crafting closet... Now doesn't THAT sound flattering?

Well, last night I was thinking about decorating for Halloween. Last year we were moving and the year before that, I was newly pregnant and not feeling well at all. This year, though, I am feeling inspired.

Project #1: a new pillow for the couch. I picked this Cynthia Rowley slipcovered pillow up at Marshall's for $10 on clearance. In fact, I grabbed two of them and removed the ruffles on the first to make my Geography Love Pillow.

The black-lined ruffles look perfectly festive so they stayed on. I cut out my letters from a heavy black fabric--almost like felt, but not as fuzzy-- and hot glued them in place.

And I even had enough left over to make my little ghost a mask for his costume.

This is not his official costume. It's mosquito netting that fits over my stroller, but he picked it up one day and called himself a ghost. I love how little kids' minds work creatively and without limits.

Now that I think about it, this is the first year he's had an opinion about his costume. 

Until now, I had always picked. 

He is growing up, but I must admit that I'm relieved he picked a costume that is still sweet and easily made at home. I just have this thing about wanting my boys to wear homemade Halloween costumes. They're so much more fun that way.

Plus, I have really special memories of rummaging through my mother's fabric drawer, jewelry box and craft supplies to come up with Santa Claus one year, a gypsy one year and Laura Ingalls Wilder another year (ha!). 

The excitement came from piecing together the perfect characters before heading out with our flashlights to fill our orange plastic pumpkins with loot.

I want my boys to remember their Halloweens like that, too. 

And I know that a time will come when they'll want to be a store-bought superhero or wear a scary mask. So I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

Shared with: The Idea Room, Tatertots and Jello, Under the Table and Dreaming, I Heart Naptime

September Rerun: No-Sew Davy Crocket Costume

I thought I would re-post some of my favorite early posts (from back when no one was reading them) in honor of my one year blogiversary this month. I just can't believe a year has already flown by and my three-year-old is four now. He is my sweet boy.

"King of the wild frontier."

I have a nursing infant, a house to pack because we're moving in two weeks, a house to finish remodeling  because we're moving in two weeks, approximately thirty-seven unwashed or unfolded loads of laundry on any given day, a husband and small child who enjoy eating regularly and, oh yeah, Halloween is this month!

Think. Think. Think.

We happen to have a coonskin cap that I picked up at Bass Pro Shop a while back.

Hmm. I can work with that.

After a fast trip to Wal-Mart at midnight last night where I picked up a tan turtleneck, khaki pants and a little over 3 yards of leather-like fringe, and armed with my never-fail glue gun, my boy is Davy Crockett.

No sewing required.

By the way, have you ever tried to hunt down a Wal-Mart employee to cut fabric for you at midnight?

After getting that accomplished, nothing is beyond my reach!

Watch out, bears, he's comin' for ya!

To turn the turtleneck into a collared shirt, make a cut down the front center to the seam and open it up.

Easy-peasy and done!

Now, what to do for the baby?

Our Halloween T-Shirts

Today I saw a sign that said,

"If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done."

I would really get along with whoever came up with that one.

While the kiddos were napping this afternoon, I did a little last-minute crafting so the hubbo and I would have something festive to wear over the Halloween weekend.

Mine:

So easy--I just sewed ribbons on a tee.

His:

He actually said this to me at lunch today--and I made him run me over to Wal-Mart while we were out so I could stencil his witty little remark onto a t-shirt.

I think he was wishing he'd kept his big mouth shut. Ha!

MY 1ST GIVEAWAY is coming up on Monday morning.

Be there, baby.

Ooh... I'm so excited!

Happy Teddy Bear Costume

He's a ferocious beast...

ready to pounce on his unsuspecting prey...

and completely overpower the weaker species with...

cuddles and drool.

Happy First Halloween, Baby Boy.

I could just eat you up.

**********

PS: My mom did a beautiful job crocheting his little bear hat using and adjusting this free pattern found at SandyFrogLegs. That's a red felt heart I hand-stitched onto his onesie.

Davy Crockett Treat Bucket

My little guy is going to be Davy Crockett for Halloween this year. 

See his easy-peasy, no-sew costume here.

Well, no self-respecting candy-hunter would even consider trick-or-treating without a fringed, coon-skin treat bucket! 

I have paint buckets-o-plenty lately (updates on our home reno coming soon), so I picked up a little faux suede and hot-glued it on. The fringe was a remnant that I cut myself and the handle was covered with a 2" piece of faux fur.

Are your kids' costumes ready?

I'd love to hear about your creative ideas!

Thirty Minute Costume-- Davy Crockett

"King of the wild frontier."

I have a nursing infant, a house to pack because we're moving in two weeks, a house to finish remodeling  because we're moving in two weeks, approximately thirty-seven unwashed or unfolded loads of laundry on any given day, a husband and small child who enjoy eating regularly and, oh yeah, Halloween is this month!

Think. Think. Think.

We happen to have a coonskin cap that I picked up at Bass Pro Shop a while back.

Hmm. I can work with that.

After a fast trip to Wal-Mart at midnight last night where I picked up a tan turtleneck, khaki pants and a little over 3 yards of leather-like fringe, and armed with my never-fail glue gun, my boy is Davy Crockett.

No sewing required.

By the way, have you ever tried to hunt down a Wal-Mart employee to cut fabric for you at midnight?

After getting that accomplished, nothing is beyond my reach!

Watch out, bears, he's comin' for ya!

To turn the turtleneck into a collared shirt, make a cut down the front center to the seam and open it up.

Easy-peasy and done!

Now, what to do for the baby?

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