Halloween Costume Tutorial

Tonight was the night we took the kids trick-or-treating. That means that today was dedicated to making costumes. I rock procrastination like nobody else can. Mind you, I'm all about asking the kids what they want to be a good month in advance. I encourage them to nail it down no sooner than 2 weeks out. This obviously isn't so that I can get a head start on making it. It's all in the planning, you see. I think through every detail so that when I sit down to accomplish the task, it's only a matter of execution.

Becky wanted to be a ballerina this year. Remember that prom gown of hers that had 10 yards of tulle in the skirt? It got repurposed. We cut that skirt into strips and tied them onto an elastic band. Since she wanted pink, we spray painted it.  Add black tights and a long sleeved tee and you're in business. She didn't have black ballet flats so we found a pair at Salvation Army in brown and spray painted those as well. Bingo. The flats cost us $2, the paint $3.50.

Josh wanted to be a mobster. We picked up a striped suit at the thrift store for him (it's a bit big, but works) along with a white tie (so Capone). We spray painted a foam hat from Dollar Tree and Sam made a tommy gun for him to carry. Josh had quite the spendy costume at $14.

Luke was a knight in armor (shining was optional) so we hit Dollar Tree for the breastplate and helmet. (The helmet was a bit small, but when knights shop at Dollar Tree they're not so choosy, nor as protected as those who shop at Armor Be Us). He donned black sweatpants and a gray long sleeved tee under the armor, I wrapped thin cardboard with duck tape and duck taped it onto his arms and legs for additional armor. The finishing touch was a skirt of mine turned inside out and pinned to fit. Sam made him a sword which the boys will play with for years to come. Luke's costume cost me $2.

Micah, of course, was Woody. We're really getting some mileage out of those pajamas we got from Disney for free.

After a few hours of work, the kids spent the next few hours complaining about itching and poofiness and discomfort. I think in future they can go as ghosts, draped in bedsheets. I'll make them wear the Scooby Doo ones, just for spite.

8 comments:

Flea said...

Those costumes ROCK! I want to be a ballerina!

Oliver tells me tonight, at 10 o'clock, that he wants to make a costume to wear to school in the morning. Meaning, "Mom, make it for me while I finish my homework and sleep." Uuuuh - no.

Trisha said...

Happy Halloween! The costumes are wonderful - the kids should be thankful that Mom and Dad took the time to help instead of just buying something generic in the store!

Burgh Baby said...

You win at Halloween.

Karen Deborah said...

They look great and at those prices you gotta sell costumes next year!!!

JennyH said...

Those are cute!! Becky's face cracks me up. She looks so thrilled!

They all look very good.

heidi marie said...

Happy halloween! Great costumes, my little guy is woody this year, too!

Brandie said...

Great ideas! Hank was going to be a bat. My oldest made him wings. Then we couldn't find them, so he was nothing.

Roger Miller said...

Love the costumes!! It looks like Becky stepped in something, by her expression...

Is there a reason that Micah is carrying a severed arm? Is he acting out TS2?