Halloween: 2012

I realize it's not even THE DAY yet, but our costumes had to be finished early for a couple of events, so I took pictures while the costumes still looked "fresh".

We'll do this youngest to oldest. For no reason.
First up:
Libby is a girly girl. She likes all things pink and purple and sparkly.

 And so, she is a princess. I made the crown. The outfit was a gift from my mother... I believe she paid an awesome $3. She also has a necklace (which she lost). Mostly, she just wants candy. This look is "I can't believe you aren't giving me any candy right now."

Next:
Lucas. We had to beg. Plead. Bribe.

 But in the end, I got my Dobby. Inspired by a pin with no link on Pinterest. I fashioned the skull cap out of nude lycra type knit fabric and attached the ears my husband designed. The "dress" is just a pillowcase that was already stained. Nice, eh? I have to be honest. It is my hands-down favorite.

 You should have heard people "Squee" with glee when they saw him.

And yes, apparently Dobby likes to pick up chicks. Or whatever this expression is.
Next:
Miles is mildly obsessed right now.

And he makes a pretty convincing Harry, right? We borrowed the cloak and tie. I made him a sweet wand (which you can only see the end of) and the glasses are just one of those pairs that have the comically large nose attached...with the nose detached. Believe it or not, Miles won our congregation's costume contest. It probably helped that he was casting spells on people all night. Method actor and all.

Next:
If you recognize Anna's costume without me telling you what it is, you win big points. BIG NERDY POINTS.

Still no clue? How about this:

This is Rarity. She's a My Little Pony. And yes, I made Anna a wig. 

Basically, I created tufts of hair and soaked them in fabric stiffener. Then wound them around a bat (covered in saran wrap) and stuck them in front of a fan to dry. Hint: the more stiffener the better. I then attached them to a hat I crocheted just for this project. Yes, this was easily the most time consuming project. What was I thinking??? 

And Finally:

Abbie has wanted this costume for several years. I finally consented.

 She is Katara from Avatar the Last Airbender. As reference:

In all honesty, the costume wasn't that hard. The hair is my nemesis. We did get it to look much better for our church party, but come Wednesday, I should have it down pat.

I actually think this costume will get played with again. 

Overall:

I am awesome. 

I feel like we should all get to say that more often. 

Halloween Costumes 2011

Because I feel the need to brag, I have decided to post something.

I know. I'm filled with humility.

I have probably talked before about how when I grew up my mom didn't usually help with Halloween costumes. You were on your own. Not because she didn't want to, but because she had nine kids...
Basically, it has lead me to believe that the very best costumes are the ones that come from the bowels of your imagination. Pieced together with duct tape and elastic.  Yes, the homemade ones.

This year, I did have one child elect to use a costume we already had on hand (that we were given about 4 years ago and which FINALLY fit).

I present Anna as Mulan.

Might I add that she doesn't actually like the movie Mulan; she thinks it's too scary.
And yes, she's wearing makeup. In keeping with the tradition that my mother allowed, my girls are permitted to wear makeup one day per year: Halloween.

Lucas's costume was an easy recycle from a couple of years ago. Totoro.

He's such a little squirt that the hat totally swamped him and no one knew what he was... which didn't bother me in the least. I like the obscure.

The only instruction I gave Abbie on choosing a Halloween costume this year was to encourage her to choose a literary character.  Having just read both Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie, she immediately selected Laura Ingalls.

And while I realize that her costume isn't exactly period correct, we sure tried. And also, yikes. I'm in trouble. Check this girl out:

9 going on 19, eh?

Miles wore an entire 14 piece ensemble that I spent a really long time agonizing over and working on. I sewed him a vest and gun holster (of my Dad's design). We borrowed chaps, boots and a gun.  He also had a hat (not pictured because it was in the back of Matt's car who wasn't home from work when these pictures were taken).

He would like you to know that he is NOT Woody. And yes, it is time for a haircut.

And finally, my crowning glory. Libby as Octopus. Wait, you're on Pinterest, right? If so, follow me!
At any rate, I found this costume idea from a link on Pinterest.
I must admit, I think my execution is better. Also, their octopus has 10 legs.

I filled the polka dotted socks I had lying around (supposed to have been turned into Babylegs for Lucas) with grocery sacks (I'm so green) and used safety pins to attach them to a harness I fashioned out of elastic. Safety pins, so I can use the socks again. The hat was whipped up out of some rib knit and felt.

It was pretty much the most hysterical thing anyone had ever seen. It helps that Libby's so tiny that it blows people away when she runs up to their door, holds out her bucket and says, "Trick Treat" just like a big kid. Then a "Thank You!" and a "Bye!" with a wave!  I love this girl so much.

Her joie de vivre is infectious. Absolutely.

The Rest

Sorry. I got sidetracked with life.

I'm back.
Anna decided months ago that she wanted to be Tiger Lily. I put off her costume and put off her costume... and then went and bought all the stuff for it, and as of the Wednesday before Halloween, hadn't started a thing.

Fortunately, I have an awesome friend who had purchased this costume for her daughter for a school project. Done and done.

 Yes. I know. I slacked. I figure I deserve one or two easy costumes per year, right?

 And more importantly, Anna loved it. She should, since she's totally 1/32nd Cherokee Indian (what? you can't tell?)

And to be totally politically incorrect...

In other Halloween related news, my Bibs (her most common nickname) was just the cutest little bug. 

I know, right? Those cheeks lure me in every time.

 And finally, a group shot. Because nothing says Halloween like realizing with 4 out of 5 kids getting candy, you're bound to gain some weight.

Costume #3 - Halloween Fairy??

In my efforts to encourage Abbie to read books on her actual reading level (more like 5th grade), I told her that her Halloween Costume needed to be from a character a book. I suggested lots of awesome ideas like Laura Ingalls, Ramona Quimby, etc... She would have none of my suggestions.

She brought me this book (which, to be fair, she did actually read.) Ugh! Fine. Whatever. I didn't have the energy to fight anymore.

 Close enough, right? Just say yes. 

 I took a size medium adult woman's shirt, cut a hole in the neckband casing and slipped some elastic in to cinch up the neckline and I cut the sleeves off diagonally. We reused a sash from our ninja costumes from last year. The tights were a blessed find from JoAnns and honestly, I would have paid whatever they were asking because I was seriously stumped as to a homemade solution. The wings were also worth every penny I paid WalMart for them, because while I know you CAN make your own, I just wasn't about to.

I made the wand using tried and true methods of paper, cardboard, hot glue and duct tape.

We be Piratin'

Every year I feel an intense amount of pressure to come up with handmade costumes for each of my children.

Why do I do this to myself? The answer is that I just don't know. It's totally unnecessary. And yet, every year... here we go.

 Miles decided on a pirate. That is, after I talked him out of Super Mario (because I know that at least 3 of his friends were being Super Mario... I prefer at least a teensy bit of originality... sorta.) He took his job seriously. There were a lot of "Ahoy Mateys!" and "Shiver me timbers" going around.
And Matt took his job of fashioning a Spanish-style sword very seriously.
Here's a closer shot of the hilt:

The hat was fabulously easy thanks in large part to a tutorial my sister sent.
I also made the vest and sash, but lets be honest... nothing special there. Overall, it was Miles's overacting that made this costume awesome.

 

And because, if one pirate is good, then two is great, right?

 Lucas loved it. He has been telling everyone for the last week that he's a pirate. A bad one.

But how could a pirate this cute, be bad?

Halloween.

That's right folks. I've resorted to using the most simplistic and obvious titles I can in an effort to JUST BLOG ALREADY! Thank you to those of you who still check here to see if perhaps I've done something new lately, which I haven't. Sorry.

So here we have the unveiling of the costumes. I'm not sure I can compete with last year, or even come close to Char ANY year. Matt and I had a blast working together to fashion the kids' weapons entirely out of cardboard, duct tape, and hot glue.

Miles as the "Red Dinosaur Ninja" with his accompanying short swords.

Abbie was the "Blue Eagle Ninja" who sported some furiously awesome nunchucks (which Matt has already laid claim to).

Anna as the "Yellow Butterfly Ninja" with the sweetest Sai you ever laid eyes on.

And finally, Lucas as the "Ninja Chicken." Okay, not really a ninja chicken, just a regular chicken but holy cow that boy loved Anna's Sai. This would be the same costume that Miles wore two years ago, which won the costume contest at my husband's work. And guess what? It won again this year. Freaking hilarious!

And, in case you needed an action shot:

You do NOT want to get in the middle of THAT battle!