The costumes are started

As you may or may not remember, last year I threw together the Deadmau5 head for Ilin Blue.  Since Ilin is getting a bit older, this year, he is in charge of his own and Olive gets the creation. ( Although I feel the Princess Lea was pretty good last year too.)

I definitely lack in the parenting department…but for what I lack there, I like to think I make up in Halloween costumes and Xmas decor…and cursing.

I started last night on the Power Puff Girl Bubbles.

Step 1: go to neighbors and get all recycled Newspaper, you will need a lot

Step 2: Rip, or cut, into strips.

step 3:  make paste….1 C. white flour, 2 cups water (or until right consistency)

I had a hard time finding a beach ball…so Ilin had the idea to use a big balloon.

it must be bigger than the kid's head.

start the process.  You want to stabilize the balloon on a big bowl.  make sure you have an area where you can clean up easily.  It's messy.   This is the first layer.  You have to let the layers dry of you will have a nasty mess.  It always takes longer for it to dry then you think, especially if it is a bit chilly.

Layer one done…about 10 more layers to do.

I'll keep ya posted.

I'm praying it works…because there is nothing like a a Halloween costume which goes awry 3 days before the big day

xo,

m

Dead Mouse? Deadmau5...it's all Halloween to Me

Some of you have seen this costume I have been working on for Ilin, I have been posting my tortuous updates on facebook. It has been a hard one, but only because I have never thought of trying anything like it before.  Now that I have done it, I can think of all kind of masks I could make.  Next year I am going to try the creatures from "Where the Wild Things Are" ...or maybe a big Stewie (Family Guy) head.

Here's the short version of how he came together.

It all started with a 24 inch hamster plastic ball.  We cut the neck hole, made ears with metal strapping and foam, then spray glued the foam on the plastic ball.

We made our first mistake here:

We put the screen for the mouth on at this point!  NOOOO

we should have done that last.

After that we got the super stretchy velvet from Hancock Fabric. (7.25/yard got 2 yards)

covered ears, then started head.  this was very difficult.  Had never done such a thing.

Learned after the fact , again that if I had done it in 2 pieces, starting at upper lip, up and done just half the sphere at a time it would have been better.

Next time.

Pins Pins and more pins, 

tears tears and more tears....

this took me about 7 hours.  I spray glued as I went.

it sucked

By the time Jon Stewart was on. I had this.

the next hard part was the lip.  It MUST have a lip (from what the 13 year old was barking at me)  It's no good and considered crap if it has no lip.

So, we had to cut a piece of fun foam and put it where the lip is and try to streeeeetch the fabric over it.  I had to hand stitch it to the screen.

Now, it I hadn't put the screen in it would have been much easier.

At this point, the kid did the eyes with the styrofoam balls hollowed out and little LED lights with battery back.

Almost done!!! I have to finish up around the ears and the that is it!  Not perfect, but good.

The kid said I can wear it on Friday night when I go out. 

here's the original:

It's huge...3 feet+ ear span!

I gotta get some rest, Halloween is killing me.

xo,

M