This Halloween season we celebrated at our church ward party. We were assigned a door to decorate for trick or treating. My husband wanted to do a shadow puppet theater.I thought that was a great idea. So....he did. He used a black foam board and cut out a background silhouette with an exacto knife.
He then adhered a piece of white tissue paper on the back of the board. He choose some Halloween images and drew them on black cardstock. Then cut them out using my Cutter Bee paper scissors. (Luv those scissors!)
Then he attached the puppets to a wire stick and bent the end for a holder. He found some kid friendly Halloween jokes for his puppet play. He had a spotlight pointing on the back of the theater screen and told jokes in a silly voice as the puppets walked by in the scenery. Too funny.
The kids loved it. I was laughing. Then after a while the little kids thought it was so funny that one even decided to try to poke one of the puppets and succeeded in poking a hole right through the tissue paper. haha. Classic. Happy Halloween.
Last minute costume! Younger teenage boy wanted to participate in Halloween but not "dress up" in full on costume. So, I made a Green Lantern T-shirt using fabric paint and pellon. I used a cereal bowl, cup, and jenga blocks for my Lantern template. I basically pieced them together and used a fabric marker to mark my design. Then I hand painted the symbol in white fabric paint. When it had completely dried, I painted a layer of glow in dark fabric paint over the entire symbol. (It totally glows in the dark.) I then measured the area that I wanted to cut out and did the same with a piece of pellon iron on. I ironed on the pellon to the backside of the green rectangle. Then peeled the paper off of the green rectangular piece and placed it onto the shirt. I then placed a piece of cotton over the design and ironed on the green rectangle to the shirt. I did this carefully. After the piece was firmly adhered and cooled it was ready to sew. I used a stretch stitch and sewed a 1/4 inch around the border of the green rectangle.
The other night we watched the first Harry Potter and ate Bertie Botts every flavour Beans. It was fun. Lots of laughter and eeks from trying the different disgusting flavors. (I will never do it again.) My older daughter decided to be Hermione this Halloween. It was perfect because I already had the Harry Potter school robe from when the boys went through that phase. I altered one of my boys white collared shirts to fit her size. I also altered one of my black dress skirts to fit her size. (She loved that.)
Then I found one of the boys gray wool vests from their boyhood. It was perfect because of the red stripe. I also had one of their blue clip on ties.At first she did not want anything to do with a tie. "Ties are for boys!" So I crocheted a Gryffindor scarf in their house colors. It seemed to take forever because it was all done in a single crochet stitch.
She will wear black tights and black shoes and be outfitted with a wand, of course. Her hair will be perfect for it, and she is so super excited for Halloween. She is practicing her role and I am trying not to giggle. Too fun.
Who doesn't remember watching this timeless classic throughout the years. The reason why I made this costume is because my 4 year old had one too many ideas of what she wanted to be for Halloween. They were great and marvelous ideas...but they seemed to change every day. So, I told her to pick one costume idea. On and on went the endless ideas. Then I remembered her favorite red glittery ruby slippers. Aha! How about Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ? Huh? Cue movie. Instantly fell in love with the idea. Even better, I had 2 yards of blue gingham tucked away for a project just like this. I made the skirt form a pattern but altered it by making an overall top with buttons and straps. I also refashioned a with blouse by shortening the sleeves. It took an afternoon to cut and sew up the dress. Not too bad. She will wear her ruby slippers and red glittery bows in her hair. A wooden hand basket will be carried along with "Toto."
As a girl, one of my favorite Disney animations was Alice in Wonderland. One summer in elementary school I even checked out Lewis Carroll's classic Alice Through the Looking Glass. I read it cover to cover. I loved it. My new favorite is the recent film version with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. (He is just the best actor.) I love the idea of looking at things in a different perspective.
A couple of years a go I sewed up this little Alice costume for my daughter. I used a pattern for the body of the dress using costume blue satin. I added a rounded collar made out of white cotton.
I then designed the apron by measuring and piecing together the parts. I added ruffles of lace and a blue satin sash that ties in a bow in the back. She wore white tights and black Mary Janes. I made a black headband with a felt black bow and a rhinestone square gem middle.
A few years ago I sewed up this little beauty for my daughters Halloween costume. It was a lot of fun to make. One of my first sewing projects as an amateur. I think it turned out fairly well. I love the color of the fabric and how the light reflects off of it.
The fabric doesn't wrinkle easily like costume satin.
The individually glued on circular gemstones scattered over the dress make it feel magical.
The overlapping skirt is a sheer material that frays so easy. I hand rolled the hem as I sewed and then rouched the skirt to get that pouf look. I made a fabric crown in the coordinating yellow fabric and she wore Belle shoes that twinkled when she walked.
I thought I would sew up a Halloween blankie for my family to snuggle up in when we watch some Halloween favorites.
Like The Great Pumpkin, Hocus Pocus, Jurassic Park, and Alice in Wonderland to name a few.
I had this yard of Halloween printed cotton for years...waiting to be sewn. I picked up some orange flannel for like three bucks. What a deal. I used the Tahitian blanket technique to sew this little diddy up in a half hour. Can't get easier than that! Happy Halloween!
Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes, by Brian P. Clearly and illustrated by Steve Mack is a fun and entertaining childrens book. It is full of tongue twisters that delight the mind and are served with a side of laughter. I particularly like, "Six sick sheep on the steep ship sip thick, cheap shakes in the ship's chic sheep shack." Also, "Two-ton trains transporting twelve three-toed turtles twist trickily on the twin train tracks." That one got me for sure. Be sure to check it out. It's worth the read and lots of fun to share with your kids.
Sewing a Halloween costume should be fun and not disastrous. I remember way back when, my mom was out of town and my sister had torn the hem of her Halloween costume. Being the oldest, she turned to me for help. I was like...no big deal. Grabbed the stapler and stapled up the broken hem. Very effective I tell you. I even lined it with masking tape so that the metal staples didn't poke at her ankles. I was a great big sister. Haha...Halloween is a great time. Over the years I have tried to make costumes for the kids. I made up this mermaid costume for my daughter a couple of Halloweens ago. It was really fun and easy to make. This costume is a size 4/5.
I bought a ruffled tank top that I embellished with lavender ruffles, silver ric rac and a starfish button.
Then on the detachable skirt I added ruffles to the top lined with ric rac and a gathered tulle "fin" on the bottom of the skirt. I altered the skirt to fit my daughter and painted on silver glittered scales.
At times I laughed, then cried, pondered and definitely touched by the spirit.
I also felt blessed to be able to share this time with my family.
For those who may not be familiar with General Conference I will illuminate. General Conference is a time where we as Latter-day Saints come together twice a year to listen to our prophet and leaders for guidance and inspiration.
It is a great time to ponder about the purpose of life and finding joy
in the journey of it.
I loved the messages that were shared. Listening to the testimonies and inspiring thoughts renewed my spirit.
Relating with the experiences shared and broadening my perspective of what is most necessary in my life. It reaffirmed the knowledge of the great love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. That we matter most to Him, that he is ready to bless us if we but turn to him in righteousness. I love the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy that it does bring into my life. I am thankful for the blessing of family and for the calling of Mother. I hope that I may continue to learn and grow in every capacity and to have courage to never give up. I truly feel blessed and loved by my Heavenly Father. I have so many things to be thankful for. My prayer is to not let those moments that matter most pass me by. That I may serve my Heavenly Father by serving others. To grow in faith and knowledge. To gain a better understanding of my purpose here on earth and to share my testimony with others. For I know that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of all mankind.
