Real Life Halloween Goodies

If you aren't ready for Halloween yet, you're (I'm) running out of time. I'm amazed at how many Halloween activities have already taken place.  A costume can get a big work out these days.

Look at this family costume done by a sweet talented young friend. They are "Swamp People" with little baby Abram as their little alligator catch.  This is so my kind of costume! How? Clever idea but not a huge amount of time or money.  This busy mama is in medical school so you know she needs to study more than do craft projects. They went off to our beloved "Boo At the Zoo". An unexpected joy that comes with having a child is that you have an excuse to do this kind of stuff.  I don't know if the kiddlet cared, but I loved seeing them.

Resuable Halloween

BestLoved Hubby recalls with some envy that his aunt made his younger cousins pj's that doubled as their Halloween costumes.  Aunt Leslie was ever practical, loved to sew and found the double duty costumes very satisfactory.  I went in search of some clothing that could double as a Halloween costume and be used often afterward.

This onesie by Stitch Baby + Kids at Big Cartel is cute for every day (maybe I'd lose the cape) and perfect for the big night.  It's on sale now for $12.

The same shop has a Superman onsie, also. I just think it looks more like Wonder Woman.
Below is a hoody tricked out to double as a bunny costume.  What toddler wouldn't want to wear this all the time?

Bunny Hoody $46

It also comes in gray so pink adverse boys could be bunnies, too. The same Big Cartel Shop has hoodies in Fox, Raccoon, Owl and Deer designs.

Cheeky Dinosaur $155

 This beautifully constructed wool jacket is by Little Goodall.  Molly, from Texas, designs and sews coats for little ones that are truly future heirlooms.  Check out her version of a Wild Grey Wolf Coat.

There are lots of other animals and most are perfect for either boys or girls.

This Etsy shop below, WildthingsDresses, was an Etsy Featured Shop but they had been in my favorites for several months.  Don't you love it when that happens? It makes me feel soooo... in the know.

Little Girls Fox Character Dress $60

This dress makes me wish that the BLGrandaughter who's last name is the same as the dress was still little.  She's firmly a tween and this would be way too babyish.

Mouse Character Dress $60

Check out this Mouse version.  It makes me squeak!  She doesn't neglect the boy kids either.

Brown Bear Boys Dungaree Overall $60

Practical can be beautiful, don't you think?

Halloween Costumes - Pet Versions

OK.  Some families are so in love with Halloween that no family member is left out.  These families must also have a whole lot of energy.  Getting the kids out the door in full costume was usually all I could manage. Check out how some other family members get in the spirit of Halloween.

Dinosaur Costume for Hamster $7

These costumes are made to order so get your order in now for Halloween delivery.  No hamster in the house?  Here's how to get your dog ready for trick or treating.

Cowboy Dog Rider Costume via buycostumes.com $19

The dog might even keep it on during the evening. The hamster costume warns you shouldn't keep it on the pet for extended periods of time.  When I searched on Etsy for "Halloween Costume Pet" there are way over 1000 options.  People love to dress their fur babies.

Halloween Cat Dress via paulinesfasions on Etsy

I love how this kitty looks.  Not very happy.  I remember dressing the barn kitties in doll clothes when I was younger.  My parental units discouraged this.  They would remind us that the kitties didn't like to wear clothes. My faves are when you dress the family pet as another kind of animal.

Giraffe Dog via Spoiled Bratzwear on Etsy

One of the BLGirls had a Great Dane that could have been a giraffe. 

Bunny Dog via LupitasChicBotique on Etsy

Maybe the owner really wanted a bunny?  And on the front page of Etsy, the Lion Dog

Lion Dog Costume via KOCouture on Etsy

Do you dress the family pet?

It Takes Attitude!

The "Hobo" costume or variations on that theme are some of my favorite costumes.  I love them for how easy they are. 

via Coolest Homemade Costumes

Old clothes, a "beard" made of either coffee grounds, eyebrow pencil or this looks like pudding. When the BL Kiddlets were in elementary school in SoCal every school had the tradition of the "Halloween Parade".  Kids came to school in their Halloween costume and as part of a class party would parade in and out of each classroom with parents watching from the sidelines. Everyone got to see all the other kids.  Arkansas schools I've been involved with don't celebrate Halloween.  Some in the community feel Halloween is devilish and not just good clean fun.

Not a Hobo, but close. found via Pintrest & IMGFAVE

 We loved the Halloween Parades. The only problem was that there was always a few children that didn't have costumes.  Parents were unable or unwilling to get their child costumed.  As a side note, my youngest two attended a Magnet school, Lyle S. Briggs Fundamental School,which had the highest test scores in San Bernadino County.  Visitors would come to see what they did how they could reproduce it. I always thought that their success had much more to do with the Halloween Parade.  Every single child had a great costume that clearly parents had spent time and often money to make sure their kid didn't miss out.  It was the parent participation that made the grades so high.   Back to the sad uncostumed kids.  At one school, the reading specialist came prepared with plenty of Hobo costumes and coffee grounds for all children without a costume.  She was also dressed as a Hobo and she made the hobo kids part of an extremely fun "Hobo Band".  They had special jobs all done as a group with the teacher.  She made it so much fun that other kids wished they were part of the group. They won one of the costume prizes.  What a treasure of a teacher.  Goes to show it's the attitude that makes all the difference

Put a Tutu On It!

No discussion of costumes would be complete without talking tutus. I loved seeing my brothers girls last summer flouncing around in a tutu and tennis shoes. It's the ultimate girly bit of dressing.   Pick any type of costume, add a tutu and you've got a fancy costume for a girl.

Clown Costume on Pintrest - links broken

I love this little clown costume.  A very pretty clown.  Below is a ghost costume made sweet with a tutu.  You get the onsie and the tutu.

Ghost Tutu Costume by AddieKatShop on Etsy $54.50

This Pin on Pintrest had broken links but the caption suggested that you could add a tutu to any "boy" or superhero costume and Voila! You've got a girly costume.  I love the idea of reusing and passing on costumes. 

Black Adult Tutu by StuidoMerla on Etsy $395.00

A tutu shouldn't be just for little girls.  The one above is for an adult.  A bit spendy, it's marketed for weddings or prom.  I would love to be a witch with this as I pass out candy.  Only worry is that I would end up looking like the fat fairy godmother in Disney's Cinderella.

 A friend's daughter was a dance student and used her recital costume each year for her Halloween costume.  A pretty costume should be reused.

Halloween Round Up DIY Ideas - Paper Bag Costumes

I found this fun and obviously paper fox costume on Pintrest, via Handmade Charlotte.  It's similar to the French "sack" costumes I linked to in my last post. It looks like a big paper sack.  Could DIY with butcher paper or brown wrapping paper on a roll.

http://xo-inmyroom.com/

The Pintrest link lead me to a fun blog, XO - In My Room where Carina blogs about kids design. She had the above costume (her nephew is in it) and did the research on where it came from. 
 Like most things on Pintrest there was a long complicated route to where this came from. 

According to the blog The Stopping Off Place, it's a Playsack, made in 1969 in England. Designed by Fredun Shapus for Trendon.  It looks like they came in packs of three.

Sunset published a book "Things to Make For Children (revised edition) 1973, 1975 had DIY versions made of wrapping paper.  AbeBooks.com had several copies available starting at $1.00 if you felt you needed detailed directions. 

Never Too Early for Halloween Costumes

Arkansas kids all went back to school this week.  It was fun to see my friends (and some far off relatives) post the first day of school pictures.  BL Baby Boy started his college classes Thursday.  All this means that in spite of absolutely no evidence that this summer straight from Hades will ever end, Halloween is just a few weeks away.  Time to start thinking of costumes.  The last several years have seen a lot of stores with Chinese import costumes that are rather nice and are under $20.  I've got some prejudices and issues with them but they're really very cute and you couldn't make something for that price. The problem comes is that they are usually only in small sizes suited more to preschoolers.  Especially a problem if your kids are as big for their age as are the BestLoved Kiddlets. There is also a good chance you will see several copies of your kid on the street on the big night.  I thought it would be fun to post some of the  best DIY costumes I've found.  I don't have a kid to out fit but I can dream.

via ni(D)

 When I was a kid a popular costume was a ghost.  An old white sheet or other white fabric was draped over the child and eye holes were cut out.  Vola! A Ghost.  These monsters come from a French blog/shop but looks almost as easy to DIY. Cut two matching sized pieces of a smooth, light colored fabric wide enough to go around your child and long enough to go from their head to mid calf. Seam them together, rounding the top and leaving holes for the arms. It's kind of like a tea cozy for your kid.  Then you and/or your child can draw a monster on the front (you could draw a back view, too, if desired).  It looks like these have some kind of mesh over the eye area.  You could just cut holes where your kids eyes are.  It would be great if the child's eyes were in the center of the monster eye or you could look for something see through to sew in place so your child could see. The imaginary monster can be colored with Sharpies, paint or even crayons.  If you use crayons, iron the front sandwiched between paper towels so the crayon wax melts and seeps into the fabric.  No one else will have a costume like yours. 

I love these.