embellishing halloween costumes

I love clever Halloween costumes.  When I was little, my very industrious mother made all of our costumes from scratch.  I'm talking patterns, a sewing machine that never stopped, and hours upon hours of work.  Needless to say, my brother and sisters and I had very memorable costumes.  One year, I went as Bugs Bunny and my little brother (who was probably 2 at the time) went as a carrot, complete with orange tights, a crepe paper "carrot" body, and a green crepe paper hat comprised of "carrot leaves".  It was ingeniuous!

Sadly, I lack the patience for such sewing projects and instead, choose to embellish store-bought Halloween ensembles.  Last year, Charlotte and Amelia went as Alice in Wonderland and The White Rabbit.  Amelia's rabbit costume was purchased at Old Navy and then "White Rabbit-fied" – I designed an oversize pocketwatch and printed 2 copies (for front and back) onto heavy white cardstock.  An orange ribbon was tucked between the two layers and then the finished "watch" was pinned onto the bunny costume.  For the heart, I used white felt that was edged with pinking shears and then a simple red heart was stitched on the front.  To complete the look, I purchased a pair of inexpensive wire spectacles and popped the lenses out. The girls loved their costumes and I loved the ease of the whole process!

Another year, Charlotte really wanted to be a cowgirl.  I found a cute cowgirl hat, vest and matching skirt at Gymboree and then embellished the costume with simple yarn braids.  I bought brown yarn, cutting enough of the same length of yarn to make two, 2-inch-wide braids.  I stitched the top of each "braid" using a sewing machine and then braided the yarn until the braids hit Charlotte's waist. 

I secured the ends with a piece of yarn and finished the look with a red grosgain ribbon bow.  Each finished braid was pinned to the underside of the cowgirl hat. 

This costume has gotten more play than any other dress-up we have.  Every December, my parents take the girls to the National Finals Rodeo.  Charlotte and Amelia feel that the rodeo is much more enjoyable when they go in costume and the braids have made a big impact.

Comments

[Ali]

Abbie has that Disneyland Alice dress as well. She wore it at Disneyland then at a Halloween party and for countless dress-up playdates. She is getting a little too tall for it, sign, but luckily it will fit Daisy before too long. But man, that hole for the head couldn't be any smaller!!!!

[oh amanda]

Love this! My mom was the same...my brother and I were Dorothy/Scarecrow, Snow White/Dopey, King/Queen--always a couple!

I love extra special costumes. Adding those little extras make it so much more fun!