In the Spirit of Halloween Week

To get myself psyched up for the trick-or-treaters that will be ringing my doorbell on Friday evening, I decided to do a post about my favorite costumes of the past.  My kids have never gone for the store bought costumes.  They always come to me with some idea and I try my best to conjure something up.  They are both in high school now and too old to trick or treat.  I am done with my years of costume making.  Thought I would share a few classics for some Halloween fun.  (I had to scan old photos, so please bear with the quality)

The Bookworm.  My daughter wore this costume twice and changed the title of the book on the box to represent her favorite book of the moment.  On the back we printed her favorite quotes about reading.

My son Ben loves Rubik's Cubes. He collects them, can solve them and wanted to be one for Halloween.

The snail.  The snail shell was made out of dryer venting.  I love the glittery googly eyes and long snail eyelashes.

 

The spirit of Halloween.  Ben wasn't totally into dressing up, but loved the staff made out of plastic pumpkins.  I just drilled holes in the bottoms and threaded them thru a piece of PVC pipe.  I like how the pumpkins have different expressions.  We put a couple of glow sticks in a few of them to glow as we trick or treated. 

Kate as the mosquito.  I got the frame for the wings at an estate sale and covered them in black netting.  The legs I made from pipe insulation (I think that is what it is called)

The eyes were made from drains attached to a the frame of a pair of plastic glasses.  The proboscis (stinger) was made from something I picked up at the hardware store.  How many little girls want to be a mosquito for Halloween?

Thanks for watching the parade of Halloween costumes past...and just an FYI, I still have a bookworm head, the mosquito costume and the snail costume living in my attic.  They may get put to use again someday!

Oh, and I read some sad news on a blog today called Earths Angels.  My all time favorite magazine, Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion is stopping publication with the next issue.  I love that magazine!  It was always full of unique artists homes and great craft inspiration.  I have saved every issue since the first one and it is one of the magazines that I often read thru past issues.  Totally bummed me out!

Comments

[Kim G.]

Laurie, these pictures are hilarious! I love the snail costume, dryer venting, very clever! A mosquito? That is so funny! You should be a costume designer! (among other things and in your spare time!) and that is horrible news about the ME magazine, I love that magazine, the photos in it are great and she highlights such great artists, total bummer! I even liked the ads in the back of that one!

[Kim]

Those are fantastic! I love homemade, imaginative costumes. I remember a cousin went as a rubik's cube one year and we had to jam her in and out the car at each trick or treat stop. Thanks for that memory! :)

Happy Halloween and have a great day!

[Sarah]

I love these costumes. I considered a snail for Jack this year!

At least the link on the actual ME website says she is seeking a new publisher. So all is not lost perhaps.

[tammyCA]

Oh, that stinks...the demise of Home Companion magazine! I also have every single issue and always look thru the back issues. Dang. It really is the best magazine.

Now those costumes really were unique! I'd be like, "pick something else, easier for me" ha, ha.

[Jodi]

Love the parade of costumes. Fun! I love homemade costumes. Maybe I'll have to post a Parade of costumes!
So sad to hear about ME. I hope another publisher picks it up. ooxx`jodi

[My Shabby Roses]

Great costumes, you put a lot of work into those.
I too, love the ME magazines and was so dissapointed to hear they would not be publishing anymore.
)o:

[svelteSTUFF]

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! the costumes!!! SOOOOOOOOO much better than 'store bought'!