MY LITTLE BOXTROLLS...

Have y'all seen this movie???

Well we have!  And the very first time we saw the previews for it, the boys thought BoxTrolls would make great Halloween costumes.  And I was ALL FOR IT - Cheap and Easy!!!

So on one of my days off, a few weeks ago, I started working on costumes for my own Fish and Shoe.

                                                   

Introducing Fish & Shoe...

We still have all the boxes from when we moved last year, so it was just a matter of finding the right size, which luckily I did.  

For their bodies, I bought them each a pair of grey long johns.  For their ears, I used some left over headbands from my Princess Lea hair buns and covered them with duct tape, sculpting some ears as I went.

The flaps kept wanting to pop open, so I punched some holes and stitched them together.

In the movie, Shoe LOVED eating bugs!  He would put so many in his mouth at one time, that a few would always escape and crawl up his face.  So of course, I had to mimic that with my Shoe's facial artwork.

Fish & Shoe / Shoe & Fish

All ready for Trick-or-Treating!!

It was a very successful night of Trick-or-Treating!  Shoe's first treat was a blue sucker.

I took this last image with my cell phone.  It was rare that one of my children were first to the door.  When I saw this empty porch, with it's light on, I told my youngest to hurry up and go ring the bell...

This photo evokes such Emotion and Nostalgia for me.  It reminds me of my Trick-or-Treat  childhood memories, and it completely makes all the Romantic Dreams come true that I've always had for my own children - a small child, in a handmade costume, ringing the bell and waiting to say... "Trick-or-Treat!!"

Hope y'all had a wonderful Halloween!!

"WHIP IT GOOD"

How many of you know what this might be?

Maybe this will help, especially for all you followers who grew up in the 80's.

That's right... for Halloween, we were the 80's Band, DEVO, and I made everything.  Including the guitars.  The hats are constructed of 1/4" foam core and red poster board.  
The suits are inexpensive broad cloth with duct tape detailing, and black vinyl lettering.  The guitars are also 1/4" foam core with detailing done with black vinyl.

The two littlest band members.

Since my oldest will be 6 next year at Halloween, this may have been the last year that we could do the "Family" costume.













Hope everyone had a Wonderful Halloween this year.  Isn't my husband a good sport?

THE SMURFS

The Family shot... Papa Smurf, Little Smurf 2, Little Smurf 1, & Smurfette.

Can you tell that it is Absolutely Freezing?

These costumes were pretty easy. The only thing I had to make were the hats. I got some white and red felt, and using a little Smurf figurine that the boys got at McDonalds, I figured out a pattern. The folded over part of the hats are filled with plastic grocery bags and held in place with a straight pin.

I already had the white sundress. I got the boys' and my blue shirts at Target. I ordered the boys' white sweatpants, Marc's shirt and sweatpants, and my blue tights online. Did you know it's nearly impossible to find White Sweatpants for toddlers. I finally found one website that stated their sizes would fit 2T and 4T sizes. Yeah right! When they arrived, they both were HUGE. On both pair, I had to take in the crotch and the leg width. And I cut probably 5" off the length of both.

Papa Smurf and Smurfette

Isn't my husband just the absolute best? In all the years we've been dressing up, he has never even balked at what I cooked up for him to wear (see 2008, 2009, and 2010 - '09 being the craziest yet).

The other thing I had to make, was my absolute favorite part of the costumes...

The Tails! I went to the thrift store and bought a children's royal blue t-shirt - cut out a few circles and stuffed with batting. Aren't they Cute?

Smurfette

I guess Smurfette had some kind of skin disorder, or maybe her legs had gotten tanned. LOL!

I found the white flats at Walmart on clearance for $2. I think I might Modge Podge them now with some fabric.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

This year, for Halloween, the Faucheux Family went as Star Wars characters. Ever since we had our first son and named him Luke, we knew we would do this one year... this was the year.

After purchasing the boy's costumes on line - paying full price for Luke's but getting a deal on Darth Vader through e-Bay, I knew I needed to cut costs, and make mine and my husbands costumes.

Presenting... Han Solo & Princess Leia

Han's costume was pretty easy. I got the shirt and pants at Goodwill.

The shirt was a XXL, so I had to do a little tailoring so Marc wouldn't be swimming in it. I took it in 3" on the sides and in the arms, and I cut off the cuffs so it more resembled the shirt Han wore in the movie. Then to make the pants a little more authentic, I used Red Electrical Tape to create the stripe detailing down the sides.

I did however, have to make the vest. I chose a black twill, and using a fleece winter vest Marc has as a guideline, I sewed (without a pattern mind you) a vest... with pockets to boot.

Marc as Han Solo

Now for my costume. Originally, I was going to purchase ALL the costumes on line, but doing so would have been between $100-$150... a stupid expense for a one-time shot. After much deliberation, we decided we would only do the costumes for the boys... Marc and I wouldn't dress up. Then, I got my October issue of "FamilyFun", which had a tutorial on how to make yarn wigs for kids... like Pippy Longstocking and Rapunzel. So, that got me thinking..."I bet I could make a Princess Leia wig following these same instructions". And so, Marc and I would be dressing up after all... on the cheap!!

The wig - brown yarn, control top pantyhose, bobby pins and hairspray. I couldn't believe it actually worked

The gown - an old king size white sheet set. This is what I am most PROUD of!!!! I've made clothes for myself before, but ALWAYS with a pattern, NEVER on the fly. This creation, was a Full Length (somewhat form fitting) Gown with Long Flowing Sleeves, a Turtle Neck AND a Hood. The day I made it, I started drawing out the shape around lunch time and was finished by 8:00. I was so impressed with it, I told my husband I thought I would wear it all the time.

For the belt, I cut a piece of poster board to the pointy shape, added silver duct tape to mimic the metallic embellishments and hot glued on clear floral rocks.

Me as Princess Leia

The Faucheux Family as Star Wars Characters...

Me as Princess Leia, Luke as Luke Skywalker, Grey as Darth Vader and Marc as Han Solo.

If there would have been a contest for best Family Costumes... I'm SURE we would have won.

I'm linking up here. Go check it out to see all the other incredible inspirations.

HALLOWEEN PREP

Princess Leia in the making....