Halloween Crafts: From Plain to Pretty Lace Fantasy Costume Dress

It took way too long, but I finally finished the first project on my craft list. 

A Halloween costume.

Does anyone remember this dress?  I made it two years ago around Halloween along with a couple of other accessories.  The accessories turned it into a cute fairy costume.

Sometimes great costumes can come from simple things, and I will show you how again with this dress.

I had this pink lace fabric leftover from an Easter dress (see Pink Lace for Easter).  Using the pink dress as a guide, I cut two tank top shapes out for a lacy bodice.

Then I stitched along the shoulders and “hemmed” arm area.  I just folded down the edge and zig-zag stitched it down.

I cut two half circles from the lace for cute flutter sleeves.

Just hem them and sew on along the arm area to finish.

The skirt on the pink dress is a circle skirt, but for the lace I made a half circle instead.  Here’s a great tutorial for half circle skirts.

I decided to cut the lace bodice down the center to open it up before sewing on the skirt.

Then I hemmed all the raw edges and layered the lace “overdress” over the pink dress.  Looks pretty now.

I then grabbed a needle and thread and to attach the lace to the pink dress along the front and neckline.  Just enough to keep things in place.

I wanted the stitches to be easy to remove in case I want to wear these pieces separately in the future.

Just throw on a few accessories, and my costume dress is done.  I still haven’t really decided what to call it.  This dress could work for so many pretty outfits.  From princess or fairy to anime style magical girl.  It all works.

Anyway, in addition to the left lace fabric I’m reusing the flower headband I also wore for Easter.  The color matches this dress perfectly.  Check out my flower headband tutorial to make your own.

Using more of the stretchy lace fabric, I whipping up some finger-less gloves that are easier than they look.  They are basically just tubes of fabric, hemmed and adjusted to fit my arms.

One end was pinned and stitch to go around my thumb.  An easier method it to cut the legs off a pair of lace tights and  cut off the toes for your fingers, but I didn’t have any.

So, now we have a pretty costume dress with matching accessories, and just in time for Halloween.  Yay!

Here’s the updated list:

• Costume
• Case
• Doll and Kitty
• Little Halloween
• 3 Skirts
• Accessories
• Socks
• Overalls
• Ornaments
• More Cases

One down, nine more to go.  The next one should be up soon.  Look forward to it!

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Simple Flower and Lace Headband Tutorial

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

As promised yesterday, here is my headband tutorial.

I will show you how to make this simple head band, accented with a pretty fake flower.

Materials needed:

• Glue gun with glue.
• Ribbon.
• A large flower.
• A lace rosette, check out my video tutorial if you don’t know how to make one.
• Scissors.
• A plain headband, I prefer metal ones because they can be adjusted to fit your head without breaking.
• Any other embellishments you want.

First, glue the end of the ribbon to the end of the headband to start covering it.

Proceed to carefully wrap the ribbon around the head band, applying glue as you go.  Be careful not to burn yourself on the hot glue.

When you get to the other end, cut the ribbon and glue down the end.

If you want,  you can wrap a little extra ribbon on the ends of the headband.  This will give it a more polished look, but I’m too lazy for that.

Now for the flowers.  If your flower has a wire stem like mine, you will want to stick it through the center of the rosette.

It looks kind of cute like this. :)

Then you twist down the wire, so it lies flat and add some glue to secure it.

If your flower doesn’t have wire, you can just glue it to the center of the rossette.

As an alternative to the large flower, you can use a cluster of three or more smaller flowers.  Use whatever you like.

Moving on, glue the end of the piece of ribbon over the center of the back of the flower and rossette piece.

Wrap this ribbon around the headband…

…Then glue down to attach the piece to your headband.  Make sure it is where you want it on the headband before you glue it.

Now it is ready for more decorations.

I added a ribbon bow with long tails (check out my simple bow video tutorial if needed), because I thought it looks pretty.  You can add jewels, strands of pearls, or anything else you want.

Enjoy the headbands and have a happy Easter.

Give it a try:

• Offray 3/8"x21' Grosgrain Solid Ribbon
• ArtMinds® Fashion Mini Glue Gun
• 2" 3/4" Cotton White Lace Apparel Trim
• Silver Tone Metal Headbands Frames 5x6 Inch, Sold Per Pack of 10

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Wordless Wednesday: Flowers at the Bus Station

Taken at the Tempe Transportation Center in Tempe, Arizona.

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Birdies, Roses, and Ribbons

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

I had intended to post this Sunday, but time sort of got away from me.  There was a lot to do that day. 

Sunday was the day of the choir’s annual Christmas Cantata.  I had to be up about an hour earlier to prepare for it as well as all the other things I had to do for the holidays.

I wanted to have a special new skirt to wear for the cantata, so I whipped this one out of some fabric I found at Bookman’s for 50 cents.  Great deal. 

It has cardinals and holly all over it.  I trimmed it with matching red bias tape and cream colored eyelet lace.

As an added touch, I decided to whip up a lovely pin to match.  This one was super quick and easy to make. 

I just got four wire stem rose buds and wrapped the stems around a large safety pin.  Yes, that is a safety pin they are attached to, the leaves hide this fact.  To finish I just had to glue some faux pearls to the center of each bud. 

It was just the right thing to complete my outfit.  I’m thinking of making more in other colors.

The skirt fabric wasn’t the only good thing I found at Bookman’s.  I also found some cute holiday print ribbon.  It has the word “JOY'” printed on it.  I got 2 spools for 50 cents each.  I should mention that I used trade credit for the ribbon and fabric so they were essentially free for me. 

Anyway,  I bought the ribbon mostly to wrap presents in, but I thought it would be fun to use it to make a few small gifts too.  So I whipped up a few hair bows.  Perfect to delight a few little girls I know. 

I also whipped up a cute wristband for a certain little fellow I know.  I’m sure they will love them.

Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Five down, Six more to go.  The next two will be up tomorrow.

 

Recommended Supplies

• Victoria Lynn™ Ribbon Roses Bunch, Red
• Loops & Threads Safety Pins, Assorted
• Aleene's Jewel-It Embellishing Glue
• Darice 5mm Loose Pearls-1000PK/White
• Maker's Holiday Satin Ribbon 3/8''x9'-Gray Snowflakes
• Christmas Cotton Fabric-Poinsettias & Scrolls On Red

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Wordless Wednesday: Rose Garden

So one day I had just got out of class and missed the bus, and I realized it’s been too long since I last checked out the rose garden at Mesa Community College.  It’s on the north side of campus, open to the general public, and wonderfully in bloom this time of year.  The first thing you notice when you go near it is the delightful scent of roses.  I thought, why not go and take some photos while I still can.  So here they are for your viewing pleasure on my very first Wordless Wednesday.  Well, maybe not completely wordless.

Sadly, not all the visitors to the garden pay attention to this.

Can you believe this is the bus stop?

Bunny!

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