It’s Finished Already?

A few weeks into October and I’ve already finished making my Halloween costume.  How in the world did that happen?  With me it usually seems to take this long just to decide on a costume. 

Yet here it is, and it only took a couple of days to complete.  It was inspired by those cute pumpkin trick-or-treat bags I made (see Trick-or-Treat?).  I guess it’s sort of a pumpkin fairy/elf thing. 

The top is made in a similar way as the bags except for of course being open at the bottom and the elastic at the top and just below the bust to give it some shape. 

The bottom is a simple elastic waist skirt except for the scalloped hem.  That did take some time with a marking pen and all. 

To finish up the look, I made some quick hair combs with some scraps of the orange fabric and a couple wooden buttons.  Now I have a cute and surprisingly comfortable costume that cost less than 2 dollars to make.  Perfect.

Here’s the updated list:

• Bags
• Bracelets
• Barrettes
• Doll pajamas
• Doll makeover
• Wristbands
• Red skirt
• Ears
• Costume
• Handkerchiefs

Three down, Seven to go.  The next project should be up by Monday.

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Trick-or-Treat?

I had intended to post this yesterday, but they were some technical problems.  The good thing is that it was definitely not my fault.

At my house, we hate to give out candy to trick-or-treaters.  Or to be specific, we hate to give out just candy.  The problem with candy besides the rotting teeth thing is it doesn’t last very long after the holiday.  Plus, not all kids can eat all types of candy.  Some kids are allergic to milk as in milk chocolate and some can’t eat hard or chewy candies.  So in our treat bowl we usually try to add a mixture of goodies.  A typical selection includes some mixed candies, safety pops, holiday pencils, spider and skulls rings (from Dollar Tree), and some sort of homemade trinkets.



These are the homemade goodies for this year, Halloween bracelets.  I cut out themed shapes from foam sheets I got at a thrift store.  It took two shape cut outs for each bracelet.  The top one I punched holes in to make face parts or decorations.  The bottom one had slits cut to stick the elastic through before sewing the ends together.  The bottom layer was cut from a contrasting color because it shows through the holes, but I guess that’s kind of obvious from the photo.

Anyway, they came out looking so cute that I kind of am hoping that we don’t get too many trick-or-treaters this year.  Maybe just the few at home.



Speaking of which, I made cute little treating bags for my niece and nephew, assuming they will want to use them.  The third one is for me to use since they are so cute and then I've got a fourth one just in case.

In case it isn’t obvious for some of you, I got the fabric from my last trip to Goodwill (see Finally Remembered).  I guess I could have used a solid colored orange fabric but I thought the patterned fabric would be cuter.  You can still tell they are supposed to be pumpkins right?  The only other problem would be the size, are they too small for trick-or-treating?  I guess that’s what the backup one is for.

Here’s the updated list:

• Bags
• Bracelets
• Barrettes
• Doll pajamas
• Doll makeover
• Wristbands
• Red skirt
• Ears
• Costume
• Handkerchiefs

Two down, eight to go.  The next project should be up either tomorrow or Saturday.

One more thing, I posted this question on twitter and thought I should ask here too.  I’ve been wondering if I should sign up for a Flickr account.  Any thoughts?

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Finally Remembered

…To take pictures that is.  I have made several trips to different thrift stores over the past few months, but I never mentioned most of them because I would forget to get the camera out until weeks later. 

This weekend there was another half-off sale at Goodwill that I felt I had to attend due to the number of great items I spotted while browsing before the sale.  It’s an odd habit of mine, I see something I like, see the price, hate the price, come back for it when it’s on sale.

Here’s what I got:

Pink and green felt, more green than pink but for good reason.

A remnant of really soft fleece in a cute floral print.

A decent amount of a orange print, already have plans for it.

Four really cute plates, they’re microwavable and dishwasher safe.

An 18 inch doll, she’s a Springfield Collection doll (those ones they sell at Michael’s and Joann) and she was only a dollar.

A Fisher Price Little People camper, it make animal noises and I know a little guy who would love it.

An 18 inch Cinderella doll, perfect for a certain princess loving little girl and it was only 50 cents!

The total cost was just a little more than 6 dollars.  Not too bad right?  Let’s see if I can beat that next time.

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Up to Twenty-Two

Just finished writing up the new list.  It has several “Halloweeny” items on it which isn’t too strange since it is October, but it is more than I usually have.  Also couple a doll things again.
Project List #22

• Bags
• Bracelets
• Barrettes
• Doll pajamas
• Doll makeover
• Wristbands
• Red skirt
• Ears
• Costume
• Handkerchiefs

I should have everything finished up a couple days before Halloween.  Before because they is something special then, plus it would be pretty bad to finish Halloween crafts after Halloween.

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Just a Couple of Sweaters

I still haven’t finished drafting my new list, that should be up by tomorrow assuming I can finally decided on a few of the projects.  Anyway, this morning I decided to work on a few little things I had lying around.  Call them “mending” projects.

This is a sweater thing I got for free from a thrift store downtown.  See why it was free?  The crocheted edge was ragged and had come undone in various spots and some of the buttons were missing.  It was mostly a job of removing the rest of edge and buttons in order to fix it.

So after removing the “mess” shown here and adding some ribbon…

…I got this.  Noticeably better.  The ribbon was threaded on a needle and “sewn” on with a running stitch.  I tied it in bows at the ends on the bottom and at the neckline to tie it close.  It’s cute, but sadly it looks very Spring.  Just when we were finally starting to experience Fall weather here.

I guess that where this comes in.  I forgot to take a before photo but it was a pullover sweater made of the softest cashmere ever.  I got it from a friend as a hand-me-down, aren’t friends wonderful?  Anyway, pullovers aren’t quite my style so I opened it up.  I just cut down the front, then sewed some peach-colored ribbon along the edges before turning them under and sewing them down.  After that, all I did was sew a hook and eye to the top and glued two faux pearls.  This was to cover the stitches from the hook and eye which weren’t entirely hidden.  Plus it makes it prettier.  Now I have two similar sweaters for Fall and Spring, and they didn’t cost me a dime.

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Easy Being Green Plaid

For the final project on this list, I saved the best for last.  Actually I think that doll I made is better (see Brown Eyes), but this one is pretty cute too.

See, a pretty new dress.  I bought the fabric months ago intending to make a dress with it.  The problem was that it was summer at the time and this pattern doesn’t exactly scream “summer”.  It reminds me more of Back to School, which is why some of you may notice that it is the same fabric I used for my binder cover (see Clean and Covered).  It a fairly simple pattern, at least it should have been.  The only problem with it is that it is just a teensy tiny bit too big for me in the bust area, flattering right?  Otherwise I love it.  The green bows are removable too, so I can move them to anywhere I want including my hair.

Speaking of hair, a dress isn’t complete without matching hair accessories like this quickie headband.  Just a few minutes with a scrap of fabric, a small length of lace, a metal headband and of course a glue gun.  The best part about it is it’s simplicity.  Makes it easier to wear with other things.

And last but not least, a matching bag.  This one was mostly made out of necessity.  It’s cute and hides easily under my choir robe.  That’s the necessity part, normally for Choir everyone locks their purses and bags in a certain closet in the choir room.  That is until it got broken into some time ago.  I was one of the lucky few who wasn’t robbed then.  Anyway, despite a change of locks and a guard thingie installed, it happened again a couple weeks ago.  Scary right?  I was lucky again this time.  This means we all have carry our bags into service.  It kind of looks strange to see the choir walk in with big old purses hanging on their arms.  Hence, the need for a tiny and discreet little bag like this one.  Maybe I should make more for the other members?  Hmmm.
Here’s the updated list:

• Hair elastics
• Acorn pins
• Tiny shoes
• Tiny purses
• Dress
• Pencils
• Cat toys
• Tiny dresses
• Cloth doll
• Tiny accessories
• Green dress

Eleven down and out, and just in time too.  I’ve got plenty of things I need to make for October.  I’ll have the next list up in a few days.

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