March 5th 2015 - 2 pins for 1 today (see post)

March 5th 2015 - 2 pins for 1 today (see post)

Today there is going to be 2 pins for the price of 1!  That is because  of 2 things - 1. it's world book day and 2/3 sons have gone to school dressed up and 2. I had a brain wave last night on how to do something that I need to share as it may help others.

Lets start with number 1 on the list.  Today is world book day, this is a great day that aims to raise awareness of books and reading and encourages children to do so.  Most schools allow the children to dress up as a character froma book.  My youngest decided as soon as he knew they were dressing up that he was going as Thomas the tank engine.  He was going to wear his dressing up playsuit of thomas but its very thin and most of the back is open (it ties at the neck) and  as the weather doesn't know what its doing at the moment (snow, hail, rain and sun all on same day 2 days ago) I told him to wear his thick thomas onesie, which has thomas from the top to bottom, not small pics or the writing but a big thomas (see pic). My middle son wanted to go as Hiccup the Viking (see FEbruary 26th and 27th) from How to train your dragon.  This proved a bit hared than the simple onesie, but I managed to make him it and everyone that saw the photo of himand stock image of hiccup said I had down really well.  (See pic).

 

I will also add the instructions for Hiccip to one of my very early blog posts about making costumes for book day and parties etc.

NOW for the 2nd part of todays pin, this is a how to by me as when I looked yesterday on google and pinterest all I was finding was shop bought or make your own with wire or dental floss of which I have neither.

This how to is about making a needle threader from a drinking straw.

On March 3rd I posted about making a clown wig from wool and a hat.  Things were going ok to start with, then after 1 row round the hat my finger started to really get sore from where I was threading wool into a needle.  So I got out my needle threader (for cotton as all I had) and after 3 strands of wool it broke! 

After going on google and Pinterest to try and find how to make 1, I hunted the house and hubbys tool boxes etc to see if I could find any thin wire (no such luck) and the strimmer wire was too thick for needle as well and I don't have dental floss in the house either.  Call it what you like but I choose the word FATE 2 drinking straws fell out of the packet that sits on top of my cupboards (or my boys use them 1 per drink and then bin them).  Well this got me thinking - straws are flexible I wonder if it will fit through eye of needle if squashed?  AND yes it does!

For this make your own needle threader you need a drinking straw, a pair of scissors and a big eyed needle.  It's very simple to do.  Step 1 - cut a small (1-2cm long) piece off the drinking straw.  Step 2 - thread wool into straw.  Step 3 - squash straw flat.  Step 4 - push the straw through eye of needle.  Step 5 - remove strw and needle is threaded.  Then repeat the steps for each piece you need to do - this is lots with this clown wig!!!

Step 1 top left, step 2 bottom left, step 3 top right, step 4 middle right and step 5 bottom right

February 27th 2015 - Making a viking tunic

February 27th 2015 - Making a viking tunic

Following on from yesterdays post about making a viking shield (which is almost complete, just needs the front bit glueing onto it with hot glue).  I have set about making the viking tunic.  I got the idea from this pin which came from Where's my Glow blog.

As I said yesterday I bought a toilet and bath mat set for £3.99 to use as the base to make his tunic/ wasitcoat.  They are a great idea as they are brown and fluffy like fur.

I started by marking a line down the middle of the toilet mat on the back.  From the toilet mat I stitched the small top bit to one corner of the bath mat (I turned it the other way to the photo).  I then made my son hold it all whilst I worked out where the arm hole needed to be to, marked it on the inside with pen and took it off him.  I sewed up the side to where I had marked and tried it on him again.  It fitted ok.  I went to start the other side only to realise that the top is narrower than the bottom, so I had to cut on my line to make it into 2 pieces and then stitched the other small top piece to the bath mat - it was just over half way so I had to cut it.  I then stitched the side and left the arm hole.  This side was much harder to sew as it didnt have the nice bound edge, so I stitched it twice to make sure it holds.

This is what it looks like:

We are slowly getting there as a viking!

February 26th 2015 - Making a viking shield

Februatu 26th 2015 - making a viking shield

Next Thursday (5th march) is world book day.  Yesterday on our family learning at the school we were talking about books (its a literacy course after all) and world book day came up and how the school doesnt do dress up for it etc, the teacher who is sat in on the sessions said that as the school iss doing a big push on reading at the moment they ARE allowing the kids to dress up as a book character this year.

I spoke to my sons when we got home about it, neither had a letter (we were told they would be going out in day or so), and asked what they want to go as.  You name it and i'm pretty sure in 1 of the 3 boys cupboards, the box of dressing up "bits" (hats/masks/gloves and extras) or the halloween box in the loft we have most things or can at least make something from a combination of.  My youngest said he is going in his thomas the tank outfit (like a onesie but is a full thomas suit not just a picture of him)  and will take 1 of his thomas books.  Brilliant I don't have to do anything there.  Asked my middle son what he wants to go as hoping he says something we have etc and he goes upstairs to his books, comes back down and says "I want to go as a viking!"  ME -  "errrr it has to be a character from a book, you have no viking books", Son replies "I do, my how to train your dragon books have vikings in, can I go as Hiccup and take my toothless pillow?"  Well that shut me up didn't it, nothing like a smarta** kid and his comments. lol.

Well I started hunting the net for "proper" outfits and I am not paying the price that they are - £7.99 upwards, i'm not paying that much for one!  So I did my usual and hit pinterest in the hope of finding a "how to make a viking outfit".  I found a few including a really good tutorial on making a "furry" waistcoat" from a bath and toilet mat!  I went to town today and bought a bath and toilet mat set in brown for £3.99, but this will be tomorrows pin as I need to meansure son before I start cutting and sewing.

Todays pin is how to make a viking shield.  This picture is taken from google and is Hiccups orriginal shield from when he was younger (about the same age as my son is), in the later films he has a dragon it, this is the design I will be painting onto our shield.  There is also this pin that shows you how to make a shield in general.

I have cut out the curcle and have the duck tape to go round the edge, I have covered a small plastic pot in duck tape to make the silver bit in the middle of the shield - i'm going to hot glue gun this on once its painted, I also have a piece of cardboard that will be glued or duck taped to the back to  make the handle.

MORE easy to make costumes

I have started another page for the costumes as the other one was getting really long with all the outfits and pictures.  Most of these I haven't actually made but have been easy ideas I have.

• GHOST - A white sheet folded in half and the sides stitched leaving space for the arms to come out of,  cut out the eyes but outline them in black and draw a black mouth on.

• PIRATE - Wear a stripey top, you can rip the bottom to look more raggy if you want to, use a piece of spotty or stripey material or a triangle bandage as a bandanna, get an old pair of trousers and rag the bottoms, you can wear a belt over the top if its big.  You can make an easy pirate hook with a plastic coat hanger (broken) and covered in black/silver tape.

• LEGO BRICK - Get a big cardboard box, cut a head hole in top and open the base, attach egg boxes to the front (for the raised bits of Lego), paint all 1 colour and wear matching colour trousers and long sleeved top. Add straps to keep it on shoulders.  You can also make a matching hat using a small box and egg box bits, tie on with elastic or ribbon.

•  DIAMOND - Get a big cardboard box but turn it at an angle, cut a head hole in the top and open the base. Paint the whole box white, allow to dry and then re-paint using a clear glitter paint.  Add straps to keep it on the shoulders. Wear white or sparkly trousers/leggings and long sleeved top.

• HARRY POTTER - Wear a Halloween cape, a white shirt and a pair of grey trousers.  Use the frame from a pair of old glasses (remove the lenses), draw a scar with make up on your forehead and use a long thin twig as a wand.

• BUNCH OF GRAPES - Wear either a green or deep purple/burgundy top and trousers, attach blown up corresponding colour balloons all over the top, add a small tree branch to a headband as the stalk.

• BUBBLE BATH - Wear pink or peach top and trousers, cover the top with small white balloons and stick a mini bottle of shampoo (empty) onto one shoulder, add a shower cap to your head.

• BEDTIME - Wear your PJ's and dressing gown and slippers with a teddy beady and favourite book.
   
• OCTOPUS - Use a purple (hooded if possible) jumper (a few sizes bigger), get 3 pairs of purple socks and stuff them with pillow stuffing, sew the socks onto jumper 3 each side under arms down to the hem.  Add white circles to the base of the socks and under the sleeves to make suckers.  Wear dark coloured trousers.

• ARTIST - Use a mans old shirt and wear it back to front but. Cover it in paint marks of different colours.  Make a paint palette made from a piece of cardboard and get a paintbrush.   You can add a flat cap and easel if required.

• ODD SOCK BASKET - Get a plastic wash basket from £1 shop, cut the base from it, attach ribbon to both sides so it stays on the shoulders and is all the way round you, add lots of old odd socks to the basket front and back and to the top you are wearing (try and get the top the same colour as the basket.) 

• SNOWBALL/SNOWING - Get a large pale blue jumper, a pale blue woolly hat and white leggins or trousers.  Buy a bag of cotton wool balls and stitch or glue them all over the jumper and hat.

• MUMMY - Wear white trousers and top or dress, stitch bandages (or strips of material) in a wrapped around fashion.

• BLACK CAT - Wear black trousers and a black long sleeve top.  Make a tail from an old black sock and stuff it with pillow stuffing but not too thickly, make a pair of pointy ears from cardboard, paint them black and attach to a headband, paint your nose pink and add whiskers.

• CORN ON THE COB - Wear a green top and yellow/brown trousers.  Attach some egg boxes to the top (painted yellow) and add a couple of green paper leaves over the top of the egg boxes so its only the middle showing.
• GREEK/EGYPTIAN BOY -  For Greek boy - Wear white 3/4 trousers and large sleeveless white top and sandals.  For Egyptian boy -  as per the Greek but you will need a fancy piece of neck and wrist jewellery (as most were rich).

• BOXER - Wear a pair of shorts, a loose dressing gown and pair of boxing gloves.
  
• WILLY WONKA - Get a long purple coat, a purple waistcoat and bow tie and a pair of brown trousers.  You will also need a walking stick/cane and a brown top hat (this could be made from cardboard and paper marche).

• MERMAID BRA - Get a bra or bikini top in your size in a plane green/teal/turquoise/blue colour.  Using shells (bought or collected from the beach) and a few sequins/gem stones glue all over the bra/bikini top.  Allow to dry.

• RUBIX CUBE - Get a large cardboard box and cut a hole for the head and arms, open up the base.  Add straps so that it will stay on your shoulders.  Paint the whole box black and add coloured squares in rows of 4 over each side of the box - mix up the colours.  Wear a black top and trousers under it.

• SHERLOCK HOLMES/DETECTIVE - Get a beige or grey skirt that you can cut up, this is going to be your cape.  On the side opposite the zip stitch a /\ from the hem up to the waist band, you can cut out the middle section as this is not needed.  You will now have a cape shape that you can get over your head by undoing the zip and doing it up once on.  Get an old flat cap for your hat.  You also need a magnifying glass and a old pipe.

• ROBBER - Get a black and white stripey top (or make one using a plain white top and adding black stripes), and plain black trousers.  You also need a pair of black gloves and a black beanie hat and a mask that covers your eyes (make from cardboard and elastic or craft foam).  You can then make a simple swag bag from a white pillow case tied about 1/4 way from the top -  fill it with clothes so not heavy and draw a £ or $ sign on the front.

• TY BEANIE BABY - This is ideal for a small baby.  Wear an all in one fluffy coat suit with hood (or fluffy onesie).  Add a small ribbon bow of the same colour as suit to left chest and make a TY taggy heart from cardboard and attach to the ear of the hood.

• WHERE'S WALLY - Wear a red and white stripey top, a pair of blue jeans/trousers, a pair of glasses with no lenses in, a red and white stripey hat and a walking stick/cane.

• MINION - This is very easy to do.You need a long sleeved yellow top or jumper and a pair of dungarees.  Add a pair of black gloves and paint your face yellow, wear swimming goggles.

• TRAFFIC LIGHTS - Get a large cardboard box and cut head and arm holes, open out the base.  Paint it all black.  Make a red, amber and green circle and stick to the front of the box.  Wear a black top and trousers with it.

• MARIO/LUIGI - You need a pair of dungarees to which you need to make the buttons yellow (sticky label), a red or green long sleeved top and a red or green hat with a M or L on the front.  Draw a moustache on your face.

• BARBIE DOLL - You need to get hold of a long box ideally from a freezer.  Cut arms holes in the sides and remove a window section from the front, paint the whole box pink and add a barbie logo.  Dress in your best dress and heels and step into your box.

• HARRY & HIS BUCKET OF DINOSAURS - Wear a red and yellow top and blue jeans, have a blue bucket (sandcastle type) and put toy dinosaurs in it.

• GNOME - Where black leggings and a long sleeved long top plain in colour.  Add a belt over the top.  Make a beard from wool or use a pre-bought one.  Make a red pointy hat from thin cardboard.  Get a long stick and add string to it as your fishing rod.

• CRAZY CAT LADY - Acquire some toy cats, more is better.  Attach them to a dressing gown.  Wear dressing gown and slippers over pyjamas or leggings and top and wear slippers.

• MEDUSA HEADBAND - Buy a pack of toy snakes and a cheap headband.  Glue the snakes to the headband using super glue.  Once dry, spray paint all of it gold. 

•  MONSTER FEET - Get a cheap pair of crocs in your size and a can of expanding foam.  Fill the crocs with newspaper.  Spray the foam all the way round the edge of the crocs and add 3 pointy toes at the front.  Slowly build up the layers of foam going over the top of the crocs so that they are completely covered in foam.  Allow to dry and then paint. 

• CATERPILLAR - You will need 8 green pillowcases (doesn't matter if all different shades of green or if green patterned-  you need to make sure that they come in pairs though).  Lay the 1st pillow case down so that it is the way the it would be on a bed.  Next lay another pillow case above it so the long edges are touching, stitch this edge together.  Repeat this for the next 2 so that you have 4 stitched together.  Make sure that you stitch the remaining 4 in the same order.  You need to add some green ribbon to both of the top pillow cases so that you have like this /\.  This is the caterpillars body.  Get a red hat and add two big white eyes to the front.  Add Pillows to the pillow cases and your ready to go.  ***You may need more or less pillow cases depending on how big the person is that is wearing the outfit.***

•  CLAWS - Buy a pair of brown woolly gloves, and some yellow felt.  Cut the felt into 10 long triangles.  Glue or stitch each yellow piece onto the end of each finger in the gloves.

World Book day march 6th/easy to make costumes

Feel quite sad today because my sons school didn't allow the kids to dress up as a character from a book, they were only allowed to take in a favourite book.  Lots of my friends were putting pictures of their children's outfits on Facebook.

WELL I won't let it get me down too much, and thought I would add some of our old costumes to here and information on how they were made.  There are lots that are easily made from clothes and items around your house.

 CHRISTMAS PRESENT DRESS - This was very easily made.  The dress (£5 in sale) already had the small round silver beads on it.  I bought a roll of silver ribbon (£1 shop) and a silver bow (£1 card shop).  I pinned the ribbon in place to make the cross shape and then stitched it to the dress.

CHRISTMAS TREE DRESS - This is my friend in her Christmas tree dress, she said it only took a couple of hours to make.  She already had the green dress to which she added Christmas decorations (£1 shop) and some tinsel (£1 shop).  She also added a set of battery fairy lights (£1 shop) to it again stitched in place.

 

REINDEER DRESS - This was a very quick last minute dress up idea.  I already had the brown boots and dress in my wardrobe.  The nose and antlers were from £1 shop and I bought the tights (£3 new look).

 WEREWOLF OUTFIT - White top was 50p from a charity shop, the jeans were old and had rips at the knee.  The mask and gloves were from £1 shop, the fur on legs were made from ladies fur boot toppers (£3 from eBay) and the long brown strands and fur patches were from a friends scarf.  Was easily made and I think only took a couple of hours.

 WITCHES CAPE - This cape was handmade by myself.  I bought 5 scarf's from the £1 shop and stitched them together.  I then added a piece of purple ribbon to each side at the top so I could tie it.

 LEPRECHAUN - This was a very quick outfit from things we had at home.  My son is wearing green pajama bottoms and his brothers green t-shirt.  His bead was from my husbands wizard outfit he had for Halloween.  The hat was initially made from cardboard and paper marche and is actually red, but I covered it (loosely) in green crepe paper and stuck a black ring of tape round and cut out a the buckle shape from gold paper.

 WWII EVACUEE - My eldest son had to go to school as an evacuee.  His hat was one that we had from their Victorian outfit, the gas mask was from the DIY section at £1 shop and its box was a small box we had that I added string to and the image was from Google of an original notice from gas mask box.  He already had the white shirt, his tank top was a grey school jumper that I carefully removed the sleeves on, he was meant to have worn grey 3/4 trousers and long socks but it was a cold and wet day.  His suitcase/lunchbox was from charity shop and contained a child's teaset.  Labels were printed off the net.

 LION OUTFIT - This was to represent the Lion from "the lion, the witch and the wardrobe."  I think this was one of the hardest outfits I have made for book day (or any other event).  The jumper was from a charity shop (it didn't have the wool ruff around neck), this was made with lots of 6" strands of wool and a crotchet hook - each strand was made into a loop and hooked through a stitch of the v-neck jumper.  There is 3 different colours of wool, of which the balls came from a charity shop.  The hat was a mustard colour beanie from matalan (£2 in sale-it didn't have the wool mane around it).  The mane was made in the same way as the ruff and is about 3" deep on the hat.  The mask is made from craft foam and elastic.  The tail was made by plaiting long lengths of the wool together and then all the ends left as the fluffy ball on end.  He wore beige trousers as you can see.  This did take about a week to do.

 GARGOYLE OUTFIT - This was fairly easy to make, it was to go with the books "Gargoylez".  It was a grey onesie which had a tail and hood with ears.  The wings were red devil ones from Halloween that had black paint applied to dull the red.  The mask was from craft foam and elastic.

 CHINESE DRAGON - This was made when the school were studying about china.  The mask was a white cardboard box which eye holes were cut from.  The dragon's face was drawn on white paper and it's nostrils were lined up with sons eyes and stuck onto the box.  We then added strips of red, orange and yellow crepe paper all over the box.  He wore red shorts and t-shirt as you can see.

 EGYPTIAN - This was when the school were studying the Egyptians.  The outfit was a pair of white 3/4 trousers (50p charity shop), a long white top that had silver studs on the shoulders (raided from sisters wardrobe), a gold chain belt (£1 charity shop), neck and wrists bits were local fancy dress shop about £3 and the plait in his hair was from a ball of wool in the cupboard.

 FIREMAN SAM OUTFIT - This was handmade.  The jacket came from a charity shop, it was a ladies size 8 that I cut and made smaller.  The trousers were an old pair we had ready to donate to charity shop - I just added the reflective bands to the bottom and they came off a reflective vest from £1 shop.  The belt was one we had anyway and so was the hat.

 PETER PAN & CHARLIE BUCKET FROM THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - Peter pan was a bought outfit (so I cheated BUT it was from a charity shop). Charlie was very easy to do.  My son already had the brown trousers and red jumper.  All I bought was the wonka bar and golden ticket (£2.50 from eBay).  I just made his hair messy with gel.

 PIRATE - My youngest son wanted to be a pirate like his older brothers, so I stuck my stripey vest top on him, with a belt round his middle, the bandanna was from an old pirate outfit that was outgrown and the hook was made from a broken plastic coat-hanger that I covered in black tape.  Very quick and easy to do.

 PIRATES - The bigger of the two was hand made.  His trousers started out as a stripey skirt that came from a charity shop -  I stitched leg shapes into the skirt and then cut the gap in the middle out, I added elastic to the ankles and waist.  He already had the white shirt and his belt was a curtain tie (50p box at market), his waistcoat was from my sisters wardrobe and his bandanna was off eBay.  The smaller of the two was a bought outfit.

 CARPENTER & SOLDIER (Xmas at school) - The carpenter was very easy with an all brown outfit and a saw made from cardboard and painted.  The soldier again was easy as it was black trousers and red top and a hat made from cardboard.

 

SPACEMEN - These were a summer holiday activity day.  The oxygen bottles were made from empty pop bottles covered in tin foil (glued on), ribbon was then attached to them so they could be worn.  The hats were made from food covers (2 for £1) and had a piece of of washing line from hat to oxygen bottle.  The feet were car sponges and  in place with ribbon.

BIG SKELETON - This was a really easy to do costume.  The outfit was a skeleton one from Halloween, the hat was made from cardboard and paper march and then then painted.

 VICTORIAN BOY OUTFIT - This was made but by things being bought.  The trousers and waistcoat suit was off eBay (can't remember how much but not a lot), the brown shirt was from a charity shop (50p-£1) and I removed the collar from it.  The necktie was from his cowboy outfit, the hat was from a charity shop, shoes and socks were his own. (He  was a rich Victorian not a poor one.)

 BUILDER - This was very easy to make.  My son already had jeans and a check shirt.  The hat and tools were from £1 shop as a set.

CHICK - This was made at school for an Easter play.  It was a white t-shirt to which strips of orange and yellow crepe paper were glued on, the hat/beak was a strip of yellow card with an orange beak added to it.  He was meant to have orange/yellow trousers but as we didn't have any he wore his grey school trousers.