Well another Halloween has come and gone. Time to take down the cobwebs, ghosts and jack-o-lanterns and replace them with gourds, turkeys and pumpkin pie. Are you someone who decorates for every season? I should be. There are always so many great decorating ideas made from upcycled materials for every holiday.
But I am not a holiday decorator. We don't even put up a Christmas Tree can you believe it? It's not that we don't share in the holiday spirit it is just that there are only two of us, if you are only counting humans. And we are usually with extended family elsewhere during the holidays. But every year I still think maybe I will decorate. It does feel so much more festive when you do.
Sadly I must report that the first holiday of the season has passed at my house without so much as a pumpkin in place. What about you? Did you dress up? Act Silly? Scare little chlidren? Hand out candy? Plant "tombstones" in your yard? Are you the house that is soooo halloweenie that kids come from blocks away to trick or treat?
When I was a kid way back in the 70's there was a house with a big giant jack-o-lantern that would talk to you and then jelly beans would come out of its mouth. Now I have never been a big fan of jellybeans but we still had to walk several blocks every year just to see the talking pumpkin. I have no idea what I wore when I was trick or treating but I can remember most of my halloween costumes that I wore in the school parade. Due to my fathers creative input my costumes were always very imaginative but not very easy to walk in. I was a jack in the box, a gingerbread cookie, a mouse in a piece of cheese and a mermaid on a rock. I would love to have a photo or two but alas they are just in my memory.
Anyway in keeping with my heritage and my love of upcycling, I decided to see what kind of costume I could make using things that I already had around the house.
Here is what I came up with:
For the main part of the costume I used some scrap fabric and some old out of fashion dresses. Here is a pile of some of the "junk" I used.
I didn't have a pattern so I used my dress form to drape the pieces together.
The petticoat is made from a t-shirt and an old bed canopy.
The tutorial is here.
I am happy to report that the only things that I had to buy were some snaps and, well of course, the flamingo!
I am most proud of the collar and the faux fur. Both were made from upcycled plastic grocery bags. The collar is made from fused plastic bags and the faux fur is many many many short pieces tied onto one long piece of plastic bag.
The apron was solid black with a logo embroidered on it. I covered the embroidery with some fabric from a pair of silk pants. Yep bright yellow light weight baggie silk pants. Just try to imagine when those were stylish.
I already had the socks. Doesn't everyone? :-)
The crown was made from some cardboard again covered with fabric from a pair of pants and then glued to a headband that was also covered in the fabric.
If only I would have had this costume last year for my crazy Alice in Wonderland Tea Party.
I was in such a rush to complete this project that I didn't get very many pictures of the progression. I spent many more hours making it than I did wearing it, but the whole process of seeing it come together was fun.
Hope you all had a wonderful and spooky Halloween.
Happy Upcycling,
Update on 11-25-12
While I was home at Thanksgiving I riffled through my parents photos and found some of my childhood costumes. Please forgive the quality it was the 70's after all. :-)
