Monday, November 10, 2008

Two Farmers & A Fairy Ballerina Princess



Our kids are still young enough that they don't mind mom's homemade costumes, saving us money (although I'm certain time is not saved! but worth it all the same) and giving us flexibility with their costumes. Do you know how hard it is to find a John Deere Tractor costume? Let me tell you, it's far from easy!






This year, Samantha wanted to be a fairy ballerina princess (her words). So she's kind of like Tinkerbell, she said, but a different kind of Tinkerbell. I think her costume was $10 or $15 to make -- and pretty easy! I just took a piece of elastic, sewed the ends together at the measurement appropriate for her waist, and then used 4 yards of tulle (2 yards each of 2 different colors) cut into 4 to 6 inch strips and slip-knotted them around the elastic. She wore a purple leotard that was a Christmas present two years ago (thankfully it still fit...barely, but it fit!). And then I took 1/2 yard of tulle gathered it in the middle to make fluttery wings that we pinned to her leotard. Oh yes -- to be a princess, she had to have her crown (Tinkerbell in this case.) Since it was 70 degrees here that day, she didn't freeze and we didn't have to add anything to it!




Now the boys wanted to go as John Deere tractors. Hard to imagine if you know my boys at all! Hudson went as this last year, and I learned a LOT about how to construct a tractor costume. This year I learned even more! We took cardboard boxes, painted them green (do this in a well-ventilated area, especially if you're pregnant, otherwise, well, you might end up with a migraine. It's the last thing you need the night before Halloween !) Then we used duct tape to make straps to keep them on, and added wood shims to the inside of the box for a little stability and to weight the back evenly with the front. The wheels are just paper plates. They were fun to make! And the boys were happy little farmers (hence the overalls).

All 3 kids LOVED their costumes, and that's all a mother can ask for....happy kids all sugared up on Halloween. And we survived the "week after"...but barely. That's for another day. :)

So tell me -- are any of you crazy enough to make your kids' Halloween costumes? Next year, with 4, I'm thinking Dorothy with the Tinman, Scarecrow, and the Lion. I better get to work now. :)

5 comments:

Erin Maggie said...

Great costumes Alyssa! You should be very proud of your work! I love the tractors! I would have cracked up if I'd seen them walking down the sidewalk like that! So cute. My mom made my costumes when I was young. It was a tradition! Great to see you doing the same!

Anonymous said...

Wow. You are one awesome mom. I spent waaaay to much on K's dr outfit, so M had to have a hand me down bunny that was on it's 3rd halloween (it originated with my neighbor/friend about 4 years ago!

Way to go mom.

Tru said...

Gorgeous children. It looks like they had heaps of fun.

sassy stephanie said...

Oh seriously. I wish I had seen this earlier! My son LOVES his JD!

Thanks for sharing in my SITS day with me!

Anonymous said...

Those John Deer tractors are super cute and I love the ballerina!