Based on the following list of items, what do you think?
- rope
- duct tape
- sheet
- scissors
- wire hanger
Homemade Halloween costume or crime scene?
No, I don't have much of a point in today's post, but I find it giggle-worthy that common items moms use to create costumes are the same items police find at crime scenes.
Putting costumes together can put a certain type of mother, *cough* me, in a murderous mood. It's not that I lack in creativity. And no one would suggest I don't love my kids. Hey, I like Halloween--I'm all about free candy. But why does it always involve elaborate schemes in regards to the costume?
When I was young, we scrounged up old clothes from around the house and, depending on the year, went as:
- lumberjack
- hobo
- native american
- scarecrow
- lumberjack
- hobo
- oops, I guess we already covered those!
No, we didn't have much variety, but our parents could figure out a costume in 9 minutes without having to sew anything.
So it's obvious I'm jealous--either of my kids' fancy costumes or my parents' lack of stress over this--I'm not sure.
My kids routinely want to dress up as things that involve elaborate makeup, an expensive trip to the fabric store, another expensive trip to the Halloween store for wigs, fake teeth, and other props, tricky and time-consuming hairstyles, and let's not forget face and/or body paint. Getting ready for trick-or-treating can take hours, days, weeks!
I know what you're going to say. It will be along the lines of one of the following:
- Enjoy it now. You'll miss it when they're gone.
- Buy, borrow, or rent a costume
- Make them find their costumes like you used to, from around the house.
Yeah, that's all good advice, but I know myself. After I pout and whine and kindly suggest an easy costume, I'll be making an expensive trip to the fabric store, another expensive trip to the Halloween store, and I'll be spending days, hours, and weeks fixing their hair, applying elaborate makeup, and sponging on face and/or body paint.
That's how I roll. I complain. But I do it. :)
If you're making a Halloween costume, would you mind listing the materials? Let's play a game of, describe the crime scene based on your items!
Here's mine: Wii Remote
- cardboard
- duct tape
- white spray paint
- box cutter
- elastic
- rope
The crime scene?
Obviously, this is a victim of blackmail and torture, maybe even a murder posing as a suicide? Hmm...
Have a wonderful day!
Well, if I knew what my kid was going to dress up as, I could give you a list. And this game is right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those, let's figure it out the day before!
Ha! We haven't narrowed it down here either. I'm hoping soon so I can get it over with!
DeleteI'm going to skip on the game. I'm currently studying a book on stalkers. That's causing enough nightmares as it is. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm buying the kids' costumes. My daughter is wearing what she wore last year (because it was expensive). No idea what the boys are planning on being.
I find the teens who do trick or treat come up with the most creative costumes of all.
Yikes, I would be freaked out too about stalkers. :(
DeleteYou're so smart to buy the costumes. I really hope my kids come up with simple plans!
I've actually never purchased my son a Halloween costume. We're lucky to have older nephews who have handed their costumes down. One of these days, he'll be old enough to want to pick his own, but for now I'll enjoy having a four-year-old who thinks his cousin's old dragon costume is awesome!
ReplyDeleteJust keep telling him the dragon costume is awesome. Maybe you'll be able to avoid the homemade Halloween costume drama forever?? :)
DeleteI feel the same way. Mine are 9 and 7 and luckily we've been able to create costumes from the dressup clothes every year as they were infatuated with princesses until recently. However, last year my oldest wanted to be Dorothy because we have a Cairn Terrier (Toto). I refused to buy a costume and scrounged stores for blue-checked aprons to no success. Made her pick something else. This year she asked to be Dorothy again and I finally broke down and paid $25 for a costume. It kills me. $20 for something they wear one night? Guess I'm the Grinch of Halloween.
ReplyDeleteHa, ha!! If you're the Grinch of Halloween, I'll be the Wicked Witch with you! I'm soooo cheap about this stuff. I don't even want to spend $25 on a new pair of jeans let alone a one-time-only costume! :)
DeleteHeeheehee, still cracking up over this. And, um, I so totally could have written this post b/c I am 100% with you on this one! One wants to be a peacock, the other an angel (or Cleopatra)...I am not a crafty person. And they won't except my candy bribes. Nor are they on board with my rope, bed sheet, feathers, and pipe cleaners. So a trip to Halloween City is on the way...
ReplyDeleteOh - and here's my murder scene: a crazy killer who likes to pose his victims as exotic birds...
Ha! Your comment on FB inspired this post, you know! I was cracking up over your angel costume supplies. :) I've been there with the Peacock. It was a nightmare. And expensive. I asked my son to be like Charlie Brown and go as a ghost, but he gave me the "really, Mom?" stare. Struck out again. :)
DeleteI don't have kids, so my costume creation is always just for myself, but my most successful Halloween costume has been my perennial favorite, Trash.
ReplyDeletelarge garbage bag
toilet paper bow for hair
ribbon for belt
rubber band to create bodice
selected trash for accessorizing
Jane, I could do this! I'm adding your suggestion to my "subliminal suggestions" from now until Halloween. Thanks!!
DeleteOooh, fun game! I'm just like you on the whole costume thing. My kids want super elaborate costumes with all the accessories. I'll try to talk them down, but won't be successful, then I'll complain but end up doing whatever they want. Happens every year. But I'm like Jessica, too...this whole process won't start until about 48 hours before trick-or-treat time.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm the same way. I get suckered in, every year, it never ends!! I'm so glad I'm not alone! Ha!
DeleteHaha, you crack me up. I always had elaborate costumes my grandma would make me for Halloween. My kids will get the easy costumes from Costco. Yeah. Not a crafty bone in my body.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the easy costumes from Costco only come in smaller sizes. The beauty ends at about 5th grade!! No fair!!
DeleteI'm trying to figure out how to convince my 10yo to be Little Red Riding Hood b/c we already have everything we need & for my youngest I believe I'm going to post some fun get-ups on Fri. Second kid = Darth Vadar. :D
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
Let me know if you manage to convince her. I'll be checking out your post on Friday!
DeleteI never bought my boys' costumes because I made them or we fashioned them out of ordinary clothes. They've been fishermen, scarecrows, mad scientists, praying mantis, and pumpkins. Now that my son is in college, he creates his own costumes...usually something steampunk.
ReplyDeleteLisa, please, please come to our house and work your magic! I know you'll do it better than me!!
DeleteWell, you know I immediately thought crime scene because that's the way my mind works, lol. I'd love to make Grace's costumes, but I'm just not that creative. Still ... they are so expensive! You're talking 30-40 bucks at the Halloween store just for the costume, not the accessories. Luckily this year she found her size at Wal-Mart.
ReplyDeleteI also think I have an aversion to homemade costumes because of Dirty Gertie. When I was about 6 or 7, I had a Halloween party, and instead of buying me a costume, my mother dressed me up like a hobo, complete with face paint, and called me Dirty Gertie. I was mortified. She thought it was hilarious. Thankfully there are no pictures!
Oh, no! Dirty Gertie!! Why do our parents torture us?? I want to see a picture now. ;)
DeleteI love this! My best friend ran into a guy one Halloween in a bar. He was dressed like a normal guy in jeans and a button down shirt with a piece of paper safety-pinned to his shirt with a big "E" on it. Do you know what he was?
ReplyDeleteE-male
LOL
Ha! Too funny! I like it!!
DeleteI have costume-making anxiety too! My bff made a little lamb costume for her daughter one year using a hot glue gun and cotton balls, which was adorable except it weighed so much and was very, very stiff!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way to put it--costume-making anxiety. It's like a disorder! Ha!!
DeleteI'm like Lindsay and take the easy route. We buy ours...I just don't have the time, energy or desire to home-make costumes. ;) But I also avoid the expensive stuff. This year they'll be going as Leader Rex (from Star Wars...whoever he is!!), a peacock and a bumble bee. Good luck with your crafting!!
ReplyDeleteSooooo smart, Lacie!! I'm so jealous you have it all figured out. :( Ha, ha!
Delete