The official trailer for the new Green Hornet flick is out. It seems a little off somehow. I know what’s missing. The Green Hornet, aka Brit Reid, is the Great Nephew of The Lone Ranger. That’s right. The important vigilante, good-doer heritage is missing. Well, at least from the trailer. Maybe it’s in the film, I don’t know.

It’s like it can’t decide if it’s a comedy starring Seth Rogen or a film by Michel Gondry. I don’t think the studio could decide either. All I know is Kato has some mighty big shoes to fill. (more…)

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It’s summer and you’re going to or hosting a luau but the coconut bra you picked up at the local party store is made for Pollyanna and you’re Jayne Mansfield. What do you do? You could wear a swimsuit. You could wear a colorful tubetop or halter top like you’d see at a hula show on the islands. Or you could make your own coconut bra.

Here are two ways to make your own coconut bra. (more…)

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This summer invite your friends, family, and neighbors over to the backyard for a Luau. Fire up the grill for fruity meaty kabobs or stoke the smoker for slow cooked pork…mmmm. Load the jukebox with Don Ho and hula the night away.

You can send tiki or pineapple shaped invitations. Greet your guests with leis or cut flowers for their hair. Serve dinner late in the evening, just at sunset, and have lots of refreshing fruity drinks available with and without alcohol. Plan silly games like a coconut run or hula hoop contest. And of course, encourage everyone to wear the proper attire.

What’s the proper attire? Grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts, Panama hats, and board shorts. (more…)

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Yesterday SlashGear cued me in on a costume I missed two years ago at Dragon Con. Made me a little sad as this is one of the best costumes I’ve ever seen. Penwiper wrote a great tutorial for her costume. She also wrote the foam to armor tutorial so many cosplayers use.

Here is the fantastic Weeping Angel from the Doctor Who episode Blink. Read her tutorial. Her tricks on making herself look like stone are inspired. Enjoy her story of meeting Jewel Staite. (more…)

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I finished painting my box.

Now I’ll hot glue the remnant fabric around the bottom of the box. Attach the white ruffle inside the box first. This will look like the bottom edge of her pinafore. Attach the blue (Disney versions) or yellow (original version) fabric just above the ruffle. Don’t glue the fake skirt all around the edge or it will look boxy. Leave it loose in spots. If you have any fabric left glue some in the upper window/arm holes to mimic the sleeves.

Use the discarded box flaps for the roof. Tape the flaps together in a roof shape. I kinda liked the gable look. Simply cover the roof in your preferred roofing material. The roof can be a hat or strapped on with a ribbon or head band. I created duct tape stabilizers inside the roof much like those found in a hard hat. Then I used barrettes to clip the strap to my hair.

Ta-da!

My neighbors did a few double-takes while we were outside taking pictures.

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This year is a big Alice in Wonderland year. You or your little ones may want a costume that’s different form all the other little Alice’s. You won’t need a needle or thread for this one: Alice stuck in the White Rabbit’s house.

I’ve been waiting to make this costume for a few months. If you follow my Twitter feed, you’ve probably noticed I’ve been searching for a box. All I needed was a box. One box. Here’s a short material list and run down of the first steps.

Materials:
Box, at least torso size
Paint and/or contact paper
Hot glue
Duct tape
Remnant fabric in yellow or blue
Remnant 4-6 inch ruffle in white
Tights/knee highs in white
Black shoes/ankle boots
Moss, straw, or model house roofing tiles
Box knife or scissors

Ideally, the box should hit mid-thigh. The box I found is knee-length but it will do. The box will become the White Rabbit’s house. Remove the lid flaps. Cut out windows on the second floor for your arms. Paint it and decorate as you see fit. You can use contact paper or paint. I hot glued on some painted poster board shutters. I used white duct tape as trim for the windows and door because I didn’t want to mess with painting that kind of detail.

Let dry for a day or two and make touch ups if needed. I’ll add the fake dress in a couple of days…see you then.

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