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 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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So, you’re planning a Mardi Gras costume and mask party. If you haven’t decided on a theme it’s okay. Mardi Gras is theme enough.

Invitations? Check. Creole and Cajun inspired food stuffs? Check. King cake? Check. Affordable rum for the traditional French Quarter Hurricane? Check. Zydeco compilation CDs? Check. Cheap beads and all the purple, green, and gold decorations you could ever want? Check. That’s people, food, drink, music, and decor ready to get the good times rolling. There’s only one thing left to worry about: masks. (more…)

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In honor of season two of Being Human, I found a fantastic werewolf tutorial for you. I’ve previously mentioned how much I love George. No one can play a wolf like Russell Tovey can. Perfect. But I digress!

Miss Monster has outdone herself. Check out her how-to build a werewolf costume on Instructables.com. She’s a talented artist. Wow. Just wow.

I encourage you to bookmark instructables.com.

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It’s a tradition for many of my generation to gather round the television and watch A Christmas Story. We were young and not yet stuck on Gizmo when it debuted. The movie gave us the Leg Lamp, frozen tongues, and soapy mouths. We would wake up every Christmas morning and be glad when Ralphie’s fate was not our own. As adults, we kinda sorta want the snuggly, warm, bunny pajamas. We’re not proud anymore, no dignity to preserve….give us a giant pink onesie with a tail!

Our Christmas wishes have been granted. Over at Instructables, Seamster has written a great how-to for adult bunny sleepwear. Thank you, Seamster.

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I whipped up a Turkey costume to wear this year to Thanksgiving dinner. No sewing, of course. I used craft items on hand like duct tape, craft sticks, glue, and remnant fabric. I used pinking shear to camouflage any mis-cuts or wobbly lines. From start to finish was less than four hours of work. The next problem was figuring out what my turkey costume would look like. I decided on a tail, little wings, and a beak. With this combo, I can wear the turkey with any clothing I like and it can fit anyone becasue I attach each piece using ribbon or string.

First I made a the tail frame. I arranged the craft sticks in a fan pattern. The height is around two feet give or take a few inches ( I didn’t measure one bit.) Once I was happy with the pattern I used duct tape to connect the sticks. Flip the tail and cover with another layer of duct tape.

Next, I spent some time cutting the fabric scraps into shapes. I made some large feathers out of orange. Cut double the feathers so you can have feathers extend above the tail and cover any sticks you use. I cut one big piece of brown material. Remember to make a front and back for the brown base to cover the frame. I cut one smaller black piece and one sorta beige stripe. I also added some reddish color just because I thought the orange and brown were too boring.

Next I just glued everything in place. You can use hot glue, fabric glue, or even white glue. It all depends on how quickly you’d like to put on your costume. Lay out the brown, place the frame, next piece of brown, and then arrange all the other feather bits. I used some leftover brown for wings. Simply fold the brown over your arm to create a sleeve-like covering. Once each piece is ready, use a hole punch to attach your ribbon or string. My tail ties on like a belt.

Lastly, you need a beak. I found some old yellow fun foam and cut it into a triangle. Then I glued a long wiggly red piece across it’s bridge. When I tie it on my face i looks like that gobbler thingymajig.

I hope you got some ideas from this costume. You can make a duct frame for all sorts of costumes. Have fun!

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