DIY Costumes

I know Halloween was so 2 weeks ago, but here's my Halloween recap, a little late! My kids LOVE dressing up and playing dress up. They seriously spend the better part of most days changing from one outfit to the next. So, costumes are kind of a big deal for me, because I know every costume I make or invest in will be reused over and and over again.

My son requested a dragon costume this year. His friends were dressing up as knights, and he wanted to be the scary dragon! I bought a 25 cent hoodie from the thrift store and cut out felt pieces that I hot glued in place. He loved it! The nose part of the face was made by gluing some felt to a thin piece of card stock.

My almost 3 year old is obsessed with princesses. My mom used a regular little girl's dress pattern to create this Snow White dress. I love the fact that by using the right colors, you can make any pattern look like a Disney princess!

My oldest daughter requested Alice in Wonderland, which worked perfectly because I found this dress on a clearance rack last year! I pulled it out this year to find a stained up, ragged excuse of a dress that was obviously returned to the store at some point. I used hot glue to add a ribbon to the edges of the apron that was severely frayed. 

Happy Reformation Day

However you are choosing to spend today, be it with friends and family at a church event, trick-or-treating in your neighborhood or staying warm at home, Julia and I pray that everyone stays safe and has fun! 

Julia and I both grew up in Christian homes that each held their own unique views and opinions about what to do with Halloween. Julia did not grow up trick-or-treating, while I did. As parents, prayerfully and creatively decided what your own family stance on Halloween will be, based on Scripture and in light of your present cultural influences, friends and church involvement. Here is a good article from What's in the Bible: How to Talk with Your Children About Halloween

Don't forget that today is also Reformation Day!: The Gospel Coalition: Five Key Concepts

Some principles that our family follows during the entire Halloween season:

• Focus on positive things, not negative. Fun pumpkins, Fall leaves, cider mills, harvest decor, positive costumes are all fun and acceptable things to enjoy during this season! We stay away from things like: haunted houses, zombies, ghosts, witches, skeletons, spiders and other spooky things.
• Choose costumes that are age appropriate, positive and modest. Animals, princesses, superheros, etc. There are plenty of options out there to keep the focus on positive things rather than encouraging things that are negative, dark or mean.
• If you do choose to go trick-or-treating, know the neighborhood. Is it little-kid friendly or is there an overload of dark, creepy stuff that is just going to scare your child and send them home crying?
• How can you best use this season to glorify God? As a Christian, there are plenty of ways to get out there and claim Halloween in the name of Jesus. Our church provides Halloween Tracts to hand-out to trick-or-treaters (along with candy of course!). Pray for your neighborhood as you walk with your kids. Pray for God's blessing on the children and for their safety. Pray that any evil spirits will flee as you bring the name of Jesus to each doorstep. 
• If you choose not to participate in a church or community event that centers around trick-or-treating, are you providing opportunities to be a light to those around you or missing out? For several years now, trick-or-treating with my family means a large group of friends from church, walking together around our community, having fun and enjoying time with our kids, then ending the night with a bonfire, hot cider and donuts. We have also done Halloween alternatives at church where we allow kids to dress up and recite Bible verses to receive candy. Weather you trick-or-treat, or host other fun fall activities with your kids and their friends, put Christ at the center! 

Vintage Coloring Pages for Fall

Free: 5 adorable pictures, salvaged from a vintage coloring book! Print and enjoy. 

Download them HERE

DIY Star Wars Costumes

It's been a Star Wars filled month around our house as we've collected everything we needed to create super cute, but super cheap Star Wars themed costumes for all three kids. To view my full post on Star Wars Themed Costume Ideas, Click HERE

Or, see the individual posts I did for lots of ideas on each character:

• Princess Leia Ideas: HERE
• Luke Skywalker Ideas: HERE

Best Adult Costumes 2012

Regardless of if you want to go as a couple, by yourself or with kids, check out these photos.  If you have an infant, you can strap them in the baby bjorn and go or keep them warm in a pot as a lobster :)  Couples: Barbie and Ken, The Smurfs, Nerds.  Or just for fun a creative wind up doll, the Up House or a Toy Soldier!!

What fun to get dressed up and get creative.

~Julia

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

Lots of ideas! Click HERE

I love decorating pumpkins! From paint, templates, drills, embellishments, and colored lighting, the possibilities are endlessly adorable! We're getting close to the date that is safe to start carving; don't do it too early if you want your pumpkin to survive until October 31st. Depending on what part of the country you live in, and what the temperatures are like this time of year, you may want to wait till closer to a week out. 

Check out these great tips on pumpkin preservation from HGTV:

• Mold and dehydration are the two main contributors to pumpkin rot. Prevent both by covering the carved areas and interior of pumpkin with petroleum jelly. This will keep the pumpkin from drying out and will slow the growth of mold.
• Another option is to add a small amount of bleach to a spray bottle filled with water. Spray the pumpkin daily with the bleach mixture; the bleach fights mold while the water keeps the pumpkin from drying out too quickly.

How to keep squirrels away: I have spent countless years, at war with the squirrels that seek to devour my freshly carved pumpkins. My kids have been horrified to find their lovely creations destroyed the next day. Try the options above, but add some cayenne pepper to the petroleum jelly and cover the outsides as well. The bleach may help keep squirrels away as well, if sprayed daily as they suggest to fight mold. You may also try ammonia water on the inside and outside. Other ideas I have read include sitting fake animals near your pumpkins, moth balls and deer repellent. Squirrels can be persistent little buggers and it may take trying a few different options.

Check out this collection of some of my favorite pumpkin carving ideas! Happy pumpkin carving! Now, to decide which ones to use...

Despicable Me Pumpkin How-To

Pumpkin Painting Ideas

Ninja Turtles! Use different colored glow sticks.

Easy Spider Man Design

Use a drill to create holes!

140 Free Pumpkin Carving Patterns

Disney Family Fun Free Templates

Cartoon Jr Free Templates: Princesses and More


Trendiest Pumpkin on the Block: Another way to carve chevron!

BHG: Monster Pumpkin Ideas!

A Star Wars Themed Halloween

I've already mentioned in previous posts that this is the year of the Star Wars theme for Halloween. My 4 and 5 year olds are pretty infatuated with Star Wars for the moment. Resolved to plan ahead rather than wait till the last moment and scrounge for costumes, I have been piecing together items to create the perfect Luke and Leia! I spent $6 on Amazon for an angel costume for Leia, 50 cents on a silver belt, and everything else was stuff I had on hand.

Check out the individual posts I did on ideas for Luke and the one I did for Leia.

Perfect Princess Leia Hair: Sock buns to the rescue! Here's how...

Luke's boots: strips of felt

Old karate top, tan pants, belt, lightsaber, brown shoes and
brown felt wrapped around the legs to create boots.

Angel costume minus the halo and wings, silver belt, silver shoes,
and sock buns (the only accessory you really need!)

The cutest little Ewok ever! An old monkey costume was the perfect start.
All I added was a piece of felt, cut to reveal the ears and face.

Princess Leia Costume Inspiration

My son is obsessed with Star Wars right now, and being a little bit of a Star Wars nerd myself, I am ok with that. I am also really glad my daughter was ok with the idea of doing a whole Star Wars theme for Halloween! A tiny Luke Skywalker is even cuter when accompanied by Princess Leia (oh and don't forget baby sister dressed as an ewok!)

Check out my other post about putting together a cheap, Luke Skywalker costume here

To see more of the adorable outfit pictured here, visit this site

Here is a collection of ideas to pull off an adorable little Leia, without breaking the bank or putting tons of work in.

Use sock buns to create Leia's classic hair style!

How to create hair donuts from socks

Pattern for an easy Leia dress

Cheap angle costume = No sew option!

I bought this angle costume a few weeks ago, at that time it was only $6. The reviews on it are correct, it is super cheap and paper thin, but it works for me! I didn't have to sew or glue anything and you can't buy fabric half the time that is this cheap. Lose the wings and halo, add a silver belt and put her hair in two sock buns on the sides. An old or recycled angle costume is the easiest way to go!

Another cute little costume idea

Another cute spin on the classic look. Use a white snow vest or coat and white shirt, boots and pants. Do hair in braids instead of buns.

How to make a Leia headband

Cute option for the little girl with short hair!

A different look for Leia