Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Tuesday Tutorial-Universe Costume

A few years back, inbetween my teaching and graphic design careers, I took a position as a governess to three beautiful children, Caitlin(4), Ryan(2), and Stephen(2 weeks). I absolutely loved my job! I find that it's incredibly rare for people take such pride and have such enjoyment in their professions. I look back on the year I was with them fondly, grateful for the experience and honored to have been a part of their lives. 

One of my favorite memories from my time with them, is the Halloween that I offered to create their costumes. At the time, I didn't know how to sew and had never created anything wearable, but that did not discourage me from wanting to make them outfits that were creative, playful and, above all, innovative. When asked, Caitlin told me that she would love to be a ballerina. I knew that sewing a leotard and tutu would be far too difficult and time consuming for me to figure out in a few weeks time, however I still wanted to make her wish come true. So we opted to buy the pieces from a local market. I think it turned out great. She was the beautiful ballerina she had imagined herself to be, and I managed to save myself some stress!


Ryan, only two years old at the time, did not have a preference for his costume. After asking his mom what ideas she had in mind, we ended up agreeing on a Lego outfit. This was actually really easy to make and easy on my wallet! I used an old, empty diaper box for the body, spray painted it red, cut holes for the arms and inserts, and stuck velcro on the back seam for an easy open and close. The red inserts are actually disposable plastic cups I had left over from a party. I think he looked fantastic! He was definitely the cutest one in his school parade, but the costume turned out to be quite uncomfortable for him and impossible to sit in. Thank goodness I dressed him in a red shirt and pants underneath so he could slip the costume off immediately after the parade!


My absolute favorite costume, however, was Stephen's! I think he was around 4 months at the time, and I was given complete say over the theme and construction of the design. I wanted to come up with something that had never been done before, something amazing! I decided to make him the universe. What's more grand that that!? It really turned out better than I could have imagined, especially since I did not own, nor know how to use, a sewing machine! Here are the instructions on how to make the cutest costume on the block!

How to Make a Universe Costume

What You Will Need:
black onesie
black tights
star rhinestones
multicolored felt
fabric glue
3D fabric paint
scissors

1. Cut the multicolored felt into circles of varying sizes.

2. On one side of each circle, use the 3D fabric paint to decorate the felt, making them resemble planets, the sun and the moon.

3. Use the fabric glue to attach the felt planets and star rhinestones onto the black onesie and tights. 

Happy Halloween!
This craft is featured at the following:


 

11 comments:

  1. Those are the cutest costumes! I love, love the lego and universe ones- congrats to you for your creativity and your courage to know that you could do it!

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  2. This is so adorable and so absolutely original! I have never seen anything like it before. You did a great job!

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  3. I love the universe one. My son has a wet bag made from fabric that looks like that.

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  4. Thanks for linking up to Take-A-Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Craft Edition - I featured you today! - Mandy, www.craftedition.blogspot.com

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  5. I love it! Baby universe.


    Thank you for joining me for Upcycled Awesome #17 over at www.thetshirtdiaries.com

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  6. That is so stinkin' cute, and so appropriate for a little one. Since they are, after all, the center of our universe! Thanks for sharing with us at A Crafty Soiree! Hope you'll join us at the newest one, it begins tomorrow!

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  7. This is beyond clever!! HOW CUTE!! Love it.

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  8. Cute costume!

    Submit it in my Handmade Halloween Costume Contest starting today - October 15th.

    Susan,
    http://entertainexchange.blogspot.com/
    Party and Entertaining Inspiration

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  9. Absolutely adorable! We'd love for you to link up to our Homemade Halloween link party!
    http://www.sewmanymamas.com/2010/10/easy-halloween-costume.html

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  10. What a great idea! Such a cute costume!

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  11. Such a sweet and simple idea! I'd love to link to this project from my site: www.allfreeholidaycrafts.com. Please let me know if that would be okay with you.

    Thanks!
    Rachel @ AllFreeHolidayCrafts

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