Trick Or Treat

All the gouls came out for Halloween Night! And a few Cinderellas, Butterflys Witches, Spider men...
We met up with All the cousins, Aunts (minus 1 Rachel,who had to be at her school carnival), & Uncles.
We had:
1 Tiger (in a stroller)
1 Wizard
1 Witch
1 Flapper Girl
1 Mickey Mouse
1 Minney Mouse
1 Schrek
1 Davey Jones Pirate
1 BatGirl
1 Boba Fett
We walked around the neighborhood for atleast an hour. When Riley complained about the candybag being too heavy it was time to be done...well..
..Not to her- her solution was to go home to empty the bag and go out for more.
I think Halloween was made for 5 year olds.

Costume Creation

Boba Fetts helmet:

We went to the Halloween store and found an Army guy helmet that was the right shape (for the top of the head). I altered it by adding poster board (the thickest I could find) extensions with the glue gun. I had to cut out and bend the cardboard into the right shape for the cheek area.


I did a layer of paper mache for more stability (I used modge podge glue)


Next, I coated everything with spackle (the kind you would patch a hole on the wall). The kind I bought goes on pink and turns white when it's dry.



Sanded and painted and dabbed on silver paint here and there for the scuffed/battled look. And lastly, I sprayed the inside and outside with a matte clear coat.

And... Waa Laa! Boba Fett!

Pumpkin

Pumpkin Patch today!
Rileys 1st fieldtrip. I was lucky enough to have the day off so I could go and be a helping mom.

Costumes

Started making costumes today! Happiness is creating.

I had so many of my costumes made by my mom. I don't recall ever going to a store and purchasing a costume. The only costumes that I remember being available to purchase (when I was little) was a plastic (garbage bag plastic) suit w/ a plastic mask.

I rememeber being a majorette (Grandma had one of Aunt Melindas costumes in the upstairs closet), I was a dr. (with dads scrubs), an indian girl, a holly hobby, ballerina (the year I was in ballet-since I had the tutu).

I am making Liam and Rileys costumes this year. Liam is going to be Boba Fette and Riley is going to be Bat Girl.

I don't have patterns... I went to the fabric store and found fabric to use but no patterns. I don't think that will be a problem. I did find a website on how to make the boba fette helmet, jet pack, and armor. It looks like alot of work but I think it will look really awesome when it's done.

I started while Liam was at school - just sewing together the basic suit. When Liam got home I had him try it on to see how it fit ( I had all but the sleves and 2 seams sewed). It looks like it will fit perfectly but Liam told me durring the whole fittig that he really wanted a "store bought" costume, not a home-made costume. I was sad when he told me that. He thinks a store bought costume is better. He has the craftiest mom (in my opinion) - Williams comment is that he doesnt want to see a mess or project stuff all over...
I'm kinda discouraged now... but I'm not giving up. I'm more determined now to make the best Boba Fette costume --Sorry George Lucas.
Riley is happy that I'm making her costume. Her costume is just a dress shape with a ragged, zig zag hem and a cape with arm bands and a bat logo on the chest and some kind of eye/ robin-like-band.

I know why Liam says that he'd prefer a bought costume... We've always purchased nicer costumes. I always figured that if we were paying for one, I wanted something that will last and could be used as play-clothes after Halloween was over. I still have past costumes that are still good and the kids play dress up.
It's not too much to pay 40-50 on a costume if it's going to last. Now, with 2 kids a 40-50 costume turns into 80-100 and that isnt a possiblity now. We have to watch our spending more this year.

The Boba Fette costume I found online was 60 +more for the accessories. Rileys costume wasnt too bad - 30 I think.

I'll post photos as I'm working on these.
Peace Out

Journal Page

Trick-Or-Treat bags

Halloween 2005
Rileys Trick-or-Treat bag

Today we are decorating for Halloween. These are bags I made for the kids 2 years ago. I'm adding new pictures every year. The witch pattern was from the Fons & Porter magazine (2005). I didnt have an idea for Liams bag, and when I asked what he wanted he said, "a ghost flying over the pumpkin patch". I used white tulle (many layers) to make the ghost. The pieces were raw-edge appliqued with a zig-zag stitch on the edges. For the photos I turned under the edges. I purchased photo-transfer fabric from the fabric store. It comes the size of a sheet of paper. I printed photos from my computer onto the fabric, then heat-set the image with a dry iron and it was ready to sew on. There are other ways to transfer images onto fabric but this was very easy and fast.
Liams Trick-Or-Treat Bag

One VERY busy weekend

I need a vaccation from my weekend off! It was very full. I worked a 40 hr. week, and on tuesday I volunteered at the afterschool program (I work in the 3-4 yr. old room) This is my 3rd year doing this program. My daughter started in my group and now she's moved up to the older kids class. This year I have 2 nephews and 1 niece in my group.Anyways... Friday after work I took my 2 kids to their school carnival/halloween party.
Saturday morning Liam and I woke up very early to go to the heart walk. We walked 4 miles with my a group from my work. After that I did have an hour nap at home before going to the guilds Quilt show.


I worked at the show from 2-5pm. Saturday night I went to bed very early. Sunday morning... woke up took kids to sunday school and went to the early church survice (I lucked out and scored 2 dozen Hmong egg rolls--they sell them every so often, but they go fast and I usually miss out). After church went home and did a bit of house work. Then the shopping began: 1st to gottschalks for bday presents. 2nd to Best Buy for a new ink cartridge. 3rd to Lowes to pick up sisters Blind order. 4th to Petsmart for Parrot food and 2 new fishes. (Liam picked out a speckled Molly that he's named Spot. It looks like a dalmation fish. Riley picked out a Starburst Mickey looks like a fancy gold fish w/ a black tail)
Went home to pick up tools/ladder/and settle the fish into their new tank. Drove out to my Sisters new house and helped to install the rest of the blinds and the valances from the last 4 blinds. I've been doing it in stages and hubby helped with most(1 more for the future and it's done). Today hubby installed the ceiling fan while I worked on the blinds and valances.
Then we all sped to moms & dad's house for a double birthday party. Mom made the most awesome chicken/artichoke/olive thing, Homemade lasagna, salad, garlic bread, eggrolls from the hmong sale, and 3 deserts: brownies, lemon cake, pumpkin pie.
I was not on my diet today. The only thing I didnt try was the egg rolls because I have some in the freezer(I'm not kidding when I say they're good.. )