Need a last minute costume idea? Wanna make a costume even more creative? Just throw a mask on!
Here's three easy masks and how to make 'em. Just head to your party store and pick up plain masks.
Wanna go all-out DIY? Cut a mask out from cardboard or posterboard, poke holes in the sides and attach with elastic or ribbon to fit around your head (psst! Measure it out first to make sure it won't fall off your noggin!).
Sparkly Ice Queen
Do you gush for things that glitter? This mask is for you, glamazon. Wanna look entirely ice queen? Grab a silver wand (decorate with pretty snowflakes or ribbons), white tights, a silver or blue dress (shine, shimmer and sequins is always a plus!) and shiny shoes. Don't forget rosy pink lips and an elegant bun to match.
What you'll need:
-A fabric eye mask (can be in any shape) in black
-Loose glitter in blue
-White fuzzy boa OR white lace
-Glue
-Silver glitter pen
-Silver spray paint
What you'll do:
1. Spray paint the bottom portion of the mask, so that the top is darker and gradually becomes lighter towards the bottom of the mask. Let dry completely.
2. Take the fuzzy boa or lace and glue it to the backside of your mask so that the fabric still peaks out of the front. You could use it entirely along the edges or go for just a few hints in specific places.
3. Moving with the shape of the mask, create a design that appeals to you. This design is where you will be gluing the loose blue glitter down, so this is your chance to get super sparkly, or keep it simple. Wanna go all-out ice queen? Make snowflake shapes on your mask.
4. Once the design is done, spread the glue out evenly and pile on the glitter. Remember, use A LOT of glitter.
4. Let dry and then shake off loose glitter (or re-collect to use again!).
5. Use the silver glitter pen to accent your mask. Add swirls, dots, designs, whatever. Once it's all dry get ready to look oh-snow-fab!
Purple Feathered Fairy
Wow everyone with your whimsy when you wear this. For the full fairy effect wear with a long flowy dressy (lacy or lighter fabrics look breezy and romantic), wings, white tights and ballet flats. Sparkly lip gloss and flowing curls are a must!
What you'll need:
-A fabric mask in purple or black
-Purple feathers
-Purple and silver sequins
-Glue
What you'll do:
1. Glue sequins all along the outline of the mask…don’t forget to decorate along the eyes, too.
2. Once the sequined border is dry, add your sparkles anywhere else you desire.
3. Figure out where you want to place the feathers. You'll want to glue 'em on to the backside of your mask so that the plumed part shows up on the front. You can either put them in the center of the mask between your eyes so they are sticking straight up, or glue them on the left or right side of the mask so they stick out away from your head.
4. Let dry and enjoy your fairy mask!
Ravin’ Ribbon
So perf for the ultimate party girl. For a daring diva look don with a floor-length showstopper dress, high heels, long white gloves and a few fab jewels. Deep red lips and voluminous hair up the drama even more.
What you'll need:
-A fabric mask in black
-Sequins in any color
-Ribbon in any color
-Glue
What you'll do:
1. Trace glue shapes on mask (you can even get fancy with patterns like swirly designs, flower patterns, stars, hearts, etc.).
2. Place sequins on glue and let dry.
3. Cut ribbon to desired length when wearing the mask (we suggest to your shoulder or longer for a dramatic look!). Three or four ribbon strands will work (you can also do more or less) and glue down on the inside of the mask (you can have them coming down one side of your face, or both!).
4. Let dry and get the party started!
-Liz Lebedda
BY CAITLIN R. ON 10/29/2009 8:00:00 AM 15 COMMENTS
You spend the weeks leading up to Halloween thinking about your costume and how you can be the perfect cat, witch, princess, poodle girl or...whatever creative disguise you've dreamed up. Now that you're all settled on your gear you gotta figure out where you're gonna stash all the sweets you score from trick-or-treating.
Check out our fab pillowcase idea. It’s the perf accessory to complete your costume (and it’s totally reusable as a decorative pillow once the night is over). If you think you're collecting lotsa candy go for a full-size pillowcase. If you want to keep the bag a li'l daintier, do it mini-size.
Kitty Carry-all
So you wanna be a cat for Halloween? We've got the purrr-fect pillowcase carrier for YOU!
What You'll Need:
-A black pillowcase
-Hot glue gun
-Pink fur trim or boa
-White felt
-Black lace
-Silver pipe cleaners
What You'll Do:
1. Start by laying out your pillowcase so the opening is facing you. Measure about 2-3 inches down from the opening and make a horizontal guiding line (usually there is a horizontal seam that you can use to measure against). Using the hot glue gun, glue the pink fur trim along the length of the seam near the opening (the trim should be horizontal, not vertical).
2. Use the white felt to cut out cat ears. It’s easier to draw the shape of the cat ear onto the felt before cutting. Make them big enough so they are visible on your pillowcase. About 5-7 inches should be big enough.
3. Turn your pillowcase so the opening is away from you. Place the two felt cat ears about an inch away from the fur trim and glue down.
4. Cut the black lace into the shape of a cat’s ear, only make it smaller than the white felt. This will be used as the inside of the ear. Glue down, bottom center of the white felt ear.
5. Use six silver pipe cleaners as whiskers underneath of the ears, three on each side.
6. Glue down. Let dry overnight. And enjoy!
Sorceress' Satchel
Who says a witch has to be completely scary? Design a chic pillowcase bag that will make you stand out in the neighborhood.
What You'll Need:
-A dark purple pillowcase
-Black/white lace
-A fake spider
-Black felt
-Thick ribbon in whatever color you want
What You'll Do:
1. Place the pillowcase on the table in front of you with the opening farthest away from your body.
2. The lace is going to be the spider web and will be placed at the corner of your pillowcase. Cut semi-jagged edges in the shape of a circle to create a rounded web. Glue lace down with the hot glue gun.
3. Hot glue the spider onto the lace.
4. Create a witch hat out of the black felt big enough to cover the bottom of the pillowcase. The hat should cover about half of the pillowcase, but shouldn’t touch the web.
5. Glue down your witch hat and place the ribbon where the brim of the hat meets the pointy cone part.
6. Let dry. And enjoy!
Princess' Candy Purse
Halloween is a great way to let your super girly nature be in full effect, which is totally why you're posing as a princess. Now all you need is the trick-or-treating bag to complete your girly costume.
What You'll Need:
-A pink or purple pillowcase
-Thick ribbon in any color or pattern that will match your costume and pillowcase
-Rhinestones
What You'll Do:
1. Lay the pillowcase so the opening is farthest away from your body.
2. Take your ribbon and make a bow as big as the opening of the pillowcase. Make sure the tails of the bow are long enough to extend halfway down the pillowcase.
3. Glue down your bow at the opening of the pillowcase
4. Using the hot glue gun, decorate the front of the pillowcase with the rhinestones.
5. Let dry. And enjoy!
Bobby Socker's Sweets Satchel
The 1950s poodle girl costume is a classic, so put a modern twist on it with a cool candy catcher. This will look really awesome if you invert the colors of the skirt to make your pillowcase.
What You'll Need:
- A pillowcase in white or pink
-Black and white felt or old black vinyl records (ask mom or dad)
-Silver/pink fabric glitter pen
-Polka dotted ribbon
What You'll Do:
1. Lay pillowcase so the opening is farthest from you. Glue the ribbon about 2-3 inches from the opening, horizontally, along the seam of the pillowcase.
2. If you have an old vinyl record, glue it down in the left hand bottom corner. If not, make one out of felt. All you need to do is cut a big circle out of the black felt and then a smaller circle out of the white felt to glue in the middle (if you don’t know what a vinyl record looks like, ask your mom).
3. Use your silver and pink fabric glitter pens to create swirly designs in the blank areas of the pillowcase.
Psst: Other fun decade-themed pillowcases? Tie-dyed pillowcase for a '60s hippie chic or a bright neon one to match a 1980s costume.
If you aren’t dressing up as any of the above costumes but still want to make a pillowcase candy bag, just remember to get creative. Think about the accessories for your costume and transfer them to the pillowcase. It’s all about having fun. Plus, you get a unique, hand-crafted pillowcase to decorate your bed with once you’ve cleaned out the candy from Halloween.
-Liz Lebedda
BLOG IT OUT! How are you carting your candy around this year? Let us know!
BY CAITLIN R. ON 10/15/2009 8:00:00 AM 61 COMMENTS
Photo by Katie Shutt
Plannin' a party on a budget? Try this take on decorative serverwear by creating your very own design that fits the theme of any party.
We tried it and it turned out great. I made a peacock popcorn bowl. Everyone loved it!
What You'll Need:
First, buy a white (or any light colored) plastic bowl. I got one for a buck at the Dollar Tree.
Next, buy "Window Decal" printer paper. You can buy this at any office supply store. Go to the specialty paper aisle or ask an employee for help if you're not sure what kind to get.
Search online for an image you want to print out. I did a Google image search for "peacock clip art" and found tons of great options. Using Word, Paintbrush or Photoshop, you can also write a message in a cool font, like "Happy 13th Birthday, Kelly!" or "Congratulations, Jen!"
What You'll Do:
Once you have the image you want to print, load the decal paper into your printer's paper dock and print the image out. Make sure you read the paper instructions to make sure the sheet goes in the right way. Let the paper dry and cut the image out, leaving a little bit of an edge around it.
Peel the backing off and stick it on the bowl. Make as many as ya want, alternating the image or keeping the same one. Fill the bowls with popcorn, chips or pretzels and leave them around the party. You're all set to serve in style!
-Katie Shutt
BY CAITLIN R. ON 10/1/2009 7:00:00 AM 35 COMMENTS