"The Claw" costume

It's been months since I've posted any projects, but Bea's Halloween costume this year was so much fun, I just had to share.

Bea decided she wanted to be an arcade "Claw" machine. We found a used "claw" on eBay, and Eric did all the construction using red foam board, red masking tape and lots of hot glue. He even made a secret candy compartment inside the coin slot that Bea could open with the push of a button. I added the graphics, blinking lights and stuffed animal accessories inside. She looked like the real deal, for sure. 

The Claw costume was a huge hit - especially with Bea. Even though it was sorta heavy and hard to maneuver at times, she was so proud of her costume and the rave reviews she got at trunk-or-treat events, the school costume parade, and trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. 

Our kids are getting older, so our crazy costume days are almost over. Sigh. It sure has been fun.

Lego Man Costume

There couldn't be a more perfect Halloween costume this year for our Lego-lovin' Gus.

Eric really took his cardboard construction skills up a notch. He made this whole thing out of blue cardboard, red foam board, hot glue and Smoothfoam™. The legs were a challenge. It wasn't until after we saw Gus shuffling at the school costume parade, that we decided we needed to cut the backs of the legs open so that he could actually WALK and go up stairs. Poor kid. He was a Halloween trooper once again. I promised him last night, one of these years, we'll make him a costume he can actually walk, see and move in. He didn't seem to care. He loved it just the way it was.

Everything was handmade, except for the head. We bought one of those Lego containers that you can use to sort & store Lego bricks, cut out the insides and drilled larger eye holes. It fit perfectly. We used a red sweatshirt for the arms, and stuffed them with some of Eric's old, 4-inch vacuum tubing from the woodshop.

Now that Halloween is over, and we have no storage space left for a costume this size, I think it's going to go on permanent display in Gus' room.

I started to take photos of how Eric made this and then I gave up. Oh my lord, it was very meticulous and involved lots of calculations, cutting, scoring, tabbing and gluing. I don't know how that man's mind works, but I'm just glad it does. There's no way I could have constructed something like this so perfectly. Anyway, here are a few photos of the process and the finished pieces. Knock yourself out if you want to attempt one yourself!

Calico Cat Costume

Ever since we got our calico cat, Cake, in April, my kids have been on a calico kick. So it wasn't surprising that Bea wanted to be one for Halloween this year.

Yes, I could have put her in a white sweat suit, added some spots and drew some whiskers on her cheeks. But we all know that's not gonna happen. It's just not.

Instead, I used a laundry basket, an old bike helmet, upholstery foam, three yards of fur and two cans of spray glue. I'd like to say I had a plan in mind when I started, but I didn't. I just started cutting and gluing and furring as I went along. Plan schman. Just dive in and see what happens. In the end, it turned out pretty cute. And almost functional. Bea could move her arms and legs freely. And she could see. Mostly.

Bea loved her costume, and all of her friends at school enjoyed "petting" it. I can't say that our cat loved it. She went sprinting across the backyard when a 4-foot version of herself tried to grab her.

Bea's buddy, Morgan, was a black cat. Two, cute kitties!

Here are some photos of how I made the costume. Disclaimer: I am not a professional. At all. Just an insane mom.

I started with a tall laundry basket, and glued an old bike helmet on top.

Added some foam ears and a rounded head.

Covered everything in shaggy, cream fur, using spray glue.

Added a pink felt nose on the snout.

Added pink felt ears, and lots of furry spots.

More furry, random, calico-like spots on the back.

Added the tail.

Covered some pink gloves in fur.

Covered some pink slippers in fur.

Added some large, goggly eyes.

Treat-Street Ready

Unplug the hot glue guns and put down the exacto knives, the Dennelers are ready for Halloween! 

This year, Gus is going as a classic Lego Man. 

And Bea is a calico cat. ('Tis the year for all-things-calico at our house, of course.)

Now, let's get out there and find us some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers candy bars.