The Costumes Are Finally Done!

I finally got them done! It was definately work trying to accomplish this while having the kids every second I wasn't working. I would have to sew when they were taking naps or down for the night. If I put on a movie for them and tried to sew, about 5 minutes later I have a 1 year old on my lap and a 3 year old pushing buttons on my machine saying "What is that mama?" I do have to say I am very impressed with how the mask turned out. I read how to make the mask on the internet and it turned out exactly how they described. I was so thrilled. We were a hit at our ward party. So many people were stopping us to take pictures. So hmmmm..... what to be next year.

It worked!

So the Grinch mask worked! I was so excited that I couldn't stop smiling. It was a huge process but it worked! I first made a mold of Adam's face with plaster bandages. I could have poured plaster on Adam's face to make a mold but I didn't want to deal with the mess, didn't want to worry about his breathing and also didn't need perfect detail. I had to lube up his face with Vaseline, wet the bandages and criss-crossed them around his face. He sat there not moving for 20 minutes. Once it dried I pulled it off and poured plaster in that to make a reverse mold. I used this face to sculpt a grinch face with pottery clay. I did this so I knew exactly where the nose and eyes were and it would be a better fit for him. I saw another method where you just paint layers of latex onto the face you sculpted but when I pulled it off it stuck together like a deflated balloon. I was so bummed. I then decided it would be best to make a mold of the grinch face and paint the layers of latex in the mold. I was crossing my fingers that pouring plaster over my hours of sculpting would work because I didn't want to have to sculpt it again. Well it did and I started the tedious painting of the latex layers. I colored the latex green by mixing in the face makeup before I painted it on. The latex dried green and is the exact color of the fur I got. Score! I used baby powder when I peeled it off the mold so it didn't stick together. Tada! it worked. I still have to cut out the eyes and the mouth to fit it to Adam. I am a little nervous about that part because if I cut wrong then I will ruin it.

Halloween Costume Dilemma

So here is the deal. Adam is going to be the Grinch (Jim Carey version) and I am wondering what I should do for his outfit. There is one part of the movie where the Grinch is deciding to go to the town party and he tries on different outfits. One is a lederhosen. Melanie has a lederhosen for when her and Casey went to Austria so I thought it would be funny to use it. The options are to just have grinch in no clothes, in a Santa suit or in lederhosen. The Santa suit would be the easiest because I would make his jacket and hat. Then I would make "fur" pants, and gloves for the grinch part and of course paint his face. For the other options I would have to make a full body suit with more detail but it would be cool looking. I don't have much time since both Adam and I are working full time and I have the kids when I am not working. You know how it is trying to get things done with kids running around tearing the house apart. Therefore I am leaning more towards the Santa suit option. I thought it would be cool to see what people's opinion is. Take my poll to the left or on my facebook page http://bit.ly/zdZ4p
Thanks for helping me out!

Halloween Is Coming!

Looks like everyone else is more on top of it than me this year. Every year, as most of you know, I make our Halloween costumes. I usually start in August so that if I need to order something online or something goes wrong with the production I won't be stressed. The other reason why I start so early is because I like to plan out fabrics to buy when they are on sale and I don't have to pay a fortune. I have been so crazy busy with the kitchen remodel that August rolled around and I haven't even thought of it. Everyone at work kept asking me what we were going to be this year. One night when I didn't have to work they were all trying to come up with ideas and they posted them on Facebook for me. Some said Goldilocks and the three bears. Others said Cinderella or Snow White but none of those really caught my interest. One day I was sitting at a friends house and noticed that Addison's ponytail had migrated to the top of her head and was sitting straight up. I said, "Hey doesn't she look like Cindy Lou Who?" Ah Ha! That's it! I have always debated whether to keep our costumes a secret until presenting them in flesh and blood but I do have a big mouthed sister who tells everyone everything. Plus I would get sick of everyone begging me to tell them what we are so I give in.

Adam will be the Grinch, I will be his girlfriend Martha May Whovier, Addison will be Cindy Lou Who and Landon will be Max the dog.

The one thing that I am concerned about it how am I going to get Landon's one antler to stay on his head. Suggestions anyone? I don't want to attach it to the dog costume because if I need just a plain dog costume in the future or if someone wants to borrow it then I don't have to remake it or take it apart.

So I will post my progress until October!