Great Halloween Costumes For Girls

Whether your little girl is 2 or 10, she will love to transform into something special for Halloween. Sometimes girls like to have 2 or 3 costumes to mix and match or to wear to different parties or events.

Most girls love and identify with the Disney princesses. They have grown up watching Disney movies and even taking vacations to Disneyland or going to Disney on Ice performances. This explains why they may want to look like their favorite princess on Halloween.

A great brand of princess costumes for girls is Little Adventures. They have boys and adult costumes as well. There are many online retailers that sell the Little Adventures brand of dress up clothes. You can even find them on eBay and Amazon. The most popular princess Halloween costume is definitely Cinderella. There is just something about Cinderella that makes little girls old and young alike smile and feel happy and beautiful!

The second most popular Halloween princess dress for girls is Sleeping Beauty. No pretty princess can resist pink. The Little Adventures brand Sleeping Beauty costume is also machine washable and made from high quality fabrics that are comfortable and do not itch tender skin. The long sleeves make it perfect for cold Halloween nights or add on the pink cape with hood to make sure she will be warm on her special night of trick-or-treating.

If your child would prefer something less girly, a witch costumes would be a great alternative. She can even use her witch dress after Halloween to play the Wizard of Oz or other witch characters. You may also want to get her a Dorothy Costume to facilitate fun dress up play with her sister or neighborhood friends. Little Adventures also has a machine washable line of witch, Dorothy, Ladybug, Bumble Bee, and Pirate Girl costumes that are so fun for little girls on Halloween or just for fun.

Some families like to match for Halloween or have a family theme. The Wizard of Oz is a great theme to have. Two sisters could dress as the witch and Dorothy and the Mom could be Glenda the Good Witch and the Dad could be the scarecrow, lion or tin man.

For a costume party, our princess dresses are always a big hit. They are lovely and graceful and very unique. Mom, daughter, and doll can all dress up exactly the same. Guests will be intrigued by the exact match and how comfortable and fun the Little Adventures costumes can be.

Whether your little girl will be a princess or a pirate, make sure you make this Halloween fun and special for her by getting a fun and fancy Little Adventures costume. You won't be sorry you did! Many costumes last for years and are passed down from child to child for every day dress up fun! Happy Halloween!

Shelby is the mother of 2 girls and 1 boy and lives in Orem, Utah. She also runs a home-based business called My Cute Dressups at http://www.mycutedressups.com that sells Princess dress up clothes and other fun pretend play items for kids, toddlers, and even teenagers and adult princess costumes. She also has an ebay store and a local store run by the same name. She has seen a noticeable difference in her kids after encouraging dress up play. Visit her website for more biographical information or to see her exciting line of Princess Costumes like Cinderella dresses, Snow White Costumes, Sleeping Beauty dresses, wedding dress up, Medieval Princess, Yellow Beauty, Winter Beauty, Rapunzel dress, doll clothes that fit American Girl, 18 inch doll clothes. She has a Cinderella doll dress that matches exactly with the girl Cinderella dress as well as matching Snow White doll dress.

Halloween Costume Ideas - 25 Homemade Costumes to Make

Halloween costumes are fun to create. Many items to use with your Halloween costume can be found in your own home or at your area thrift store. Creating costumes can be inexpensive and lots of fun to make and to wear. You'll find some of these will even work as last minute Halloween costume ideas.

Here are 25 costume ideas to help inspire you to make your own costume this year. It can be pretty simple to put a costume together and after you decide on one, browse the online Halloween retailer's websites for your costume. You may get a few more ideas. Use your imagination and creativity when making a costume, as this makes the costume unique and truly yours.

Dracula: For this scary costume you will need a pair of black pants, a long sleeve white shirt, a black jacket and a white vest. Wear a black cape with a collar and a gold necklace. Slick your hair back with hair gel. Wear pale face make-up, dark eyes and bloody lips with blood also dripping from the mouth and of course, vampire teeth.

A Witch: You will need a long black dress with long sleeves, a witch's hat, black shoes and a broom. Wear green and gray face make-up and dark gray lipstick. A fake wart on your nose would help too. Blacken out some of your teeth for a really ugly effect.

Tom Sawyer: Wear overalls that look worn, a dull plaid shirt and be sure to go bare footed. Place a straw hat on your head and chew on a piece of straw that is somewhat long. You can also add freckles to your checks and make your feet look dirty.

A Genie: You will need a pair of loose-fitting pants that fit tight around the ankles and a halter top or vest to match. Use a brightly colored scarf as a belt tied around the waist. Wear wide bracelets on your arms and large loop earrings. Go barefoot. Make a turban out of fabric and add a large plastic jewel on the front of the turban with fabric glue. If you can't find the pants this outfit calls for, then use a pair of loose-fitting pants and, tie the pants down to your ankles with colorful ribbon and make the pants look puffy.

Instead of a turban, you could pull your hair up into a pony tail on top of your head. Add some bling in your hair. Drape a thin scarf across the bottom part of your face.

Peter Pan: Using dark green fabric, make a tunic that hits above the knee and has a jagged hem and jagged sleeves. Wear opaque black or green tights, a black belt and black shoes. Make a hat using the green fabric and add a feather to the hat. Place a dagger under your belt and you're Peter Pan.

Igor: For this costume you will need a very large lab coat or white long sleeve shirt. Place stuffing into a pillowcase and sew it into the inside of the shirt for the hump. (You could also just use Velcro to keep it in place). Wear a pair of raggedy pants with holes in the knee areas. For a belt, use a rope and tie it in the front. An old and dull looking t-shirt that is ripped at the collar, sleeve and hem looks great. Carry a jar of brown colored water (use food dye) with a chunk of cauliflower in it for the brain. Shave your head and walk hunched over... shaving your head is optional.

Jack and the Beanstalk: For this costume, wear all green and wrap wired silk ivy all over yourself from head to toe. Using a straw hat, glue cotton balls on the hat for a cloud effect. A sprig of ivy should come out of the top of the hat. Make a tunic for a Ken doll and Ken becomes Jack, and you are the beanstalk. Carry a bag of beans to hand out.

Octomom: This is a really fun one. Wear long dark hair and big very red lips. Attach eight baby dolls all over yourself and you are ready to go.

Indiana Jones: For this costume you will need a brown hat with a brim. Use a rope for the whip and attach a handle - or use a jump rope, pull off one of the handles and spray paint the rope and handle. Wear brown paints, a tan shirt and brown boots. Wear a leather jacket. Use a rough sponge and brown makeup to create beard stubble. Add a few lines of dirt around your cheekbones, temples and under the jaw line.

A Sorcerer: For a sorcerer, use a long black or dark colored robe with long drooping sleeves and a robe belt (use a drapery tieback for the belt). Hang mystical items from the belt such as a pouch, herbs, crystals, and carry a staff.

Mrs. Claus: For this cute outfit glue cotton balls on a shower cap for the hair. Wear a white button down shirt, long white skirt, a red apron, red and white striped stockings and wire rim glasses on the tip of your nose. Add rosy red cheeks and you're ready.

A Hunter: This one is really easy. Wear camouflage clothing, a hunter's vest with lots of pockets, a camouflage hat, gloves and rubber boots. Carry binoculars, a canteen and a fake rifle.

A Devil: Wear red tights and a red turtleneck shirt. Make pointed ears out of red felt. Make the horns out of red felt with wire inserted or foam painted red and attach them to a headband. Make the tail out of felt with an arrow shape at the end and insert wire into the felt. Cover all the exposed skin with red body paint. Take a black brow pencil and draw your eyebrows at a sharp outward angle. Color your lips red or black.

Cat Burglar: This guy wears all black. Wear black leggings, a black turtleneck, black stocking cap, black socks and shoes, black eye mask and black gloves. Hang some tools from a belt and wear around your waist. Carry a sack over your shoulder.

Tinkerbell: Cut the hem of a short green dress into a jagged pattern. Put your hair in a bun and wear very little makeup (mainly, a little blush, lip gloss and mascara). Wear green flats with pompoms on top. Wear little fairy wings and carry a wand and a big smile.

The Easter Bunny:To be the Easter Bunny wear white sweatpants and a white hooded sweatshirt. Using wire and white and pink felt, make the bunny ears and attach them to the hood of the sweatshirt. Cut an oval shape out of the pink felt for the bunny's chest and attach it to the front of the sweatshirt. Create a bunny nose and whiskers using makeup and wear white gloves. Carry a basket filled with colorful plastic eggs.

A Soldier: Wear military clothing such as: fatigues, hat or helmet, black boots, dog tags, utility belt with canteen and a fake grenade. Camouflage your face and carry a fake gun.

Teen Wolf: Wear a basketball costume and headband. Buy some fake fur from a craft store and using spirit gum attach it to any exposed skin. Wear rubber fingernails and high top tennis shoes.

A Rapper: For this hip guy you will wear baggy jeans that sag down your hips, a t-shirt and hoodie, a baseball cap tilted on your head, gold chain, big watch, a grill on your teeth (silver gum wrapper will work for the grill) and cool tennis.

Black Eyed P: This costume is super quick and easy. Wear a white t-shirt and with a black marker draw the letter P on it (be sure it is a large P). Using black face make-up, give yourself one black eye. Now you are a black eyed P.

Circus Clown: Wear coveralls over a brightly colored long sleeve shirt, converse tennis shoes (the older the better) and a clown wig or color your own hair with colored spray. Paint your face white and create a clown look that you like. Carry a noise maker and spray silly string.

School Crossing Guard: This one is quick and easy. You will need to wear dark colored clothes (slacks and button down shirt), a whistle around the neck and carry a stop sign.

Rock 'n Roll Star: All you need to be a rock star is a pair of leather pants, leather jacket or vest, spiked dog collar, fake tattoos, long haired wig or spiked hair, and sunglasses. Be sure and carry a toy guitar.

A Used Car Salesman: Slick your hair back using lots of hair cream. Wear a plaid polyester suit, a button down shirt and several neck chains. Hand out business cards you made yourself and tell people you can get them a great deal.

Marge Simpson: Wear a Marge Simpson wig or make a wig out of blue yarn. Wear a green tube type dress with elastic around the top, orange flat shoes and a bead necklace. Use make up to color your skin yellow.

Get more Halloween costume ideas, Halloween recipes and Halloween party ideas. Lots of gooey and icky recipes along many craft ideas - pumpkin carving, pumpkin stencils, skeleton crafts, spider crafts, videos and more.

Halloween Costumes For Couples - We Tell You Which Ones Are the Best and Most Popular!

Halloween is celebrated on of 31st October night each year. It originated in Ireland and by 19th century the Irish immigrants carried the concept of the traditional costume parties and Halloween activities to Northern America. By late 20th century, most of the western countries started celebrating Halloween in modern times.

Halloween holiday has its origin in the ancient Celtic festival where lighting bonfires, wearing bizarre costumes and masks are part of the ritual to mimic the evil spirits or placate them. Traditionally, Halloween costumes for couples center on characters which represent ghosts, skeletons, witches, vampires, bats, vulture, pumpkin men or those based on themes and characters from TV shows and movies.

Mass produced Halloween costumes appear in stores which are worn by couples during any Halloween bashes. According to "National Retail Federation" the eternal favorite Halloween costume themes for adults are cat, pirate, witch, vampire, and clown. Each year the popular costumes are dictated by various current events and pop culture icons. Many bars, restaurants and clubs hold costume contests and parties where couples sporting Halloween masks and risqué costumes participate.

The Halloween costumes for couples are downright phantasmagoric constituting of coordinated and perfectly matching outfits. One of the most coveted costumes is the new Batman and Cat woman couple costume. Wearing these costumes add excitement and jest to the couple's relationship.

The deluxe and standard version of the Batman costumes come with accessories such as metal belts, gloves, capes and mask. It also includes brightly printed jump suits with bat wings making the wearer appear as a Super Hero.

The Batgirl costume is a commanding outfit made of leather like material, black colored and form fitting with the bat yellow logo on the chest and back. The cape is attached to the dress. The various accessories include glove lets, vinyl black eye mask, yellow vinyl belt and black boot tops.

The funky carnival costumes set the Halloween party mood with "Super Deluxe Diabla" costumes for ladies. The stunning apparel includes dress, masks and gloves. The blood red color is daring and very bold.

The amazing Diabla costume adds a touch of drama and makes the wearer come alive to inspire the festive mood. Masquerading in Evil jester costumes, the male members also add a touch of comical horror and electrify the party atmosphere. The costume includes jump suit in half black, half forest green with shoulder caplet and detachable cuffs. This is accompanied by an amazing head pieces and masks.

The pirate rogue costume includes scary shirts with attached vests, sash, wrist band, pirate skeleton cap, eye patch and medallion. The ladies look fabulous in the seven seas siren costumes including sparkling dress in gaudy colors, hat and choker.

The majestic vampire costumes are equally in demand. They are amazingly sophisticated and the wearers stand out in the crowd wearing such superbly designed costume in printed satin fabric including jacket, cape, scarf and brooch in addition to horror make up such as black eye shades, false canine teeth and drop down jaws.

If you are interested in getting access to 1000's of the very best and the most outrageous Halloween Costumes then visit our Halloween [http://www.halloween-fun-and-games.com/halloween-store] site today.

Tophatter: Reclaimed Craft Supply Resource

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Tophatter. All opinions are 100% mine.

When you’re shopping for craft supplies, one of the easiest ways to keep it eco-friendly is to buy used rather than new. When you pick up second-hand supplies, you’re doing environmental double duty: keeping those materials out of the landfill and avoiding the impacts that come with creating new tools and supplies. Hurrah!

Scouring thrift stores, estate sales, and yard sales is great for finding all kinds of reclaimed supplies from vintage buttons and beads to tools like sewing machines. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to find the time to head out yardsaling or dig through the thrift store. One resource for finding gently used craft supplies is on auction sites, like Tophatter.

Tophatter is a new auction site, and they’re a great place to find second hand supplies for your craft projects without the legwork you’d do at a thrift store. I did a little fantasy supply shopping this week and found some really cool supplies on there. You can see photos of these auctions at the top of this post:

A lot of vintage buttons from Cayce.Pages from an illustrated French dictionary from Meredith.Vintage seed bags from Two Gals and a Toyota.

The main page for Tophatter doesn’t list the auction categories. To find craft supplies, click on the Auctions button at the top and choose “Catalogs” from the drop-down.

Once you’re in the Catalogs, there are two sections you’ll want to check out: Supplies and Craft Supplies. I’m not sure what distinguishes these, but there are great reclaimed craft supplies in both of those Catalogs.

It’s a little bit tricky to tell what’s new and what’s used on Tophatter, since like on any auction site it’s up to the individuals to give you that information. If you’re not sure, a good way to check is to email the user offering up supplies to find out. You can also look for telling words like “vintage” and “destash” to tip you off.

The kind folks at Tophatter are also offering a $5 credit to Crafting a Green World readers! Just use this special Tophatter link to get your credit.

Have any of you guys used Tophatter to find craft supplies? What did you pick up?

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2011 Halloween Costumes And the New Movies That Inspire Them

Some movies just translate well into Halloween costumes and this year 5 movies inspire costumes more than any others. This year your 2011 Halloween Costume can be something that is truly unique, fun and inspired by any of the top 5 movies of this year. What could be better than looking at yourself before you head out this Halloween and knowing that your costume is really one of a kind? If you are looking for a costume that is truly in tuned with your movie watching needs try on a costume that is one of the 5 movies that inspire Costumes in 2011.

For all those looking to put a little kick butt fantasy into their lives why not tries on any number of costumes from the movie Sucker punch. Sucker Punch Costumes are going to be a bit hit this Halloween because this movie translates so well into costumed art and attire. This movie is filled with so much drama and action that it will be hard not to want to replicate the fun and excitement of the movie this Halloween. Show off your strength both physical and mental with a fabulous costume with any number of Sucker Punch costumes. Your 2011 Halloween Costume will be one that is truly out of the world. Don't just dream up a fantastic costume in your mind but bring it to reality with a movie costume this Halloween.

Another movie that translates beautifully for Halloween is the Green Lantern. Just think how great it will be to come to your next Halloween event dressed up in a superhero Costume. You will be the hit of the party when they see how great you look and how fabulously you fight crime in any number of green lantern costumes. These new for Costumes are a great addition to your next costumed event. With all the fun and excitement that is in this movie your friends will expect you to bring home and you will be able to and then some with a Green Lantern Costume. Just think how great you will look and the mayhem you can keep at bay when you transform into a superhero for the night.

Maybe the Green Lantern isn't for you but you are still looking for a super hero costume for your big event. Why not look to 2011 Captain America Halloween Costumes for the perfect costume piece. Fight for the American way all night long with one of these fabulous new Captain America Costumes. Just think of the compliments you will receive and how great it will feel to show your patriotism and your true devotion to the USA. Captain America lends himself nicely to costumes because of his color and spunk. Don't let anyone threaten your homeland with Halloween; step out and save the country with any number of fun costumes from the Captain America movie.

Though superheroes have a lot of fun they don't have all the fun and another rowdy movie that inspires costumes is Pirates of the Caribbean. Pirate Costumes are always a great choice for your Halloween attire but what is even better is true Pirates of the Caribbean Costume. These costumes will have you swashbuckling and treasure hunting all night long. Step on the wrong side of the law for a night that you won't soon forget. Enter the party as Captain Jack himself or one of his crazy crew. These movies are so much fun they can't just be contained to the big screen. Bring your adventures to life with new and an exciting 2011 with a Pirates theme.

If dangerous adventure isn't your thing maybe you should stay a bit close to home or your childhood home with a costume from the Smurfs movie. Bring the fun and exciting cartoon to life with any number of Smurf costumes this Halloween. Won't be it great to step out in a Papa Smurf Costume or a Smurfette costume this Halloween! Those little blue fellows are all the rage and always cute. The adorability factor will be on your side and that is exactly why this Movie makes a fabulous costume choice.

No matter what your Halloween plans this year any number of new 2011 Halloween Costumes from the movies will bring the spotlight to you.

The Author of this Article is David Price, a Halloween enthusiast, who loves everything to do with Halloween. To learn more about the latest styles in costumes, visit Halloween Costumes for information on the new and classic costumes for all ages.

Halloween Costumes Should Be Safe and Comfortable

As Halloween is nearing most of them might have started planning as to what they will wear on the Halloween night. It is very important that people wear a Halloween costume that is comfortable to wear. You can enjoy your party if you choose a comfortable Halloween costume. Here are some of the tips:

Avoid huge and cumbersome Halloween costume. Do not wear a large card board box because it is uncomfortable. You can't drive while wearing one. If an emergency arises, you can't run for help. You can't fit the door also. Don't think of wearing such type of costumes.

Avoid costumes that have too long dangling things because they may get caught in car doors, house doors, sliding glass doors and other problem areas. If you are planning to drink on the Halloween night, you should think of wearing a comfortable and safe costume. Avoid wearing high heels if you are not used to it. While wearing mask, make sure you can see out from them. Always make a test run in your costume before leaving the house.

There are many online stores that sell affordable Halloween costumes. They come with dress and head wear. They come with costume and mask. You can always these cheap Halloween costumes with accessories. If you live in an area where it gets cold on Halloween night, prepare for it. Make sure that you can put a coat on over your costume. From a trench coat and hat to a long black dress and a pointed witch's hat, you can still make Halloween night a fright.

While buying costume you have to give importance to few other things. Some of the things to consider are size of the costume, mask, proper shoes etc. This could make for a good or bad Halloween experience. If you want your child to enjoy the party, avoid heft bag or bucket of candy or uncomfortable shoes could be hazardous. Avoid masks and heavy crowns or thick costumes or thin costumes if it is cold outside.

Some states may have a cold climate and some warm. Make your child wear thin costumes for warmer climates and wear a coat on thinner costumes for cold weather. If the costume is very thick, you will not layer on another coat. The child will be walking as well and might overheat if he or she is wearing too much.

If you want your child to wear a mask, make sure that your child can breathe properly in it. Some manufactured masks have tiny holes for the nose and mouth. Make the hole big if the child can't breathe. Your child should try the costume at least once before the Halloween day. If any adjustment is needed, it can be done before hand but it becomes difficult on the special day. Let your child wear tennis shoes instead of fancy boots.

There are plenty of Halloween costumes to choose from. You can enjoy the best costume for the D-day. So pick up the right costume for yourself and your family, and remember the safety factors as well.

Robert James is an expert author, who is presently working on the site Halloween Costumes, Halloween Costume. He has written many articles in various topics. For more information about Couples Costumes, Scary Costumes. Contact him at halloweenarticles@gmail.com.

Halloween Costumes for 2011: Top Six Tips for Selecting the Perfect One!

It might feel like we just ended Christmas and you might still be hungover from a raucous New Year's Eve celebration, but for the elves working hard at Plum Drama, it's never too early to start planning your Halloween costumes for 2011. We just introduced this new category to our website a few months ago, but we are already seeing a great deal of interest from our web visitors in this category and with thousands of costumes to choose from, all in stock and ready to ship, we envision 2011 to be the year that costumes from Plum Drama really took hold. To that end, we put together this buyer's guide on tips to consider when selecting your Halloween costumes for 2011.

Pick the right size. I can already see the no-duh meter hitting an all time high with this suggestion, but oftentimes the simplest ideas are the best. When it comes to deciding on your Halloween costumes for 2011, don't forget about fit. If you come up with the best, most original or entertaining idea, but it's not avaialable in your size, forget about it and move on. I've heard too many horror stories about kids who trip over their costumes all night long, or grown-ups who buy something so tight, they can't eat at the Halloween party they're attending. Don't be one of the many who report a nightmare story like this and make sure you order a size that actually fits. Believe me, the trade off between a Halloween costume that fits correctly and one that's just a great idea, but in totally the wrong size, always err toward the correct size.
Determine if you'll be inside or outside. Again. Another basic one. But the type of Halloween costume you purchase for your child to go trick or treating on a cool, dark October evening is very different from the costume a grown-up might wear to an indoor party. For one thing, you want to make sure you don't freeze to death or overheat, based on what you choose to purchase. Secondly, a costume that's bulky and lot of accessories might just take up more space than is welcome at acrowded party. Similarly, these types of accessories become a big liability if the wind starts to blow more than you might have planned. All environmental things to consider when selecting your Halloween costumes for 2011.
Determine how the costume will be used. What I mean by this tip is that it's important to consider whether your Halloween costume will be exposed to any harsh elements that might cause it to fall apart more than you might have predicted. If it's a kids costume being bought for one parade down the school hallway, this is a very different purpose than buying a costume for your child to run around the neighborhood for several hours. Make sure to bear in mind how delicate the costume can be when choosing Halloween costumes for 2011
Buy high quality now so that a younger brother or sister can use the same costume later. In this day and age, you really can't be too tight with your money. Buying a Halloween costume is a luxury item for people who can afford it, so we recommend you try to stretch that dollar as far as possible by purchasing a costume that can be handed down the following year. Halloween costumes are a lot more durable and higher quality than they used to be. For that reason, they last longer than you might expect. No one wants to wear the same costume year after year, but there's nothing wrong with borrowing a costume from a friend or older sibling. When selecting Halloween costumes for 2011, bear in mind whether what you're purchasing can also be shared with someone else at a later date.
Homemade is still a good option, but so is mix and matching. Back when I was a kid (which was a very long time ago!), most people went to their neighborhood fabric store on Oct 30, and two scissor cuts later, you were a ghost on Oct 31! Not so anymore. These days Halloween is much more elaborate than that. But we still think homemade is a great option, especially for those short on money, but long on imagination. If you're thinking about Halloween costumes for 2011, be sure to think about buying some things, but making others. Putting it together provides originality and cost savings!
Halloween accessories can make or break a costume idea. Similar to the idea just before this one, a great way to dress up or embellish any costume is through the right accessories. Whether it's a sword for your Sir Lancelot costume, a wand for your Harry Potter, or a tiara for your Snow White. It's details like this that separate the truly original costumes from the ordinary ones and will create a Halloween costume you will remember well beyond 2011.

As you think about your Halloween costumes for 2011, there is one additional tip that will ensure a great Halloween experience: Order Early. Halloween costumes are usually made in limited quantities, so once they're gone...they're gone. So to make sure you get exactly what you want this year, follow these tips and get your order in before they're gone!

Jim Kim, Contributor

[http://www.PlumDrama.com] - The web's leading source for party favors, supplies, costumes, and everything you need to celebrate a special occasion.

How-to: Neckerchief-Style T-Shirt Scarf

It’s still sweltering here in Atlanta during the day, but we’ve had some nice cool mornings and evenings lately. Fall is in the air, and this light, cozy t-shirt scarf is just right for those cool-but-not-cold times of day.

I know, t-shirt scarves are kind of old news, but the ones I’ve made have always been that spaghetti-style: lots of skinny pieces of stretched jersey. Those are fun to make and cute, but chances are you’ve seen a thousand of them by now. What I like about this scarf is the chunky pieces of fabric and the faux neckerchief detail. Here’s how to make your own!

Materials

reclaimed t-shirt – clean out your dresser, or hit the thrift store to find a shirt that’s the right color for your scarffabric scissorssewing machine, pins, and thread in a coordinating color – I used a contrasting color, so you could see my stitching, but you’d really want yours to blend

Directions

1. Lay your t-shirt out on a flat surface, and cut the bottom seam off. Set this aside, but don’t discard it. You’ll need it later.

2. Cut your shirt horizontally from armpit to armpit, right under the sleeves. Then, cut the rectangle you just made in half horizontally. When you’re done, it will look like this:

3. You’ll be left with two tubes of fabric. Cut one of the shirt’s side seams out of each tube. Most t-shirts will have two side seams, but you only need to cut one open. Once they’re open, stretch the fabric. As you stretch it will start to curl under, which is what you want.

4. Time to sew! You should now have two long pieces of stretched jersey fabric. Grab your two pieces and lay two of the short sides together, right sides in. Pin and use a wide zig zag stitch to sew your pieces together. Make sure you back stitch on either end, so your stitches will be nice and strong.

5. Repeat step 4 with the other unfinished edges of your fabric. When you’re done, you should have a big loop of jersey.

6. Double that loop over, bringing the seams that you just sewed together, then grab that bottom seam of the shirt that you set aside earlier. Slide that bottom seam under your scarf where the two seams meet up. Knot that bottom seam piece around your scarf so that it hides the seams you sewed.

That’s it! To wear your t-shirt scarf, you can let it hang low or double it over. In the photo at the top of this post, it’s doubled over to really work that neckerchief look.

The shirt I used, and the one on the mannequin, were extras from this year’s World Domination Summit. My awesome friend Jen Neitzel from The Maven Circle helped organize the event and when they had a bunch of leftover shirts, she was kind enough to send me a few to craft with.

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Halloween Costume Funky Ideas

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of 31st October of each year. The Halloween ritual conceptualized in the 19th century in Ireland was introduced by the Irish immigrants in their traditional costume parties and Halloween activities in North America. In modern times, Halloween holiday has its origin in the ancient Celtic festival where lighting bonfires, wearing bizarre costumes and masks are part of the ritual that mimics the evil spirits or placates them. Traditionally, most of the ideas on Halloween costumes center on horror characters like ghosts, skeletons, witches, vampires, bats, vultures or are based on themes and characters from TV shows and movies.

Mass produced popular costume ideas for Halloween party are Batman, Cat woman, Wonder Woman, pirate and clown / jester costumes. These are sported by couples and are downright phantasmagoric constituting of coordinated and perfectly matching risque outfits. One of the most coveted costumes is the new Batman and Cat woman outfits. The Batman costume is a brightly printed jump suit with bat wings and accessories like gloves, mask, metal belt and cape. The Batgirl costume is a spectacular black leather outfit that is form fitting with the yellow colored bat logo on the chest and back. The various accessories highlighting the apparel include vinyl black eye mask, black boot tops and yellow vinyl belt.

The beautiful super heroine Wonder Women costume has enthralled and captivated the attention of all fashion conscious geeks who love to flaunt funky outfit in any costume or themed Halloween party. The most attractive feature of the Wonder Woman dress is the multicolored mini outfit. The crimson colored strapless dress is attenuated by the golden colored Wonder Woman emblem in the top half and the navy blue colored bottom half is embellished with glittering silver colored sparklers. The two halves are complemented by a golden belt which creates one of the most awe- inspiring Halloween costumes.

The accessories are a visual delight comprising of the golden tiara, a red cape, matching arm gauntlets and knee-high stilettos in red and white stripes and the golden lasso that compliments the fighting spirit of Wonder Woman.

The funky bold super deluxe Diabla costume, mask and full length gloves that adorn any wearer can set the carnival mood of the party and adds comic relief to the party atmosphere. However, youngsters specially teenagers customize their outfit and prefer the shimmering green Tinkerbell costume that comprises of a gorgeous green dress with a small Tinkerbell cameo at the center. This is overlaid by a beautiful petal skirt with tulle rounds, off the bottom half of the dress. A pair of sheer white wings highlighted with light purple trimming can be attached to the back of the dress creating one of the most innovative Halloween costumes.

The attire can also be accessorized by a blonde wig to imitate the popular puffy hair of Tinkerbell perfectly. A metal wand completes the mystical appearance of the wearer. The incredibly adorable outfit can make the wearer a real eye catcher at the next themed Halloween party.

Halloween costume ideas continue to tease party attendees. There is no dearth of costumes and each wearer attending the Halloween party tends to sparkle either in their horrific pagan attire or in their non-scary dazzling fairy princess outfit!

How-to: Save and Store Melted Wax for Future Craft Projects

So you made candles, or preserved autumn leaves, or cooked up furniture polish, or crafted modeling wax for the kiddos, and now you’re left with a crock pot or bain-marie half-full of melted beeswax (or its vegan wax substitutes).

Here’s the easy way that I store my leftover wax, measured into known amounts so that future projects are easier to put together, and pretty enough that the wax can be stored right out in the open, leaving more storage space for my fabric stash:

Portion melted wax into silicon molds or muffin tins to harden for easy storage.

To easily save and store your wax, you simply need to know that you can pour melted wax into any mufifn tins, ice cube trays, or novelty silicon molds and pop it out when hardened, leaving behind no residue.

Melt down chunks of beeswax like these, and re-harden them in molds that allow for better portioning and more efficient storage.

Therefore, you probably already have in your house molds of the perfect size to store your leftover melted wax. If you primarily use your wax in bath and body recipes, choosing mini muffin tins or ice cube trays will allow you to store your wax in small portion sizes.

If you primarily use a pot full of melted wax at a time, choosing cupcake molds or mini loaf tins will allow you to store your wax in large chunks.If you buy wax wholesale, as I do, in a big box of bits and pieces and chunks of random size, melting down your wax and hardening it in molds like these will allow you to store it much more efficiently, taking up much less space.

I live in a small house, and my own storage space for stuff is pretty tight, so I’ve learned that if I pour my wax into novelty molds, so that the hardened wax comes out shaped like leaves, and flowers, and LEGOs, I can store the wax not on a shelf in my craft room, but in a little basket on a shelf in pretty much every room in the house. The wax looks pretty, smells like honey, and it’s easy to gather up when I’m ready for my next project.

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Halloween Costume Ideas For Girls

I am going to list the tops 6 Halloween costume ideas for girls and hopefully you will find the perfect dress up outfit for your daughter. Girls enjoy dressing up in disguises on Halloween and it is fun to help them. Make up and wigs or a fancy hair do can help give any costume that completed look.

Remember to have your camera ready and take lots of pictures. It is times like this you will want to document with a photograph or two. That will help you to keep these wonderful memories in a scrapbook so you can revisit when you like. Which beautiful girls costume would you like to take pictures of?

Jesse is the cowgirl from the Toy Story movies. She is Woody's girlfriend and one of the toys we fell in love with way back in the first Toy Story. Can you believe we have known these toys for 15 years? That is when the first movie was released. Jesse the cowgirl was a popular girls Halloween costume then and with the release of Toy Story 3-D she is back at the top of the hot disguise list. This cowgirl Jesse costume consists of bodysuit that looks like three items of western style clothing. It looks like pants, a shirt and chaps. There is also a red cowgirl hat and some yellow bows just like the real cowgirl Jesse wore, so your little girl can be transformed into Jesse from Toy Story 3. This cowgirl outfit is a licensed Disney Toy Story costume so you know kids will enjoy wearing it.

The Storybook Aurora prestige costume comes in toddler sizes and child sizes. If your little girl wears any size from 3T to size 7 she will find a costume of Aurora in her size. This pretty as can be princess from Walt Disney's wonderful Fairytale story comes with a beautiful costume fit for a princess. It is a lovely pink dress and it comes with an attached petticoat, a character cameo, a golden tiara that is a headband style tiara. The skirt is decorated with glitter art to make it extra special. The sizes this licensed Disney princess costume comes in are 3T-4T, 4-6X and 7-8. Perfect for that little girl who has been dreaming of a princess costume this Halloween. This costume will make your child's Halloween a real Fairytale come true.

The Mermaid costume is another very popular outfit for girls this year. I can see why when I look at this lovely disguise. Your little girl transformed into a beautiful mermaid, a precious pearl of the ocean. What a splash this under the sea costume is going to cause. This disguise comes with a mermaids dress that has a pretty purple top adorned with sequins and a turquoise colored bottom that is made to look like a tail. You will also find a matching seashell headband to top off this sweet girl's costume. It is easy to walk and move in because although it looks like this costume has set of mermaid fins the costume is open like a dress on the bottom. This is an easy outfit to wear and it will thrill any little girl who has dreams of being a mermaid one day. This mermaid costume comes in sizes from 3T all the way up to 8-10.

From way back in Ancient Egypt comes the Cleopatra costume for girls that is turning out to be a popular girl costume idea. Walk like an Egyptian in this pretty Queen of the Nile disguise. This famous queen ruled Egypt centuries ago and now she is ready to party this Halloween. You will find an Egyptian style costume dress that has a gold and blue color. There is a belt attached to a cape that is blue and you also get wrist cuffs to decorate this costume. The cutest part is the gold colored headpiece that makes her look like the exotic and beautiful Cleopatra. Girls sizes 4-6, 7-10 and 12-14 can wear this disguise and head out for some trick or treat fun.

One of my favorite girls costumes for this Halloween is the limited edition Gypsy Child Costume. I can tell your daughter's fortune if you buy this costume for her, she is going to have lots of fun. This disguise will make her feel like a mysterious gypsy for the night. The gypsy costume consists of a white ankle length peasant style dress with some large ruffles along the skirts hem. It also comes with a sequin apron that has some gold coins attached. There is also a sequin scarf that completes this traveling nomads outfit. This outfit is one of the prettiest girls costume I have seen this year, no wonder it is a limited edition. This one might sell out fast. If your little gypsy girl wears sizes 4-6, 7-10 or 12-14 then she is in luck and this costume comes in her size.

Last, but not least comes Princess Peach right out of the Super Mario Bros games. This princess is waiting to let Mario Mario save her, but we all know she is a girl who can take care of herself. You have to know how when you live in the Mushroom Kingdom. The pink dress with princess style puffy sleeves, a crown and lovely long gloves give this girls costume a regal look. Whether she is in a video game or at your house this peachy little princess is a costume young girls will enjoy wearing. If your little girl is a Super Mario Bros fan this might just be the perfect disguise outfit for this Halloween.

There are 6 popular girl Halloween costume ideas for you to look over and choose from. Any of these fun characters will make an exciting disguise for your little girl to dress up in this October.

Little girl Halloween costumes are fun to look at and even more fun to dress up in. Pick your daughter's favorite character from Disney, Toy Story, Super Mario Bros or history. You can find these costumes at http://www.partyideasparade.com/girl-halloween-costume-ideas.html and you can find many more costumes for girls at http://www.partyideasparade.com/halloween-costumes.html You will find costumes for the entire family there from infant sizes to adult sized disguises for some fun Halloween ideas.

Fairytale Halloween Costumes For Modern Women

Every child loves fairy tales and the magical world it portrays. Their imagination runs wild and travels with the heroes far away in time and space. Yet, girls seem to be much more inspired by stories and fairytales than boys. This is mainly because girls are encouraged to dream about nice dresses and princess-like outfits, as well as handsome princes who will come and marry them. Even though girls grow old and the power of these myths is no longer so strong, they still think about those nice outfits which may turn them into princesses overnight.

Their dream can come true for Halloween, when beautiful costumes can instantly turn you into whatever you want in just a matter of minutes. The most appreciated fairytale costumes are those inspired from the famous stories which have made the winter nights warmer and have fascinated many generations of little girls: Snow White costumes, Cinderella costumes, The Sleeping Beauty costumes as well as many princess costumes. Yet, there are some costumes inspired by bedtime stories which have not yet been utilized to their maximum potential. Thus, if you are looking for a cute and childish costume, but are not quite satisfied with the ones mentioned above, try a Goldilocks costume. You will be the little girl who did not listen to what your parents said to you. You can go for the traditional, innocent costume, with medium dress or you can wear the sexy version, which will turn the little innocent girl into a provocative and hot woman. No matter which costume you go for after all, do not forget your teddy bear. It will make a great impression on all the other guests at the party.

Another type of costume related to bedtime stories is the Mother Nature costume. Believed to be the one who has the power over the entire planet, Mother Nature represents the voluptuous woman, who has the power to make everything grow, but can also destroy everything in only one minute. If you are ready to face such responsibility, then such a costume could be great for you. This costume also has two versions: the one with a long dress and the more provocative one, with a short dress. It is up to you to choose the one which best suits you.

Costumes inspired by bedtime stories and fairytales can be very good options for Halloween parties. Most of them come in more than one version, so that you can choose the one you think is more suitable for you. You will live your childhood dream of being a princess in modern Halloween outfits.

Frances Bridger is an expert in the field of costumes and costume accessories. Find out more about the range of mother nature costume [http://mothernaturecostume.org] and goldilocks costume [http://goldilockscostume.org] accessories today. Make sure you buy early this year as stock always sells out fast!

Where to Find Your Harry Potter Halloween Costume

With Halloween fast-approaching, many people are starting to look for costume ideas for 2009. There are lots of fun, sexy, and scary ideas out there to make your Halloween costumes the best yet.

With the huge popularity of first the books and now the movies, Harry Potter Halloween costumes have been in high demand for several years now, and 2009 isn't likely to be any exception. Kids and adults alike love the Harry Potter phenomenon, and want the chance to emulate the characters when Halloween comes around.

With the large range of characters, there are many different Harry Potter costumes possible. These costumes can range from being fully made at home as a creative project or bought with all the necessary accessories from a costume store. If you're short on time for a Harry Potter Halloween costume and the holiday is just around the corner, the latter may be your best option to get the effect you want.

If you have more time to make your Harry Potter Halloween costume, there are plenty of options no matter what your budget is. If you or someone around you is good with sewing, you could make your own costume with fabric either around the house or from a store. You could knit a scarf for your favorite house. If you're not as inclined to make your costume from scratch, you can make a fabulous one by combining other garments in the right way.

To do this, try looking at consignment stores for fun pieces that you could put together to make the look you'd like. These stores often will also have everything you'd need for all the accessories, too. If you have the time, this is a great idea for making a costume since it will be completely unique.

If you don't feel like making your costume or if you don't have enough time, there are other options. Check for local costume shops and browse their selection. They'll be able to help you put together the look you want; the only downside is that if it's close to Halloween they might be out of stock for some items.

Another option is to find your costume online There are lots of great online costume shops which will usually have everything you need. The prices online can sometimes also be lower, and a good store will usually offer good, quick shipping to make sure your Harry Potter costume gets to you on time.

Jade C. loves holidays and dressing up for the occasion. It's such a great time to show your individuality and have a bit of fun, no matter how old you are. A great place to find more costume ideas and resources whether they're for Harry Potter or not is ideasforcostumes.com. Have a great Halloween!

Halloween Costumes For Teens - Top Ideas All Teens Will Love

Halloween costumes for teens are wildly varied, unlike smaller children teens often go for the scariest costume they can find. Of course, if you have a teenager you know that their taste can vary vastly, a fact retailers are also aware of. This means there are even more choices in Halloween costumes for teens.

Gothic

One popular trend is the Gothic look in fact kids often dress up in full gothic makeup before school. If this is the unique personality of your teenager, you will be happy to know that there are several gothic Halloween costumes for teens on the market today.


Teen Faces Skull - These spooky yet trendy gothic Halloween costumes for teens are perfect for your Goth girl. This outfit comes with a black top resplendent with huge white skull, black mesh skirt with bones, black and white striped leggings, mesh fingerless gloves and gothic tiara. Fits girl's sizes 13-16.
Teen Skull Fairy - Girls like to feel pretty even if they are dressing up in gothic Halloween costumes for teens. This teen skull fairy provides pretty with a dark twist. The costume consists of a short black dress with skull accents and ruffle complete with black fairy wings decorated with skulls.
Gothic Prince of Webs - Guys can get their fill of the gothic look as well with this prince of webs Halloween costumes for teens. Long black tails and a black and red vest inspired by The Covenant are sure to please any teenage boy searching for the perfect gothic look this Halloween.

Movies

Every year Hollywood leaves their mark on the teen Halloween costume market. Some costumes will carry over from year to year, others will be brand new additions, and still others will be a combination of the two.

For instance, the Hellboy teen Halloween costume is not necessarily new since the first movie came out several years ago, however since the release of the latest installment there is renewed interest in the characters as well as some new additions, so it is both an old and new costume.


Hellboy Complete - The Hellboy costume comes in many sizes and compositions, but the most popular has to be the full costume with vinyl mask.
Hannah Montana Dream Dress - You might think this Disney songstress is only appealing to the younger crowd; however, teen girls love these costumes as well. These Halloween costumes for teens are a combination pink skirt decorated with musical symbols and white top with attached black jacket with sparkling silver trim.
Land of the Lost Sleestak - This large reptile Land of the Lost costume covers you completely from head to foot and is a good representation of the actual movie character.

Conclusion

Halloween costumes for teens come in all shapes and sizes with enough options to satisfy any teen are desire. From girly fairies and princesses to dark angels and vampires, there is no end to the choices in Halloween costumes for teens.

Ordering online is one of the best ways to get perfect Halloween costumes for teens and miss the tug of war at your local retailer. Sit back and browse selections from the comfort of your own home. Start shopping early however as the best costumes always go fast.

I hope what I have mentioned above is helpful to you. If you want to know more about Halloween costumes for teens, I strongly recommend you to take a look at Halloween costumes for teens.

Unique Halloween Costumes - Where to Find the Deepest Discounts

It can be a challenge to buy unique Halloween costumes if you have a whole family to buy for, because rarely do you ever find costumes for the whole family under one roof. Running from store to store with bored and cranky kids can drive anyone nuts.

The internet has evolved and this year more than ever, people will shop online for their Halloween costumes, candies, costume accessories and decorations. Online stores thus are stocking up for the anticipated rush in the moths before Halloween.

Buying online can save you time and frustration and also money because of the lower prices available online due to the smaller overheads online stores have to pay. Plus early bird discounts and discounts for buying multiple products can leave your wallet feeling happy, buying outfits for the whole family can add up.

There is a wide range of choices when you want to buy unique Halloween costumes online. For newborn babies, you have animal costumes that are beyond adorable like the elephant costume with those huge floppy ears, there is the caterpillar costume, the peanut costume, the banana and the wiggle worm. Good thing is you can keep your little one warm and comfortable in most of these costumes.

For little girls and boys, Fiona and Shrek are new this year. For girls, you can not go wrong with princess costumes. You can also choose from the Ariel costume or the High seas Buccaneer or the Hula Girl. For boys, there are more superhero costumes this year than ever. You also have the cute itsy-bitsy spider and the dragon, or the fire ninja costume or the medieval hero with sword and all. Then there are always the Star wars costumes.

Don't think for a minute that since you are all grown up, you can't have fun this Halloween. You can buy Unique Halloween costumes online for men, women, plus sized men and women, pregnant women, couples, you name it.

So what are you waiting for? Halloween will be here before you know it. Be smart, avoid the last minute rush and the miles or driving with kids when you can buy unique Halloween costumes for your whole family while sitting on your couch.

Find money saving coupons for Unique Halloween Costumes or just browse our selection and get ideas to make your own costumes by visiting http://www.halloweenstore2010.com

How To: Fridge Frames from Cardboard Boxes

I saw an adorable frame idea on Pinterest from Leah at The Way We Are. Leah glued magnets to the back of picture frames in order to display her daughter’s artwork in an organized and beautiful way. I had several cardboard boxes in my craft stash, so I decided to repurpose them into my own fridge frames!

1. Cardboard boxes (like cereal boxes, etc)

2. Scissors

3. A pencil

4. Ruler or straight edge

5. Hot glue/hot glue gun

6. Magnets

Optional: Paint, sheet music, or other items to decorate your frames.

1. Cut out the size you would like your frames. I cut out one large one (enough to cover an average-sized paper) and two small ones (for pictures).

2. With your ruler or straight edge, draw your frame.

3.Then, cut out your frames.

4. Decorate your frames! I painted the larger frame red because our kitchen colors are red. Paint isn’t the greenest crafting supply, but there are eco-friendly options like Blick’s Green Series tempera paint. For the smaller frames, I covered one with sheet music and left the other its original white color.

5. Hot glue a magnet to the back of your frames. If you can, use old magnets like the ones I used in the How To: Paint Chip Magnets tutorial. I used two magnets on the larger frame.

Put all of your favorite fridge items in your frames and you’re done!

Personalize a large frame with your child’s name on it so they can display their artwork or good grades on the fridge. This is perfect now that children are back in school!Display chore charts like The Way We Are did.Label one frame “Grocery List” for a cool way to display your grocery list.You could even use magazine letters to label your frames!

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2012 Summit of Awesome: A Crafty Business Camp

If you’ve been following Crafting a Green World for a while, I’m sure you’ve seen us talk about The Summit of Awesome. My friend and site co-director Kelly Rand is one of the organizers, and I’ve spoken a few times on the conference’s Green Crafts panel.

This year, Hello Craft – the organization that plans the Summit of Awesome – released a brand new book on launching a crafty biz, so rather than a full-blown, multi-day event, this year’s Summit is a one day Business Camp workshop. If you run a crafty business or have been wanting to launch your hobby into a money-making venture, you should definitely check it out!

Hello Craft’s mission is to support the handmade community, and at each conference they have experts from the crafty community sharing their knowledge in talks, panels, and workshops. Here’s a video from the 2010 Summit in Portland, Oregon:

This year’s Summit of Awesome will be on Saturday, September 8 at Fab Lab DC (1418 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20002). Early bird registration is live now, so if you want to register at a discount, head on over to the Hello Craft website!

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How to Design a Funny Halloween Costume - Tips From an Expert Designer

If you are a grown up, that does not mean you cannot feel and look childish for one day. You can dress up with a mascot funny Halloween costume, to impress all the kids and all your friends alike at the party, or at the costume event.

Bees are very cute characters; children and grown-ups alike can dress up with such an outfit for the Halloween celebrations, or a costume event, a parade, or any other cheerful occasion. You can design your own costume, and accessorize it the way you like it.

If you do not want to wear a character head, which actually has see-through eyes, then you will instead wear a funny bee style makeup. First, you need to create your funny Halloween costume.

A mascot- style bee costume requires a full body fleece or plush. This should be yellow with black stripes along your belly. You can rent one, buy one, or if you are definitely very skilled, sew one yourself.

On your feet, you can wear black ankle boots if matching bee feet are not supplied with the costume. In addition, you can wear a pair of matching yellow gloves, if the costume comes without character mittens.

Now, you will need a bee style makeup to match with your funny Halloween costume. You should definitely wear a pair of expressive black false eyelashes. You can find even golden and black false eyelashes, which are specifically designed to match with a bee style Halloween costume.

On your eyelids, you can put orange and yellow toned eye shadow colors. In addition, do not forget to use a glittery color on your eyes. As a wonderful bee, you need to shine and glitter. What is very nice about these types of costumes is that both women and men can wear it. Certainly, men will not apply makeup, but only wear an antenna headband.

Now, you are basically ready to shine and sparkle in your new homemade funny Halloween costume. If you feel comfortable, you can rent costumes, which also come with a character head.

You do not have to worry, as these are specifically created for a very comfortable wear. The headpiece is usually light, and you have see-through eyes. You can take off the headpiece whenever you wish to take a break. Take a break as well from wearing the same boring costume, and dress up like a funny bee at this year's Halloween party!

When she is not out researching new costume fabrics and styles, Daniela Davis is writing about how to choose a Baby Bumblebee Costume [http://www.bumblebeecostume.info/], because a Funny Halloween Costume [http://www.bumblebeecostume.info/funny-halloween-costume/] will transform Halloween in the most exciting celebration.

How To: Junk Mail Bookmarks

I saw these adorable page corner bookmarks from Oh Crafts and had to make some of my own. I thought they would be perfect for children who are back in school or even college students. Grab your junk mail envelopes and make some of your own eco-friendly bookmarks!

1. Junk mail envelope

2. Ruler or straight edge

3. Pencil

4. Scissors

Optional: Markers, magazines, or other items to decorate your bookmark.

1. With your ruler or straight edge, mark the corner of your envelope.

2. Then, cut across the line.

3. Decorate your bookmark! On one side of mine, I colored it with markers:

On the other side, I colored it and then glued on magazine letters to form the word “read”:

If you have children, I recommend checking out Oh Crafts’ version– she made her bookmarks into cute faces! How would you decorate your bookmark? Share your ideas with us!

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Reader Question: Homemade Modeling Clay Recipe?

Reader Tyler writes:

Ive been trying to invent a good recipe for oil based modelling clay that mimics chavant nsp medium as closely as possible. There are many recipes around the internet but they tend to have petroleum or off gassing ingredients in them such as paraffin wax and motor oil. I would be curious to hear your thoughts on some good alternatives. Thanks for your help!

I was able to find a couple of recipes, but since I don’t work with proper modeling clay, it’s hard to say whether these are going to do the trick. If any of you have a modeling clay recipe that you’d like to share, let us know in the comments!

Here are the recipes I found that might be helpful:

1. Pioneer Thinking has quite a few recipes for modeling clay, but I get the feeling that these are more like play dough than professional clay.

2. EHow shows you how to make pottery clay from scratch. If you live somewhere like Georgia, where you can pretty much dig up red clay anywhere, this might be fun to try. Still, I’m not so sure that this is what Tyler was after.

I’d love to hear from the sculptors out there! Do any of these recipes sound helpful? Do you have a modeling clay recipe that you love? Help a fellow crafter out!

Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by Daniel Jaeger

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Find the Best Halloween Costume

One of the first things that you need to be doing whenever you are choosing a Halloween costume is to ensure that you decide on a theme that you want to go with. This will make it easier to begin your search because you won't be looking at anything and everything and you'll have some possible words to search on if you're shopping online. For instance, if you want to wear a scary costume, you should start looking for witches, phantoms and vampires. If you want to be something funny, you might opt for a watermelon or Pac Man costume.

There are many different themes out there, but you just want to ensure that you are choosing one that goes with your personality as well as fits within what type of Halloween costume that you want. A costume should make you look awesome and that is what you want to find.

Let's look at some of the most popular Halloween costumes for 2010. The movie Alice in Wonderland was released this year, and it has lots of characters that make for great costumes. This theme is sure to be a hit whether you choose to dress up as Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Red Queen or any of the other characters. With each character, there are several different costume options, ranging from extravagant to sexy to simple.

Every year, witch costumes are popular. This may sound plain, but there's a reason it remains one of the top sellers year after year. You could be a naughty sexy witch or a scary ugly witch. You could be a good witch or a bad witch. You could even combine a witch with another type of costume. What about a pirate witch or a little girl witch? Whatever you choose, make sure that it reflects the witch within you. Remember, if you are going to an adult party, sexier costumes are typically perfect and fit in well!

This brings up another good point, whenever you are choosing a Halloween costume; you want to consider where you are going. If you are going to a party where kids will be present, you might want to pick something that's not so sexy. That goes double if the kids will be right at the tween age where they want to dress sexy but their parents don't want them to!

Now that you have picked a theme, the next step is going to be looking around for costumes and ensuring that you comparison shop quite a bit. Think about whether you're only going to wear it once, or if you're going to keep it an reuse it. Face it, costumes are expensive but you do not want to break the bank to look great this holiday season.

Choosing a Halloween costume can be difficult and time consuming. If you keep these points in mind, however, you're sure to find the costume that looks great, reflects your fun-loving personality and is affordable.

If you live in Southern California, you can find costume stores in San Diego or costume stores in Orange County. If you have enough time, you should definitely consider shopping online instead.

Newborn Halloween Costumes Are a Great Way For Children and Adults to Have Fun

Newborn Halloween costumes is a great way for your newborn to have some fun and enjoy the holiday just like everyone else. Babies are people too, and believe it or not, they know what is fun and funny. With one of the most popular things about this holiday is dressing up in ridiculous and scary Halloween costumes, we do not want to leave the newborn baby out of the picture. There are many newborn Halloween costume ideas that can be created or bought in any local department store.

When it comes to finding the right newborn Halloween costume, there are many ideas that you can use to create the perfect costume that will make your newborn look great for Halloween. It is recommended that you choose the right type of costume that will be the right one for your newborns character.

There are many ideas that you can choose that would be great for showing off any type of character that you newborn may have. Such ideas might include that of a clown, teddy bear, bunny rabbit and many others that you could choose from. All of these ideas can be done easily with the use of some face paint and a little creativity with some materials.

If you do not feel that you are creative enough to design your own newborn Halloween costume for you baby, then try shopping at your local department store. Here you will find many different styles and types of Halloween costumes for the newborn that will be fun and show off their character at the same time. You can find from the funny and silly to some that are cute and beautiful.

Do not wait and let Halloween be the only time that you think of buying a newborn Halloween costume. You should start early and get the right costume for your newborn. Though the department stores only sell these costumes during the Halloween season, there are many websites that can be found on line, that specialize in these Halloween costumes.

From these websites, you can purchase Halloween costumes at any time through out the year. Here you will be able to find all different types of newborn Halloween costumes that would be best suited for your baby and most likely at a discounted price if bought out of season. So, do not let your newborn miss out on the fun. Sure maybe they can not trick-or-treat, but can still have fun with the rest of the family.

Daryl Plaza is a regular contributor to www.Spookynite.com supplying you with all the information and resources you need to know about Halloween nite

Mermaid Halloween Costume

There is a strong fascination with the mermaid, when it comes to a costume or an unusual get up for a go as you like party or a fancy dress party. For Halloween of 2009, which is just around the corner, it is the mermaid halloween costume that seems to be high up on the popularity list.

It is interesting to know how this fascination began.

The earliest reference to a mermaid, as we know of it to-day, a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head and torso and the tail of an aquatic animal such as a fish, dolphin or seal, can be found in the story of Atargatis.

In the year 1000 BC, Atargatis, a goddess, loved a mortal shepherd and in the process killed him.

Filled with remorse and ashamed of her act she plunged herself into a lake to take the form of a fish. Unfortunately, the waters of the lake could not conceal her mesmerizing beauty, so she took the form of a mermaid, human above the waist, fish below.

There are many cultures around the world have similar figures, typically depicted without clothing.

The fascination for the mermaid among little children goes back a long way, as early as the middle of the 19th century, with the success of Hans Christian Anderson's stories and fairy tales, among which was The Little Mermaid.

The current level of fascination, especially among the adult and mature women started with Darryl Hannah and her portrayal of that sexy mermaid in the Disney blockbuster 'Splash'. Every woman, no matter of what age or disposition would love to make a SPLASH looking the way Darryl Hannah looked, even if it is for only a few hours.

Disney further contributed to making the mermaid a firm favorite by producing feature length animated films of their already famous cartoon character Ariel.

The idea of looking like the sexy siren of the sea, dressed in an interesting get up of a seashell bikini top, long flowing red hair and glittery spangled costumes, appeals to adult women of all ages, making the mermaid Halloween costume an all time favorite.

Children Mermaid Costumes: What do they have to include?

Since Ariel is a Trade Mark property of Disney, most ready made costumes that can be bought at any costume retailer or on the internet come in similar patterns, keeping to the standard blue bikini top with a green skirt and tail.

As the licensed cartoon character Ariel, is never depicted wearing anything in between, many mermaid costumes fill in with a flesh-colored body suit. The outfit is made authentic by completing it with a seashell tiara and a red wig.

Adult Women Mermaid Costumes: What do they have to include?

Mermaid costumes for adults have become one of the most, if not the most, popular costumes for Halloween these days. Most vintage mermaid costumes are made up of transparent and watery shades of blue and green, but glitter is fast becoming an in thing with metallic gold and shades of silver.

Most youngsters lookout for something different, as they like the idea of wearing costumes in purple, red, and other lively colors. Long red wigs and sea shell hair accessories seem to be the common part in all types of costumes.

The tail is the most important part of a Mermaid Costume.

The most important aspect of a mermaid costume is the tail, with which the illusion is not complete. Most costume manufacturers manage to provide the desired look with tight tapered skirts ending at the ankle, while some attach a tail that drags behind.

Would it be a Mermaid Halloween Costume for you in 2009?

Noel Benjamin D'Costa became an Internet marketer out of sheer necessity. Losing his voice to cancer he had to search for alternative gainful employment that did not involve talking or the need to uses his voice. He became an internet market and used his WebPages as his voice.

Noel has currently over 50 live websites selling physical consumer goods, digital products and affiliate promotions

Visit his blog Mermaid Halloween Costume to get the latest Little Mermaid Costume.

Sexy Halloween Costumes For Men, Women and Couples

Halloween is not just for kids but can be attended by adults also. Parties can be held at work place, office or in an organization or a few friends get together and have fun. Many businesses hold Halloween office parties and allow, if not encourage, their employees to wear costumes to work as part of the Halloween spirit. Night clubs hold costume contests with some pretty hefty prizes for the best costumed person or couple. The most popular years are when Halloween falls on either a Friday or Saturday for obvious reasons. The social freedom of Halloween gives people who are normally stressed out and emotionally restrained a chance to "let loose", get spooky, scary, naughty and even sexy without being judged. You can find different varieties of sexy Halloween costumes online for Men, women or even couples.

Some of the sexiest Halloween costumes are as follows: Women love to wear cheerleader costume. This costume may take any guy back to his high school memories. Cheerleader costume reminds about short skirts, pom poms and pig tails. Some of the sexy costumes for women in this year include Dark Heart Queen, Sexy Princess Leia, Lady Zorro, Sexy Safari Girl and Prisoner of Love. Other sexy women's costumes include wonder women, sexy witch, and sexy sailor, Purrfectly Pretty Kitty or Eskimo Cutie. Other Sexy Halloween costumes include Police Officer, Cheerleader, Playboy Bunny, Cowgirl, and Catholic School girl, Addams Family Morticia or French Maid.

Some women love a man in uniform. But the same thing goes for men. Gals with gorgeous stems can pull off this leggy law women outfit, complete with short blue shorts, button-down and badge. Accessories include clubs, hats and handcuffs. Addams Family Morticia costume will allow even the most reserved Halloween partygoer to show off her sexy side. This form filling floor length black gown is accented by a deep plunging neckline and flowing sleeves. French Maid costume comes in various materials like vinyl and cotton. This costume is suitable for conservative partygoer as it is available in different lengths and cuts.

There definitely aren't many sexy men costumes as there are sexy costumes for women. Some sexy guy costumes include Borat Mankini, Genie in the Lamp, Anita Waxin, Captain Six Pack and Tight End football costumes.

Some of the famous sexy couple costumes are Angel and Devil, Hansel and Gretel, Treasure Hunter and Indiana Jones costumes, matching vampire costumes or gangster and flapper are classic and sexy.

If you are in search of a sexy Halloween Costume for women then just browse the net. The range of sexy Halloween costumes for women is indeed baffling. If women begin browsing the selection of sexy women's costumes, they will hit upon quiet a few daring outfits that will turn heads of men at the Halloween party.

Allen Christopher is an expert author, who is presently working on the site Halloween Costumes. He has written many articles in various topics. For more information about Mascot costumes. Visit our site Sexy Costumes. Contact him at halloweenarticle12@gmail.com

Kids Zombie Halloween Costumes to Take a Walk on the Dark Side This Halloween

From the time they can talk to the time they move out, the most frequent words a child utters must be "I want". Are your kids already starting to nag you for the new Halloween costume they want?

Of course they are. They're marking off the number of days until the big night. Naturally, they can't be seen dead in last year's costume so out comes the wallet and here you go again!

Little devils. You'd probably give your right arm for them to grow up quickly and begin to earn their own money. Now there are laws around child labor but perhaps they could do a little more around the house to help you out and, in the process, they'd learn the value of a good day's work.

Perhaps you could suggest they undertake a few little jobs at home to pay for their new Halloween costume. Not a chance? Well, if they won't go willingly you'll be happy to know that labor laws aren't applicable to Zombies - so treat them all to a new kids Zombie Halloween costume and they'll be marching out the door, eager to get to work.

It seems that pizza outlets and the postal system are hiring new workers so one of the new Halloween work costumes might get them on their way to paid employment. Work can be boring but if he's delivering in the Mail Zombie Boy Costume or in the Zombie Pizza Boy Costume, at least he'll have a job to keep him occupied.

If you feel like you're flogging a dead horse when it comes to getting your Zombie to do anything, then the Lite-Up Corpse Child Costume will be perfectly fitting. It'll certainly draw the attention of potential employers.

But perhaps he's foreman material and likes to issue orders instead of take them. If so, the Big Bruiser Zombie Punk Child Costume will give him the "street cred" he needs to make sure his instructions are carried out without dissent.

Got an intellectual on your hands? The child who sits around thinking about humanity all day can be just as painful as the one whose thumbs are glued to a game. Why not let him out to spread his bleeding heart ideals and share his brilliance around in the Light and Sound Beating Heart Skull Zombie Costume.

Not everyone is born to work - some are born to be celebrities. If your child has musical ambitions but a voice from the depths of hell he'll probably make a great zombie rocker! The Rockabilly Rebel or Metal Mayhem Child Costume could be ideal - it's Halloween, so Beethoven might be turning in his grave anyway.

In times of financial crisis getting a job can be hard enough when you're alive. But Halloween is the night of the living dead and there are plenty of Zombie worker costumes available - so there's just no excuse for unemployment this Halloween.

Looking for Halloween supplies for upcoming Halloween? Look no further! Buy kids zombie Halloween costumes and other partyware at besthalloweensupplies.com.

How-to: Hand-Dipped Wax Candles

Hand-dipping candles is no longer a labor-intensive pioneer chore. Using an old crock pot or a DIY stovetop bain-marie,  a hand-dipped candle becomes an easy, kid-friendly craft project, one that can stock an entire season of candlelit dinners in a single afternoon.

Although I’m using beeswax for these candles, you can use any non-petroleum-based wax–check out Becky’s article on vegan beeswax alternatives for specific tips.

Melt your solid wax in a crock pot.

1. Melt your solid wax in a crock pot. Score a cheap old crock pot at a thrift store, or purchase a second bowl for your current crock pot to use with crafts. Drop the solid chunks of wax into the crock pot (here I’m using a ton of beeswax bought in bulk a few months ago), turn it on low, and wait for it to melt.

If you’re using a DIY stovetop bain-marie the process is the same, but you’ll want to keep a closer eye on your work.

2. Cut wicking. You can find cotton candlewicking at any crafts store; after your wax has melted, eyeball a measurement that’s roughly double the depth of wax in the pot plus another inch or so for your fingers to hold.  Don’t worry about being too fussy with the measurements, since you’ll be able to simply trim off any excess wicking later.

Prime the wick with wax, then straighten it to prepare it for dipping.

3. Prime the wick with wax. While this isn’t completely necessary, I find that it makes dipping the candle much easier. Next to your crock pot, set up an old cup filled with cold water. Holding the wicking by two fingers in the middle, dip both ends of the wick into the wax to the depth you’d like your candle to be, then immediately lift it up and dip it into and out of the cold water. Use your fingers to straighten the wick so that there won’t be any kinks or curves in your candle. Repeat one or two more times, until the wick comes out of the wax nice and straight. Now it’s ready to dip!

To make hand-dipping even more kid-friendly, increase the length of the wicking by another inch or so and wrap the middle around a pencil, stick, or popsicle stick to give your kids a better grip. When my kids were younger, I marked both ends of the wick with a marker at a spot a safe distance from their fingers, and instructed them to dip their candles no further than that mark.

Dip the wicks into cold water after dipping them into melted wax.

4. Hand-dip your candles. Go back and forth, quickly dipping your wicks into the pot of melted wax, then quickly dipping them into the cup of cold water, and then back into the wax. The candles will increase in size pretty quickly, since the dips into cold water will decrease wax loss and allow the candles to take up a greater amount of wax each time.

If you have a particular candleholder in mind, you can periodically measure your candles so that you’ll know when to stop. Otherwise, whenever your candles have reached a pleasing diameter, give them one last dip in cold water, then hang them to cool. A towel bar is fine in a pinch, although a portable indoor drying rack will allow you to set your drying station up right next to where you’re hand-dipping.

To use your candles, cut them apart and trim the wicks down. They store indefinitely, and they make excellent holiday gifts.

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See All the Great Food Halloween Costumes

It seems that no matter what time of year, day or minute, food permeates every thing that we do in our lives. Perhaps that is why food Halloween Costumes have always been so popular among children and adults alike during the goblin season. Also, not everyone wants to dress up like they are taking part in a Freddy Kruegger movie with dried blood and chainsaws swirling around. A dainty, brightly colored bunch of grapes or a stalk of celery seems, well, a bit less scary as a costume. Don't you think?

Generally, most food costumes are simple in design and have very few parts which make wearing them a delight. O.K. So there are a couple of foods that have many parts like a bunch of grapes or peas but overall, the costumes are quite simple and soft.

A few of our favorite food Halloween Costumes available for purchase online are quite memorable, fun, high in quality and won't break the bank. Let's look at some of the most popular food costumes on this dynamic site.

One of the classic food costumes is, hands down, the banana. The Banana Deluxe Adult Costume features a yellow banana jumpsuit made of a lightweight fabric over foam (so it has flexibility). This costume comes in a one size fits most plus x-large. It has a great suggestion of pairing this costume with a Monkey, Gorilla or Carmen Miranda for a great couples costume! This costume also comes in childs and infant sizes. A family of bananas - how funny!

Now you know when a customer sends in a picture of themselves in a costume, you know it is hit. The Taco Adult costume includes the simulated taco shell, lettuce, cheese and tomato. The costume also comes with a moustache and matching headpiece. Add some black or green tights and shirt, you will be ready to kick it up at the party!

Not being a fan of seafood, I find the Lobster Pot Adult Costume ridiculously funny to the core. This costume includes a lobster headpiece, shirt, pot and claws. Again, the testimonial that went along with this costume is priceless. The person who purchased this costume came with a couple who dressed up as a Chef and the other as Julia Child. Of course, with this ensemble of people, this surely must have been the hit of the party.

Now one costume category I am NOT going to leave out in this category is candy, especially of the chocolate kind. If you want to be a candy bar, the selection for this year is incredible. There is the Snickers Wrapper Adult Costume, the 3 Musketeers Wrapper Adult Costume, The Twix Wrapper Adult Costume and many M&M Adult Costumes. Many of these outfits come in children's sizes so, no on is left out! Everyone in the family can be a piece of candy and be sweet!

There are so many fun food Halloween Costumes! Just choosing one may make your day just a bit difficult. Enjoy!

Carla has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in fashion, you can also check out her latest websites on food Halloween costumes and buying pet costumes dogs for your next Halloween party.

Cute Halloween Costume Ideas For Twins

Finding matching costumes for twins can be a challenge whether Halloween is six days away or six months away. If you're frantically trying to find ideas for costumes, slow down, take a deep breath, and relax. Costume ideas are easier to come by than you might think, and sometimes costumes for twins come together with hardly any work at all. Twin costumes can be drawn from more obscure characters because there are two people, and often times having two costumes from a similar movie or show makes the characters more recognizable. Here are a few strategies for picking out cute costumes for twins.

Sibling Based Characters
Some characters seem like they were made to be turned into costumes for twins. There are several examples that get repeated often like Thing 1 and Thing 2 from The Cat and the Hat. These costumes are easy to make and don't require more than two red jumpsuits and some blue wigs or hats. Other good ideas include characters who are similar in age, like Hansel and Gretel or Tommy and Chuckie from The Rugrats TV show. Both of these pairs are easy to duplicate.

Dynamic Duos
Everyone knows Batman and Robin, or Rocky and Bullwinkle. Superhero pairs or famous duos from TV make great costumes for twins. These costumes look their best when the two characters dress up together. As with most costumes for young people, the details aren't important when making a costume. Instead, try and focus on one important part of the costume. For a Batman costume, simply find a black top and a black bottom and add the signature Bat symbol. This keeps the cost down while still providing a recognizable look. Other good ideas for twin's costumes include Woody and Buzz from Toy Story, Disney Prince and Princesses (like Aladdin and Jasmine), Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, and Calvin and Hobbes.

If you are feeling adventurous, you can also pair a famous hero with a villain. Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, Harry Potter and Voldemort, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are all recognizable heroes and villains.

Animal Pairs
Animal costumes are great for twins, and there are two main ways to go about selecting the perfect pair. Male and female animal costumes are usually easy to make and have only one or two distinguishing characteristics. For instance, a male lion costume is the same as a female lion costume except that the male lion has a mane. You can also distinguish the animals with a slight feminine touch, like a pink bow for the female and a blue tie for the male. This way you can minimize the cost of making the costumes by purchasing two identical outfits.

There are other famous animal pairs that can be used if you don't want to make each costume stand out more. There are several animals that have been paired in famous stories, like an elephant and a mouse, or a fox and a hound, and there are also animals that naturally fit well together. These animals include things like a caterpillar and a butterfly, and a shark and a fish. You can also pair animals with inanimate objects like a monkey and a banana or a termite and some wood.

Funny Objects
Most object interact with other objects regularly, and pairing them together to make a costume can be not only funny, but also highly original. Things like a pen and paper, or a hot dog and a bun are usually associated as one object, but they can easily be broken into two for twin's costumes. Another bonus of going of basing your costumes off of objects is that they are often easy to duplicate without much work.

To make the pen and paper costume, you only need a few pieces of fabric and some blank clothing to sew onto. Cut out two flat pieces of white fabric for the paper costume, and sew them together to make a piece of paper. You can add scribbles or lines on top of the paper if you want to add more detail. Be sure to leave the bottom open so that wearer can put the costume on. To make a pen, start with sweatpants and a top that are matching colors. The simplest color to work with is white. Sew on a few letters, Bic is short and gets the point across, and add a black hat with a "tail" for the part of the cap that holds the pen in your pocket.

Few characters, or objects for that matter, exist solely on their own. Almost any book, movie, TV show or even household object has a pair to go along with it. The trick to finding a good costume isn't to find something that someone else hasn't done, but to add your own little touch to make the costume original. With a little bit of thought, and a little bit of work, you can have the perfect costumes for twins this Halloween.

About Wes Simons

Wes Simons works for CostumeCity.Com. He's helped hundreds of customers find the perfect costume for Halloween, costume parties and special events. CostumeCity.Com specializes in providing a family friendly costume shopping experience for adult costumes, kid's costumes and couples costumes.