I always thought making Libby's costumes was special, until the year she said "Can't I just get a store bought one like everyone else?" Ugh.
So for the last two years, she's been Monster High Characters. The year before last, she was Opperetta, and I at least got to make her a coffin shaped guitar (which sadly, I can not find a picture of...)
Last year she was Skelita, which I agreed to since she at least had cool make-up.
But this year, I asked her to challenge me. And I learned to be careful what I asked for.
She chose one of the new Freaky Fusion characters, Avea Trotter, who is the daughter of a harpy and a centaur. This is the cartoon version of Avea:
And here is the doll:
Ok, no problem, I thought. I can make Libby's legs her back legs and attach front legs to her costume, so it looks likes she's standing up, like the cartoon. "No mom," says Libby. "I want her to be standing on all fours like the doll." Ugh.
Ok, I can do this. I like a challenge. I searched the Internet for pictures and ideas, but couldn't find anyone who has attempted this costume. ( that should have been a clue) The closest I could find was a girl who dressed up for cosplay, but she photoshopped her own body onto a picture of a horse, so that didn't help.
So after some brain storming, and a few discussions with my brother and husband, and a trip to the hardware store, I figured out how to fashion a horse body that looked like it was a part of my child.
And we got to work.
We started with a 10" cardboard tube that is used to pour concrete into and cut it to size.
We knew it needed to be mobile, so we attached wheels to PVC caps so it would roll behind her.
We used PVC elbows and pipe to make the legs, and screwed in hooks to the front to attach a harness for her to wear.
So far, so good, but it didn't look much like a horse.
I added a piece of PVC for the tail and started covering it with foam to try to build up a horse body.
Then I covered it with duct tape. Avea's body is purple, so that's what I used.
After it was covered in tape, I used hair from a blue wig, and black duct tape for the tail. I cut the Monster High Skullets on my Silhoutte Cameo and hot glued them to the hip. I used braided ribbon, black duct tape and book rings to make the bridle.
It was coming along, but still just looked like the back of the horse. So I decided I woukd duct tape a pair of pants so her legs woukd match.
This is where I discovered that duct tape sticks better to itself than it does fabric, and stretch pants are not the best type of material to use for this purpose. So three rolls of tape and three pairs of pants later...
And we're making progress....
I hot glued some Skullets on the pant leg
Made shin guards from cardboard, duct tape and silver heat tape
Found a pink shirt at JC Penny after it was determined the one my mom ordered on eBay wasn't going to arrive in time...
But it's long sleeve, so I had to alter it.
And I decide to sew the turquoise part of the top, and make a tutu from tulle for the button part.
So it's starting to look like something, I just had to get it all together. I got a long blue wig at Spirit Halloween, a top hat from Walmart and black gloves. I sewed some turquoise trim on the gloves, put the wig in a pony tail and made some purple polymer clay ears and glued them to the headband of the hat. I found some black wings at Walmart and painted them partially turquoise.
Put it all together and viola....
My little Avea Trotter!
Although I did have a great time making this costume, I can't say it was without some tears. There were a few trying moments, especially when Libby freaked cause she thought her head was stuck in her top, or when I needed her to try something on and she just didn't feel like it. Or when we weren't sure the third pair of duct taped pants were going to button....But all in all, it was well worth the effort, to hear her say "mom, that's amazing!" I just hope she looks back at her Halloween costume experiences as fondly as I do mine. (Thanks mom!)
Until next time, Happy Scrappin'!!
