Paper Costumes

I have always wanted to make a paper costume. They're the perfect solution to the I-have-more-time-than-money issue. Unfortunately, I haven't found the time, but I keep a Pinterest board going just in case. I always cringe when throwing away  recycling a big cardboard box or sheets of packing paper. I feel like I'm throwing away possibilities.

I'm going to share some of my pins with you today. While, some of the photos aren't necessarily Halloween costumes, they're great for inspiration. Several of the links have other examples. For sheer beauty you must click on the paper costumes by Isabella de Borchgrave. They're amazing.

source: Fashion and Art Trend

source: I believe this is from Jennifer Perkins
I can't find the original link

source: Trash Fashion

source: Small for Big

source: Small for Big

source: Cardboarders

source: Isabelle de Borchgrave

source: The Curious Kiwi

source: Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss

source: Oh Lovely Bows

The Mask

Masks are an important part of my Halloween costume. Although I love it when I see special effects makeup done, I never have the time to put it on. I'm usually in the last minute panic of party details and the best I can do is throw on a mask as guests arrive. My makeup attempts have just ended up in some white face paint and a few crooked lines of black eyeliner. We're back to the time vs. money rule of Halloween.

I tend to prefer a half-mask that allows me to speak and most importantly drink without using a straw. It may not stay on the entire night, but it looks smashing when I do put it on. Full face masks are handsome, though. I'm not talking about party store masks. To impress, and that's what we strive for, try to purchase an artist-made or designed mask. Yes, they are more expensive, but the best part is even if you don't wear it again, it can be hung on a wall or put on a skull or pumpkin next year. A mask made by an artist is worthy of display.

We still have time to order the perfect mask, but the window is closing rapidly. Etsy, my go-to source, has a great selection of masks. Start narrowing your decisions now and try to order by the end of the week.

Take a look at these-

CoffinHunter13

SeymoursShopofHorror

GriffinForge

MiesmesaBerni

EffigyMasks

Oonacat

ManicMart

LeopardsLeap

MinistryofMasks

If these masks don't inspire a costume, well then, I'm not sure I can help you.

Create the Perfect Disguise

Five weeks till Halloween! Now is the time to start planning our costumes. Hopefully this will prevent me from having that last minute panic because I didn't start working on it earlier. (Sigh, it's the same story every year.)

Planning the perfect disguise always come down to two things: time and money. If you don't want to spend a lot of money, you're going to need plenty of time. It's as simple as that.

To start us off on the right foot, I'm going to post photos of vintage Halloween costumes. I know you've probably seen them all before, but look closely. These costumes are scary. Why? You don't see blood and gore. The scary thing about these costumes are the homemade masks. They're crude and completely disguise the wearer. Even when the masks are smiling they look sinister.

That brings us to another important Halloween rule for me. The costume should be dark; by dark I mean evil, macabre, and a bit menacing. That's because I believe when the evil spirits come out at Halloween, it's better to blend in so they don't notice you. Maybe that's just me, but I haven't been pulled into hell, yet.

Take some time today to search out early photos of Halloween costumes. This is our homework- back to the basics and cleansing the palate. If you can get hold of it, there is a wonderful book of vintage Halloween costumes called Haunted Air by Ossian Brown. The book is filled with photos from 1875 to 1955.

I'm not providing sources for the following photos because they're everywhere on the web.

Good depiction of wearing a hood without looking like the KKK

I love the lack of expression on these masks and the fact
that you can sip a drink with out anyone noticing.

If I found this person wandering around my house I would be unnerved.

I would not want to run into these women in a dark alley.
It's all about the masks.

Just think about this one for a minute.

This scares me a lot.

I love that these costumes are inexpensive, simple to make, and disturbing. All it takes is a little time to put these together. Oh, the possibilities.

Projects on My List

This week has flown and there are so many other ideas for adorning the Halloween interior that I want to share. I guess I'll just have to throw them in a pile for you to sort through.

First off, please visit a few of my projects from previous years. I think you'll find some fun ideas including a Ouija Board tablecloth and giant Crow Gentleman.

Now for some projects I'm thinking about doing.

I'd love to recreate this. 

The image is credited to artist Maria Abramovic 

(not sure that is correct, but definitely influenced by her)

source: Rogers Garden

source: Disfunctional Designs

Every year I say I'm going to do this for the party
source: Better Homes and Gardens

I'm more interested in the newsprint window treatment than the wreaths
source: Midwest Living

Because this makes me laugh
source: this isn't happiness

Cheesecloth is One of Our Main Food Groups

As you may have noticed, I like to get back to the basics with my Halloween decorations. Cheesecloth should be in all of our Halloween cupboards. I have to admit, I could use more of it. Sometimes I substitute fabric interfacing for cheesecloth because it holds it's shape better. Another nice thing about using interfacing is that it doesn't fray at the edges. It's more expensive than cheesecloth so you would use it on things that you'll use again for years.  For example, I cut out some ghosts that I've been using around the house from interfacing. I was inspired by Martha Stewart, but took it to my own conclusion.

(If you're wondering how I attached them to the ceiling, well, we actually have a grid of fishing line that we put on our ceiling so that I can hang things from it all year long. You don't notice it unless you look hard.)

I also cut some small ghosts out so that we could have spirits among the spirits.

Last year our party theme incorporated New Orleans so I shredded some grey interfacing to hang from the ceiling. That's why you see beads in the photo as well.

With the room darkened, this looked quite spooky. Here, it just looks like our ceiling is falling down.

If this didn't inspire you, perhaps these will?

Saw this on Pinterest with the tag AliciaEggert.com

source: Kara's Party Ideas

source: The Lennoxx

source: Martha Stewart

Let's get at it!