Transforming the Mundane into the Miraculous

If you could be a jellyfish for one night, would you go for it? No, I don’t have some mad science idea on how to become a jellyfish (sounds like an awesome Magic School Bus episode though, doesn’t it?). However, armed with a clear chip bowl, some bubble wrap, tape, a strobe light, and a pair of scissors I could grant you that wish. If you wanted to get extra classy you could add some double-sided lace. Then you too could join my Jellyfish army bwahahaha… Errr. I got a little side-tracked there. Moving on. I go a little nuts on Halloween, I always make my costumes and I tend to go overboard. Here is my pride and joy, one of the best Halloween costumes I have ever created I give you the Jellyfish-

The best part of this jellyfish, is that it took very little time. I had to order the strobe light, but I managed to get the little accent lights at a local craft store. The white go-go boots were not strictly speaking needed... but sometimes you gotta have a little flair (plus they're awesome and I couldn't resist). I still have those boots and have used them on other costumes. When I did the jellyfish the first time, I simply wore all white. When I went for it in this rendition I made the dress too, can you guess what it's made of? I'll give you a hint, if you think it cost more than five dollars to make- you are wrong. That dress is made out of two dollar store table clothes, some elastic, and some ribbon (also from dollar store). Epic thrifty craft moment!

I am not going to spend this blog describing how to make each costume… but I thought I would give a few tips on how to create some Halloween magic. I am not made of money, and I do my best to make my costumes using as little money as possible. To this end, I love the thrift store, if I need clothes or costume items you will find me haunting the local thrift stores until I find something that works. Dollar stores are a fabulous! I found a lot of my robot accessories, for example, at the dollar store and you never know what you are going to find there. I always check the dollar stores near me for ribbon and other things I might need for a project. Duct tape is amazing (yes, duct tape fixes everything)! A hot glue gun or heavy-duty spray glue is a must. I am a bit of a klutz, so I don’t get along with hot glue guns very well, but I use them occasionally. Spray glue is my go-to (if you don’t need to open a window to use the glue then it’s not for me.) Don’t poo poo papier mâché, it may seem like a kid’s craft but I cannot tell you the number of times I have used it to create pieces for my costumes, I love me some papier mâché. Finally, the most important advice I can give is don’t be discouraged if your first plan doesn’t work, sometimes things go wrong. Just keep swimming. It will all work out.

If you knew me, or better yet, if you knew my friends, they would tell you that I am a bit obsessed with Halloween. So obsessed in fact that I am already thinking about what I am going to do for this Halloween… there’s only about 5 months left I am behind schedule!! (You think I am joking but I am totally not.) I already have plans.

Personally, I don’t worry much about fashion. I might even leave my house without painting my toes wearing flip flops or sandals- OH THE HORROR! I tend to ignore fashion when it interferes with my comfort. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that I don’t dress up for special occasions… but I prefer flats over heels and hate (hate hate hate) strapless bras. Again, I have braved these contraptions but it is rare for me. There is one exception- Halloween. I will go through significant uncomfortable moments for the perfect Halloween costume. The year I was a centaur for example, I stood all night. My papier mâché horse butt was in the way, but it was so worth it.

The year I was a robot, I wore face paint the entire night. I don’t know if you have ever worn Halloween face paint before, but it is not the most pleasant thing in the world. Again, totally worth it. The Groot mask was hotter than hades, and I nearly fell off the lift shoes like twenty times, but it was awesome-sauce!!

Halloween is super liberating, you can do whatever you want. I could swish like a jellyfish or do the robot (quite literally) … Or I could be an alien space girl.

This last Halloween I decided to scale down my craziness a bit… or at least that was the idea. I wanted something fairly simple, but awesome, something that I could walk around in easily, and not spend months making it. I settled on Inspector Gadget (Is anyone else singing the theme song in their head? Go Gadget go). This took me a few hours total, maybe a bit more if you count thrift store hunting for a jacket and tie or my shopping at the craft store. So, here is my covid Halloween Inspector Gadget-

Halloween gives me one night to be whoever or whatever I want (or maybe a weekend). Every year, I wrack my brains for something spectacular, fun, and preferably something I can light up... I totally have a light-up costume fetish. Everything is cooler with lights! I also go crazy with accessories, what's a Groot without Rocket? I admit, the ooos and ahs when I walk into a bar (or party or wherever I end up on Halloween) make me all warm and fuzzy inside. I am not a terribly vain person, but well on Halloween I am. I love the questions, the pictures, and the "how the hell..." that I get every year.

I cannot think of a craft that I could have more fun creating. With my scissors, tape, and various other supplies I have created masterpieces. There is a thrill to seeing something come out of nothing. When I started the Jellyfish I had a big clear chip bowl, some tape, scissors, and some bubble wrap… and out of that I created something amazing. The final product had more to it of course, but it started with that bowl. I turned a dollar store hat into Inspector Gadget with some scissors, dowels, and some yellow rubber gloves. I turned a mesh laundry hamper into a papier mâché centaur backside. I love the way it all comes together (I feel like Col. Hannibal from the A-Team. I love it when a plan comes together.) That's the real thrill- taking something mundane and being able to turn it into something miraculous!