Photo by epSos.de

I’m not one of those people. You know, the kind who can take a grubby uninspired and over-sized shirt from the Good Will box and turn it into a well tailored, four part jacket as part of a Mad Hatter’s outfit, complete with sewn in LED lights. My sewing skills are limited to a rough hem stitch and repairing the occasional button.

Yes, I am the idiot of which the title speaks.

Every Adult Should Have A Costume Box

Still, I’m not going to let what I can’t do yet get in the way of something else I want to do. Yep, I have my tricks for filling the costume box without driving myself crazy, spending too much money or ending up frustrated over a pile of half finished projects I’ll never use.

First stop: Haunt second hand and vintage stores.

The base of my costumes begin second hand. Good Will, Salvation Army, Army-Navy surplus stores and stoop, garage and yard sales. I rarely buy anything costing more than $15.00.

Photo by Leigh Shulman

Brand name stores often have great deals. Last year I found an amazing pair of high heeled knee-high silver boots at Zappos. The Target scarf I found for $5.00 makes a really effective dust mask at Burning Man.

I buy things I really like. I have to like them a lot. Fuzzy sweaters, bathrobes, bustiers, tutus, vintage rain coats, really anything that catches your eye. Everything I choose is comfortable and versatile.

Most pieces serve a double function. My neon green hat has been part of leprechaun, cowboy and super hero. Red hat? Sinister criminal turns to jaunty Santacon elf and eventually becomes weird bride by attaching a veil. (Tell you how below.)

Those silver boots, by the way, have never let me down. I’ve biked, walked and run in them, depending on the occasion. Add a pair of knee socks with a fur strip on top, and they’re fur lined.

Next stop: Fabric & Craft Stores

This is where I find shiny, textured meshes and lames, glittering star buttons and faux fur in a variety of colors. Ribbons, feathers, fake leather, even plastic fabric you’d imagine as a table cloth all work well lining collars and sleeves, highlighting anything you want.

The Tool Box
Attach fabrics et al with safety pins, self adhesive Velcro and simple stitching. You’ll also want needle, thread, glue guns and scissors.

Photo by Leigh Shulman

Hardware stores also offer plenty of options particularly for fixing broken finds. You should never underestimate the usefulness of a zip tie.

The Zen of Costume Boxing

My costumes start really simple. A black lacy bustier was meant to be top for a fancy dress ball gown. I never did find the right bottom. Eventually, I will.

The changes I make aren’t permanent. Everything can be undone. I’ve had more costume ideas fall flat than blow up, and using removable pieces allows me to recycle materials.

Over time, the pieces I add connect to create themes. Silver boots match silver fabric lined boy shorts. I’ve been wanting a good tutu for a while now, but didn’t find one until a stop at Psycho Sisters in Little Five Points, Atlanta. That is my little red dancing tutu. I’ll wear it as is to Burning Man later this month, but eventually I’d like to do something with the straps.

It’ll happen when it happens.

Two Dead Easy Projects For Burning Man

Hat With Removable Veil

I took a piece of self adhesive Velcro, attached the fuzzy soft side of the Velcro to the front part of the inside of the hat. Then I doubled up a big square of mesh and bunched it up on the adhesive side of the harder, spiky part. Connect Velcro parts and wear. Easy to switch out with other fabrics.

Sun Reflective Parasol

The umbrella is my main project this year. It had been missing a plastic spoke cap and while it would have been a nice as a prop, I also want it to be useful and maybe give a bit more shade than light lace can.

Photo by Leigh Shulman

A wire cap nicely replaced the spoke tip. I cut a groove in the plastic before sewing it on with needle and thread. I cut shiny silver fabric into triangles and big-stitched them to the underside of the umbrella. Both hold in place securely, but are also easy remove.

Last year, someone gave me an amazingly soft blue bath robe. Only problem, it’s too big. I’m not quite sure what to do with it, so I’m asking a friend who is one of those people for ideas. I’ll let you know how it goes.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Do you make your own costumes? Brag about your costuming adventures and tell us what you did.

Wooden blocks with designs etched on one end. Photo by Neha

“Gently dab the block with paint. Don’t put pressure on it, just a soft dab,” her hands gesture the dabbing action, her fingers forming the exact shape of the block I’m holding, probably from memory, or maybe just out of habit.

Shyamala’s sari pallu is tucked in at her side, held firmly in place, its solid block print similar to the pattern I’ve chosen. As I bend forward to print she starts to move too before checking herself. She is used to working alone, printing for over a decade now. These days she also conducts day workshops, hoping to spread the traditional art form.

Block printing involves hand printing fabric with etched wooden blocks dipped in paints (traditionally natural dyes, commercially synthetic). It seems easy. Of course it isn’t.

I follow her instructions slowly, very slowly. If my hands shake, it’ll ruin the print. They shake just a little bit as I place (and pound) the block on the fabric – thwack, thwack, thwack.

After the last thwack, I pause, before lifting the block off, slowly.

“Yes!” she shouts – there’s a little surprise there. I smile too – there’s not a line or leaf out of place. I could get used to this block printing thing.

Community Connection

You can connect with Neha via her personal profile in the Matador Travel Community. And if you’d like to submit a photo of your own to This Is My Day, take a look at the submission guidelines.

Feature photo by Pinot & Dita. Photo above by brenbot.

Spending time with your favorite little people this holiday season? Channel your inner Martha Stewart and get them into these 7 craft projects. No fancy materials or complicated tools are required.

1. Pop-up Cards

Sound hard? They’re not. Thanks to websites like pop-up book creator, you can download free greeting card templates. There’s something for everyone, from traditional holiday icons to insects and animals. Just print, cut out, and assemble.

Pages from mail order catalogs work just as well as card stock or construction paper. Also, search the web for free envelope templates.

Photo by absentmindedprof.

2. Origami Ornaments

Origami is an fun brain bender, and you can turn these little works of art into holiday ornaments. The idea behind origami is to create a representation of an object (almost anything, really) using geometric folds and crease patterns on just one square sheet of thin paper.

Again, scour the web for free patterns, including step-by-step diagrams. Some figures are quite complex so if you’re new to this, don’t get too ambitious on the first try.

3. Animal Feeders

Photo by Gare and Kitty.

String day-old popcorn (easier to work with than fresh) and raisin garlands, hang them outside, and watch the birds and squirrels dig in. You can also make a feeder just for the birds. Take a large pine cone, wrap wire around the top for hanging, spread peanut butter into the crevices, and roll the whole thing in bird seed.

If you’re in a cold climate, make suet or lard cakes (they tend to go rancid in warm temperatures), an energy-packed snack birds love. Melt the fat, pour it into a paper-lined muffin tin, and add ingredients such as rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Chill until hardened. Young ornithologists will enjoy discovering the foods that attract particular species.

4. Natural Soap

Photo by Julie K in Taiwan.

‘Tis the season for giving but feeling the economic pinch? Pass along a handmade present like soap. It’s inexpensive, useful, and a cool chemistry experiment for kids.

Soap is basically made from combining an acid (any vegetable-based oil) and an alkali like sodium hydroxide (also known as caustic soda or lye, an old-fashioned drain unclogger). Everything has to be added in precise proportions and at the same temperature for saponification to take place.

Borrow a book, such as The Soapmaker’s Companion from the library or check online sources for more details on the process, appropriate safety measures, and recipes.

5. Recycled Paper

Paper making is another simple, frugal activity that’s great for kids. All you need are old magazines or newspapers, a piece of window screening, and some kitchen items you probably have already.

Tear the paper into small pieces and soak them overnight in a dishpan filled with warm water. The next day, add more water and hand beat the mixture into a pulp. You can also use a blender to pulverize it further, but this is optional. Mix in whole flower heads, petals, or whatever you like for a more interesting look and texture.

Spread the pulp evenly on the screen, place a towel underneath, and press out excess water with a flat object such as a cutting board. Once the sheet is dry, use it as wrapping paper, thank you notes, or gift tags.

6. Felt Dolls

Photo by g_cowan.

Felt is a craft-friendly fabric. It doesn’t unravel, comes in many colors, and can be used for a variety of simple sewing projects, including dolls. Design your own pattern or choose ones that the kids love, from animals to characters like Yoda and Hello Kitty.

Japanese duo Aranzi Aronzo have published several amusing how-to books about felt dolls, or mascots, as they are called. From pandas and sheep to aliens and kidnappers, exaggerated cuteness reigns. Kawaii overload!

7. Map Puzzle

Photo by Indie Wench.

And for budding young travelers, make a world map puzzle. It’s a fun way for kids to learn geography as well as for you to point out where you’ve been and where you want to go.

Simply color copy a map, glue it to a piece of cardboard in the same size, draw puzzle piece lines on the back, and cut them out. Instead of using cardboard, you can also laminate the pieces and trim them, leaving a small border of plastic.

Love these craft projects? Have some ideas of your own? Share your ideas for winter crafts for kids in the comments below!

Feature photo by Meryl CA. Above photo by Robyn Johnson.

Not just a tattoo motif for 20somethings, sugar skulls play a significant role in Mexico’s holiday of remembrance, Dia de Los Muertos. If you’re looking for a creative and tangible way to honor your departed loved ones, consider making this unqiue effigy.

Note: Drying times/ amount of water needed vary depending on humidity in your area and size of molds—the following directions are for extra large sugar skulls and a Mediterranean climate zone.

Mix

Ingredients: granulated sugar, meringue powder (can be purchased at baking supply shop), and water

-Mix one teaspoon of meringue powder per cup of granulated sugar. You’ll need around 4 cups of sugar for one skull.

-Add at least one teaspoon of water per cup of sugar mixture until it reaches the consistency of wet sand—you should be able to hand mold shapes that retain their definition.

Photo by Robyn Johnson.

Mold

You can buy sugar skull molds at specialty shops or go straight to the source at Mexicansugarskull.com.

-Heap sugar mixture into the mold, making sure to pack tightly. Scrap off any excess to level the back side.

-With flattened fingers, press sugar down to ensure the mold is fully filled and add more if needed.

-Place a piece of cardboard over back of mold, gently flip it right side up, and ease off the mold. Let dry for around 12 hours

Photo by Robyn Johnson.

Make

-Once the two skull pieces feel dry enough to handle, scrap out the insides, leaving an inch thick perimeter—like a brain cavity.

-Let dry for around three more hours

-Using royal icing, glue the two skull hemispheres together, making sure to wipe off any excess icing at the seam. It should dry relatively quickly—maybe an hour or two at the most.

Photo by Robyn Johnson.

Decorate

-Use colored royal icing in pastry bags and use other fun materials like dried flowers, sequins, colored foil, and gems to create your own designs .

-Once you’re finished, place the skull on the grave of your loved one or save it as a memento. Sugar skulls can be kept for several years.