Halloween is THIS SATURDAY,

and boyohboy are we in the spirit! Around here we believe costumes are
always way better when they’re thrifted and DIY. For me, dressing tiny
people up in costumes ranks up there with going on vacation or having
time left on a parking meter when you pull up. I happen to have not only
one but two adorable littles at my disposal, and went to town (Thrift Town)
costuming my daughter and nephew.

This year, they’re going as Pebbles & BamBam.

Here’s the tutorial on my thrifty DIY ways - Pebbles’ costume first:

1. SOURCE FABRIC
I started with this plain thrifted $2.99 men’s tshirt so I
could make sure I had enough fabric to work with.

2. TRACE. As I’m not a professional seamstress, rather a DIY-er, I don’t make
things pristine and complex. With most clothing projects for my little or myself: use
something you already have that you know fits, and straight-up trace it. I added an
extra inch around to allow for seams etc.

3. CUT. I was a little giddy using my new little roller cutter dohicky thang
to cut the whole thing out. Totally not required. Scissors are also awesome.

4. SEW. Bottom and arm holes: fold up, pin and sew.
Side seams & shoulders: seam together.

(L: rightside out // R: inside out)

5. SPOT. There are a ton of ways to do the spots. I chose sharpie.
You can get a small black tee for $0.99 and cut the
pieces up. Then you can hot glue, sew, whatever.

6. BONE. For the hair “bone”: freehand draw a bone on felt. You
can make 2, and sew them together if you want. I also inserted a
pipe cleaner for a little structure, then sewed a tiny hair tie on the back.

Add a colored diaper cover to the look for $0.49 and you’re all set!
(whole outfit reveal after BamBam tutorial)

BAMBAM DIY:

Here’s what I used:
1. cream pillowcase ($0.49)
2. cream felt ($2.00 at a craft store)
3. brown leggings (also used for Princess Leia Costume - $0.99)
4. bathing suit insert (uhm, how does one put a price on that? #awkward)
5. scissors, sharpie, sewing machine & a rope belt

1. measure. I googled measurements for a 3yr old and measured
out my pillowcase. I gave it an extra inch for scrunch room. Cut all
the way down, and I made it about 12″ long as well.

2. SEW. Turn it inside out, line up the open side & run one
seam up, stopping before the top. Cut holes in the sides of the
top and string your rope or belt through.

3. CUT. Then simply cut a fun zigzag pattern on the bottom and
draw on matching spots with the sharpie: manskirt: DONE.

4. CLUB. grab a long cylindrical object from around the house,
(I used a vacume attachment) and wrap one end with tissue paper,
then wrap the whole thing in crumpled brown bag. Tape secure it.

5. EXTRAS: draw spots on the padded circle for the hat.
Follow the steps from the Pebbles instructions and make 2 more
felt “bones”, one for the waist and one for the hat.

6. ASSEMBLE. safety pin a bone on the hat, and bobby pin the hat on.
cinch the skirt & tie. drape leggings with the center seam on the shoulder,
and pin to the skirt. pin the other bone to the spot where the leggings
are pinned to the skirt. grab your club.

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND YOU GET:

my very own Pebbles & BamBam. And let me just say, it’s a good thing
we have a digital camera cause the sheer volume of images we had to
take to get 5 that look decent was staggering. haha

Thrift Town is THE spot to get the pieces for your own
awesome DIY costume! Do you have ideas for your
costume? Get shopping and tag
@thrifttown on Instagram and FB!

(cartoon image via)

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Kari Shipman is thrifty, eco-conscious, and knows the importance
of supporting local charities. She has been our featured blogger
since we started the blog in 2010, and has a serious passion for
fashion. Kari owns her own Fashion Consulting Business, Juniper
James and lives out her passions in Northern California with her
wonderful husband Charles, and their little girl Olive.