Halloween 2010

My kids watch a lot of Netflix. Mostly they watch Avatar (Airbender not blue people.) I enjoy watching it too, which is good because I would have been lost when they told me what they wanted.
So if you aren't familar with the characters, here is the official site for each of the ones the kids picked this year:
Toph

Sokka

Katara

Here is how they turned out:

A few notes:
James wanted to be Ang, but I nixed the idea when he insisted I could come up with a way to make him airbend. Sorry dude, I'm not putting fans up your sleeves. The thing on his head is a white swimcap that I put make-up on to fleshtone and sewed a section of a wig onto. It made his ears stick out, but he wouldn't wear it over them. The weapon is made of a ball, a coat hanger, a few oven liners, cardboard and aluminum tape.
Talitha helped make her costume. Her father didn't much like the idea of her first sewing experience being on a serger, as he lost a duel with one once, but oh well, she can meet a regular sewing machine later.
Jordan went through all the female characters before we settled on Katara. I just couldn't let her be Azula.

Face Painting

I love to do face painting, I really do, except for one thing, the monotony. Even when presented with a variety of options, kids tend to pick safe things, hearts, flowers, spiders, rainbows. You can only paint just so many hearts in a day.

So I developed a plan to show kids how cool other options can be. I made a big board with pictures of faces with a variety of options.

Then I dressed up in a medieval gown and painted my own face.

I painted faces for seven solid hours and only did about 10 hearts, 2 flowers, and 5 rainbows. I got to do old age make up twice. I probably did fourty different "Fairy masks" and nearly as many "Batman masks."

Spiders, however, will be a favorite no matter what the season, and there is no getting around that.

The Witches Brew

This is something that I cooked up at work for an event later this month. I left the lettering to my friend, I just did the fun part.

S&ST #8

Glitter ball = $3.75
Candle jar ring = $4.99
Crystal ball that is "magically" unbreakable= Priceless

Bath remodel

I'll start off by saying I had help with this one. Joe and the handy man did the tub/shower, toilet, and sink install, plumbing, drywall, electrical, and helped lay the hardi-backer for the tile. I just did the demolition, clean up, remaining hardi-backer, painting, trim, tile, shelving, caulking, grouting, threshold laying, hardware hanging, and decor.



I'm going to show you this picture first, because in it you can see the inspiration piece. When I decorate I have to have one thing I use to tie the room together, something that puts in my mind what I want the room to be. I found the canvas print above the toilet at... ahem... Wally World. The gray scale nature scene called to me and I realised I could build a bathroom around it. Gray is the hot neutral these days.



I didn't know what I was going to do for cabinetry, until I went on vacation and saw this in our hotel bathroom. This is where you picture me with a wicked grin and a light bulb over my head.



I didn't HAVE to do cabinets. I could do cubes, squares, like tiles, and the picture! The rolled up towels would also mimic natural shapes!


To go with the print I also had printed a bunch of b&w photos of nature that I have taken. Naturally they are edited liberally and didn't look much like this when I took them, but I am quite happy with the results. I also covered a jar with gray seashells and purchased some brick-a-brac to throw in or paint and throw in.



So without further ado, this is my hall bathroom:

Oops, forgot the "before" pictures, I snapped these right before I got out the crowbar:

S&ST #7

Tali's first swim meet is coming up, and it's a Luau theme. Apparently there is some prize they have won several years in a row that goes to the team with the supporters who dress the best in the theme.
I may be completely inept at the rest of the sports mom stuff, but costumes I can do.



The background of this is my Muumuu, floral and parrot print. I didn't like any of the leis that the store had on hand, so I bought a garland and made my own with the help of fishing line and coffee straws. I also made a leaf only one which will go on someone I am sure, along with the handful of store bought leis. I took some shells from my room and drilled out the center. Some earring hooks and beading wires and the earrings are done!
I have pink grass skirts for each of the girls, and one for me in classic tan. James has Hawaiian print swim trunks.
I seriously considered a tiki mask for James, but I really don't have time before the big day.
Now if I could only remember the Hula dance Mini P. taught me in Kirtland.

So tell me honestly,

this sucks right?
I was going for a Chaofeng, which as described on the Nine Dragon scroll is a lion like dragon, and I don't know if it's good enough to display at work to encourage kids to learn how to do paper mache.