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My husband and I usually scrape up scraps of something to wear as a costume before going to any Halloween party each year. We love to dress up and we love to celebrate……but any costumes for us just seem to get set aside until the very last minute.
I was thinking that being pregnant for Halloween could be a fun thing to work around. So I googled ideas a couple of days ago……looking for something that would be easy enough to do last minute. Then I remembered that last year, I had seen a particular homemade costume online (one was even in the virtual costume parade last year……..thanks Wendy!) and wanted to give it a try.
So, then, the hard part.
Finding a template. Or some sort of tutorial.
Aaaaggh, nothing…….so much for saving some time last minute. ;)
So I sketched something out, tried my hand at freezer paper stenciling (now I understand the craze of freezer paper stenciling) and came up with this:
The pregnant skeleton costume.
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Complete with a little baby skeleton…….and her sweet little bow.
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No more hiding, baby girl…….we can all see you now.
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And of course, my husband wanted in on the fun.
(Darn him for being at school while needing some photos of him in it.)
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So, we of course added his favorite thing to put in his belly. Mmmm.
(This husband of mine is not a steak and potatoes kind of guy. He prefers a big ‘ol hamburger. Ha.)
So, a skeleton costume for a pregnant lady…….
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And a costume for her “wanting to match” husband……..
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Now we have a little “last minute” something to wear to our little party tonight.
It’s all the more fun to enjoy Halloween with the kiddos.
Right?
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Want to make one too?
Try your hand at some freezer paper stenciling and make a skeleton costume too…
(And depending on how detailed you make your stencils, this can become a lengthy project to cut out all of those pieces…..and then painting it and letting it dry. Keep that in mind.)
First, I bought a roll of freezer paper (by the tin foil and saran wrap at the grocery store) and sketched each of my skeleton parts on the paper side of the freezer paper.
(I just used those images as a guide and sketched it out. You don’t have to make it perfect……just a general skeleton shape. Sorry, I don’t have the actual sketches to share.)
Then I used a razor blade to cut out the shapes (placing a rotary mat or large piece of cardboard underneath the paper)……making my template.
Then I placed the shiny side down onto the clothing and positioned it right where I wanted it. Then I pinned it down while I carried it over to the ironing board………
…….then ironed the freezer paper down, without using steam. Also, be sure to iron really well around those inner edges of your shapes…..you don’t want paint to seep under.
And if you have any extra pieces that aren’t connected to your main piece but will complete your image, make sure to position them where they need to go and iron them down too.
Then, lay your shirt down flat and slide cardboard in between the shirt layers, to keep the paint form seeping down through both layers.
Next, you will need permanent fabric paint. I bought mine at Michael’s, along with a fabric paint brush. They were selling it right there with the fabric paint and it has short even bristles that are nice and stiff.
Then I blotted the paint on for the first layer, making sure to get an even line of paint along all of those inner edges of the freezer paper. Then I applied a second layer, brightening up the white paint. (In the bigger spaces I could use brush strokes but for some of the little holes and slits, the blotting technique worked much better.)
Then I let it dry overnight (instructions said at least 4 hours) and then peeled off the paper…..leaving the stenciled image behind. It leaves such nice precise lines. I love that freezer paper stuff.
Lastly, I placed a thin piece of fabric over all the painted sections on the shirts and pants and heat sealed (without steam) the images right to the shirt with my iron.
(And for the baby skeleton, I just tied a bow out of ribbon, heat sealed the ends with a lighter, and sewed it right to the skeleton head.)
And that was it.
Happy Halloween!
Ashley
Ashley Johnson is a DIY sewist, crafter, costume maker and home interior designer.
I am pretty sure that that is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Is it ok if I facebook it if I send all of my friends to your site?
So cute! That little pink bow just makes it! I hope the party you are going to has a black light! That would be fun! Or did you use glow in the dark paint?
My daughter and I love it. She said it's "kinda cute, and kinda creepy" to have a baby skeleton. I agree. Great costume!
so clever – i love it! if only I was as crafty as you! :)
I never looked that cute when I was pregnant. I gained weight every where. That looks so cute on her little baby belly. I'm not going to have anymore kids but I love this idea!
How creative. That "baby" skeleton with the bow….oh my gosh!
I actually did something similar to this a few years ago when I was prego with my first baby. We found out it was a girl the day before Halloween and I was teaching 1st grade at the time. I actually cut out bones from fabric and hand-tacked them to a black square that tied around my tummy with ribbon. I had matching skull pj pants that I wore for our school parade.
i haven't read all the comments so someone might have said this…this would be a cute away to announce you are pregnant or to announce what sex the baby is!
very cute idea!
I'm 31 weeks pregnant and wish I had seen this a few days ago!!! I'm too tired now to pull it off, but great idea!!! I think my little boy would be wearing a blue tie…
That has to be the cutest thing I have ever seen!! I love the baby skeleton with the little pink bow! Genius! Oh, and it made me smile too = )
you are too funny! i laughed outloud when i saw that little baby girl skeleton on your tummy.
Oh my gosh! I need to remember this for the next time I am pregnant! I wanted to do something like this for last year, but I was to pregnant and tired!
Adorable! I so need to do this! I love the baby skeleton idea too. Although I won't know whether it is a boy or girl until baby arrives.
What great costumes! I love the little bow on the baby skeleton – too cute! Sadly freezer paper is not something you can buy here, but next time I'm away for vacation I'll have to see if I can find some and stock up, this looks like too much fun!
Ha ha I LOVE it! What an awesome idea! ;)
I wanted to this idea so bad last year (I was 38 weeks pregnant!), but couldn't figure out how to paint the skeleton. So wish I had seen this last year. I went with my back up idea, I got a bright yellow shirt, put tire tracks across the tummy and on the back painted a sign that said "Caution; Speed Bump". It was cute too. Great job.
That is THE CUTEST thing I have ever seen. The matching husband is absolutely hilarious!! You are so creative I can't even believe it. I want your brain. :) I missed the Halloween costume parade this year!
That is so great!!
Very cute! Love the baby skeleton! (I am realizing as a type this how weird it sounds in my head :) )
Did my 1st freezer paper stencil for my daughter's costume last night and I too am hooked!
Love your blog, I don't know how you do it!!
Hilarious!
That is so darn cute! I'm still laughing! Thanks for sharing.
THIS SO CUTE!!! I love it! I wish I'd seen it last October when I was pregnant!
~Carla
I love it I featured you on my blog, I hope you can come by and take a look!
https://dragonflyfeathers.blogspot.com/2010/10/featuring-my-favorites-friday-no9.html
What a cute idea! I didn't dress up this year and I wish I would have done this. I'm having a boy in December. :)
My daughter and husband were little red riding hood and the big bad wolf. I was going to be granny but I just couldn't figure out what to wear.
justenoughstyle.blogspot.com
That is thee cutest idea ever! I'm totally running out to buy some freezer paper and fabric paint right now!
That is WAYYYYYYYYYY too cute!!!!
I love this! Thanks for the great idea. I usually don't dress up but I may have to squeeze this in for myself (yes I am pregnant too) before our ward trunk-or-treat tomorrow night.
love, love this! That bow is the perfect accessory.
I LOVE the preggers & baby skeleton!! I wish I had seen that when I was pregnant! The hubby's costume is too funny! What a great pair!!!
I am doing the exact same thing for my preggo baby belly too! That's how we're announcing it to all of our friends:) You'rs turned out great!
No way Aubrey!!! That is too funny…..yep, we're on the same wave length.
And how great HoneyScrap, I didn't realize there was a premade iron-on. That would have been nice and saved some time.
And ooh, the spray paint tip. I'm going to have to try that Lori. And you can get get more spray paint for your money than fabric paint. Thanks! :)
I think you have bugged my house. I made SAME costumes for my husband and I! (Only his has a pizza slice and donut in his belly.)
I guess great minds think alike huh? Happy Halloween!
So cute!
Bummer!!! I just bought myself a shirt that had this on it!! I wish I would have had this tutorial first!!! Thanks for posting though now I can make matching pants :)
I love the hamburger, fries and drink in the belly, very cute!
That is ADORABLE! :)
Oh my word, I am making this today! Yay!
This is fantastic! You did such a great job on BOTH costumes and yes, I agree, what a great way to announce a pregnancy if you haven't already! I'm definitely going to book mark this post so that the next time I'm pregnant and need a costume I have a fantastic tutorial (you really do write great tutorials! So detailed and easy to follow!) Thanks for sharing!
Christine aka The Stampin' Ninja
That is the cutest thing ever!!!!!
AHHHH! I wish I were pregnant, that would be such an AWESOME way to announce your pregnancy.
I love it! I may have to steal your idea next year!!! and your husbands is hilarious!!!
So cute! I just saw this idea on Someday Crafts last week and thought it was hilarious! Especially your husband's:) I think the same thing would be in my husband's stomach too:)
that is the most imaginative idea for a costume i have ever seen!!! I LOVE IT!! oh and the husband one is adorable too
So cute! Love it, next time you do freezer paper, save some time and just spray paint it… so much faster (but you do have to cover the whole area) and it doesn't wash out! Plus it dries so fast.
but she was pregnant.
if not, that would be a better plan. :)
You can wear a ventilator while using spray paint.
Your allowed to use latex spray paint
Spray paint dries really stiff. I supposed it you’re only wearing it once and can tolerate it, that’s fine. I personally don’t think it’s comfortable.
Do not use spray paint…..it smells like paint and the lines didn’t turn out as sharp. But love the project!
Love it, it is too funny and your husbands ha!
So cute! Oh how i wish I had time to do this before tonight!
oh i love it!! too bad i didnt do this! i am 22 weeks preggo and had NO idea what to be….. or the time.. so i settled for an indian….. :( yours is MUCH cuter
I LOVE it!