High Maintenance Mom

Our kids have a Halloween homework assignment to make their own Halloween costumes. They are supposed to pick a character from a book they really like, create a costume, and then present a report on the character on Friday morning. My kids picked characters and then we had to find books. N is going to be Sir Lancelot and B is going to be George Washington. Before I describe what we did to make their costumes, I want to mention that making them has been a learning experience for us that we've all enjoyed. It think it's been enjoyable because the kids know everyone else is making costumes, we are spending several hours over three days, and we are not making a Star Wars character where $70 masks are available for comparison. Plus I bought some glitter sticky foam paper for some of the decorations. We've been reading library books at bedtime about knights and George Washington. We've explored patterns for N's shield and tying knots to make the epaulets for George Washington's shirt. I asked both kids to think about what they wanted to look like, we talked a little bit about how we might do it, and then I went to the store to see what I could find. Afterwards we worked with the materials we had to see what we could make...

Sir Lancelot

• Helmet - We found silver corrugated cardboard and made a cylinder for his helmet - it would have been easier if we had measured the eyes first but we did the eye slot after stapling the cylinder together. I did notice that I wanted the flat staple side facing his head. We then cut a circle with tabs for the top. I will be going back to an office supply store to get the button things with two strips on the other side (like staples but you can use a hole punch and the button part looks cooler) for attaching the top.
• Chest and back plate - We took two of the big plastic bubble containers that Costco packages their apples in and spray painted them silver. N couldn't push the spray paint by himself so I had him press on my finger. We managed not to spray each other or our clothes and the plates are outside until the smell decreases.
• Shield - We are doing a kite shield from the 11th century. It's a teardrop shape that we cut from cardboard. I drew it an N used his new kindergarten cutting skills to cut it out. We are then going to cover it in aluminum foil and glue designs to it. We've been cutting out squares, rectangles, and triangles in different colors for the pattern.
• Leg and arm guards - We are planning to use the corrugated cardboard and the tab to connect them.

George Washington

• Wig - We took a shower cap and glued the biggest cotton balls I could find to it.
• Jacket - Dark blue button down shirt. We cut strips of gold metallic tissue paper to make shirt cuffs. The paper is attached using safety pins. We then used the paper to make a shoulder piece. We cut a section, folded it in half, and cut a semicircle for the neck hole. Then we decided to make a slit on one side so we could slide it on. B used a hole punch to make nine holes on each side. I helped cut lengths of golden cord which he tied in each of the holes to make the epaulets. We are attaching the shoulder piece to the shirt using safety pins. B is excited by the safety part of the safety pins so he doesn't get hurt.
• Pants - We bought grey sweatpants that we are turning inside out.
• Boots - We're attaching black felt to the sweatpants to look like boots.
• Weapons - The school does not allow weapons so we will leave the sword and pistol, made out of cardboard with aluminum foil, at home for 31st.

Both kids are very excited about their costumes.