Just two more sleeps to Halloween! And you still haven’t done anything to prepare, have you?
If you’re an Aussie, it’s likely you’re only just starting to think about whether you should buy some lollies to put by the front door this year. I mean, it’s likely you won’t have one person ringing your bell.
But what if someone does?
Do you then go rummaging through the pantry trying to rustle up a muesli bar or an old block of cooking chocolate?
I’m pretty sure your ‘super spooky apples’ would be thrown back through your front window. And I don’t know many kids that like the 85% Extra Dark Lindt chocolate.
So yeah, can’t really help you there….. But I can help on the fancy dress front!
Problem: Child needs to dress up as something.
Solution: Lego kid!
Time needed: About 30 min including drying and faffing time (faffing around trying not to cut your own boob as you cut the box – lesson learnt. Put box on ground to cut. Do not hold in front of chest. Additional faffing time to make sure bowls are evenly spaced. Because OCD.)
You’ll need:
1 box – large enough to fit your child in (sounds creepy enough already!)
6 small plastic or paper bowls
Spray paint in any colour you’d like.
Glue (again, I’ll stress the awesomeness of the hot glue gun)
Box cutter and scissors.
Cost:
All up, this cost me $6. That was $2 for the packet of small plastic bowls and $4 for the yellow spray paint. I probably should have used two cans of spray paint. The coverage is terrible. I sprayed on the windiest day in the history of life which meant that as I sprayed, the paint just laughed at the box and went “weeeeee” off into the great wide yonder. Still spiralling around the atmosphere right now, I’m sure. Anywhere but on the bloody box.
I didn’t pay for the glue or glue gun because, obviously, any mother worth her salt in Pins has a glue gun at home. (If you don’t have one, don’t be embarrassed, it’s a mortifying but common mistake. You can rectify this immediately by grabbing one at your local Reject Go Hot Dollar Lo Savers King shop).
Let’s break it down:
Cut head and arm holes in your box. My Thud was asleep when I was cutting and I realised I didn’t know how large his head was. Is that an awful thing for a mother to admit? Am I supposed to know this off by heart? Do you know your child’s head circumference? I felt like a bad mother trying to approximate how big his head was… but I ended up being pretty close. Feeling pretty smug about that actually.
Also, as I mentioned above, don’t hold the box up to your chest as you cut. You may slip and accidentally remove a nipple. You need those, you silly goose.
Glue on your bowls. I’m a bit anal so I cut the curly edges off my bowls. Not necessary at all, and will add a few minutes onto your total time, but, just in case someone judgey sees you….
I also measured out the spacing to make sure it was all even. I wasn’t too precise, but wanted it to be fairly even. Again, there’s a lot of judgey out there…
Spray. I chose yellow. May have been a lot easier to do a darker colour over this box because the pattern is so dark. It needed a few coats to really cover the pattern on the box. I failed pretty badly at this which you can sort of see in the pic. It’s patchy and streaky and pretty see-through in parts. I blame the gale blowing through my backyard which dispersed the paint in a very odd and violent pattern.
Allow to dry and insert child.
Find a different child if yours has this reaction. Or just take lots more photos.
Possible problems:
Child turns himself inside out trying to get away from you as you try to dress him in your lovingly half-arsed costume. Then screams like rabid rats are trying to eat their way into his guts from inside the Lego block.
This – despite all appearances – is not a torture device.
Please enjoy.
You can see Part One here – an equally unpopular Spaceman Rocket Pack
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7 comments
Ha ha ha I too am the parent that takes more pictures of my child when they’re cracking it. It’s character building, I’m sure of it. Lego for shizzle. Though mine would just be the nappy box with bowls on it, sans paint. Going for the rustic look. And streaky pain is perfect lady- the hallmark of lazy ass costuming right there. Nice work!! Loving this series!
[…] And here’s Part Two – an equally unpopular Lego costume […]
We don’t “do” Halloween but I LOVE this idea for Bookweek or something. I’m bookmarking it!
I am loving this series Lauren and sad that my 11 and 14yo will not wear the lego outfit (given how much they love Lego!!).
This series will come in handy when your son starts school and you find yourself scratching about for a book week character costume when you pull out said book week costume note on the day of the book week parade!!!
I have heard about this book week…. Sounds like an awful lot of work for parents. Do they have to dress up as something every day!!??
Bahaha! His face is priceless. My sons Halloween costume is a $5 tshirt from Target and a glowstick pitchfork. I am expecting a bit of non-involvement on the night.
[…] Part Two is here…. An equally unpopular Lego costume. […]