Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Every kid needs a corner to call his own -- a space for reading the latest mystery or somewhere to relax after a tough day of algebra. Design a space for your child to chill by incorporating innovative storage, comfortable seating and cozy lighting to brighten even the rainiest of days.
Everyone loves a vanilla wafer, but especially the younger members of your family. Get ideas on Nilla wafers for kids with help from a pediatric dietitian and mother of two in this free video clip.
How you'll go about doing makeup for costumes depends largely on what type of costume you're planning to wear. Do makeup for costumes with help from a master makeup artist at a luxury beauty lounge in Beverly Hills in this free video clip.
Certain hairstyles and vampire costumes naturally go hand in hand in a really fun way. Learn about hairstyles for vampire costumes with help from a New York City-born hair and makeup artist in this free video clip.
Your spider costume just isn't complete until you apply your makeup in a very particular way. Do makeup for a spider costume with help from a licensed cosmetologist in this free video clip.
When putting together your belly dance costume you're going to want to keep a few specific tips in mind. Get belly dance costume tips with help from a professional instructor, dancer and choreographer in this free video clip.
If 1980s rock stars are known for anything its their distinct visual style and flair. Find out how to make homemade costumes of 1980s rock stars with help from a professional costumer and tailor in this free video clip.
Making your own butterfly costume is as easy as it is fun. Learn about making an easy butterfly costume with help from a professional costumer and tailor in this free video clip.
One costume that has remained popular over the years is that of Cleopatra. Learn about an easy Cleopatra costume with help from a professional costumer and tailor in this free video clip.
Fairy costume makeup needs to be applied in a very specific way in order to look as authentic as possible. Find out how to apply fairy costume makeup with help from a professionally certified makeup artist in this free video clip.
The secret of professional looking vampire makeup is blending and shading in the right places. Whether you use kids' face paint or theatrical makeup, the principal colors and application technique are the same. Three 1-inch cubes of sponge or foam wedges, cotton swabs and white, black and red makeup or face paint are all you need to create impressive, basic makeup for your vampire costume. Prosthetic pieces, fangs and fake blood provide added authenticity.
Wedding dresses are made from beautiful, formal fabric that is worn only once. Instead of wasting your investment by letting your old wedding dress hang in the closet, use it to create a DIY fairy costume for yourself or your child. By making some basic cuts, doing a little hand or machine stitching, and adding a few embellishments, you or your child will have a unique fairy costume to wear for a Halloween or masquerade party, a festival, or a special event.
If you’re tired of normal costumes, try for a hilarious alternative this year. Play on well-established mythological creatures and add a comic twist to create a unique costume. One way to add instant comedy to your costume is to cross dress. Think about mythological creatures that are typically represented as the opposite sex and create your drag version of them.
Tap dance has a variety of historical influences that make for a myriad of costume ideas. Although tap dance is typically associated with vaudeville and jazz of the 1920s, tap dance originated from English clog dancing and Irish step dancing. Tap dancing was also influenced by Juba dance practiced by black slaves in the 1800s. Whatever costume you choose, keep in mind that tap dancing requires a costume that allows for wide freedom of movement for the dancer. Avoid restrictive costumes and tight dresses; instead, opt for pieces that you can add on to a leotard or elastic dance clothes.
With their loud, catchy beats and energetic songs, hip-hop artists sell millions of dollars in albums, ticket sales and merchandise. Hip-hop artists possess a unique look as well as a sound, generally wearing baggy shirts and shorts, a backward-facing baseball cap, and large sneakers. Women often wear tight shirts, sometimes cut off at the midriff, and large jewelry. Add a candy theme to a hip-hop costume for an imaginative look.
It can be difficult to come up with costume ideas for nine-year-old boys. They are beginning to get to the age where they don't want to dress up or seem too much like a little kid. Give them several costume ideas to choose from. Even if they don't pick one you suggest, it may help to get the creative juices flowing.
Finding a unique costume for Halloween can be a challenging, expensive task. Rather than spending money at Halloween shops and department stores, there are many ways to make your own costume. Putting together a bull costume provides a great choice for a range of celebrators, from young animal lovers to adults aiming for a humorous look. Best of all, there are many creative ideas to help those putting together a bull costume
"LittleBigPlanet 2" (LBP2) is a highly customizable platforming game for the Sony PlayStation 3 developed by Media Molecule. The game allows players to create unique content using materials and collectibles earned in Story Mode. User-generated levels in LBP2 can contain prizes, such as costumes, that are transferred from the level creator to the player. This is one of the only official ways in which costumes can be transferred from one player to another. By using Sackbots to cheat the system in Create Mode, it is possible to take another player's costume without his knowing.
Parents and teachers alike are fully aware of the power that rewards have to influence kids. If you want to provide an incentive for kids to complete their homework or chores, a rewards jar can inspire children to meet their responsibilities. A rewards jars contain slips of paper with listed prizes, envelopes with small amounts of money or even --with a very large jar -- wrapped small toys. An added benefit to creating a rewards jar for kids is that it might teach them about the concept of working to earn money or other reward. There are many ideas for…
Monsters of all types haunt the streets of every town on Halloween night. Create a monster costume using items from the store and your own closet. Choose which monster you want to be and build the different parts of the costume from that idea. A classic monster that is both terrifying and easy to create at home is the zombie. Be a zombie bride, a zombie cowboy or just a regular person dressed in every day clothes zombie. With the right makeup and clothes, a realistic zombie costume for an adult can be yours in time for Halloween.
On World Zombie Day there's no shortage of mortified flesh, gore and tormented moaning from the throngs of carefully made-up undead. What great pains some revelers take to complete their presentations is easily evident. Some seem as though they've come straight off a "Day of the Dead" set, for there's so little visible of their former humanity. Broken legs, missing arms, yellowed teeth and other signs of decay help to make the show all the more convincing.
Brushing teeth is an important daily hygiene ritual, but children may not always remember to brush before bed. One method for encouraging children to complete important aspects of hygiene is creating funny or interesting posters that convey the message you would like to teach. A tooth-brushing poster can serve as a visual reminder of hygiene tasks that need to be done each day. If you cannot find a poster that suits your needs, try making your own by following a few simple themes.
Some people might think Halloween is a children's holiday, but that's no reason for adults not to get in on the fun as well. Of course, when you're a grown-up you have to make sure that you're creative with your costume. One idea is to try to recreate an image from old fairy tales, ranging from Aesop's Fables to the Brothers Grimm. For many of the old stories, the head piece will really be the eye-catcher, and it will require some careful planning.
A fairy is a mythical being with magical powers that can help, or even curse, those she meets. While some famous fairies have been depicted as male, such as Puck from Shakespeare's comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream," they are traditionally female in form, such as in the case of "Peter Pan's" Tinkerbell. Women looking for something outside of the normal angelic fairy costumes can create scary fairies who help rule the night.
The mummy is a quintessential figure in Halloween's usual cast of ghouls, but to be creepy, a mummy costume has to be realistic. The mummy should look like he's just woken from his tomb and roaming the earth in a zombie-like state to haunt those who have stolen his gold or used an ancient Egyptian incantation to wake him up. Use makeup to make the mummy gruesome and graphic, or a little more friendly.
Have you put off getting a costume until the last minute? Don't worry, there is a variety of options for putting together a costume with minimal supplies or things you already have around the house. A little ingenuity and creativity will take you beyond the usual costumes. Best of all, you can do this without breaking the bank or spending too much time making something elaborate.
In the tech age, geeky girls are "It" girls. To rock a geeky girl costume look for Halloween or any costume party, ladies should take a cue from geeky girl icons that have been or still are on television. They run the gamut of mathematicians to computer gurus to chemical wizards.
From the white beard and stone tablets of Moses to the humble shepherds of the Nativity, the Bible is rich with vivid characters from many eras, civilizations and walks of life. Its stories can provide inspiration whether you're trying to think of a Halloween costume or ways to dress your child up for a Sunday school play.
A belly dancing costume is known for its exotic and sexy appearance. Professional belly dancers spend years perfecting their talents and their craft for moving properly in their costumes. The key to a professional belly dance costume is to make it look as authentic as possible, which includes crafting a costume using sheer fabrics, dramatic makeup and accessories. Your belly dancer costume also needs to make noise when you sway your hips and hit each move.
Most schools don’t have large budgets for school play costumes. Because of this, school drama instructors and parents often have to get creative and come up with homemade costume ideas for school plays. The good news is that a little creativity and a trip to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army store can go a long way toward creating convincing costumes for a school play.
Many teenage girls still dress up for Halloween, thanks to the wide variety of parties, school dances and contests available to them. However, many do not want to spend time searching for an elaborate costume or use their money to buy a full store-bought number. Fortunately there are quick and affordable Halloween costumes that will embrace the busy lifestyle of a teen girl, while still giving her a fun look she’ll love to wear.
Autumn--it's a time for the cracking of leaves, cool breezes and dressing up children in colonial costumes. Here are some costume ideas great for many occasions, such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, or an autumn school play. These costumes are easy to sew. The children can even help put them together. Kids can have fun and learn about colonial history all at the same time.
One of the best things about making a costume out of a pillowcase is that you probably already have an old pillowcase at home that you can use. Whether it's a costume for Halloween or one for a special event, such as a school play, you'll find several costumes that you can make, especially for toddlers, out of a simple pillowcase.
Many elements for a traditional clown costume can be found in your closet or at a thrift store, though some you may need to purchase at a costume shop or party supply store. With a little ingenuity, you can create a variety of clown outfits.
Kids love simple and creative arts and crafts projects, and nothing is more open-ended and fun than making collages. While it is always a good idea to create your own collage using whatever materials you have on hand, you can make the collage experience educational and focused when you introduce a theme. While some collage ideas take time to prepare, the educational benefit and artistic experience you're providing for children make the extra effort worth it.
The quintessential vampire costume has always included white makeup, plastic fangs and a black cape. But thanks to recent books and films, vampires have gotten a modern makeover. You can now create a chilling vampire costume using clothing from your own closet, or by taking a quick trip to a shopping mall. And if you're more comfortable with traditional, the classic vampire look never fades.
Halloween can be one of the most exciting days of the year for teens. With tons of candy, awesome parties and an excuse to slack off a little in school, what's not to love? How about the stress that can come with trying to pick the perfect Halloween costume? This year, worry not, because you have a go-to guide for the trends that are in and how to look your best for Halloween 2011.
The key to an easy-to-change costume is using an elastic waistband. With this waistband, a child can pull the skirt on or off for fast costume changes. An elastic waistband skirt is also one of the least complicated sewing projects, one that even novice seamstresses can complete. Make the skirt as full or as straight as necessary for the costume by removing or adding fabric to the rectangle used to make the skirt.
The female characters in the world of Harry Potter offer plenty of inspiration for a costume. From Harry's best friend Hermione to the professors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, there is a character to suit most tastes. Use some clothing items from your closet to pull together a magic-inspired outfit, setting you apart as a true Harry Potter fan.
While Halloween is an exciting holiday for kids, many young children are frightened by the scary noises, decorations and costumes. If your child prefers the lighter side of things, avoid the traditional scary costumes that are sold in Halloween supply stores. Transform your child into a bunch of grapes for the holiday at home using a variety of basic materials.
All the landlubbers will be impressed by a pirate costume you make yourself. By making a do-it-yourself pirate costume, you can put to use clothing and other items you already own, such as leggings, making this a cheap option for a last-minute costume. Creating your own pirate outfit allows you put together a one-of-a-kind costume that captures the essence of a seafaring pirate, while also suiting your individual personality.
Part of the fun of dressing up for a costume party or Halloween is having other people recognize what you are dressed up as. Movies provide a cultural frame of reference that heightens this experience, they increase the likelihood a costume based on them will be recognized and they provide a common interest for conversation once the costume’s origins have been identified. For those with a flair for reenactment or replicas, making movie-themed costumes can also be a highly enjoyable hobby.
A pixie fairy costume can be a charming Halloween solution for a little girl. Putting the outfit together requires just a few materials and tools, and you can make most of the necessary costume pieces yourself. This will save costs over purchasing a pre-made fairy costume from a specialty store, where items like this can sometimes be expensive. Plus, you can customize the pixie fairy costume for your little one, making sure the fit and color are just as she would like.
The word decoupage is derived from the French term "decouper," or "to cut out." This craft technique involves cutting out paper pictures and attaching it to another object for decoration by sealing it with paint, varnishes and other materials. Decoupage is simple, fun and easy for kids to perform.
Starting an adult crafts club requires extensive planning to operate with the least amount of frustration. As you indulge in chit-chat with close friends and family while creating original pieces of art, decor and other projects, you'll soon realize that the effort is worth it. However, there are numerous areas to consider before sending out that first invitation for your crafts club gathering.
Collage ideas are almost endless. This makes a poster collage an excellent craft idea to stir up a child's creative talents. A child could make an all-about-me collage or a day-at-the-beach collage. Your child may want to make a collage about something he learned in school, such as American history or scenes from his favorite book. Ask your child about the type of collage he would like to make, and then help him develop ideas for the project.
Dress-up is an essential part of development because it inspires creative thinking in children. Help build a little girl's imagination by creating costumes based on traditional nursery rhymes. Costumes such as Little Bo Peep and Little Miss Muffet are ideal to use because you may find the items you need lying in a closet. Additionally, scour thrift stores or costume shops for other items to complete the looks.
Sculpey clay ideas for kids involve simple designs for beginning crafters. According to Polyform, Original Sculpey was America's first oven-baked polymer clay. It feels soft like regular clay but does not dry out when exposed to air. Once the kids' projects are finished, they can be hardened by baking in the oven at 275 degrees for 15 minutes per 1/4-inch of thickness.
Take a trip down memory lane and put together a costume inspired by a flashy decade: the 1990s. Whether it's for Halloween or a theme party, the styles, fads and icons of the 1990s provide a variety of ideas for costumes that are fun to wear and bound to be the life of the party.
Embracing a fantasy world where incredible things are possible is one of the most memorable aspects of childhood. Help your child indulge her imagination by preparing a creative costume for a school or other organization's Superhero Day. Choose between Batman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman or Catwoman as a few options. You can make costumes yourself to save money and maintain creative control or purchase them at any costume or party supply store.
