How to Make a Fairy Costume for Halloween

She'll have an enchanted Halloween.

"When the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies," wrote Peter Pan creator J. M. Barrie. An enchanting creature of both trickery and treats, the fairy flits her way through folklore, film and song into every little girl's heart. Add some pixie dust to your lil' sprite's Halloween.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Decide on the color scheme for the fairy costume. Work with a palette of soft pastels (pink, mint, lilac, white, pale blue, peach, etc) or choose complementing bold colors (periwinkle and lime, red and purple, etc.)

2. Choose fabrics that are sheer, gossamer and flowing. Visit the fabric store and check out voile and organza. Consider satin with a tulle overlay. Purchase several yards of 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch ribbon in a variety of coordinating colors.

3. Use a leotard for the base of the costume. Create a skirt with a zig-zag hem. Face the hem, stitch the facing in place and trim the seams. Turn the facing to the inside of the hem and stitch in place. Add small bells or silk flower buds to the points of the hem.

4. Fashion a head dress of a 6 inch embroidery hoop. Hot-glue silk flowers and greenery all around and drape several pieces of ribbon 18 to 30 inches long from the center back. Trim the ribbon ends on an angle and add tiny bells or small flower buds.

5. Add a pair of store-bought wings. Look for organza stretched over wire with a ribbon harness. Create a pair of wings with lightweight foam in a color to coordinate with the outfit. Use a low-temp glue gun to attach ribbons and elastic for a secure fit.

6. Apply a bit of pastel eye shadow to the lids and just below the lower lashes. Add a touch of glitter to the eyelids and cheeks. Wear a little pink lip gloss.

7. Make a cummerbund of 1 to 2 inch wide ribbon or a piece of fabric. Hot glue lengths of 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch ribbon to the cummerbund to hang down over the skirt. Add little bells, tiny silk flower buds or small silk leaves to the ends of the ribbons.