Enhancing the Hot Dog (or how to make a store-bought costume Sparkle!)

This year was my first Halloween with my tiny dog Delica, so I wanted to make sure she was decked out.  I simply didn't have the time to make her a costume in time, so I went in search of a store-bought one.  I wasn't as impressed as I had hoped.  I wanted a Tinkerbell costume that didn't have Angel wings instead of fairy wings, and I thought I could put together a Peter Pan outfit to match.  I never found one.  I saw a Headless Horseman costume that looked like it was 'riding' the dog, but no one had one in her size.....then I went in to a Petco, and saw the Hot Dog.  I know it's a cliche', but when she's bad I tell her that I'm going to eat her on a bun with mustard, and this costume had mustard, so I was forced right?  The only problem was that the only one they had left in her size had the velcro practically ripped off of it...or at least it would have been a problem if I wasn't the 'crafty' type ;).

















So I took the broken item up to the counter, told them the issue, and asked for a discount (I rarely do this, but I wanted the damn thing so bad).  To my surprise they offered me a 50% discount, so I got the base for $10....SCORE!

I decided that I needed to 'chick' up my hotdog a bit by first glittering the mustard squiggle:

Then covering the 'seeds' on the bun with Swarovski Crystal flatbacks just for good measure:

And what I ended up with was a cute, relatively inexpensive costume that was comfortable for her to wear, and warm to boot!  Plus, it put a smile on my face, and everyone else who saw her that day.  Happy Halloweener everyone ;)

Halloween, and other things...

Many of you may remember that I got married on Halloween a few years ago.  Why?  Because I love Halloween!  That, and my husband will never, ever forget our anniversary.  Usually this is the time of year that I dress up as whatever wild thing, and post pics of the party I wore it to, but this year I'm not even going to a party.  In fact, my husband and I will spend the Saturday night before Halloween at a casino likely wearing jeans and a t-shirt, and comfortable shoes.  I can't leave you without a Costume fix, however, so head over to my friend Vanessa's Blog to see her numberous costumes featured in her Fated to Pretend contest which she mostly put together out of her own closet!  So stop by, leave a comment or two, and tell her that Megan sent you ;)

Inspiration

My recent trip to North Carolina to teach at the famous Beadlush brought me a little inspiration.  My friend Michelle was making the Spirograph Pendants a'la Lisa Niven Kelly for the bridesmaids at her sister's wedding and, last minute of course, her sister wanted one for her hair.  This posed a dilemma because of the weight, but Michelle tried to glue it with WeldBond, and several other things.  In the end, I attached it to Lacy's Stiff Stuff, and inserted the hairpin (with glue pad) in between the Lacy's and the Microsuede backing, then beaded around the edge to secure it.  I topped it off with a 'serrated' edge to match the cogs in the base of the pendant, and Voila!  She eeez done!

German Industrial Dance....with Polka!

Enjoy ;)