Tutorial Part 2: Upcycled Finds into Wild Kratts Costumes for Less Than $35

Find Part 1 of this tutorial series here.
Go here for Part 3 - the final step!

Time to finish up those Wild Kratts costumes!   When I left off, the vests were pretty plain.  Time for some embellishment...

I started by buying t-shirts in the right colors from the thrift store and cutting pieces from them.  No exact measurements -- I just eye-balled what would work for the size of the vest.  I used Mod Podge Fabric to glue them in place.  I know this picture shows all this stuff positioned on my cutting mat, but you do NOT want to do your gluing on a mat like this.  Stick to a counter or some other surface that you can wipe or scrape clean.

My Mother's Scent

Today is Momma's birthday, and so I can't help but find myself combing through old photos and thinking of her.  That happens more often than I'd like to admit.  No special occasion required, really.  But today will be a closet day.

In my mother’s closet there is a long-sleeved t-shirt covered with gold and silver beads.  The beading takes the form of a deer surrounded by snowflakes.  A Christmas shirt.  For this time of year she loved so much.  She had acquired many Christmas blouses over the years, but the whirls and twirls of this one, in particular, are dear to me.  Special.  So special that it’s buried under a pile of clothing for protection.

Christmas at my sister's house maybe three, four years ago?
No telling what kind of snow-scene was on the vest she was wearing...
I love this picture.  She still looked like herself.  And happy!

When my mother departed this world eight months ago, her entire room in my home smelled of her.  After a couple of days, it was just her closet.  Now, it’s that single blouse...barely.

Tutorial: Upcycled Finds into Wild Kratts Costumes for Less Than $35

This.  This right here.  This is why I love Halloween so much.  What could possibly be better than dressing up and exploring another identity for a day?  Especially when that identity is someone you think is cool!  

The kids embraced it with their usual verve.  They were awfully proud of themselves as they bounced around the neighborhood pretending to be the Wild Kratts pretending to be various creatures.  :) I'm pretty proud of myself, too.  I've made the kids some cool costumes over the years including last year's Toothless dragon and shark costumes, but this is the first year I've managed to do it for so little moolah!