Halloween Costume

DIY Gumball Costume

Halloween is over, but here's a rundown of what I actually wore on the big night! Can't wait to hear what you dressed up like this year! I worked with RIT Dye on this year's costume, so I started with a white cotton dress as the base and then played around with dye to really give off a gumball machine feel!

DIY Gumball Costume

Start a dye bath for your garment next. I used a washing machine, but a stove top works as well. Fill your machine with hot water (run it on a whites wash) or boil the water on your stove top. Add your chosen dye (I went with Cherry Red) to your dye bath...

DIY Gumball Costume

...wet your garment completely in water, and then add your piece to the bath.

DIY Gumball Costume

After the wash is complete (or after you've let the garment marinate on the stove top) toss it into the dryer to dry completely before adding your pompoms!

DIY Gumball Costume

Using a hot glue gun, begin affixing pompoms to the top of the dress.

DIY Gumball Costume

You want to cover the whole front of the bodice.

DIY Gumball Costume

With the pompoms affixed, start creating the rest of the gumball accoutrements with felt!

DIY Gumball Costume

You can create the price sticker using white felt and a marker to write 25 cents on it. The dial can be created by cutting a circle and little rectangle out and gluing them together. The slot where the gumball comes out can be made by trimming a small trapezoid out of the black felt.

And, voila!

DIY Gumball Costume

Insta-gumball costume!!

DIY Gumball Costume

Time to celebrate Halloween!

DIY Gumball Costume

What did you dress up as this year?? Did you DIY anything fun? Share your costumes in the comment area!!

Halloween Location Looks: 28 of 31 – Risky Business

My month of DIY costumes shot in front of the actual shooting locations continues!! Day 28 is here and I get to play out one of Tom Cruise's most iconic roles. Today’s costume comes from:

Risky Business - title card

One of my all time favorite Tom Cruise roles - I mean come on...

Risky Business - Tom Cruise dancing

Dancing in that white shirt to "Good Time Rock and Roll" - the best ever!!

The film shot mostly in Chicago, however there was additional material shot in LA and this house in Altadena was said to be where some of it was filmed...

Risky Business house

...so a trip had to be made.

To complete the Tom Cruise costume from Risky Business, here are the main elements you'll need:

Risky Business - Tom Cruise costume

(If you've got a rad brother, boyfriend, husband, pal, cousin, etc. who might have these pieces in their closet - borrow away!)

1. Shirt (Borrowed (I've got a pink shirt like this but in a much smaller size) but Amazon and Goodwill always has options!)

2. Boxers (Hanes. Target. Done.)

3. Sunglasses (I borrowed a pair of these Wayfarers to shoot, but love the cheap-o options that are used at weddings and Bar Mitzvahs here.)

4. Socks (Grabbed a pair from the stash!)

I put on my shirt, boxers, sunnies, and socks and started to play air guitar.

Risky Business shooting location

Because when you're Tom Cruise, you play air guitar.

Risky Business - Tom Cruise dancing

Then I pretended to sing "Old Time Rock and Roll".

Risky Business shooting location

Because when you're Tom Cruise, you pretend to sing "Old Time Rock and Roll".

Risky Business - Tom Cruise dancing

I kind of love this look, brown wig and all.

Risky Business shooting location

I think this could be a very fun party theme...

Risky Business - Tom Cruise dancing

These boxer briefs are SO comfortable. Dudes, you guys have it made!

Risky Business shooting location

Oh, and those sunnies...

Risky Business - Tom Cruise sunglasses

Tom, you're the poster boy for Wayfarers.

Risky Business - Tom Cruise costume

Twenty-eight looks down, three to go!

Film Details:

Risky Business (Geffen Company., dir: Paul Brickman )

Location: 1090 Rubio St., Altadena, CA

Halloween Location Looks: 23 of 31 - Nightmare on Elm Street

My month of DIY costumes shot in front of the actual shooting locations continues!! Day 23 is here and it's a Halloween horror classic. Today’s costume comes from:

Nightmare on Elm Street - title card

I feel like I catch this movie each year during all the Halloween marathons on TV.

Nightmare on Elm Street - Freddy Krueger

So, the actual house from the movie is totally in my hood! It looked like this...

Nightmare on Elm Street - House

..and like this in the movie...

Nightmare on Elm Street - House

...but in real life, how lovely is this house!! Movie house = nightmares. IRL House = dreamy.

Nightmare on Elm Street - Freddy Krueger

But, the best part of this movie...JOHNNY DEPP!! Love the horror movie starts for celebs. (Hello Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun!!)

Nightmare on Elm Street - Johnny Depp

So, to complete a Freddy costume from Nightmare on Elm Street, here are the main elements you'll need:

Nightmare on Elm Street - Freddy Krueger

1. Sweater (I found my shirt at Goodwill, but here's a spot on replica sweater from Hot Topic.)

2. Glove (I had a "Wolverine" glove that I used but there are Freddy gloves everywhere. Plus the real deal glove scares me to death!)

3. Hat (Mine is vintage, but this style is everywhere.)

I put on my thrifted striped top, grabbed my plastic glove, and donned my hat for the easiest DIY costume to create.

Nightmare on Elm Street - Freddy Krueger

Freddy's got some moves!

Nightmare on Elm Street - Freddy Krueger

The red door matched the sweater so nicely!

Nightmare on Elm Street - Freddy Krueger

This to me was one of the scariest things I saw when I was a kid.

Nightmare on Elm Street - Freddy Krueger

Nightmares at slumber parties? Check!

Nightmare on Elm Street - Freddy Krueger

As much as I've matured, if someone wore this and creeped up on me, I'd still lose it! I get scared over everything.

Nightmare on Elm Street - Freddy Krueger

Twenty-three looks down, 8 to go!

Film Details:

Nightmare on Elm Street (New Line Cinema, dir: Wes Craven)

Location: 1428 Genessee Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046