Water Bottle Costume - 1 of a kind!

Thanks for looking at my photo for the contest. I am submitting my "Crystal Gyser Water bottle" Costume. Halloween is my favorite time of year because I LOVE to SEW costumes!!
My four year old son - James Danger (yes Danger really is his middle name) couldn't decide what to be for halloween. Looking around my sewing room he saw a water bottle and proclaimed that he wanted to be a water bottle. I thought he would change his mind - so I made the other costumes first - but 1 month later he still insisted he wanted to be a water bottle. I really liked the challenge and felt that creative itch starting - the one that won't be satisfied until you make it and you make it good!

I made the body of the water bottle using clear vinyl (Joann's). I cut several 3" strips and sewed them together using clear thread for the ridged look on the bottum (just like the actual bottle). I made sure to include seam allowence for the casing at the top and the bottom. My original idea was use boneing - but the store was all out - so I found (for much cheaper) plastic tubing at Home Depot.

I used flannel for the label - including the title and the snow caped mountains. I sewed the mountains and letters onto the the light blue then the light blue onto the large red. I printed out the lettering and font I wanted and used it as a guide for cutting out the letters. i even connected some of the letters like on the actual bottle.

I clipped holes in the snow to creat a rocky look. I used fray stop on ALL seams! just in case!

For the hat - I cut a strip of felt and hemmed the bottom. Then I made pleats every inch and sewed them into to place. then I sewed the pleasts to the top of the hat and added a very thick interfacing on the inside top. it fit perfect! i didn't need an elastic band or tie (he wouldn't have worn it if I had too!)

On the back I included a bar code. I used felt so I only had to sew the tiny lines on with one line of stitching - no fraying! What a great way to date the costume! 10-31-2011

I really think this costume deserves to be in the top 12 because it is so very unique! I started from scratch! - no idea what i was going to do - I just headed to the fabric store with a water bottle in my hand. I also think it takes some creativity and skill to sew such a difficult fabric.

difficult fabric + no pattern + originality= top 12!!!

For fun here is a picture of me with my family on Halloween. I am Little Bo Peep, my daughter is my not so lost sheep. My son of course - and my hubby as pumpkin pie. Thanks for looking!

Sea World

As a final farewell to my younger sister - Jen- we meet up with her and my other sis, Nicki at Sea World. Jen wasn't dieing, she is moving to Illinios. What the heck is in Illinios?

From JD spring 09

James loves to be with Madison and Kaylee. He espically loves to have Madison look after him. He adores her.

From JD spring 09

From JD spring 09

I was afraid that James might get board with the shows - sitting there in the hot sun. But he loved them!

From JD spring 09

Espically when the whales or dolphins would jump out of the water.

From JD spring 09

Sea World has a Seaseme street area just for toddlers. James loved it. There were tunnels, water fountains that squited the kids, and all sorts of things.

From JD spring 09

From JD spring 09

There were even some rides for the little kids. But James wasn't tall enough:

From JD spring 09

He really wanted to go on them. Sorry James, it still doesn't count on tippy toes:

From JD spring 09

I loved the tide pools, they were just the right hight for little ones.

From JD spring 09

James thought he could help out the announcer lady. I have a feeling he will never be stage shy.

From JD spring 09

Of all the exotic animals to feed, james liked feeding the ducks most of all.

From JD spring 09

From JD spring 09

Kaylee seemed pretty excited about it too.

From JD spring 09

At the end of our fun day, I let James pick a souvenir by himself.

From JD spring 09

Here are a couple pictures of some flowers that I took:

From JD spring 09

From JD spring 09

We had a wonderful day!

From JD spring 09

trying my hand at portraits

My lovely niece Kaylee was happy to be my subject so I could try a few portrait shots. She did have one condition - that I include her little easter friends that we made.

From JD spring 09

From JD spring 09

kaylee has such a sweet unique beauty. I love her freakles and big eyes.

Then and Now

Here is a picture of James at the Monrovia Rec. park in Dec of 07'.

From Drop Box

Here is a picture of James in the same swing just the other day.

From JD spring 09

He is no longer my little baby boy. He is now my little man. But he still loves the swings.

From JD spring 09

When James is on the swings, he likes to makes his hand fly like an airplane (with the "zoom" sound and all). I don't know how he picks up on those things. He just loves planes and cars.

From JD spring 09

This is Froggie

This is James best friend Froggie.

From JD spring 09

Froggie came into our lives soon after James did. He was a gift from our friend Andrea (aka Mama Scoops). Froggie patiently waited next to James in the crib for a year or so. All the waiting paid off and now James won't sleep until he has Froggie next to him. If we travel Froggie sits next to James.

From JD spring 09

James loves to share with Froggie. He often shares his bed time sippy cup of milk with Froggie. I know this because a day or so later - Froggie really needs a bath. It's not just the milk that James shares with him, but many daily adventures in our yard as well.

From JD spring 09

Froggie would do anything for James. Except ride in the pink stroller. Everytime I put froggie in it, James gets mad at me and takes froggie out saying "no" and shaking his head. Froggie will, however, gladly be the fetch toy when James is pretending to be a puppy dog.

From JD spring 09

Now I know why so many boys relate to Calvin and Hobbs.

I just had an imaginary friend - and yes, she was a unicorn.....

I must be doing something right..

I love this time of year. The evenings are long and peaceful. Mostly because I can now send James outside to play. Yesterday I was inside and suddenly noticed that it was too quiet outside. Every mom knows what I mean. You know they are up to something when its TOO quiet.

I snuck outside (with my camera because you never know what wonderfully terrible trouble they are getting into) and I found James with his arms folded saying a prayer!!

From JD spring 09

From JD spring 09

Many times when we sit down for dinner, he reminds me that it's prayer time. He folds his arms and says "ha ha" sternly. I fold my arms and he says some prayer that only he and Heavenly Father can understand.

I don't know what he was praying for yesterday in the yard. Probably asking Heavenly Father to bless the bubbles and dandy lions.

Birthday Boy!

James had a wonderful birthday party!

Many of his friends came to our "indoor playground".

Brandon

Elijah

Eve


and her brother Harry (sporting the surperman cape)

Natalie

Marcel

Mason

Ellie

and her brother Oscar

Tylor

and his brother Braydon

Mia

and her little sister

Catlynn

James had so much fun playing with all the tents, tunnels and other toys his friends brought to share.

James friends had a great time playing with all the toys too.

Brandon wouldn't slow down for anyone!

Mason wanted to go for a ride in the doll stroller. Why push when you can ride?

Mia loved the tunnels.

All the boys loved to play with the cars, even Dave.

Tylor was having a great time riding on the bike.

Even Grandma Sue had fun playing with the birthday boy.

Ellie was having fun too - as long as James didn't take any of her toys away!

There was yummy food

It's not a birthday with out the cake!

Made by yours truly...

Dad helped James make a wish a blow out the candles.

I think James wish came true when he got to drive Lightning McQueen around the cake a couple times.

Natilie and the others enjoyed cup cakes.

I thought black sparkles would be less messy then black frosting...

Maybe I was wrong..

Of course no party is complete with out presents:

Family photo with McQueen

It was a wonderful party

because of the friends that bless our life!