DIY Halloween Costumes: Baby Sushi

Halloween is such a great time to show off your creative side. I try my hardest to not buy "off the rack" costumes. I will be adding a few cute *DIY* costumes on the super cheap. All of the costumes were under $5. I got several complements on the outfits and even won a few costume contests. Can you guess the best part? The costumes were all no-sew.  That's a plus for me. My glue gun is my go-to craft item. 

This DIY costume is a "Baby Sushi" roll. This costume was *free* for me cause I already had all the supplies and it is a no-sew wonder. I started out with a white onesie which will be usable again after Halloween. I don't like the look of a onesie without bottoms so I added the white tights and pink leg warmers. Felt sheets run around 20 to 30 cents a piece at Michael's. First, take a sheet of white felt and cut thin strips which will become the V shaped lines on the salmon.  Then hot glue the white strips onto a dark red sheet of felt.  Next, sandwich a second sheet of dark red felt to the bottom of the first and hot glue three of the sides together. Next, fill the pocket with about two handfuls of poly-fil stuffing. Seal the last side together with glue, finishing off the pillow-like "salmon" piece. Take a sheet of dark gray felt and cut two lengthwise strips to form the "kelp" belt which holds the salmon to the back of the child. Glue the two strips together to make one piece long enough to circle the child and the salmon. Test fit the pillow belt around the child and salmon and then hot glue the ends of the kelp belt together. The salmon pillow should stay put but be able to be taken off for diaper changes. This will also allow you to reuse the onesie. I also made a felt sushi headband. I took a black sports headband and hot glued handmade felt shrimp, sushi roll, and ginger on a felt leaf. For the tutorial on the felt sushi roll on the headband, click below. 

Link: Felt sushi tutorial: What I Love Today 

DIY Halloween Costumes: Baby Under Construction

Halloween is such a great time to show off your creative side. I try my hardest to not buy "off the rack" costumes. I will be adding a few cute *DIY* costumes on the super cheap. All of the costumes were under $5. I got several complements on the outfits and even won a few costume contests. Can you guess the best part? The costumes were all no-sew.  That's a plus for me. My glue gun is my go-to craft item.

First costume up is my "Baby Under Construction" maternity costume. It can be difficult to find costumes for maternity. Since it is such a special time, moms-to-be often want to accentuate the fact they have a baby bump in a cute and creative way.  Here is my $2 maternity costume.  I found a construction worker pull-over vest in the toy section of the Dollar Tree and cut it up the middle to make way for the bump. Then I purchased a yellow sheet of foam board, also from the Dollar Tree. I used a permanent marker to write "CAUTION: Baby Under Construction" as well as draw a pregnant stick figure woman. Just add a few strips of caution tape around your porch and a construction cone or two (also found at the Dollar Tree) and the theme is perfectly set.

Why what I love today?

     People often ask me why my small craft shop is called : "What I Love Today".  If you notice, it's also the name of my blog and Facebook page.  I have very diverse passions and a short attention span. My interests seem to change from one day to the next. One day I may love home decorating, song writing, and drafting, and the next day I will be making jewelry, painting, and designing children's headbands. It's a good thing I have a large craft room to hold all the supplies needed for my never ending list of projects. My mind goes a mile a minute and as soon as I am almost finished with one project, I switch gears and move onto another. I will periodically be uploading projects, tutorials, and random photos of the things I love today. Unlike many bloggers, my goal is to only post pictures of items and rooms I have either designed, created, or purchased myself. Feel free to add comments or suggestions. I hope you find something you love today.

The quote I live by

     Growing up, and even still today, many amazing opportunities and some overwhelming obstacles have seemed to fall onto my lap. The problem is that I have been too afraid to overcome the obstacles and even more afraid to accept many of the opportunities. I've been afraid of failure, afraid of success, and afraid of the unknown. Because of these fears, I have turned to inspirational quotes. There are many good ones out there. Quotes relating to sports, fashion, chocolates... you know the ones I mean. However, I wanted a quote that related more to my life and my particular fears. So, I decided to make one up. I have a fear of the ocean. I think it is a valid fear. I am sure alot of us watch shark week and can understand, even to the smallest degree, my fear of the ocean. Much like life, the ocean can be a deep, dark, stormy, dangerous, violent, and lonely place. However, I decided to face my fear and try my hand at scuba diving. After a brief panic attack, I swam alongside some of the most beautiful fish in the sea. After that, I spent a year volunteering at an amazing aquarium on the California coast, and have since learned that the ocean can be a vast and wondrous place full of amazing opportunity for growth, discovery, immense fun and learning. For these reasons, I have written my own quote, which, with any stroke of extraordinary luck, will grace the pages of a mortarboard one day. Here she is, the quote I live by....... "Look not into the depths of the ocean with fear but with the wonder of what's within." -Rachel Taylor.  Don't look at obstacles or opportunities in life with overwhelming fear and self doubt. Look at them as a means of discovery, self exploration, and playful curiosity. So go, dive into life and see what she has to offer!