"Witch cooking up a froggy spell, optical illusion Costume"

Costume Instructions

Costume Materials
Materials

One sheet of white felt
Four sheets green felt
Black permanent marker
Cotton balls or stuffing (for the eyes)
Needle
Black thread
Green hooded sweatshirt, sized for child wearing
Toddler green sweatpants
Large witch cauldron
One spool, 3 yards, 1 to 2 inch wide ribbon to match sweatshirt
Yarn or twine (approx 2 yards)
Witch gloves (hands, black stretch gloves will work)
Balloon
Paper towel tube
Plaster wrap (ask at a craft store)
Masking tape
Witchs mask
Black turtleneck
Corrugated board t-shirt insert like those used for painting
Grocery bags to use as stuffing
Black cape, light weight so you dont overload your witch!
Black skirt for child, large enough to tuck sweatshirt into
Childs black shoes, witchy looking!
Red party blow-out
Green face paint
Scissors, craft knife
Glue (optional)

Costume Instructions
We gathered materials at the thrift store, then the discount and craft store. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to put this together, making the witchs head on one evening, allowing it to dry before putting it all together. You can quick dry the plaster cloth using the directions on the package and assemble this all in one day.

First we made the form for the mask. To do this, blow up a balloon so that it fits inside the mask. After you know it fits, set the mask aside. Next take and cut four slits about 2 inches down at the top of the tube. Fold these out to sit the balloon on top. This will be the witchs neck. Tape this together. Now follow the directions on the plaster cloth package. We only did one to two layers on the balloon, several on the neck for added support. To keep the weight down, you could simply paint the form into a witch face, instead of hair, a light weight fabric bandana head covering would work.

While that is drying, use the green felt to make two hands and two feet, web shaped. We free handed this around the childs hands. Glue or sew together. Two will stuffed as the feet. Two will slide over the childs hands as gloves would. Stuff the feet and attach to the bottom of the sweatpants, then stuff the pants. We used plastic grocery bags as stuffing.

Now cut two circles from the white felt, ours were about five inches. Gather them at the edges, stuff with cotton balls, hand stitch shut. Stitch onto the green hooded sweatshirt. Make the center of the eye with black permanent marker.

Next, take the insert for the t-shirt (make sure it fits in your turtleneck!) and cut two slits at the top, in the middle, about 2 inches down, leaving the amount of space between the slits to slide the paper towel tube onto this. Cut the bottom of the tube off, so that your neck isnt too long, just fits the turtleneck fine. Now remove the head and turtleneck for the next step.

Now you will need to have your child stand with this behind them. Hold this so the head is over your childs. Mark above the shoulders. You will cut slits about one inch wide over each shoulder and slits about four or five inched below that, then another set at waist level. After the slits are cut, take the ribbon and on the back of the board, push one end of the ribbon through left slit, the other through the right, pull until the ribbon is out the front, even, then leave a loop and push through the middle slits, this is where the arms go through like a backpack. Then take the ribbon back through the bottom slits, this will tie around the waist.

Tape the twine to the back of the form, near the top, leaving enough twine to fit around your child and around the cauldron. Put the turtleneck back on. Run the twine through the arms, stuff the sleeves with bags. Hand sew or glue stuffed witchs hands (gloves) to the ends of the turtleneck, leaving the twine out. Now put the head form on, tape into place well. Add the mask.

You are ready to dress-up. First, skirt and boots on. Next the sweatshirt, tuck into the skirt. Next the backboard. Now tie the witchs hands around the cauldron. Tuck in the sweatpants, you might want to pin them to the sweatshirt. Add the cape. Paint the frogs face and dont forget the blow-out tongue and frog hands!

Tip, keep the witch light weight, so she stands up better. You could paint a face instead of using a mask. Wigs are pretty heavy, as are big witch hats, so a light cape would be better.

You can collect candy right in the cauldron.