Happy Halloween, Friends!
Did I tell you how I lucked out with making Halloween costumes this year? The kids had such simple requests. I’ll tell you all about it after the jump.
Ralph picked a Rubik’s Cube. It was easy and turned out great! I’ve got full DIY instructions below.
Maude was happy to go as Mrs. Frankenstein from a couple of years ago. New city. New school. So it didn’t feel like a repeat for her.
Olive wanted to go as Ralph’s Mummy from a few years ago. She’s a wise girl — she won best costume in the Halloween Parade!
Oscar wanted to be a clown. We had this darling costume, picked up from a tag sale, in our stash. He wore Ralph’s green oompa loompa wig from last year. We just had to add a big red nose.
Betty wanted to be a witch — just like last year. Easy peasy.
And June. I put on her winged slippers from Oeuf and a flutter sleeve onesie and she was a little cherub. So sweet!
I hope you and your kids are having a happy weekend. Please say Boo! from me.
kisses,
Gabrielle
P.S. — You can find lots more of our Halloween 2010 photos here. Also, keep reading for Rubik’s Cube instructions.
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Rubik’s Cube DIY
1) If you can find an 18″ cubed box, start with that. I didn’t have one on hand, so I used a bigger box and then cut it down. No matter what size box you start with, you won’t need the bottom cardboard flaps, so cut them off with a box cutter.
2) You’ll need a hole at the top of the box to put your head through, and two holes on the sides for arms. I put the two top flaps together and used a mixing bowl to trace a circle, then cut it out with a box cutter. Use a smaller bowl to make arm circles.
3) Next, tape up the box with packing tape. It can be clear or brown — you’ll end up covering it in the next step. The goal is an 18″ square box with a place for a head and two arms — no bottom.
4) Use a can of black spray paint and cover the whole thing.
5) Take cardstock sheets in red, yellow, green, blue and white. Cut nine 5″ squares from each. Use double-sided tape to attach them to the black cube. There will be a little less than an inch of black between each square and around the sides.
6) When the squares overlap the arm or head holes, turn the box over and use and exacto knife to cut the excess.
7) That’s it! Not counting drying time, the whole project took about an hour and a half.
Happy Halloween!
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
These are so cute! I love Baby June’s.
Great costumes! Hope the kids (and you) have a fab Halloween. And I love June’s little feet. So cute!
fantastic pictures! your kids are hilarious and will have so much fun… yay!
and the first pic of June is awesome…
Thanks for the DYI as well…
Boooooooooooooooo!
Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute, cute kids. TImes six.
I adore the Halloween costume posts you’ve created over the years! (I think the Paperbag Princess costume stole my heart – I loooooved that story when I was little!)
These costumes are so great! Love the pictures- what a fun looking family you have. Happy Halloween!
Gabrielle— how grand that your kids are as creative as you :)
Their costumes are all sooooo much better than anything store-bought!
I ventured into an IParty for my 13yo daughter who wanted to be Tinkerbell, and our only options were baby-ish or streetwalker. There was not a single appropriate outfit for a teen in the entire store. We ended up buying a set of wings and she made the rest herself. Thanks for showing us wonderful ways to create fabulous things that retain the magic of childhood for Halloween.
Happy Halloween! Love these costumes!
Love them all! Happy Halloween, sweets.
My son Ben, (currently a freshman in college) wore that same style Rubik’s cube in elementary school. After Halloween it went into the attic. It was one of those costumes that he could pull out and never really outgrow. (he wore it once in middle school and to a high school party). Great costumes and Happy Halloween!
Brilliant! Love these. you clearly had an amazing time!
loving the rubik’s cube! i was a lego once when i was a kid. basically the same thing, only we spray painted the box and some plastic cups that we had glued on red. easy!
Adorable costumes for some adorable kids!!
I was wondering what baby June would be. She is so cute.
I was a Rubik’s cube in 1985 (5th grade for me!). Classic! Love all of these, and they make a great ensemble!
Great! I laughed because I recently broke my kid’s rubik ice. I’m not sure that’s how you spell it. They were not too upset with me. My kid’s costumes are not as creative as yours! They are Iron Man 1 and 2 (store bought) but my husband bought some cool flat LED thingies to attach in their costumes so they appear to glow from their cores! I’m going to be a witch and having family over and I have bought waaaay too much candy. I went a little crazy this year. Happy Halloween!
I’ve never noticed Design Mom use the term “after the jump” before this post. It may be fairly common, but I’ve always thought it sounded silly. Maybe I’m Amelia Bedelia or something taking it way too literally. Is there a jump? What is it exactly? Does it make sense to just say, “click here to read more”? Hope I don’t sound nit-picky. Just curious!
Just adorable!!
I love the costumes. Did you make the rubix cube? My husband wants to be that for his christmas work party. It is 80′ s theme:)
Haha! Clearly I didn’t scroll down enough to see the directions for it right in front of my face. Oopsies!
The Rubik’s cube turned out quite stellar.
You’re the best! And your family is so great…your kids seem so fun, smart, and creative…where did they get that from?!!
Happy Halloween!
I meant to add a wink after my commment… ;)
Your kids are absolutely adorable!
fantastic pics!
Wonderful and innovative, as usual! 3/7 of our family matched yours this year–I was the Bride of Frankenstein, my 6 year old was a mummy and my four year old was a witch!
How fun
I love the Rubics Cube costume, so clever!
I loved seeing the Rubik’s cube costume. I was a Rubik’s cube in the fifth grade. That was 28 years ago. It was one of my favorites and my mom made it for me. Thanks for bringing back a great memory for me!
Wonderful children! Wonderful costumes! So much fun! Happy Halloween :)
What great family photos and memories! They look wonderful. Hope you all have a great and safe night!:)
So awesome. Love June’s and Ralph’s best–actually they’re all great. Nice work!
Design Mom for great resaon…..amazing costumes …….and then Baby June…..how adorable !!!!!
I miss those days…but had great fun answering the door tonite for all the little ghouls and goblins…..OH and one Justin Beiber !!!!!
Take care Gabby,,,,,
Lori Mac (LSAT Mom……..)
I love the Rubik Cube idea and it is going in my “possible costumes” folder for next year.
My son’s request this year was a LEGO block so I got off fairly easy as well.
Fantastic costumes – I love them!!
Wonderful. I absolutely LOVE the Rubik’s Cube costume and thanks for making it look not-toooo-challenging. Happy November! I’m grateful for your blog.
Awesome! Love them all! That toothless clown is especially adorable. : )
wicked! such fun times and wonderful memories this gang will have.
These costumes are so fun, very well crafted! My little guy was Oscar the Grouch. You can see my handy work on my blog….www.littlefrills.tumblr.com
Fun costumes:) Betty is super sweet!
Your kids are so great to pose for these fun pics! How lucky you are that they all love Halloween and being creative as much as you do! I hope my little ones continue to let me make their costumes when they get older, too! Thanks for the inspiration!
Here’s our family this year as Peter Pan characters: http://boldmom.com/2010/11/01/never-grow-up/
Great Halloween costumes! I was so lazy this year. Penelope didn’t really look like anything, even though we were all dressed up as “double rainbow”.
I’m so impressed that you thoughtfully prepped/made SIX fabulous Halloween costumes! You’re my hero. The rubik’s cube is awesome.
Happy halloween to the whole family!
Love the rubiks cube idea!
Your Kids Are ADORABLE And the Rubik’s Cube ,Classic Well Happy Halloween Booooooooo!!!!!!
The white and yellow sides are opposite, as are the red and orange, and green and blue.
Like we have that junk laying around the house… I’d rather shell out a buck at the 99c store just up the street!
My mother made a Rubik’s cube costume for a neighbor in 1983. She was adorable. The costume was perfect for her, as she was in a wheelchair and desperately wanted to go trick-or-treating . I think the only thing that looks the same is the tape between the squares.