Everyone wants their kid to look cute on Halloween, but no one wants to buy an expensive costume for them to wear just once (especially nowadays).  Here is a NO SEWING homemade costume that can be done the night before, even though I do not recommend waiting until that close.  Say “Howdy” to my bull rider!

What you will need for this project:

1 large box – that your child could easily fit around himself

1 small box – like a shoebox

paint

2 yards of elastic

Hot glue gun and glue

1 pair of jeans

Belt

Cowboy hat

Shirt – does not have to be a western shirt, can be just a t-shirt

1 old pair of tube socks and a stray sock (white, brown, or black)

To start, take the large box and cut off all flaps off the bottom and KEEP them.  Cut a hole large enough for your child to fit in with a 2 inch allowance added on all the way around.  You do NOT want to cut this hole in the middle,  It needs to be closer to one side (see picture below left).  Take the flaps that you cut off and use one of the longer ones to cut bull horns.  You can cut one long piece like I did, or two separate horns.  With the 2 smaller flaps, you will need to cut out the lower foot part of a boot (see picture below left).  Use the last flap to cut an oval out.  This oval when sideways should be about the same width as your small box.

Next, you will want to hot glue the horns to the small box (your bull’s head).  Then hot glue the oval to the lower front of the bull’s head (see picture above right).  Now you are going to hot glue the bull’s head to the big box (the body).  Hot glue the head to the end that is the closest to the hole.  Believe it or not, you are practically done!

Paint your cowboy boots whatever color you want, I chose red.  Now just paint the bull the colors you want.  My husband said that black would have looked the best (and he is probably right), but black and trick or treating and night do not go well together.  I spray painted this bull and it took less than 5 minutes to do the whole thing and cover any words that were on the box.  Make sure to paint the entire outside, head and body.  When the spray paint dries, paint spots in brown or black on the body and paint the horns.  This is a great time to paint spots on your tube socks as well.  Draw the eyes and nostrils.  If you believe it is going to rain, you may want to put a coat of clear spray paint to seal in the acrylic paint you are brushing on.  Take your hot glue gun and glue your stray sock to the back for a tail (I cut the end into little strands to look more like a tail).  Hot glue 2 straps of elastic to the inside of the hole.  Glue each end of elastic to the hole, so the straps will go over each shoulder.  You’re done with your bull!

Now to get your cowboy set up.  Put on his shirt and a pair of pants (or shorts depending on where you live).  Try not to put jeans on him.  Cut the toes off of the tube socks and put them on over the pants like leggings from the 80’s.  Now press the jeans against the front of your cowboy (like you would at the store to see if they would fit).  Thread the belt through the front loops that you can see, then wrap the belt around your cowboy’s waist and thread through the other side’s front loops.  Fasten your belt and the jeans should stay up just laying flat against your little man.  Staple the cowboy boots in each leg, don’t worry these come out easily without damaging the jeans.  Have your cowboy step into the bull and pull the straps onto each shoulder.  Drape the legs of the jeans on either side to give the appearance of him “riding” the bull.  You are all done!  Have him raise his arm and strike a pose for Mommy to start taking pictures!

***The cutest twist is that the elastic straps allow the bull to bounce when he is walking.***

So it looks like the bull is bucking as he is walking!  It is TOO CUTE!!

If you like this and want to see another NO-SEW costume, click here to see a Red-Eyed Tree Frog on Mom Tried It.

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I thought I had this Guest Post scheduled, when I was getting caught up today, I realized that I didn’t.  Please welcome Karen to the site for the day and be sure to visit hers! ~Kelli

Front Yard Scarecrows: How to Make One

Once an old-world emblem and tool for entire farming communities that protected the fields in the farmer’s absence, the scarecrow has become one of the most popular and versatile harvest figures. A scarecrow can be scary or friendly. They share the season with scary ghouls and goblins that patrol garden crops in search of trespassers. They also stand (or sit) on common ground with more whimsical and magical creations such as yard elves and fairies that welcome in the season’s bounty.

The scarecrow or some version of it has existed in farming communities around the world for centuries. For example, The Russian field spirit polevoj passed from the forest to the field at midday and punished those he found doing damage to the crops.

In America the industrial revolution with its technological advances in farming equipment and techniques gave the scarecrow less field work to do. Even so, this valued farming character continued to be an important harvest symbol and by the 1800’s was being used for decoration as well as for practical purposes. Individual creative expression became more commonplace and the scarecrow took on a more ornamental and artistic nature.

With today’s increase of suburban and urban dwellings, this traditional folk art has found its way from the large crops and extended back yard gardens to the landscape of modern front yards and porches. Colorful and even flamboyant, the scarecrows we now see on display in these very public settings are designed to welcome friends in as much as they are intended to remind foes that the area they are approaching is being guarded.

Making a front yard scarecrow is something the whole family can do. Families can create a scarecrow that tells passersby who they are. The scarecrow’s theme can identify what the family is interested in. For example, a soccer family may want their scarecrow to look like a goalie, or midfielder. A family who enjoys science fiction may choose to build a space age scarecrow. Families can make more than one scarecrow; they can even create a series of them to represent individual family members. Mr. & Mrs. Scarecrow are quite popular as is a musical trio of scarecrows. Here are some scarecrow-making ideas:

• Basic structure: Often a “T” made of lengths of wood forms the backbone and arms. Other options include a broom handle, or baseball bat. The scarecrow can be standing, sitting, lounging in a lawn chair or mounted on the wall with twine and nail.
• Clothes: Pretty much any article of clothing that would have been discarded, including faded old blue jeans, outgrown party dresses, ties, Halloween costumes, scarves, gloves, and shoes.
• Stuffing: Wadded up newspaper (stuffed into plastic bags to keep dry), old plastic gallon-size milk container that can be put into pant legs and shirt arms.
• Basic structure: Can be standing with broom handle, baseball bat, or stick of wood as backbone, lounging in a lawn chair or mounted on the wall (twine and nail).
• Head and Face: A simple head can be made of a board with stapled on paper bag that has been decorated or a more complex paper-mache version with glitter, make-up and stickers can be used to create beautiful, comedic or harsh looking faces.
• Accessories and extras: Apply costume jewelry, a stuffed animal, an old baseball mitt, watering can, or even bedroom slippers. There’s no limit to what your scarecrow can be!

Karen Pierce Gonzalez is publisher of folkheartpress (www.folkheartpress.com) and author of Family Folktales: What Are Yours? and the soon to be released Family Folktales: Write Your Own Family Stories. Join her Folktale Conversation at http://folkheartpressblog.blogspot.com

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I was worried that I didn’t have a giveaway for you today, just a review.  Then, guess what! Just as I was closing down for the night yesterday, Courtney sent me an email about reviewing one of her ebooks!  I checked her site and found:  Clothing, Costumes, Playtime clothes, jewelry, Tween Projects, Quilting, Toys, and so much more!

Unfortunately, I am writing this before she was able to send me an item to review, but since she has freebies on her webpage, I was able to download one and go from there. I am crafty, I do tons of different things: make jewelry, cross-stitch, scrapbook, make wreaths, knit, and more.  But, I am not good at sewing!  I have tried, I get the basics, but nothing ever turns out quite right.  I think the instructions are never dummy-proof enough for me.  I chose the burp-cloth pattern because how hard can a burp cloth actually be?  I do not have the needed supplies and I broke my sewing machine needle MONTHS ago (with no idea how to replace it), so I am not able to make this yet.  But, my goodness it sure seems simple enough!  The instructions are laid out bit by bit with wonderful step-by-step photos!  We are headed out of town this weekend and I am planning to pick up a few bits of cloth.   When I get them made, I will show you!

Now that I have rambled enough, here is how you can become the winner of a $50 bundle of Halloween downloads.  The bundle includes the following books:

• Fancy Filled Tutu with Bonus 40 Tutu “Recipes”
• Pumpkin Polly Patterns
• Paper Piecing Project: Pumpkin Patch Pillow
• Frayed Applique: Too Cute to Spook!
• Little Miss Spider Applique Patterns
• How to Applique the Easy Way
• Hocus Pocus Patterns
• Just a Little Something for a Happy Halloween Table Runner

REQUIRED:  Join the YouCanMakeThis Newsletter (you even get a few freebies for signing up!)

BONUS #1:  Create an Account at YouCanMakeThis

BONUS #2:  Go visit my partner in the Soiree, Mission Mommy and leave a comment on her Spooktacular Soiree, Eden Fantasy post for a chance to win!  Don’t forget to come back here and let me know! (you get 3 entries for this, plus if you go over there you get a chance to win hers and will get bonus comments for posting here! Win, Win!) Don’t forget, you must post 3 separate comments about this!

BONUS #3:  Follow @momof3boys3702, and @bkkihega on Twitter.  Then, tweet about this Review & Giveaway

BONUS #4:  Put the Spooktacular Soiree button on your blog (found on sidebar)

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, twitter, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Fave me on technorati

#5. Put my button on your blog.

#6. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!)

Related posts:

1. CLOSED: Ghoulish Goodies Cookbook Review and Giveaway
2. CLOSED: Dremel Pumpkin Carving Kit Review and Giveaway
3. CLOSED: Wilton: Inspiration for Every Celebration Review and Giveaway

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!

Welcome to DAY NUMBER THIRTY of the Back 2 School Blog Bash 2009 – 30 Days of Giveaways, at 3 Boys & a Dog!

**REMEMBER, ALL BASH CONTESTS END AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT CST! ** Actually, they will be ending as quickly as I can shut them down in the morning. I am not staying up until midnight.  LOL!  Anyway, be sure you go back and get your name in the hat for any contests you missed.  Also, keep your eyes peeled for an updated link post later today!

Add your photos, personalize, share!  How easy is that?  Plus, it is only 39.99 for an entire year!  That ain’t all, folks.  

There’s a world of difference between a plain old “slideshow” and a PhotoShow! With just a click or two, the all new PhotoShow maker lets you add your choice of hundreds of music tracks, over 150 beautiful one-click styles, plus cool animated graphics and stickers. Add one of your own MP3s to your PhotoShow and give it the soundtrack you really want.

I had a really good time putting in the pictures from my husband’s beauty pageant.  Yes, I know it sounds funny.  Wait until you see it! (be aware it has music, don’t want it blaring out of your speakers)

http://www.photoshow.com/watch/CV4Uz3Nx

I know you guys want this year long subscription.  Check it out HERE.  Also, don’t forget the best way to win this is to go back to the main post.  But, since some people don’t have blogs I am giving a chance here to get your name in the hat.

Don’t forget to go back to the main post to learn how you can win one of the following prizes:

Seagate 500 GB Drive

Casio Baby G Timepiece

Roxio Photo Show 1 Year Membership!

http://momof3boys3702.blogspot.com/2009/07/back-2-school-blog-bash-2009-month-of.html

Now, on to how you can win THIS prize: a Full year subscription to ROXIO PhotoShow!

REMEMBER: All Back 2 School Blog Bash Giveaways are open to USA and CANADA!

REQUIRED:  Go look at my show http://www.photoshow.com/watch/CV4Uz3Nx then come back and leave me a comment about it.  

Yes, I know we look like a bunch of rednecks!  The girl in the tux is Ricky’s sister the “red head” is her husband.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, twitter, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Follow me on Twitter

#5. Fave me on technorati

#6. Put my button on your blog.

#7. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!)

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

This is the final week of the My Blog Spark and Crayola sponsored giveaways! Don’t forget to sign up so you don’t miss out!

What: Crayola Creativitycast on #gno (Click here to learn more about #gno!)

When: Tuesday, August 18, 9-11 p.m. EST

Where: We party on a custom Tweetgrid. The link to the Tweetgrid for this week’s party will be posted on Tuesday at noon ET. (Use hashtags #gno & #crayola.)

Topic: Back-to-School Tips (making the back-to-school shopping season fun and affordable)

Who: @cerisecheri from Crayola, @katjapresnal from Skimbaco Lifestyle, @michellelamar from White Trash Mom, @razzmatazzrob from Crayola, @skybluestacy from Crayola, @tjstaab from Currently Crafting

Party Favors: Click here to check out this week’s giveaway sponsored by Crayola.

RSVP: The link list is not working this week, so please leave your Twitter ID in the comments

Wait… there’s more! You can win at my site, too! To win this:

REQUIRED: Leave me a comment telling me the best deal you got this Back To School Season!

BONUS: After the #GNO party on Tuesday, come back and leave a comment telling what you learned at the party!

Don’t forget to go back to the Back 2 School Blog Bash post to learn how you can win one of the following prizes:

Seagate 500 GB Drive

Casio Baby G Timepiece

Roxio Photo Show 1 Year Membership!

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