Halloween 2017 with Wall-e

Since last fall, Scott was going to be "Bullseye this year and Wall-e next year." I should've known better than to hope he'd change his mind. So when a neighbor posted this nice, big, square box on Buy Nothing at the end of July, I snagged it. I had my concerns about making a Wall-e, but was also excited for the challenge.

In August, I cut the flaps off and some holes for a head and arms, taped them smooth, bought some paint, and let them go to town.

After a few coats and walks to the craft store for extra paint, by September it was painted solid. I printed letters and cut them out like a stencil, taped them down, and Scott painted the name. It looked pretty great and we were encouraged to keep going. Meanwhile, Perry enjoyed the extra counter top.

While we were working on the kitchen cabinets one night, I added stain to distress the box. 

Then after a few failed attempts at easier methods, I bought some puff paint to make a panel piece.

The rest we just drew with markers and cut up paper we already had. Then we mod podged over the panel pieces.

We made cardboard eyes that Scott colored, cut and glued, then I sewed to a beanie.

I picked up old bike tires from Buy Nothing and cut up pieces, then zip tied them to the sides. As a finishing touch I cut a flap in the front and zip tied a bag inside to collect candy. 

The costume was heavy on his shoulders with the tires attached and he couldn't use his hands very well (so the opening in front came in handy), but he loved it.

He wore it in the costume parade at his school's monster boogie bash and won the best costume award for kindergarten, which came with a $10 Target gift card. I think it turned out so great and I was proud of it, but winning a prize was really nice. Covered the cost of materials.

Scott liked turtling inside the box and surprising people. They all play with it at home like this, too.

Thankfully, Jonah wanted to be a minion. I love themed costumes (I was hoping for a Phineas and Ferb family this year), but after all the time and work it took for Wall-e I was happy to put some easier costumes together.

We already had the goggles from Buy Nothing, I borrowed overalls, bought a yellow shirt online and pinned on a logo I cut out of felt.  I love using real clothes instead of the one-piece polyester kind from the store. It wasn't a unique character, but he was the cutest minion out there.

Jonah wanted me to match with him, so I bought yarn and crocheted a scarf and wore black with my hair back to look like Gru.

I figured this was the last time I could make Perry a cute little Platypus, so when I saw a teal footed pj for sale I bought it.

I cut our Woody costume hat smaller and glued on a ribbon. Then for the tail I drew lines on orange fabric with a sharpie, sewed it, stuffed it, and pinned it on. 

It was hard to get a good picture of him, but he looked adorable and people who were familiar with Phineas and Ferb loved him.

His little tail wagged when he ran. 

I bought John a lab coat so he could go as Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Perry's nemesis.

We were getting a treat for the boys' teachers at See's one day and Perry picked out this little bag. It was perfect for trick or treating. Although I dumped it out into the wagon so it wouldn't be too heavy and it might have encouraged people to fill his bag since it always looked empty. It could've been his cuteness and little "peeeees" though.

He loved trick or treating. Everything--running around, talking to people, eating candy, staying up late, lollipops.

Sharing.

This year we hit the school party, ward trunk or treat, and trick or treating in the neighborhood. After all the effort putting costumes together and how cute they all looked, I was glad they got lots of use.

I went to Scott's class to carve pumpkins and do a coloring sheet.

His simple little jackolantern was so cute.

Our old bishop brings pumpkins by each year for the boys to pick from. They chose a white and orange, perfect size and shape for these Star Wars kits my mom brought the boys. They painted the Darth Vader black and then just stuck the pieces in. Much better than carving at their ages. Perry loved BB8 and felt the need to talk to every time we left the house or came back home.

It was a fantastic Halloween and I'm already excited to see what they want to do next year, but also happy it's a year away. I love the opportunity to be creative and work on a fun project once in a while.