Fancy Dress Fun!

A couple of weeks ago parents up and down the country were having World Book Day panic. What can I dress my little ones up in? Do we go homemade? Can I really be arsed? I always ask myself the same questions to be honest whether it's fancy dress for their friends party, some non uniform (but of course not free) day at school and of course these national events which schools like to go all out for. Roo never used to want to dress up, so this year he surprised me by asking if he could. I knew I wasn't getting him into anything other than a superhero costume but I figured that was okay since he had been reading plenty of Captain America and Iron Man books (which, by the way, are really good. Especially the Origins ones because I'm new to all this and I never knew how all these people became superheros) 

Midge the poor girl has always had minimal effort applied to these school events. I'm sure she would prefer to go as something really cool but all we ever managed was sodding Matilda from....well, Matilda. I don't feel bad because most of the girls at school for several years running were also Matilda so I felt some what united with the rest of the Mums at school who also couldn't be arsed.

This year however I was approached by Tickled Pink Fancy Dress, who I believe I have purchased from before, a little while ago though I am sure. They asked if I fancied choosing something for one or both of my little Cupcakes and I thought, here's my chance to earn some real Mum Points from Midge. Roo was already catered for, his Iron Man costume was ready to go. Midge however was still unsure (and probably just waiting for me to put pigtails in her hair and pack her off with a pile of books..)

Oh but she wasn't expecting the costume that turned up for her just in time for World Book Day. Mummy had only gone and managed to get one her favourite film costumes:

Yes! With her new Gryffindor cape and her long tie (I wish it was elasticated, it's rather embarrassing that she walked in to school and her teacher immediately did her tie because neither Mummy nor Daddy knew how to do one ha ha!) but she loved the whole outfit, and to be honest, so do I because it pretty much fits me too! I wish I remembered my scarf though! She was so happy to be Hermione and for the first time ever was really excited to go in and show off her dressing up outfit.

I was really pleased with my experience shopping at Tickled Pink Fancy Dress. I received some great customer service, my parcel arrived just in time as promised and I can't really fault the costume either. As I mentioned above, elasticated ties would be better as these are very long (I suspect there's probably health and safety issues with elasticated ties though!)  There is a separate clasp which connects the cape together (took me ages to find it!) at the front which is much safer than having a tie around your child's neck and it was still on at the end of the school day which I wasn't expecting. So it's a big thumbs up from both me and Midge! Thanks TP Fancy dress! 

Cupcake Mumma

I'm Luna Lovegood!

I came across a competition on The Adventures of a Potty Mouthed Mum yesterday and it was a Harry Potter comp. I got all ready to do my usual rafflecopter business when I scrolled down to find that on this occasion I was going to have be very creative if I wanted to win the prize of a fabulous Harry Potter book set!

If you know me you'll know my love for Harry Potter. I've got the films,I've of course got the books, I've visited the studio tours and loved it and am going to see it again this year (in the snow!!) I have PJ bottoms, tops, socks and tracksuit bottoms to badges, pencils, notebooks and even a damn mug I LOVE IT.

So here is my entry into the above mentioned competition. I've gone with some leggings and a skirt I think Luna would be okay with, a black cardigan with Ravenclaw (kind of) stuck on it, some round earrings which are almost like her rather individual Dirigible Plum Earrings in the film and I've added my pink converse, Quibbler and Spectrespects for that finishing touch! All of this put together with random clothes and a printer!

Wish me luck!

"Episkie!"

Cupcake Mumma

*Update!* I won this competition! As a massive Harry Potter fan I'm obviously over the moon. Thanks to Adventures of a Potty Mouthed Mum for hosting this fab comp and I really, really can't wait to receive my Harry Potter Book Collection from The Book People! 

My No Sew Tutu!

Little Miss had her first party invite a few weeks ago and today was finally the day after much asking. The theme for said party was 'pirates' which isn't too demanding especially not since recently it was pirates day at nursery.

I dug out her pirate waistcoat, some skinny jeans and cut up an old white school shirt to make her look a bit more shabby like. Now, Little Miss wanted to be a bit different so we toddled off to the fabric store a week or two ago to have a look, you know see if anything caught our eye. Well it did. Little Miss found some netting and as she did I remembered something I 'pinned' recently on Pinterest about making no-sew tutus. Considering I'm machine phobic right now (not brave enough yet and after seeing a lovely mini pink sewing machine belonging to Viv (Melksham Mum) I am keen to buy one and finally learn!)

Anyway, I stayed up last night making this 'no sew' tutu and I was really pleased with it. While I was putting it together I thought of my lovely followers and thought I'd show you how I made it. I kind of had to wing it but I'm alright with that it's okay to find your own way!

No Sew Tutu

First of all you need your tools!

 We chose a meter each of red and purple netting from our local fabric store both costing £1.60, 

Ribbon of choice- 1m thick ribbon is best £1

Scissors

Ruler -If you really want one, as you can see I didn't really want one!

First, take the ribbon and tie a knot leaving length at the end (this is for tying a bow later)

Measure your child so you have the correct waist measurement or you can do guess work like me!

Tie a knot at the other end leaving a good few inches again for the bow later on

Take your netting, lay it out on the floor length ways and begin folding over so you end up with a length of rolled netting.

Cut the ends off your netting. These are quite thick and can be untidy from rolling up.

Fold your netting in half and cut at the folded point.

You should be left with 4 rolls of netting like so:

Cut your netting about 3 inches all along the roll

Here's my pile of little cut up netting

I found my netting still too long, whether I did something wrong I'm not sure so I just laid out the cut up netting and snipped it half way again.

Here is my netting now an appropriate length

Take your ribbon, It helps if you do as I did and tie each end to stools, chairs anything that makes the ribbon taught.

Take your netting, fold it length ways so it's thinner again and tie onto your ribbon

Slide the netting to the knot you tied

Keep tying the netting onto the ribbon pushing it to the end so it all bunches up nicely

Until you have added all your netting!

You should now have your tutu..Enjoy!

I hope that wasn't too hard to follow. Have fun making your tutu for your little one (or yourself! I know i'll be making them for my Race For Life in July)It would be great if you could share your make with me as well!

Check out Cupcake Mumma again soon to see Little Miss donning her new tutu in her pirate gear.

Cupcake Mumma

Operation Superhero

We have been set the task of dressing our little darlings as superheros tomorrow. Super easy for boys but in my opinion not so simple for the girls. There isn't much on offer for fancy dress and I'll be darned if I'm spending ten pounds or there about on an outfit just for one day as Little Miss isn't really into dressing up at home. Hard time and all that!

So, with this in mind I decided to pop into my local fabric store to see what I could source. I came across some fabric which is cute. No it's not superhero like at all but as she plans to be 'Super L'  I figured her cape could be whatever she wants it to be. I have some felt stashed in my cupboard so later when all is quiet I can sew some initials and maybe something else to onto the cape too.

I think ill throw her in some leggings and shorts and she can pull it off fine. I mentioned my idea to another Mum and her daughter is going as Super (her name) as well which is cool. In fact it was her that tipped me off about the fabric store. I hope we haven't bought the same fabric!

I'll be sure to post a photo up tomorrow before she ventures off to enjoy her school day. I thought I had better get this post in early as I'll be busy sticking pins in my fingers tonight no doubt!
Cupcake Mumma