{Ladybird Owl Costume DIY}

The lovely Elsie asked me to participate in her 12 Days of Tricks + Treats project over on A Beautiful Mess, by creating a DIY . I knew just what I wanted to create...
I love dressing up on Halloween and really wanted to wear something fresh this year - something cute and unique. This Ladybird Owl Costume is made entirely from items I had around the house, and by settling down with some popcorn and a funny movie i was able to make it in under one hour. The steps for this costume could make so many different animals, all it takes is a little imagination.

Materials Needed:
Pillow Case
Multiple Textured, Colored and Patterned Fabrics (Scraps work great for this project!)
Scissors
Push Pins
Hot Glue Gun or Sewing Machine
Ribbon or Edge Tape

Step 1. Lay your pillowcase on a flat surface. The opening will be the bottom of your dress, so you'll need to cut out a hole on the opposite end for your head and two arm holes on either side of the pillowcase. Hold up against your body to spot where your holes should be and what size.
Step 2. Using your scissors and all your fabrics, cut out fist-sized half-ovals( each oval was created from squares that measured 3x4", then I rounded two of the corners). My dress called for about 45 of these half-ovals. If you're purchasing fabric, you'll need at least one yard. These will act as your owl's feathers.
Step 3. Beginning at the bottom of your pillowcase, lay fabric feathers along side one-another, making sure they cover the edge of your pillow case. The straight edge of your feathers should be at the top of your row. Pin straight edge into place. Make sure you alternate your fabrics for a whimsical, charming look.
Step 4. Once you've completed pinning your bottom row, sew or use hot glue to attach the straight edge of your feathers to the pillow case. Moving onto the next row, make sure to stagger your fabrics, so they cover all seams you created on the line before. Repeat this step until you've reached the top of your pillow case.Step 5. Trim any excess fabrics that might be overhanging in the neck or arm areas. Now, taking your edging tape or ribbon, edge the neck and arm holes so that they cover all loose fabrics and give the entire costume a polished look!By adding fun eye shadow, a few feathers, and messy nest-like side bun, the outfit is complete! I am so excited to wear it out (maybe even after Halloween). Go enjoy making your own animal costumes, each one will be so unique!
xxoo Chelsea