DIY Halloween Costume - Lil Birdie Emma

Since this is Emma's first Halloween, you know I couldn't stand idly by and get a store bought generic costume did you? Did I peruse the newborn and infant section in the party stores online? Of course I did, but mostly was fairly unimpressed by the selection and really wanted her first costume to be special. My mom made almost all of my costumes and I had some really cute ones as a child. My favorite was a Maleficent costume that was the Best! I was also a playing card and a pumpkin....she did not make the devil costumes, but my cousin and I are just too adorable not to post!

So in true form I had to follow in my mom's footsteps and make my baby girls first costume. I know I know, it's one of those things that I just needed to do. I didn't really make her anything while I was pregnant so I am making up for it now!

Since my nickname for Emma is Lil Birdie, I knew I wanted her to go as a bird. I google searched for

bird infant costumes and found a ton of owls, some peacocks and various other birds, but nothing made me jump up and say yes, until I saw a photo of an adorable little boy dressed in a blue bird costume.

Little Starling Photography made a Martha Stewart pattern blue bird for her son's Halloween costume. I instantly fell in love with the look and how adorable her son looked in the costume. I knew that between my mom and I we could totally pull off this look and do it on the cheap because it is made with felt! Of course when I went to buy the materials, lovely Martha's pattern was so vague that I just guessed how much I would need. Little did I know that I would buy YARDS too much felt and now have so much left over.....oh well. I have my sights on another project for Emma's nursery to make with the leftovers.....more on that later!


On a girls trip to my parents; Emma, my mom and I sat down to make this adorable costume. I knew I didn't want it to be blues, because of the people that would comment and ask about "him" so I picked girly colors and she is going to be dressed in pink. Instead of sketching the wings out, I printed them in a large format and cut out the templates, pinned to the felt and cut them out. I pressed all the seams, and that was all I did. Emma decided to protest her naps that day, making it impossible for me to do any sewing. My mom completed the rest of the costume and it turned out better than I could have imagined!

 

We can't wait to take her trick or treating, yes you heard me. My hubby is more than excited to parade her around in her outfit to a couple of houses and reap the candy.....I guess I can eat Skittles. (since I am still off dairy) Hope to get photo's and to do a follow up post with her in her costume tonight!

Happy Halloween!