Yesterday I realized I had a few days before Halloween, and I kinda freaked. I had just enough time to order something off Amazon, and it get here in time for the first of the Halloween festivities. I mean talk about cutting it close. Amiright? I had everything in my cart ready to hit “place your order” which totaled over $100 with everything I wanted or around $50 if I cut it back to the bare minimum.
Then something happened. I bailed. I decided to DIY an epic sibling Halloween costume that my kids would look back on with such love and respect toward their genius mother. Ok so that’s not going to happen, but I spent…$0 on their costumes and about 2 hours (because I have to photograph things for the blog). So be prepared to be impressed.
You’re probably like um I have no idea who they are supposed to be. If you’re like that then, shame on you for not reading children’s books in your free time. Ramona is the exuberant Lilly from Julius, the Baby of the World, and Beckett is of course Julius, the baby…of the world.
I knew I wanted a coordinating Halloween costume for them. (They were Max & Ruby last year.) And I wanted it to be a book inspired costume. (I mean with a name like Ramona you basically always have to dress like something from a book, right?) So Ramona and I went and looked at her stash of books. When we saw Julius, the Baby of the World, it was more of a duh moment than an aha. So here’s the insanely easy DIY for Lilly and Julius costumes.
Gather for Lilly: a dress with a pattern (I sewed this last year); pink, white, and yellow felt; headband; red shirt; boots; pink lipstick to draw a nose.
Gather for Julius: patterned pajamas and more white and pink felt with a headband.
I used white and pink felt for the ears. (I have a felt assortment in my craft hoard.) I cut them in a near heart like shape and glued the felt together with tacky glue.
I used black elastic headbands to attach the ears. I put them on both kids and marked where to glue the ears since the headband stretches. Then I just stretched in on the ironing board until the ear lined up to the marks on the headband. I hot glued the ears on the headband.
For Lilly’s crown, I had Ramona draw it out on yellow felt. She was thrilled. I hot glued the crown to a mason jar lid to stabilize it. I ran a ribbon across it so I could attach it to her head.
I used clips and bobby pins to secure the crown.
I used white felt for the tail. I cut the width to 3 inches and rounded out the bottom. Sew and turn the tube right side out. I used a pencil since I sewed the bottom closed and the safety pin method wouldn’t have worked.
Add a little bow to Lilly’s tail. This is actually one of Ramona’s hair bows that I just clipped to the tail.
I used a regular women’s size medium long sleeved shirt for the cape. I just the arms off into a U shape to create more of a bow look like in the book. I sewed it inside out and flipped it. I attached the tail to the cape so it wouldn’t bother her when she sits.
Lilly’s signature boot is red with a white star. I traced a star on an Avery full sheet label and stuck it on a Jessie boot. It’s all about working with whatever I had. It’s a red boot. I don’t care if it says Jessie on the front. Slap a star on it and turn it into a Lilly boot.
Ramona missed her calling on having her own fashion blog. She’s just now learning her letters, so that might be the hold up.
Julius is unimpressed with the retelling of his story.
You just need pajamas for Julius. Make ears and a tail. Attempt to put a pink nose on him, and you’re good. Beckett was pretty good about not ripping the ears off too. I think the elastic headband made a big difference.
It’s a great costume for a newborn to age 2-ish range. It’s simple. Most importantly there’s not a lot that will make them uncomfortable.
Lilly is one of Ramona’s favorite characters. She is also the star of Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Lilly’s Big Day, and Chester’s Way.
Here’s an illustration of Lilly and Julius. They are always in some type of patterned outfits – polka dots, stripes, whatever. So easy to find something in your child’s closet to work!
Beckett is ready for the candy, so bring it on. Me too buddy.
SO cute! Great job! Incidentally, I had big regrets for months about reading that book to Ari (4 at the time) before Gus was born. He spent a long time talking about how babies were disgusting. But then he liked Gus a lot once he was actually born. For awhile anyway.
Full disclosure I censored it for Ramona because I didn’t want her to go around saying she hated Beckett. Of course when I read it as “I don’t like Julius” Ramona makes a huge deal about how that’s not very nice.
Even Beckett’s pouty face is adorable.
Nice work on the DIY costumes. I have no clue who these characters are but I appreciate that you made them. Also, the characters look adorable. I’ll have to take children’s book advice from you if/when we decide to produce spawn.
I’ve got the list of books ready when you are.
It’s freakin adorable! Really is! (I do read children’s books but haven’t read this one and had to google it yesterday LOL. Lilly’s favorite books are the “fly guy” books 😉 really strange)
Ramona loves those. They were a favorite with my class every year too. That would be a great sibling costume for 2 brothers!
yes, it totally would be
i love these- they are adorable! homemade are the best! i didn’t do homemade this year….. #momfail
I really didn’t make much. It was more of a gathering and throwing together of appropriate supplies 😉 If it would have required purchasing anything or more time, I probably would have just ordered the Wizard of Oz stuff from amazon. I’m not going to lie I felt really good after I finished it. Look at me I made costumes and didn’t spend any money and barely any time. I may or may not say that to each house we trick-or-treat at.
They are too cute. Love the DIY costume and love that it’s based on a book. My kid is a train man – not a conductor, engineer, or whatever. Because he makes me read Train Man 45 times every day so God knows we all know he’s the Train Man.
Love it!! Train Man Henry get all the candy!
Love the DIY costumes. And all I could think of when reading your post was 1.) man they’ve got some cute kids and 2.) look at all that green grass!
Both are true and oh so wonderful. Mostly likely in that order too!
Absolutely brilliant! You are brilliant!! Love the shirt to cape idea. Love the white stars. The crown = genius!! Awesome costumes!
Thanks Katja. Now to get all my DIY projects to cost $0.
They are too cute! Love how simple the costumes are and that they’re based on a book.
Thanks! I won at meeting those goals this year! We will see how long I can convince them to go as something together!
Just stumbled on your blog site! Socool. I am excited to getto know you through your site…even though we are like
Hey!! Glad you found us. I promise to keep you entertained if not by the blog then just walk on over.
More awesomeness from WILLSCASA:) How cute are these two little ones with their DIY costumes…answer: very!
Haha thanks! I let Ramona trick or treat as Elsa since Beckett was already asleep by that time!
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