Alice in Wonderland - Mad Hatter Halloween costume tutorial

I uploaded a YouTube video! It's a tutorial on my mad hater makeup, hair and outfit!

I hope you like it!

Étáin

xxx

DIY Mad Hatter Hat for Halloween

It's been too long! I do apologise! I have had severe bloggers block but I have a couple posts planned for Halloween.
Recently I did a post about an Alice in Wonderland tea party I had and I thought I would do a DIY post on the Tim Burton style Mad Hatter hat which I wore. This is actually quite simple and everything that I used were things I found in my house, I didn't need to purchase anything. This is a great look for a Halloween party or it could be used as a prop or decoration.

I have another post to come on the makeup and outfit for anyone that wants to do the full thing. Here is how to make the hat in 12 easy steps:

Items used: 
Strong Cardboard (I used the bases of two cardboard boxes)
Paper
Cellotape
Staple gun or glue gun
Black or patterned fabric
Other fabric for inside and band
Wooden skewers
Cocktail sticks
Beads
Paper Mache + newspaper strips

Steps:

1. Create a circle for a base that fits your head using one or more pieces of strong cardboard. (I stupidly made it a bit small so it doesn't actually fit around my head, only sits on top)

2. Make the bottom band where the bright fabric strip goes. Attach to the base with cellotape or masking tape.

3. Attach 6 or 7 wooden skewers to the band. I stuck them into the cardboard and used tape to secure them in place.

4. Place a circle of cardboard, a similar size to the base on top of the skewers. Bring the skewers to the outside of the circle so that they bend a little, giving the frame of the hat. Push the circle down a little so it would stay in place and secure it to the skewers with tape. Make sure the top is flat.

5. Cover the sides with paper to form the shape.

6. Use paper mache over the paper and the board. The end of the skewers prove very handy as you can do the bottom of the hat without the paper mache touching the table.

7. Once you have done a layer or two (one will do, it's quite sturdy by itself with the frame) leave it to dry.

8. Cut off the top of the skewers that are sticking out.

9. Depending on what kind of fabric you are using, cover the hat by sticking it in place with glue or staples. I used a staple gun with mine as PVA glue wasn't strong enough and a glue gun went straight through the fabric. The staples do look a little messy but I tucked in what I could under other sections on the fabric.

Make sure you cover the whole bottom of the hat as you will see underneath it when worn.

10. Use another kind of fabric for the inside. No need to line the whole inside, just a kind of bubble in the centre.

11. Create a band of bright material around the outside of the hat. I used the same red material although I ended up putting a scarf around it as it gave a better effect.

12. Decorate the hat with the traditional 10/6 note which i made by drawing it onto some card and burning the edges to make it look old. Add any other decorations such as feathers or pins which I made from cocktail sticks and beads.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I haven't done a DIY in a while so I might get back into doing them. I hope this has given you some interesting Halloween ideas.

Étáin

xxx

OOTD ~ Midnight epiphanies

Recently I've been feeling drained, with no energy and no ideas. Personally I blame school. The other night while trying to get to sleep later than I should be on a school night my mind was suddenly full of ideas. This often happens to me but mainly in the Summer and leaves me with a buzzing feeling the next day even if I can't remember everything. Anyone else get this?

Anyway back to the outfit. I seriously love wearing maroon in Autumn and this is one of my favourite jumpers. The outfit is simple yet I really like how it turned out. Casual yet slightly formal with the wedges.

The jumper itself is from New Look, I bought it last Winter while Christmas shopping.

Boots ~ Penneys/Primark

Legwarmers ~ I actually have no idea I've had these for ages.

Skirt ~ I bought it in an independent shop which is now closed.

Jumper ~ New Look

tights ~ Probably Penneys/Primark.

Thank you to Fionnula and Rachel for the pictures.

Exciting things to come!

Étáin

xxx

Alice in Wonderland themed tea party

 *Before I start this post I would just like to let you know that I am not a normal teenager.*

 Bit of a different kind of post today. So recently I organised an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party as part of this come-dine-with me thing my friends and I are doing. This was so much fun to plan and organise!I love being able to be creative like this! I also made all my friends dress up as one of the characters. I based it mainly around the 2010 Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland.

I made these little "Drink Me" bottles by filling old spice bottles with water and food colouring.

I added little details like mismatched tea cups and playing cards around the room and on the table.

 

I had been gathering various teacups and teapots from friends and charity shops for weeks. 

Savoury food consisted of sandwiches pastries and pies.

I also covered the table in lace and doileys.

I made a little "This Way, That Way" sign to put outside.

 

(Left to right) White Queen, Rabbit (in a donkey onesey), Red queen, Alice, Mouse, Tweedledee, Tweedledum, The Mad Hatter (Me) and the Caterpillar.

We're all a little mad but all the best people are (see what I did there?).

I was of course the Mad Hatter. I made the hat using cardboard, paper mache, fabric and a lot of stables.

The costume was made from items of clothing I found in my house. My mums coat, my old school trousers, my brother's shoes, my scarf, shirt and socks. I also made the string of sewing reels.

I might do a tutorial on the makeup, hair and hat. It would make a great halloween costume!

I put fairy lights and netting above the table, giving the room a magical effect.

For dessert we had sponge cake and assorted cupcakes.

I hope you enjoyed this random post. It was so much fun so I had to write about it. I really like doing lifestyle posts like this. I also hope this has given you some ideas for Halloween!

Étáin

xxx

Five Autumn Essentials

 It's October! I have an fashion essentials post today, with five of my favourite things to wear in Autumn.

 I hope this post gives you a little inspiration! Also recently I found an online site called Raise. They sell gift cards for discount prices and buy unwanted gift cards They have loads of different shops like Zara and H&M. It's super handy, I never knew anything like this existed.

First is jumpers! Knitted jumpers and cardigans are just perfect to stay warm without the need of a winter coat. These are a few of my favourites.

 (Top to bottom) Green cardigan from Primark/Penneys // chunky jumper from New Look // light pink jumper from New Look // cropped lavender jumper from Missguided // black knitted jumper from Primark/Penneys.

Next is socks! Fluffy, knitted, patterned and frilly socks to wear over tights and with boots are my favourite. They just make an outfit for me, even if you can only see the top sticking out of your boots. Some of them just scream "Cute!".

 All socks from Primark/Penneys apart from no. 4 which are New Look.

Next in my list are boots. Boots are a perfect Autumn accessory. I have been loving ankle boots in particular. They go great with everything - dresses, jeans, skirts, etc.

 These first pair are from Penneys (Primark) which I bought last Winter.

The second pair I wore pretty much all summer. I picked them up in a New Look sale back in the Spring for €22! I just adore them.

The third pair are again from Penneys/Primark. They have a wedged heel and a suede type material. The slightly more formal of the three.  

 Now for me, this bowler hat is essential. It's maroon, and maroon is my favourite Autumn colour, it just goes great with any outfit!

And finally... scarves! They are warm, simple, and complete Autumn look! I own a lot of them too. I have four of my favourites here:

Snood from Penneys/Primark // blue scarf is from New Look.

 These two were gift so I'm not sure where they are from but I love the designs.


Thanks for reading and let me know your fashion essentials for Autumn!

Étáin

xxx