Countdown to Halloween Day #4: Costume Inspiration

You are looking for an awesome costume idea?  I found this costume idea on Pinterest.   There is a complete tutorial and lots of pictures to help guide your building process.  I sooo want to build this.

Halloween Countdown #3: Making a Harry Potter Monster Book

My family and I are HUGE Harry Potter fans!    My favorite of the Harry Potter series is Prisoner of Azkaban.   In that movie, there is the great scene where Harry struggles with his monster book.

I absolutely love that book and wanted to try to recreate one for our home.  After some thought, I finally figured out how I would make it.    This project is fairly inexpensive to make.   I would say the grand total for the project is somewhere around $6 to $7.   But some of the materials I already had on hand.

This is a list of materials you will need: 

1 large book     I used one of my old college text books that I still had.  But, you could find something suitable at the Goodwill or other thrift store.

1  package of  teddy bear eyes,      These can be found at your local craft store, with doll making supplies.

faux fur,    you will need enough to cover your book.

modeling clay

hot glue

gold and black spray paint

fake teeth   I purchased a pair at the $ store for this project.

gold scrapbook letter stickers


Step 1.    Once you have selected a book,  lightly spray paint the page edges gold.   Allow time for those to dry.

Step 2.    Using the modeling clay, sculpt mounds for the eyes.

Step 3.   Cover the book with faux fur and use hot glue to hold in place.   You will want some extra on the book opening side to create tentacles.

Step 4.   Make small holes to insert the eyes into place.



Step 5.   Create tentacles by by folding and gluing pieces together, cut off excess.






Step 6.  Lightly spray paint the faux fur black and allow for dry time.   Apply the stickers to the fur.

Step 7.   Glue  teeth into place on the top and bottom.  You can add paint to these to make them look weathered.   Allow time to dry

To complete the book, I purchased an old belt with a decorative metal buckle at a thrift store.  I cut the belt to fit and buckle around the book.

 It is not movie accurate, but you get the idea and looks great especially if you dress up as any of the Harry Potter characters.

League of Extraordinary Bloggers: Whaddya Want?

The topic this week is:  When you hit up the toy store, thrift store, flea market, or comic shop, what are some of the things you’re actively hunting? 

Lately, the local Goodwill stores have been crappy!  Earlier in the year, shockingly,  I found G1 Transformers, a farm boy vintage Luke, and a Monster High Operetta. Of course, I was thrilled but my luck seemed to dry up.  When I go into the thrift stores or flea market I am never looking for anything in particular.   I used to rescue anything and everything Star Wars but now I mainly only collect vintage items  or R2s.  That sexy little droid knows I have a soft spot for him.  I also like to look for toys that I had as a kid or the toys I always wanted as a kid and never got.  After that, the rest of my toy rescues mainly were things that I just found interesting.  

Although, I do have a few items that I am actively seeking: 

.

1. I have this handsome and extremely naked 8in. Mego Superman. Apparently, he has decided to become a nudist and well that just doesn't work for my collection.   Actually, this was something that my grandfather bought me after one of our walks to the Zip store back in the day.  I lost my grandfather last year and I would love to restore it to its original glory.  I just need his super suit.   





2.  I am looking for a 1984 pink Barbie Corvette.  I have a plush Gizmo who needs a ride. 

3. More Shogun Warriors-  I posted a couple of days ago about one I recently got. I got interested in these over the summer after looking at some at a toy show. I just couldn't justify spending the money.  Then one fell in my lap and now I am kind of hooked on them.   

I would also love to get a Godzilla as well. 







4.  Anything R2-D2, old, new, it doesn't matter.   My R2 (can't live without) short list consists of a few things. 
     -1980's Wilton R2 cake pan.   I know I can find these on ebay, I just can't pull the trigger and buy one.  
     - 1997 Tiger Electronics R2 personal cassette walk-man
     - Vintage R2 with the pop up lightsaber.  loose, but decent condition
    - 1980's MIP R2 Underoos.

 5. Battle Beast-  I picked up a few of these over the summer from a Goodwill grab bag.  I think they are kind of cool.  

     

6. Jem and the Holograms ANYTHING!!   I never had The Misfits as a kid and I would love to get the rest of the dolls.  I would also like to get some of the original clothing and fashion packs.  




7. A G1 Soundwave.  I have my original Blaster and I picked up a few tapes a few months ago. So, I would like to add Soundwave to the collection.   I want it loose, it doesn't have to be complete but I would like it in decent condition.  





I also like to pick up GI Joes and Lanards, MUSCLE figures, Smurfs, She-Ra figures, and Ghostbusters.  Those are some of the items I am looking for.  Let's see what the other League members are looking for.  

The Cave of Cool is looking for Oscar Goldman with the exploding brief case. 

Goodwill Hunting 4 Geeks is going to back to his Christmas wishlist.  

Nerd Out With Me is looking for Legos and a hover board. 

Be sure to check out the main League post

Goodwill Outlet Store FInd- Energon Megatron

If you have never been to a Goodwill Outlet store, you are missing out.

It truly  is urban treasure hunting.   You walk into a large open area filled with different bins.  Then you dig for treasure.    It is .99 a pound and I can spend hours digging.

The closest store is about 40 miles away, so I don't get to go that often.  I have had a lot of great finds in this particular store.  this is the same store that I picked up a vintage Star Wars Rebel Transport ship.  The last trip, I came home with a 1980's Barbie swimming pool which holds like 2 gallons of water.   Needless to say, my husband just shook his head and walked out of the room.   Both the transport ship and the Barbie pool were for complete.  Which was amazing.

This trip, I was happy to find an Energon Megatron. Lately, I have been staying away from modern Transformers.  I just am not a fan.  The quality of them is just crappy. But, for some reason I just couldn't pass up this guy.  This is probably one of the biggest and bulkiest Transformer I have ever seen. But, it looks really cool.   It is difficult to display it with my other Transformers, since I have such a small space for them.  I think this will end up being something that my kids play with.

There are a few more goodies that came home with Megatron that will show up in later posts.

Halloween Countdown Day #2: Halloween Candy Tricks and Treats!

One thing that I love about Halloween is even the candy can be a trick or a treat.      These are some of my favorite Tricks or Treats candies.


How about a Hot Lix sucker complete with a scorpion?    The suckers come in Blueberry, Apple, Banana, or Strawberry flavors.   Can you imagine finding that at the bottom of your trick or treat bag.   I have never tried one of these, but I think  I am going to pass on this one.
Hot lix has other varieties of insect candies.  If you aren't wild about scorpions, how about ants, crickets, butterflies, or mill worms?

The Jelly Belly Company  used to make the Bertie Bott's any flavored beans that were inspired by the Harry Potter movies.   They have since changed the name of these to Beanboozled.      With these, you never know what you are going to get.   You might get a delicious flavor like chocolate pudding or you might get Beanboozled and end up eating a dog food flavored bean.     BeanBoozled jelly beans come in 20 flavors, 10 weird flavors matched up with 10 look-alike tasty flavors.
I have had these before! We used to do a taste testing kind of Fear Factor style.    Just thinking about some of the flavors, still makes me a little ill.    I have had the displeasure of tasting the rotten egg, barf, and booger.   I am glad to see that they discontinued the bacon flavor. It wasn't as good as you might think.    You owe it to yourself to at least try them once.   That is usually enough!   I will stick with my favorite buttered popcorn flavor.

Now for some treats!

Who doesn't love wax lips?   For some reason, I have always love to get a pair of wax lips for Halloween.   I rediscovered them with my children.    On my son's first Halloween, he was given a pair of wax lips.   We worked so hard to get a picture of him with them on and did finally get one.   Every year since, we buy 5 sets of lips and take a family picture.     This year, the guys are getting wax mustaches and us girls are sticking with the classic red lips.

Another favorite is Peeps!   Thank you to the Just Born Company for branching out and embracing other holiday celebrations.   Peeps are one of my favorite parts of  Spring and Easter.     But, now I am delighted with sugar coated marshmallowy goodness at Halloween!   I love the pumpkins and ghosts, but my favorite by far is the Chocolate Mousse flavored cats.    I am just praying for the weather to get a little cooler.   I love to put them in hot chocolate and curl up watching the "Great Pumpkin".


What are some of your favorite Tricks or Treats?   I  am always looking for new ones.

It's October!!!! Countdown to Halloween.

It's October!   So what does that mean exactly?

Well,  first off, everything is now pumpkin flavored.  The weather is thankfully getting cooler.  But, best of all, it's time for HALLOWEEN!!





I started this past weekend putting out our Halloween decorations.  There is a Jack O'Lantern of some sort in every room.







My children were greeted this morning with a sugar filled breakfast surprise.  Sugar them up and send them to school!!  Woo Hoo!!   I picked these up last week and sadly the Count didn't last long.  My husband and I ate it.  But, we will be getting more.

Check out the Countdown to Halloween to see how others are preparing for Halloween.

A Shogun Warrior hitchhiked a ride home with me.

Last week, a co-worker had mentioned  her cousin had given her some sort of robot toy to give to her grandson. She said I need to show it to you.   Her grandson is young and she had been debating on giving it to him.  That was pretty much the end of our conversation.

Yesterday, we were leaving work and she stopped me as I was getting in my car.  She opened my car door and was putting something in the front seat.   "It needs to be cleaned up, but take this to your kids.", she said.   I look over and this is who I found........

I was like "WAIT! are you sure you don't want this?!"   "Do you know what this is?"  My toy nerd was beginning to show.   She said,"No, you take it. And besides, my grandson is too young, he wont play with it."






<---------  I am like this all the way home.







When I got home, my husband's reaction: OMG! what is that??!  (like I had brought home a stray animal.)
my kids' reaction was : "O-M-G!   WHAT IS THAT??  CAN WE PLAY WITH IT??!!"

me:  It's a SHOGUN WARRIOR!!  I was losing my mind with excitement.  It's not everyday an awesome vintage toy just lands in the front seat of your car.   I have seen them at toy shows but I never really considered purchasing one.  I have always gone for the Transformers, but these are the precursors to Transformers.

I am not a Shogun Warrior expert by any means.  They were a little before my time.  I never had the joy of playing with one of these as a kid. So,  I had to do some research. This is the 24 inch Raydeen.  It was released by Mattel in 1977.

 From what I have read, I think it is a first release based on the  head and the way that the wheels are attached.  The head is a soft vinyl.  The wheels are molded into the feet, instead of attached with screws.

Overall, it seems to be in decent condition.  It was dirty but cleaned up rather well.  There is some residue on the head that I still can't get completely off.  A few of the decals are missing from the chest and legs.   The center delta wing missiles are missing also.   But, the fist still shoots off, which delighted my kids to no end and it has a decent range.

My husband thinks I should sell it on Ebay.  But, I just want to enjoy it for a little awhile. I am not sure how I want to display it. In reading and learning more about them, I would secretly love more and the Godzilla.   I am crazy over that thing....