No way was I paying $50 for that costume... I could make something way better!
I sat and waited for inspiration for weeks, we were getting close to Halloween and I finished all of our costumes except for Yoshi. I told Caleb that he may need a backup costume (Clark Kent) but I hadn't completely given up yet. So one day I was surfing through Google images and the inspiration hit me... use a hoodie to make the costume! I searched Yoshi Hoodie and came up with this link: http://www.instructables.com/id/YOSHI-HOODI/ GENIUS!!! I was immediately inspired and ready to go. After I got my head wrapped around how to make it, there was no stopping me, it was a matter of days and Yoshi was done.
I found the hoodie at Walmart and they happened to have fleece fabric that was almost the same color for the nose, eyes and pants. I had leftover red fleece for the shell on the back and his spikes. I also had leftover white felt for the eyes, belly, cheeks and shell. Total cost of this costume.. $17!
I tried to follow the tutorial in the link but found it hard to follow as I think everyone's creative brain works differently. So I figured it all out on my own. Using a stuffed Yoshi as my tutorial.
I was so surprised at how much Geometry I had to dust off to design this costume. I used a compass, protractor, Pythagorean theory, angles, and the formula for the circumference of a circle. So allow me to just give a shout out to Mrs. Webster, my 9th grade Geometry teacher.... You totally made this costume possible! :) Next time a student asks "When will I ever use this in the future?" just say "When you're future child wants to be Yoshi for Halloween and you're too thrifty to pay top dollar for a cheaply made costume!"
The rest of the family turned out pretty awesome as well and the costumes were simple, 30 minutes or so a piece.
I made a Wilma dress out of felt but then remembered I had a white sundress that looked so much better on me. My costume consisted of a $2 bag of big pearl-ish beads and a $2.50 can of hair color.
Fred and Pebble's tops were made out of felt and a couple triangles cut out of black felt. The tie was felt as well. I used a long strip of felt, tied it like a tie then cut it into the shape of Fred's tie. I made pebbles shorts out of an old t shirt of mine. You can't see the bone in her hair very well but it's made out of felt as well... and glued onto a hair clip. Total cost of Fred and Pebbles, all together... $12!
Owen is a fireman, totally store bought, but I got it last year, after Halloween for $3, so I didn't feel the need to save money on his costume by making it myself. I had a thought to make him a Bam Bam costume out of all the leftover felt I have, but it will be too cold for him to wear it outside.
So there you have it! My (almost) DIY Halloween!