Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids (Paperback)

~ Leila Peltosaari (Author) "Frightening vampires leave their graves and coffins at night to disturb the living and suck their blood..." (more)
Key Phrases: crafting foam, tabard front, strap under shoe, Peter Pan (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... attractive, professional ...clever, useful ...well organized... attractive (layout). ...instructions and tips are clear and concise ...thorough job..." -- Writer’s Digest critique

"...a real Halloween treat. This definitely is the best sewing book I’ve ever seen for home-ec dropouts and procrastinators." -- The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Ina Hughs, Tennessee

"...impressed! ...simple (patterns) and well laid out. The color photographs throughout the book are reason enough to purchase it." -- Kim McIlwaine, Sue Warden’s CraftScapes

"Be a costume wizard. ...need to scare up a bewitching costume in one evening? Leila Peltosaari will show you how." -- Leader-Post

"Wow!! Great idea! The color pictures of the kids in the costumes are wonderful!! The visual index ... is excellent!" -- Benajmin Franklin Awards, judges' critique, sponsored by PMA

Product Description

First place winner in the 2001 Writer’s Digest National Self-Published Book Awards, Reference category. Independent Publisher Book Awards 2002 Finalist - How-To (Hobby/Crafts). Number one bestseller for Quality Books for public libraries. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to UNICEF to help needy children of the world. This award-winning book will make you a costume wizard. Create an unforgettable outfit for a child for Halloween and other occasions. 100 costumes with lavish full-color photos and user-friendly visual index, simple patterns in three sizes for children 3-12 year-olds, no-sew shortcuts, last-minute solutions, treat bags & accessories. Easy-to-follow instructions and well-organized layout. Most costumes can be made without a sewing machine, many in just one evening, some even in an hour or less. Creative and comfortable designs range from traditional and storybook characters, animals and clowns to celestial beings, cultural tributes, and country costumes. Background information for the characters, Halloween history, and safety tips are included.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: Tikka Books (July 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189610603X
• ISBN-13: 978-1896106038
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #410,726 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Showcases one hundred easy-to-make costumes, October 16, 2001

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

In Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes For Kids, Halloween costume designer Leila Peltosaari showcases one hundred easy-to-make costumes complete with matching treat bags and accessories. The simple, step-by-step instructions are enhanced with detailed full-color photos and illustrations. The color-coded, easy patterns for 3 to 12 year olds are well-organized and feature a wealth of "no-sew" shortcuts and "last-minute" solutions. Highly recommended for even the most novice costumer, Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes For Kids is enhanced further with a history of Halloween, safety tips, and anecdotal background stories. With designs ranging from traditional and storybook characters to animals and clowns, to celestial beings and cultural tributes, most of the costumes can be assembled without a sewing machine and in only one evening. Many of the costumes are made form Polarfleece (a perfect Halloween fabric which is soft and lightweight, slightly stretchy, warm, versatile, with no hemming or seam finished needed -- and hotglues like a dream!). Although specifically targeted for the Halloween holiday, these are delightful outfits that can well serve for costume parties and school plays at any time of year!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, September 7, 2001

By	tlcpress@telusplanet (Edmonton Alberta) - See all my reviews

Illegally Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids is the best I have seen on this topic. The full color photographs of the costumes, complete with makeup, are spectacular. The directions are thorough and easy to follow. Any of these costumes would be a terrific for Halloween and the ideas could also be used for making costumes for plays or other productions. At the price of store bought costumes or patterns, this book is a bargain, as it contains 100 costumes and many additional ideas. You won't be disappointed!

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellnt, September 20, 2007

By	Susan Thompson (PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are in need of costumes for children's plays or Halloween, this is the book to buy. This book is beautifully illustrated with exact instructions and patterns. Basic sewing knowledge is needed to create the costumes. You will save money, if you normally would buy a pattern for a costume because this book has hundreds of patterns.