Masquerade Ball Link Party

Yeah!! The Masquerade Ball is finally here! I am so excited to see what you have made this year.  Before we get started let's take a look at how the Ball will work!

This competition is all about creativity and your mad skills. Everyone loves a homemade costume.  Show your best and create something great. 

--Enter up to 2 costumes, new or old. It must be made by YOU. It does not have have to be your original idea or tutorial, and it doesn't matter if it was made with or without a pattern.  

-- Costumes do not have to be sewn.  They can be made of any materials you can find.

--FAMILY FRIENDLY costumes only.

-Costume must be 50% handmade. You may buy supplies or reuse old items to make your costume but the bulk must be produced via your handy work. Example: you are going to make a cowboy.  You buy or reuse jeans, t shirt and hat. You make the accessories. vest, chaps, holster, bandana and boot covers

--Entries will be accepted September 26th- October 21st in the form of a link party. 

For all the Masquerade Ball Rules Please see this Post. Here

--To enter, you must be a follower of Free Time Frolics  via Facebook and RSS.

--If you have a blog, please post the "I'm attending the Masquerade Ball" button on your sidebar and blog post!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.freetimefrolics.com/2012/09/masquerade-ball-link-party.html" title="Free Time Frolics"><img src="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/cosettescloset/attending150.jpg" " alt="Free Time Frolics" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Here are your Fantastic Judges!

Here are  list of the Prizes!  The Sponsors have been so generous! I am so grateful for their willingness to support the Masquerade Ball for it's first year! A Big Thanks to all of them!!!

First Prize

Fat Quarter Shop

Facebook

CeCe Caldwell Paint

 Second Prize

 Fabricnest.com

Pick Your Plum

Facebook / Twitter

Third Prize

Sassy Steals

 Facebook 

 Plaid

Facebook / Twitter

So are you ready??? I am so excited to see what you have made!  Please be sure to share this post with your friends and family.

Please be sure to follow Free Time Frolics to stay up on what is happening, features and the winner of this year's Masquerade Ball winner!

Linking to:

Please Welcome {Uncommon Designs}

Hi everyone!  We are Bonnie and Trish, sisters-in-law and the creators behind the craft blog, Uncommon Designs.  We are so excited to be on Free Time Frolics today as part of the Masquerade Ball!

Did you how much we love yarn...yep yarn! Now, neither of us knit or crochet but we sure do love to use yarn in other ways. We created these adorable "BOO" yarn letters with the help of a great tutorial by Let Birdz Fly and our inspiration was an incredible display over at  Eighteen 25.

We used smaller letters and instead of a cute little spider {Bonnie hates them has a mild phobia issue} hanging down, we made little, sparkly black bats "flying" off the letters!!

We simply spray painted wooden bats black. Then after applying a layer of glitter glue, we sprinkled very fine black glitter all over them! {The photo just does not do them justice..really!} We twisted floral wire, which we also spray painted black, around a pencil {see my cute son's "I Love Math" pencil there!} and pulled it out just a bit. Finally, we glued the wire to the back of the bat with our handy-dandy glue gun! {seriously, what did we do before them!!??}

  

Here is our sweet little "B" before the flying bats, it is fabulous as is...but...

Doesn't it look adorable with the bats?

Bonnie and Trish

Thanks so much Adrienne for having us here today! We would love for you to stop by Uncommon and say hello! You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ !  

 Join us each Wednesday for our "Uncommonly Yours" link party!

Thanks so much Bonnie and Trish!  I just love there site and those BOO letters are to die for!  For more great tutorials head over and visit and be sure to be a follower.  

For the Masquerade Ball giveaway click Here!

This post is Sponsored by:

Halloween Costume - Zombie

This is my husband  Zombie costume from last year.  His work decorates the entire building for all the employees kids to come through and collect candy.  Each Department picks a Theme.  Last year his department was plants vs. Zombies.  He was a Zombie. 

I apologize for the horrible picture.  I took it with my phone.  I forgot to use my real camera. Shame on me!!

I was pretty proud of him. He usually doesn't dress up. He even did the costume himself. So here is what he did.

Old suit, shirt and tie from the Goodwill.  The cheaper and uglier the better. 

Next he cut of one pant leg and ripped, hit with a hammer and rubbed the suit in some dirt.  

Voile you are finished.  We added a little black makeup under his eyes and he was the perfect Zombie.  Everyone at work loved it.  

This costume is super simple and quick on the go.  

The Masquerade Ball giveaway is still going on.  Please stop by to enter! Here

This Post is Sponsored by:
  

Please Welcome {Brassy Apple}

Here to help kick of the week is Megan from Brassy Apple.  She is amazing.  I love this amazing costume she made for her daughter.  To see more of Megan check out here blog.  Brassy Apple was one of the first blogs I ever followed and read. I kind of have a crush on her.   I recently got to meet her and I love even more now!  If that is even possible...

Hello hello! It's Megan of Brassy Apple! Super excited to be able to share my DIY Halloween Costume with you! Want to find more from me?.....Check out my links at the bottom of this tutorial! Enjoy!!

supplies: 

2 pieces of foam core board

cutting tool - exacto knife/box cutter, etc

fabric(s)

spray adhesive

tape

fabric marker (optional) 

yard stick (optional)

pencil

elastic? 

hotglue

(Depending on how tall your daughter is will determine if you need 2 pieces of foam core or 1)

Step 1: Place the 2 pieces of foam core together on the ground/floor. Have your daughter lay on the boards. I lined up her waist with the bottom of the first piece so I could cut a top out). Don't trace around her arms. Just her shoulders and sides and down along her hips. You don't have to press hard with the pencil. This will give you an idea of where to draw the outfit and how wide to fit her. 

Step 2: DRAW the outfit! Give yourself a general outfit to follow and cut out. This part is all up to you! Puffy sleeves, no sleeve, blouse-y look, tailored, etc. Remember to add the TABS to give it the paper doll look!  You will need two TABS for the shoulders and a few around the bottom part of the outfit too. I used a folded post it note to trace so my TABS were all the same size. (It might be helpful to tape the 2 pieces together a bit to make the outfit a smooth transition) I also used my yardstick to make some nice straight lines for the skirt. TIP: straight lines are easier to cut than curvey ones.

Step 3: Cut it out. Remember the lines you drew will be covered up by fabric! My box cutter cut very smoothly and easily through the boards.

Step 4: Tape/Secure the two pieces together so the two pieces are more stiff and connected as 1 piece. 

Step 5: Pick your fabrics! Mix it up - keep it solid. Whatever you fancy is - go for it! Lay your fabric right side down and turn your foam board over. Trace and cut with scissors! A fabric marker is helpful to trace on the fabric. Once it's cut, place it on the foam core again to make sure it's a good fit. Trim as necessary. 

Step 6: GLUE! Follow the directions on the bottle of spray adhesive to apply your fabric. Let dry. 

Step 7: Embellish! It's fun to add layers for a more polished look. Just remember to add in FLAT layers - not dimensional. If necessary - photocopy buttons, trim, etc to add to your outfit. If you add a belt to the outfit cut it extra long so it can be wrapped around your daughter as a way to help hold the costume on. Or attach some fabric or trim to the inside middle of the outfit as a "belt".

Step 8: Using hot glue you can attach 2 loops of elastic near the shoulder area. Use your daughter as a measure of where they should be placed and how large. These loops will make the costume easy to slip on and comfortable to wear. Don't make the loops too big that the costume sags (the belt in the middle is a good back up to keep the costume in it's place).  TIP: we found we didn't need elastic loops so try the belt option first and see if it works! 

DONE!!! You can create a hair accessory in paper doll style as well to match your outfit if you'd like! Don't forget the TAB. It could easily be attached to a headband to wear! Finish off the outfit with leggings, tights, shoes etc!

TIP: don't make it too long because it can be a bit hard to walk in with the stiff foam board hitting your daughters knees....lesson learned! 

We don't want any trick or treaters falling over or having a hard time! 

----------

I hoped you enjoyed my tutorial! - Megan

Connect with me to find out more! 

Brassy Apple blog

Brassy Apple Shop

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

and my weekly Refashion Web TV show!

Thanks Megan and your adorable Brassy Blossom. I love your tutorial. For more costume and Halloween Ideas please come back tomorrow!  Don't forget to enter the Masquerade Ball giveaway.

This post is Sponsored by: