he wanted to be a pickup truck

HOW TO MAKE A PICKUP TRUCK COSTUME



1. Find a suitable box. This old car seat one did nicely. After many jabs and pokes at it, ask husband (he of the hairy arms) to cut it out. Husband does this, even measuring to make sure both sides match.



2.Use a discarded flap for the hood (make a small slit in 'doors', slide flap in to anchor. Tape edges down.) Paint the whole shebang blue with stippling brush left over from three second fascination with learning to tole paint, as this will be the only paint brush you can find in the house. Remember you're out of wine. Cut massive hole in bottom of box (to insert child) and thread straps through.



3. Take sheet of heavy-duty plastic (I used a heavy dry cleaning bag) and hot glue to dashboard. Stretch plastic up over side pieces, gluing as you go. Frighten both cats with your stomping and swearing as you sizzle your fingers. Cut excess plastic off, tape edges. Take extra piece of box and stretch it across top of windshield. (I taped it to it.) Again, go at it with the blue paint. Make grill out of silver paint, headlights out of white. Realize you will never in a trillion years make perfect circles for headlights. Fret. It is at that moment the mantra 'this is a child's costume' will begin running through your head.
Wonder if there's any cooking sherry hidden in the pantry.



4. Paint four heavy duty thick paper plates brown and hot glue them to sides of truck for wheels. Use end of paintbrush to make lines on grill. Realize you're almost at the end. Resolve to call Mom more, remembering all the princess crowns she made you out of glitter, jewels, and twisty pipe cleaners. Do cute stuff on car - gas cap says 'Regular Boy Fuel Only' and bumper sticker says 'HONK IF YOU LOVE CANDY'. Yay! It's midnight! (And Blogger won't let me upload photos now. I guess I'm over my limit? Sigh. )

I'll get pictures tomorrow of him wearing it.