Dear Jamie,

I came across these costumes in The Best of Martha Stewart Halloween Handbook and laughed out loud. I vividly remember Kiersten and I coming up with this concept when Grady said he wanted to be a “Dragon Heart” for Halloween. Seeing that Trey was quickly going to say the same thing, we did what all good aunts would do… we changed the subject. A discussion of Medieval Knights, swords, battles, and dragon slayings ensued. Anyways, I saw these costumes and had to share because 1) You can make them out of household odds and ends and 2) they are genius.

I present Martha Stewarts Knight & Dragon…

This creation is courtesy of the baking aisle! The breastplate and the dragon’s scales are candy cups; the leg and arm armor is cut from aluminum pans; a folded pie tin is the hilt of the foil-clad broadsword.

~ Now for Grady’s dragon costume we would definitely have to age it up a bit however the concept is there. Wouldn’t mittens with claws, and fake flames (either a hand-held sign, or mini fan blowing strips of fabric) be so great?!

Tools and Materials
2 packs foil candy cups
1 box brass paper fasteners
1 foil roasting pan
3 foil pie pans
1 roll aluminum foil
12 kitchen sponges

Breastplate How-To
You’ll need 100 silver foil candy cups; flatten and halve each. Lay a 2-foot piece of 1/2-inch-wide double-fold bias tape in a U shape.

Using craft glue, attach a row of half circles inside fold, leaving room for ties. Using transparent tape, add on rows of foil cups until desired size is reached.
Wear over gray sweatshirt, if desired.

Headband How-To

Glue together overlapping foil half circles; stud with brass paper fasteners.
Cover fastener prongs on inside with cloth tape for comfort.
Make a duct-tape belt (sticky sides facing) to cinch sweatshirt.

Armor How-To

Shape pieces from foil pans. Turn edges in; staple ribbon to corners to tie. Use mini pie pans for knees.

Dragon Spikes and Tail How-To

Using craft glue, line the middle of the back of a sleeper and a matching hat with gold-colored candy cups cut in quarters.
Cut tail shape from cardboard; insert into a leg cut from a pair of red tights. Stuff with batting; stitch closed.
Sew wide end to sleeper. Hot-glue more gold cups to tail. Cut sponges into wave shapes; hot-glue along spine.

Cheers to homemade Halloween Costumes

xoxo keighley

Images/Directions via Marthastewart.com