Creepy Crawly Chef CostumeMmmm, what's cooking for dinner? A severed head!In the slide show above, you're viewing the Creepy Crawly Chef costume created by Bonnie and Beth Abelew of New York. This eerie chef's outfit is accompanied by a severed head on a table...which could be used as a costume or (if you use a fake head) as a decoration. On this page, Bonnie and Beth will explain how you can make this Halloween showpiece, too! Creepy Crawly Chef Costume...by Bonnie and Beth AbelewThere's a mad buggy chef on the loose, and he's cooking up a strange concoction. This "tasty" treat of his consists mainly of a body-less head of a creepy creature, which is on a platter covered with bugs on top of a table with spooky ingredients. The table is part of the costume and will move with the wearer. This creepy ensemble is great for couples or pairs to wear together. Each costume could also be used separately, if desired. It could worn by dogs, as shown here, or also by humans.This fun and eerie Halloween costume and/or decoration is easy to make---a great project for beginners! Here's how you can make your friends do a double-take when they come to your Halloween party! Materials needed for both the Chef and the "Dinner"-- 1.) 1 Large Sheet of Foam Board 2.) Plastic Tablecloth (in any color desired) 3.) 1 Broiler Pan made of Foil 4.) Scissors or Craft Knife 5.) Plastic Bottles (Such as from Spices) 6.) White Paper and Glue or Address Labels 7.) Permanent Markers 8.) Assorted Plastic Bugs 9.) Cloth or Paper Chef's Hat 10) Plain Canvas Apron 11) Fabric Glue and a Strong Glue or Glue Gun 12) Duct Tape 13) Green Wig 14) Optional: Plastic Knife, foam, Elastic String (if being worn by a dog), All Black or All White Shirt and Pants (if being worn by a human) Instructions for making the "table" costumeStep 1: Measure the head of the person or dog wearing the table costume.Step 2: Draw a circle on the center of the foam board slightly larger than the head measurements and cut it out, discarding the inner circle. Try on the foam board - it should get over the wearer's head, and sit around the neck, resting on the shoulders. If the foam board is very large, you can trim it smaller so that it is a good size for wearing around when walking. Step 3: Use a marker to trace the foamboard circle onto the middle of the tablecloth, and cut out. Try on the foamboard with the tablecloth on top; if the tablecloth drags on the ground, the bottom edges should be trimmed so that they are just above the floor. Step 4: Draw a circle with a marker onto the middle of the foil broiler pan. You may want to make the circle slightly smaller than the previous ones, but make sure it is big enough to go over the head. Cut out the circle and cover the cut edges with duct tape to make sure it doesn't scratch the wearer. Step 5: Glue plastic bugs all over the green wig using fabric glue. If the costume is being worn by a dog, tie elastic string to both sides to keep it in place Step 6: Fix up items to place on the "table". Labels or papers can be put on empty spice bottles and spooky names written on them (such as Bug Bile or Arachnid Eggs.) The bottles can be filled with extra small bugs or with green foam, but nothing heavy should be used. Step 7: Bottles and a few loose bugs should be glued onto the tablecloth in a nice arrangement with strong glue or glue gun. To wear the table costume, place the foamboard over head first, then the tablecloth, then the broiler tin, and last of all, place the wig onto the head. A creepy bodyless head should now appear on a platter! How to make the Chef's CostumeStep 1: Decorate the paper chef's hat by gluing on plastic bugs all over it with fabric glue. Use a green permanent marker to write "Creepy Crawly Chef" on the front. Elastic string should be tied to both ends if being worn by a dog.Step 2: Decorate the apron by gluing on bugs with fabric glue. (See Picture 5) If the apron has a pocket, a plastic knife can be stuck in to enhance the effect. It could also be carried....or even brandished menacingly at your guests! Step 3: If being worn by a human, wear all black or all white clothing underneath the apron. There you have it! Making these costumes for our dogs was a lot of fun. The illusion of the head on the table seemed very real. At times when we were placing items on the "table", we forgot there was a real dog there, and it just seemed like a table. Aladdin was holding so still, it really took on the illusion!
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