Last-minute costume idea in a pinch

Julie Andrews had a wonderful idea in “The Sound of Music”: She secretly made play clothes for all the children out of curtains. Yes, she sewed and sewed, and suddenly everyone was delightfully attired.

But you don’t need to sew to give your kids hours of dress-up fun. All you need are curtains with casings along the top, and even old ones at that! Use this clever technique for whipping up one-of-a-kind attire for backyard plays and imaginative fun. And for a last-minute costume idea, this is just perfect for children with fairy-tale fantasies.

Here’s How:

Maneuver a long piece of elastic (with a little safety pin on one end) through the casing of a curtain. When the elastic is all the way through, remove the safety pin, tie the elastic ends together, and you’ll have a gown or cape. Slip it around your child’s waist or shoulders and, if necessary, adjust the elastic and cut the fabric to shorten the length. For a cape, use safety pins to secure it on the shoulders to keep it loose around the neck.

Cape tip: A bright red or blue curtain makes a dynamic superhero cape. Help your kids cut out a felt initial and glue it on the back of the “cloak” for instant idol identification!

For a voluminous veil, slip one end of one of your daughter’s headbands into the casing, pushing on the rest of the material, inch by inch, until the entire casing is squeezed onto the band. You might want to try putting a little glue on the ends to keep the casing in place. Tie some ribbons around the ends of the band to float with the breeze.

For a lovely floral tiara, place a few silk flowers around the band and add a ribbon bow here and there.

Your kids will be thrilled with the flow, float and fun of it all.

Tip: Instead of masks, use face paint. Mix 1/2 teaspoon cold cream, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon water and a few drops of food coloring. Place different colors in sections of a muffin tin for an easy palette. Apply with a paintbrush or cotton swabs.