Be the center of attention this Halloween by going as the guy who loves the spotlight on and off the field. Sure, Johnny Football's offseason antics gave us plenty of costume choices (inflatable swan, ball cap on backward, bottle of Champagne, anyone?), but we asked Barbara Hilow, owner of Historical Fashions by Barbara Anne, to help us dial in his favorite accessory: the money phone.
Money Phone Costume Instructions
4 -by-8 by-3/4 inch sheet of Polyshield foam
2/3 yard four-gauge clear plastic
2 yards ¾-inch self adhesive Velcro
2 yards green fabric
1 roll 24-inch white Kraft paper
1 can black spray paint
Hot glue gun
Crayons or markers
Spray adhesive
Fabric strips to make shoulder straps
Color printer
Utility knife and straight edge
Cording for drawstring
Space out cutout icons on the black foam piece and glue down with spray adhesive.
Make a second dollar personalized with a printed picture of Johnny Manziel for the back.
Stretch the clear plastic over the black piece with the icons and secure with hot glue.
Glue the dollar frame over the vinyl with spray adhesive. Glue the fake dollar to the metallic side of the second foam piece.
Attach fabric strips for shoulder straps to the unfinished sides of the front and back near the top with hot glue. These will tie over the shoulders.
For the sides, split one of the green fabric pieces lengthwise again so you have a total of three fabric pieces: one 30 by 72 inches and two 15 by 72 inches. Fold under an inch on one narrow end of each piece to make drawstring hole for the head at the top. Secure by sewing machine, hand sewing or a liquid stitch product.
Start with one long edge of the wider fabric piece. With the short edge that has the drawstring at the top, glue 12 inches of the long edge to the top of the front piece of foam, overlapping the front slightly to cover any foam not covered by your frame. Use spray adhesive, but be careful to mask areas you don't want glue on.
Continue gluing the long edge all the way down the long edge of the foam, leaving 4 to 6 inches at the bottom unglued. Repeat for the back of the phone, gluing the other long edge first to the top, then to the long edge. There will be extra fabric at the bottom that will get trimmed off later.
For the other side of the phone, glue one of the narrow pieces to the front and one to the back, following the same placement. Thread about a yard of drawstring through the casings at the neck of the costume, starting at one of the narrow edges and going all the way around the top.
Cut a 12-inch piece of Velcro. Stick one side to the long edge of the opening, starting near the casing. Attach the other side of the Velcro to the opposite edge, closing the costume at the shoulder. Leave a 10-inch space for your arm. Then continue with a strip of Velcro almost to the bottom of the costume.
On the side that does not open, make a 10-inch slit in the fabric 12 inches down from the casing for your other arm. Have someone help you tie the shoulder straps at the height you want the costume and trim off the extra fabric on the bottom.
To put on the costume, slide in between the front and back and stick your arm through the slit. Have a helper tie the shoulder straps at your desired height. Adjust the gathers so they are placed mostly over your shoulders. This helps to give the illusion of stacked money on the sides of the costume. Finally, have your helper close the Velcro above and below your arm.
Whether you're a traditionalist or a trendsetter, be the pum-king by handing out these candies, picked by B.A. Sweetie's owner Thomas Scheiman.
Fan Favorite
Reese's. If you liked them when you were 10 years old, you'll love them now. "It might be a little smaller, but it's the same ingredients, the same quality," he says. "It'll never change."
Brand-New
Zombie Food. Take a bite of these chocolate organs and red caramel goo oozes out. "It's gross and silly," Scheiman says. "[Kids] dare their friends to try it."
ThrowBack
Clark Bars. Created by David Clark in Pittsburgh in 1886, these old-school treats are a Midwest favorite. "Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania," he says, "it's a big item in those states."
Halloween's not just for the kids. We know your party honors spirits of another sort, so here's a fun game to liven things up.
