Help on Sam from Trick r Treat!

**RCIAG** · 08-06-2010,07:23 AM

Originally Posted by sossamonster

Hey everyone, I have another question!

I've decided to try out a paper mache head mask using a big balloon. How many layers of paper should I put over it? So far I did two last night and letting that dry before I try anymore. Thanks!

My balloon experience has been to put on 2 layers then pop the balloon at 2 layers, especially if it's a latex balloon because they tend to lose air overnight & the whole thing will cave in on you. The paper will still cave a bit but since you're going to be making a hole large enough to put over your head, you can easily pop the dented bits back out.

I'd go for 1 or 2 more layers after that, just for stability.

I'm mid-Jack-Skellington-head & that's what I did. My first attempt ended up a shriveled mess because I'd forgotten that latex balloons deflate quickly. If you do 1 or 2 layers & it deflates you can still blow it back up to get out the dents at that point.

**sossamonster** · 08-06-2010,08:50 AM

Originally Posted by RCIAG

My balloon experience has been to put on 2 layers then pop the balloon at 2 layers, especially if it's a latex balloon because they tend to lose air overnight & the whole thing will cave in on you. The paper will still cave a bit but since you're going to be making a hole large enough to put over your head, you can easily pop the dented bits back out.

I'd go for 1 or 2 more layers after that, just for stability.

I'm mid-Jack-Skellington-head & that's what I did. My first attempt ended up a shriveled mess because I'd forgotten that latex balloons deflate quickly. If you do 1 or 2 layers & it deflates you can still blow it back up to get out the dents at that point.

Thanks a lot! Yeah I noticed some deflation last night. Will add more layers!

**sossamonster** · 08-08-2010,04:38 PM

Okay, so I've decided that, to track my progress and to maybe help others who have similar ideas, I'll turn this into a tutorial of how to make Sam. However, I have to note as I stated before, that I'm not making the actual pajamas for the costume. I'm commissioning someone else to make that for me. However, everything else is completely my doing.

So far I have made the paper mache helmet I will use for the head. I bought a balloon that is bigger than the normal 12" inches, but not huge. I'm pleased with the shape and hope it turns out alright when it comes to applying the burlap. I also plan on painting the helmet black because colors show through burlap pretty well in some light.

I finished one glove so far. I had some fingerless gloves already, but I cut the fingers even shorter. Then I glued strips of burlap around the fingers. What I did next had absolutely no planning behind it. The glove is made up of many different pieces of burlap. I wasn't sure of what kind of pattern I should have made, and was anxious, so I just cut out some random pieces and started hot gluing them to the glove, covering all of the spots that shown from the original glove. Oh, I also did this WHILE WEARING THE GLOVES, haha. I did this because a glove without a hand in it is smaller and contracted than when your hand is actually in it. Don't worry, I didn't burn myself. These were pretty thick gloves. Even though Sam's gloves don't look like it's made from loads of different pieces, I am pleased with the result. As long as you match up the seams, it should look good. I think it even gives it a creepier feel to it. Almost like Sam was like "screw perfection, I have to kill people!"

Here are some pictures of the gloves.

The bottoms of the glove will stay as they are, to help me put on and remove them. They will be covered by the wrists of the costume, anyway.

I'll post more as I continue. The mask is the most daunting and important part of this costume, so we'll see how I figure that one out.

**sossamonster** · 08-09-2010,07:29 PM

Second glove finished. A little more planning than the first, although I like the fit of the first better.

**AmFatallyYours** · 08-09-2010,07:45 PM

Looking good! Can't wait to see this all come together.

**sossamonster** · 08-09-2010,07:55 PM

Originally Posted by AmFatallyYours

Looking good! Can't wait to see this all come together.

Thanks! I'm excited about the mask but I really don't want to mess it up!

**sossamonster** · 08-24-2010,05:58 PM

I just got my costume today from the person who made it for me. Looks great, IMO. The color is pretty much right on. I wish the butt flap was a U-shape like Sam's, but this will do! I'll replace the butt flap buttons for black ones, as well. The feet have white tips and have elastic under them to act as shoe covers. Here's some pics.