OBSESSED: (Creepy?) Doll Parts

I hesitate to label doll parts as "creepy" (thus the question mark in the title of this post) because they're not inherently scary or bad, but many people show anything from mild discomfort to full on terror when presented with them. I never had an interest in dolls. As a child, an elderly neighbor invited me over to see her "doll room," which is exactly what you're picturing: a bedroom filled to the brim with dolls. Dolls on shelves, dolls on furniture, dolls in boxes, dolls in Victorian dresses. DOLLS. This visit not only confirmed my doll apathy, but also showed me that the path of a doll lover could end somewhere really weird. I was always more of a stuffed animal girl, anyway.

I understand the creep factor, but I don't fear dolls, and I'm even oddly drawn to doll parts and unique things made from those parts. A whole doll just isn't my jam, but cut off its arms and maybe stick 'em on earrings - then we're talking! Here are some potentially creepy, maybe cute, definitely interesting items made from doll parts that I'm obsessed with:

1. These blank faces are perfect to stuff full of your favorite greenery! It kind of looks like crazy hair, and crazy hair on a baby is ALWAYS funny. {Buy Here}

2. "Please pass the doll legs! Oh, I meant salt and pepper!" A classic dinnertime mistake, but there's no longer a need to differentiate with these disturbing little gems. {Buy Here}

3. Somehow this hollow doll head manages to look - dare I say? - sophisticated. You know, within the realm of skull-based drinkware. {Buy Here}

4. With this set of hooks, it'll be like your own lil' three-handed youngster is tossing you your keys. What could be cuter, and more practical, than that? {Buy Here}

5. I love a good hand soap! Hand soap - get it? Really, though, give yourself a high five every time you scrub up. {Buy Here}

6. Keep your place in any book and trick people into thinking you're harboring tiny creatures within the pages. Win-win! {Buy Here}

7. On a cozy night, watch a little netflix, pop a tealight in her head, and watch it burn while she stares back at you, despite her lack of eyes. Talk about relaxing! {Buy Here}

8. This bottle stopper is great for keeping this "leftover wine" thing that some people seem to have, plus it makes it look like your liquids are spawning. {Buy Here}

9. I don't have an immediate use for these vintage fabric doll faces, but I'm sure I could find something fun to make with them. New phone case, anyone? {Buy Here}

10. This is not only a piece of art created from an old doll head and real quills - it can also hold photos, papers or memos. Very versatile! {Buy Here}

11. You could store candy, jewelry, or other trinkets in this doll-arm-supported dish, or you could go full on creep mode and use it for cereal. {Buy Here}

12. This studded doll head brooch is so adorable to me, which I'm now recognizing as a sign that this obsession may have me veering into "doll room" territory. {Buy Here}

13. We can't forget the queen of all dolls, Barbie. Carry her disembodied arm with you wherever you wander for a slightly horrifying slice of childhood. {Buy Here}

14. More of a leg girl? Pop these danglers into your ears and catch peripheral glimpses of Barbie's dainty feet all day. Bonus: I bet you could find some amazing shoes to attach here. {Buy Here}

Are you scared of dolls? What would you say if a neighbor invited you to their "doll room?" Don't you kind of want to stuff things into a doll head now?

DIY: Halloween Costume Ideas Part 2

{Read Part 1 Here}

I'm back with more DIY Halloween costume ideas - let's just get started!

DIY Frida Kahlo Costume

This costume seems fun to me, not only because of all the bright colors and statement jewelry you could wear, but because few other costumes call for a drawn-on unibrow and mustache on a lady. Rare opportunities should be savored! Frida was the coolest, and dressing like her is SO simple if you have any manner of bright, layer-friendly clothes and bold accessories. Don't forget the braids!

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DIY Watermelon Slice Costume

This project is so painless, it might actually be easier than eating a watermelon slice (no messy hands either!). Find a pink dress, preferably A-line, cut out some green and white felt or fabric trim for the hem, attach with fabric glue and cut/glue black seeds all over the dress. Pair it with green tights or shoes and you're done! If you don't want to ruin (enhance?) the dress permanently, you can always use fabric tape or pins for the pieces instead.

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DIY Paula Abdul & MC Skat Kat Costume

Couples costume! If you're not on the cutting edge of late 80s music videos and somehow don't know this rapping cat, watch the video first. Okay. Throw on a simple black dress, tights and heels with teased hair. Your partner wears a white tank top and sneakers, loose blue pants, suspenders and perhaps drawn on whiskers. MC Skat Kat has his own Wikipedia page, which describes him as a "street philosopher with an alley Kat point of view," if that helps you get into character.

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DIY Jambi from Pee-Wee's Playhouse Costume

If you didn't have a Pee-Wee's Playhouse phase at some point, I'm genuinely sorry to hear that. Within the show there are so many good costume opportunities, but Jambi the Genie is as flashy as they come. Paint your face teal, with black winged eyeliner, gold brows and a ruby red lip. Tie a red scarf on your head and accent with a gold headband and jeweled brooch. For the box, cut and paint a cardboard box and decorate with gems. Wear a black turtleneck to create the illusion that you're a floating head. Throw on a single gold hoop and spend the night granting wishes, you magic maker.

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DIY Paper Doll Costume

I might use this idea myself at some point, and I'd recommend this as a good last minute-ish costume. The idea here is to look like your "clothes" are sitting on top of your body, not that you're wearing them, like a paper doll. Cut out clothing shapes from poster board or foam board and either paint designs or cover them with scrapbook or wrapping paper. Make sure to draw paper 'tabs' around your clothes, which you should outline with a black marker. Attach ribbon to the back of the pieces and hang/attach to yourself. Throw on a doll wig for good measure too.

What kind of other fun Halloween DIY projects are you working on? Are you even dressing up this year? Did you expect to see a Paula Abdul costume here?

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OBSESSED: Boopsie Daisy

Little Monsters Print Set

I don't take my obsessions lightly, nor do I feature a lot of Etsy shops here because there are just SO MANY good ones that I favorite and stalk on a regular basis, but Boopsie Daisy is Different with a capital "D". Boopsie Daisy (hmmm, I'll call it 'Boopsie' for short) is full of incredibly colorful kitschy art prints and illustrations featuring such fine sights as vintage kitties answering the phone, doll-faced mermaids, a cutesy deer wearing a strawberry as a hat and a cheeky baby face peering out hilariously from a pile of ridged potato chips. So, it might not be for everyone, but it's certainly for me!

The bright hues of pink, blue and orange catch your eye, while the drips of melting ice cream cones and heavily sprinkled donuts keep your attention. It's art with a sense of humor and a major sense of kitsch. I drool over the photography prints, but the dreamy illustrations (think winking cotton candy and high-school-era Bride of Frankenstein) are also completely original and often adorable. Plus, the prints come with amazing pun-filled names (you'll meet "Spag Eddie" and "Peteza" below) to keep the tongue-in-cheek theme going.

Potato Chip Print  //  Olivia Print

Broc Ollie Print  //  Spag Eddie Print

Diggin the Dog Print  //  Eat It Doll Up Print

Bun & Jerry Print  //  Cotton Candy Print

Triple Skewpie Print  //  Doughnt Eat Me Print

One Sweet Ride Print  //  Peas Eat Healthy Print

A Ghoul's Gotta Print  //  Deep Sea Print

Carolyn Guine Print  //  Sue Shi Print  //  Pam Cake Print
Cuke Amber Print  //  Cornelius Print  //  Marshmallows & Coco Print
YoGerti Print  //  Peteza Print  //  Caesar Sally Print

Described as "a 1950s diner on an acid trip," Boopsie's art is the perfect soft serve twist of creepy and cute, with just a bit of sweetness sprinkled on top. Check out the Boopsie Daisy Etsy shop and the Boopsie Daisy Flickr for more delightful wonders!

Do you like your art kitschy? Could you stand to have smiling doll heads all over your walls? What kind of fun art are you creeping on Etsy? Let me know in the comments so I can creep along with you!

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