Yard Gnome Riding a Snail

[Giailh]

Here is my husband's costume.  (Click on the pics to make them larger)



He named it Speedy and held a stick with a carrot (to encourage the snail to go).  He found a picture of a similar one on the web for inspiration.  There were no plans, just trial and error.  It is made of chicken wire, batting, fabric, and pool noodles.  The eyes are Styrofoam balls.  It has straps to hang off his shoulders and he wore it several times for various events.  It took about a month to make (work nights after work).  I had a slight less elaborate costume as a female yard gnome to compliment his.

[acidtrix]

HOLY CRAP! you win!! (what i don't know, but you definitely win!) you did a great job

[Fraugee728]

That is just awesome...I love garden gnomes!  My grandma used to have a ton of them.

Absolutely fabulous!!

[CraftyMcCrafterson]

Ridiculously CUTE! Awesome job!

[chocolatebutton]

dear oh dear, i was looking at this for ages wondering if it was motorized and how it moved.
this is so cool.. i agree with first commenter.. you win.. not sure what, but you win!

[GelinaJo]

This costume is AWESOME!!!! I too sat here for a second trying to figure out how he could get it to move! ..a wagon... wheels..? Hehe.. then I realized that those were fake legs and he could just walk! Haha.. the legs look soooo realistic! Awesome job! My father in law gets teased a lot because he looks like a garden gnome...without a costume! This would be perfect for him

[Trekky]

That is such an original costume - its great! The snail is soooo cute! Well done

[thisbirdsabsurd]

I LOVE this - what a fun costume!!!

[zuliblu]

Heck  ya!  That is awesome, what a good sport your DH is!!

[iamdolleyes]

hahaha that's great!

[JupiterLullaby]

Well done!  The legs are super-realistic, and the whole thing is awesome, even if garden gnomes do sort of freak me out a bit.

[cathiphop]

this is fantastic! It makes me so happy and I'm sure it caused everyone who saw it to smile!!!

[kylieultra]

You have made me have an appreciation for garden gnomes,  I mean... further than their kitschiness

Fantastic job, and you look absolutely adorable and make a great gnome!

[camilaustral]

awesome
and so funny

[Jester~Fair]

XD priceless! Awesome job!

[LolaRivers]

i love it!

[thepaintinglibra]

HAHAHA love it!!

[violetsky]

too friggin' cute! <3

[BonEsInspired]

Amazing!!
That's just awesome

[spaz2phreek]

Oh my gosh! That is so freaking great!

[ashleyjustine]

holy noodles....this rocks so hard.

[jndperry]

Wow, that is very creative!  I love the fake legs, I bet you had a few people confused.  Too fun!

[Giailh]

Thanks everyone for your kind words.  My husband is a kid's pastor so is used to be a bit crazy.  When he wore this to the 3-year old preschool party, one boy kept trying to figure out how it moved.  He finally looked under the shell and said, "Hey!  There is a person under there!"  Even adults thought someone was under the shell making it move.  It was fun to watch other people try and figure it out.

The legs creeped me out BAD!

[toeknee]

This is one of the most creative ideas I've ever seen. ROCKS SO HARD

[Phildude]

Flipping brilliant !!

[Summerset]

Oh. My. God.   That is so rad I don't even know where to begin!

[Urban Threads]

I Love it!!  really well done.

[Jatoha]

That is just full of all kinds of awesome!

Getting the legs right must be the key to pulling off these kinds of costumes, because this one works so well.  You got the legs just right!!

And I LOVE the carrot on a stick detail!!  It just adds so much!!

I'm clicking *this rocks!*

[the1irishgirl]

Wow!  Yep, you definitely win!

[KrisCreates]

OMG!!!  this is awesome!!!!  I love it!

[McJulie-O]

Thanks everyone for your kind words.  My husband is a kid's pastor so is used to be a bit crazy.  When he wore this to the 3-year old preschool party, one boy kept trying to figure out how it moved.  He finally looked under the shell and said, "Hey!  There is a person under there!"  Even adults thought someone was under the shell making it move.  It was fun to watch other people try and figure it out.

The legs creeped me out BAD!

"Hey!  There is a person under there!" Oh, Hahahahahaha! That is wonderful!

I must ask, though....how is he supporting all that...Suspenders? It must weigh a significant amount! Never mind....I saw it in the original post that it was straps over his shoulders ..But still could you estimate how much it weighed?

[ktgotskills]

Anyone else reminded of david the gnome? Or some movie I think, with puppets, that had a similar thing. I'm thinking maybe the neverending story?

Anyways, LOVE it.

[SciFunk]

Hahahaha yes! That's freaking awesome! The snail is super great.

[varandra]

I love this!!! I really made me laugh! The snail is fabulous!

[Michellegio_sew]

I thought that was the travelocity gnome!

that is an amazing project! you did great!

[blue_teal]

thats so cool! It really looks like he's riding the snail!

[Bananna_AnnA]

You are a genius.

[danfreek22]

hahaha! i love this!
i'm a total gnome enthusiast!

great job! 
i'm jealous

[Cheebz]

Spitzveidt!

[SheridanLA]

that is so awesome I can't even stand it!!!!

[muffinsgomoo]

Not only is it a GREAT costume idea, it is also executed beautifully!

[Aikibookworm]

SQUEEEEEEEEEeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*pant* *pant* *pant* *pant*

SSSSQQQQQQQQUUUUUUU EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eEEEEEEE!!!!

This is why the word awesome was invented.

[LiveLongandCraft]

Awesome! I love garden gnomes. I even have one tattooed on me!

[evolpixie]

OMG i loooove this! It's hilarious! wow!

[megtc81]

Love it... really made me laugh! 

[betheaston]

This is ABSOLUTELY GNOME-AZING!!! I blogged about it here - http://www.bettergnomesandgarden.com/2009/10/most-amazing-gnome-costume-yet.html. Hope you don't mind - too gneat gnot to share with gnome lovers!

[MsCraftyPants]

This is spectacular! Took me right back to my days of pouring over books of David the Gnome...

[Retro_Rose]

Truly awesome.