This idea for a Viking helmet has been floating around in my brain for a couple of years now and I finally got around to trying it out for this Halloween.

Well, as you can see, it looks amazing and was really very easy to do. The base of the helmet is my kitchen steel mixing bowl. I used the size that most fit my daughter's head. Added some polished cow horns that were purchased online, a thrift store leather coat and some fake fur. That's it, and the best part: I didn't have to sew a stitch.

Mixing Bowl $4.00 at Wal-Mart
Polished cow horns $8.00 each at Woodenhawk Trading Company $16.00
Leather coat at St. Vincent DePaul $6.99
Fake fur from the fabric store 1.5 yards $15.00
Approximate Total $42.00

Step 1: SUPPLIES:

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Steel mixing bowl
cow horns
leather jacket
fake fur
strong glue
hot glue and hot glue gun
Velcro
scissors

OPTIONAL:
jigsaw
scrap wood
drill and drill bits
2 screws

Step 2: HELMET:

Step 3: THE BELT:

Using one of the buttons and holes already part of the leather jacket, I made a skirt like belt for the costume. Very simple to do but I did add some slits and tied the pieces together for some added strength. Do not glue leather together with hot glue. It will not hold.

Step 4: THE JACKET:

I used the top part of the leather jacket to make this shoulder cover. Again, I used the existing button and trimmed it in fake fur.

Step 5: ARM & LEG BANDS:

Simply criss-crossed some leather strips to make these arm and leg bands. I used Velcro to secure them, but for a more secure closure I should have used leather ties. The glued on Velcro worked fine and didn't fall off, but it also was noticeable in the pictures.

Step 6: TRICK-OR-TREAT BAG:

A folded over piece of the fur formed this amazing trick-or-treat bag. A few strips of leather and she was off and running.

My daughter wore all black for the base of the costume, including black boots.

Thanks for looking and Happy Halloween!