Very, very occasionally I do something that’s not half bad. That happened this week. And I’m so damned chuffed, I’m sharing it with you on here because it’s a brilliant idea and it’s what we’re doing from now on.

With three birthdays this weekend, we’d already got the presents sorted but not the wrapping paper. Thanks to funny tummies, we skipped on swimming and spent the morning snuggling up under a blanket instead. By lunch, I was feeling like a guilty lazy mum so thought I’d be brave and set up some painting. But what? Then it hit me;

We’d make our own wrapping paper. We had everything we needed – paints, bib, huge roll of paper from Ikea. So this is how it went down;

Having set stuff up in the kitchen, I drew three themed pictures; butterflies, jungle and under the sea. These matched the presents.

Because I’m lazy, I can’t be doing with paint pallets. Instead, I splurged the paint directly on to the picture tactically. That way Little L could schmoosh it around as she wished.

When I say schmoosh, I mean it literally. Having been taught to do so at nursery, Little L automatically started painting and using her hands. It’s all good – I still didn’t have to clean paint pallets so I was happy.

And so, to the finished article. Cheap (free!), entertained Little L, and end-of-painting-time-tantrums were avoided by the golden phrase ‘this is the last one now, okay?’

I was really rather impressed at what happened next. I put the rag on the table to clean it and Little L took over to do it herself. A child who paints then cleans up after herself. I know, I have no idea either. Blooming well done Busy Bees nursery for training her up, that’s all I say.

And that’s your lot. 15 minutes worth of me being impressed at what a mess it wasn’t. Time where Little L was impressively focused. A result that meant funkily wrapped presents. So if you invite Little L to a party, expect a one-of-a-kind wrapping on the gift.

Click here to see the last update of the costume inspiration list for World Book Day. Don’t forget to let me know which you did so I can add it to the list for next year!

Barbarella – Barbarella
Black Russian – Black Russian outfit
Black Widow – Black spider costume
Bloody Mary –Bloodied nativity costume with doll baby Jesus
Blue Hawaiian – Hawaiian outfit in blue
Bridesmaid Cooler – Bridesmaid wearing sunglasses
Chocolate Sailor – Sailor outfit with lots of chocolates
Cockney Champagne – Pearly King with a champagne badge
Eggnog – Noggin the Nog (Viking) with lots of Kinder Eggs or similar
Fallen Angel – Evil angel costume
Mai Tai – Wear a tie with the label ‘this tie is the property of [your name]’
Manhattan – Man with a hat on
Mexican Chocolate – Mexican with lots of chocolate
Naked Twister – Wear a Twister mat and little else
Pina Colada – wear a colander with attached penises
Shandy – Sandy from Grease but pissed
Shirley Temple – Shirley Temple
Strawberry Bandit -Typical burglar costume but in red with a green mask/hat
Strawberry Flapper – Flapper costume with attached strawberries
White Russian – White Russian outfit

In a few days, i.e. once the party has been and gone, I will publish one of those handy ‘costume idea’ lists including pictures for y’all. But until then, I’m remaining tight lipped. Half the fun of costume parties is the mystery of what everyone goes as, and I can’t be giving any clues away on here of course…

Ashes to Ashes – Gene Hunt, Alex Drake
Doctor Who – any of the Doctors, Ace, Rose, Martha, Cyberman, Dalek, Captain Jack
Family Guy – Peter, Lois, Chris, Meg, Stewie, Brian, Quagmire, Cleveland and all the rest
Firefly – Captain Mal, Zoe, Wash, Inara, Jayne, Kaylee, Simon, River, Shepherd
Futurama – Fry, Leela, Bender, Hermes, Dr Zoidberg, the Professor, Amy, Zapp Branigan
Life on Mars – Gene Hunt, Sam Tyler
Red Dwarf – Lister, Arnold Rimmer, Ace Rimmer, Kryten, Cat, Dwayne Dibley, Kochanski, Mr Flibble, Holly
The Simpsons – Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Flanders, Nelson and all the rest
South Park – Cartman, Kenny, Kyle, Stan and the rest
Top Gear – if you can go as all three (plus the Stig) you’re on to a winner *new*

The short answer is ‘no, but you may get into it more if you do’.

The long answer is this:
The average audience for Rocky Horror (costume wise) is about 50/50. Of those dressed up, they go across the whole spectrum – die hards in show accurate costumes, gangs in basques and boas, to civvies with lippie. That’s all for the lads and the ladies.

Speaking of which, chaps, you don’t have to wear make up. I know! Revelationary. There’s Brad, the Narrator and Eddie to choose from. Girls, you don’t have to walk around in a thong! There’s Janet’s lovely pink dress, a Phantom and Columbia to choose from.

If you want to be a member of the plain clothes force, that’s okay too! You might want to bring something in a bag – sunglasses, a paper hat and a lipstick – in the case you find yourself the only one not dressed up and therefore feeling a bit left out. But I’ve seen the show a number of times in my normal gear. It’s really okay.

Admittedly, I now have my heart set on creating a stage accurate Phantom costume for April, but until then I’m happy watching it in a corset and jeans for a bit. No need to get my bottom out unnecessarily, but great if everyone else wants to!

*4 actually
Lots of piccies in here care of the lovely Timewarp, the official Rocky Horror fan club

All Bar One – paint every number over your top over and over again, except the number 1
Anchor
Bat and Ball
The Black Cap
The Blind Beggar – host to 10,000 London cabbies, all seemingly present at the Kray shoot out.
Boathouse
Bricklayer’s Arms – brickie
The Bright Star
The Butcher
The Castle
Cat and Fiddle
Charlie Brown’s
The Chequers – black and white dress
Cock and Bull – oh, behave.
The Compasses
Cricketers
Cross Keys
The Crown – Beefeater
The Devil’s Punchbowl
Dirty Dick’s – Dick Turpin
Dog and Bear
Dog and Duck
The English Rose
The Fisherman’s Arms
Flame – gay pub in Luton
The Fox
Fox and Hounds
George and the Dragon – think Saint George in his knight phase
The Globe
The Grapes
Green Man – meant to be a spirit of the woods; with modernisation, now the Green Giant who sells sweetcorn
The Halfway House
The Highwayman – Dick Turpin
Hog’s Head
Hope and Anchor
The Horseshoe
Hungry Horse
The Jolly Sailor
King’s Arms/Head – choose a king
Leaky Cauldron
Lord Nelson
Man in the Moon – think the Mighty Boosh
Nag’s Head
The Phoenix
Pig and Whistle
Pink Punters
Prince of Wales
The Queen Vic – Queen Victoria
Queen’s Arms/Head – choose a queen
The Railway Tavern
Red Dragon
Red Lion
Robin Hood
Rose and Crown
Sherlock Holmes – the famous detective
Slug and Lettuce
The Smugglers
Three Broomsticks
Three Tuns
Unicorn
White Bear
White Hart
White Horse
White Lion
The Winchester – go as Shaun of the Dead
The Woolpack – sheep

The Jackie O costume is a godsend – pretty good on colour and shape and with a high neck – golddust! All it takes is a gingham collar and belt, white buttons and a bit of white trim, and it’ll look perfect with a white cardigan over the top. Who wants bulky arms under a cardi anyway?
Always available on Ebay for cheaper than the stores (watch our for p&p), this is a great solution. You should be able to do the entire outfit for ?30.

I may not maintain the Student’s Guide to Rocky Horror Costumes anymore, but I still keep my eye out for bargains!

Aladdin – Aladdin
Alice – Alice in Wonderland
Anamaria – voodoo witch from Pirates of the Caribbean
Ariel – The Little Mermaid
Beast – Beauty & the Beast
Belle – Beauty & the Beast
Bert the Chimney Sweep – Mary Poppins
Boo – Monsters Inc.
Buzz Lightyear – Toy Story
Captain Hook – Peter Pan
Cheerleader – High School Musical
Cheshire Cat – Alice in Wonderland
Christopher Robin – Winnie the Pooh
Cinderella – Cinderella
Cruella De Ville – 101 Dalmations
Davy Crockett – Davy Crockett
Donald Duck – general Disney
Dwarf (Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy and the other one) – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Edna Mode – The Incredibles
Eeyore – Winnie the Pooh
Elizabeth Swann – Pirates of the Caribbean
Eve – Wall~E
Evil Queen – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Gabriella – High School Musical
Gaston – Beauty & the Beast
Genie – Aladdin
Gepetto – Pinocchio
Goofy – general Disney
Greek Chorus – Hercules
Hercules – Hercules
Hocus Pocus witch – Hocus Pocus
The Incredibles – The Incredibles
Jack Sparrow – Pirates of the Caribbean
Jessie – Toy Story 2
King Trident – The Little Mermaid
Mad Hatter – Alice in Wonderland
Mary Poppins – Mary Poppins
Mickey Mouse – general Disney
Milleficent – Evil witch from Sleeping Beauty
Minnie Mouse – general Disney
Mowgli – The Jungle Book
Mr Potato Head – Toy Story
Peter Pan – Peter Pan
Piglet – Winnie the Pooh
Pinocchio – Pinocchio
Pocahontas – Pocahontas
Pongo – 101 Dalmations
Prince Charming – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Princess Jasmin – Aladdin
Queen of Hearts – Alice in Wonderland
Sebastian the Crab – The Little Mermaid
Simba – the Lion King
Sleeping Beauty – Sleeping Beauty
Smee – Peter Pan
Snow White – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Suit of armour – Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Sully – Monsters Inc.
Tarzan – Tarzan
Tigger – Winnie the Pooh
Tinkerbell – Peter Pan
Troy – High School Musical
Tweedledum & Tweedledee – Alice in Wonderland
Ursula – The Little Mermaid
Walle – Wall~E
Wendy – Peter Pan
White Rabbit – Alice in Wonderland
Winnie the Pooh – Winnie the Pooh
Woody – Toy Story

Not generally associated with Disney, they also made the live action version of Popeye, so there’s him, Olive Oil and Bluto to choose from too.