Mermaid Treasure Costume

My 9 year old daughter wanted to be a mermaid being carried by a pirate this year. She always loves the optical illusion costumes. We made the pirate frame with coat hangers, a store-bought mask, and some clothes from out dress up box, and used a belt on the bottom to attach him to her back. The pirate's hands are holding a treasure chest, made with a painted cardboard box and filled with paper shopping bags/old jewelry, spray painted metallic gold. She wore a black leotard, to which we attached the homemaid mermaid body, stuffed with fiber fill. She had a ball in the school parade! It was a little difficult to keep up with her brothers while trick-or treating, but many of our neighbors gave her double candy for the mermaid and the pirate:)