/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

I'm going to be Princess Bubblegum from Adventure Time for Halloween. I have friends who are going to be Marceline, Finn and Jake.

I'm having a ton of trouble with my dress. I'd like to make it myself because it's a relatively easy design, but I have zero experience with sewing and I don't know anyone who would really be able to help me. Unless someone can convince me that I can make a decent dress as a beginner, I'm going to have to buy and alter one. Any ideas? I've been searching ebay and the rest of the internet for hours but I really can't find anything close enough. I don't want to spend much on the dress... under $30 would be ideal. I still have to buy a wig (speaking of that, if anyone has links for good PB wigs that'd be awesome too) and everything, and I'm not looking to spend a fortune on this costume.

Oh, and a side question - should we dress in our characters' standard outfits or should we base our costumes on the 'What Was Missing' episode? I've found a website where I can buy Marceline's rock t-shirt that Bubblegum wears as pajamas, and I could wear that over a pink dress like in the episode. But it would probably be less recognizable.

Thanks in advance!