Short on cash? Tired of being the same stereotypical thing for Halloween year after year? Don’t have enough time to pick and choose? Aren’t crafty enough to make your own costume? Here is a guide to homemade Halloween costumes that are cheap, unique, quick and simple! And did we mention, cute?!
The Bubble Bath:
You will need: |
- Towel
- White and pink balloons
- Rubber duck and back brush/accessory
- Safety pins
- White or light blue clothes
|
How to: |
- Wrap towel around head in Queen of Sheba style.
- Pin balloons (mixing some pink with mostly white) to clothing, preferably around torso.
- Attach or hold accessories for a completed look.
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Photo Credit: Heather Capri Buna (Flickr)
Cotton Candy:
You will need: |
- Small, thin, white poster board
- Pale pink/blue/green felt or tulle (estimate length for height and size of person)
- Clothes that match chosen color for tulle (or an alternative white)
- Safety pins
|
How to: |
- Create a large cone (whose diameter will fit on head) from the poster board.
- Pin clumps or wrapped sheets of felt/tulle onto clothing.
- Optional halo of felt/tulle can be glued around base of cone that encircles head.
|
Photo Credit: Temeculamom (Flickr)
The Flower Pot:
You will need: |
- A large plastic bucket or pot that encircles waist
- Thin rope
- A few bunches of fake flowers
- Plastic headband
- Scissors and duct tape
|
How to: |
- Cut a large hole into the bottom of bucket/pot
- Size straps of rope for suspenders that hold up bucket/pot and tape to inside of it
- Tape flowers along rim of bucket/pot and headband
|
Photo Credit: clumsycrafter.com
The Smores Group:
Photo Credit: familygo.com
Graham cracker
You will need: |
- A few yards of beige felt or an old sheet dyed light brown (length=below knee, width=about twice your hips). Reminder: this should be in a poncho shape (see photo)!
- A thick, brown Sharpie marker
- Dark brown buttons
- Yard stick or ruler
- Fabric scissors (or a sharp household pair)
- Strong glue
- Safety pins
|
How to: |
- Fold fabric hamburger style and cut a head hole on the center fold.
- On each side, make dashed lines with a Sharpie along a straight line—we suggest using a ruler—that separate the fabric into four squares (for each side of the poncho).
- Glue buttons in a pattern (two, one, two, one, etc. [see photo]) on each square.
- Using safety pins, attach sides to each other to make arm holes [an optional but suggested step].
FOR AN EVEN CHEAPER VERSION, USE CARDBOARD INSTEAD OF FABRIC. |
Chocolate bar
You will need: |
- A few yards of dark brown felt or an old sheet dyed brown (length=below knee, width=about twice your hips). Reminder: this should be in a poncho shape (see photo)!
- A thick, black Sharpie marker
- Yard stick or ruler
- Fabric scissors (or a sharp household pair)
- Safety pins
|
How to: |
- Fold fabric hamburger style and cut a head hole on the center fold.
- On each side, make lines with a Sharpie along a straight line—we suggest using a ruler—that separate the fabric into four squares by 5 squares (for each side of the poncho).
- Using safety pins, attach sides to each other to make arm holes [an optional but suggested step].
|
Marshmallow
You will need: |
- A few thin/old pillows (this depends on size, height and weight of person)
- A crisp, white sheet
- Scissors
- Safety pins
- A white turtleneck or long sleeve
|
How to: |
- Pin pillows vertically around the torso of a white shirt.
- Cut white sheet to approximate size of marshmallow bodice (slightly larger) and pin the tucked sheet—up under the pillows—to create a seamless effect.
|
Jellyfish:
You will need: |
- An umbrella (we suggest clear or a solid color like orange or pink)
- Paper streamers that match color of umbrella
- A monochromatic clothing choice that matches or is similar to umbrella
- Tape (clear packing tape is best)
|
How to: |
- Tape streamers to bottom inside of umbrella and measure them so they fall at least below the knee
|
Photo Credit: pinreach.com
A Bunch of Grapes:
You will need: |
- A package of solid-colored balloons (purple, red, green)
- Safety pins
- A monochromatic clothing look that matches color of balloons
- A plastic headband
- Glue or tape
- Real or fake leaves
|
How to: |
- Pin balloons to torso area of clothing.
- Glue or tape leaves to headband to create the stem of the bunch.
|
Photo Credit: mothering.com
Rosie the Riveter:
You will need: |
- Denim shirt
- Red and white bandana
- Red lipstick and black eyeliner
- Hair accessories (ties and bobby pins)
|
How to: |
- Roll up sleeves of shirt
- Apply red lipstick and winged eyeliner
- Coif hair toward hairline (a flattened bun or twisted ponytail is fine) and secure in place with hair ties and/or bobby pins
- Wrap bandana around head—be sure to leave the bun showing—and knot in place
|
Photo Credit: costumeworks.com
Mary Poppins:
You will need: |
- Long black skirt and tights
- Black flats or “kitten” high heels
- Black umbrella
- White button-down shirt
- Black sweater or blazer
- A stiff hat with brim (preferably black)
- Red ribbon
|
How to: |
- Wear clothes suggested above
- Slick hair back into a tight, low bun
- Wrap a piece of red ribbon around hat
- Antique-looking jewelry or flowers in hat are an optional but cute look
|
Photo Credit: craftster.org
Homemade costumes don’t have to be a pain, and by all means, can make or break the Halloween experience. Make sure you aren’t the one missing out on all of the fun! Get started by creating these ideas, or come up with your own. Movie characters, animals, or everyday food items can become a unique costume as discussed above. Let your wild side out and get into character for the fall holiday coming very soon.
Carrie • Oct 14, 2019 at 3:01 pm
Is the graham cracker really made of felt or a sheet? Because that would never stand up in the shoulders like the photos shows. Wondering if maybe it’s really some sort of foam? Let me know as I’d like to make this.
adviser • Oct 15, 2019 at 11:37 am
You’re right. It appears to be foam.