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.
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.