Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

Halloween is almost here! If you don’t have your child’s costume figured out just yet. Don’t worry – we have some great ideas to inspire you! All of these can be made quickly/bought cheap or assembled from items you already have around the house!

Paper Doll

The paper doll costume is a cheap and quick way to create an adorable costume in a snap!

You can download a template for the bow and purse plus a diagram for the rest of the outfit online: http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/pdf/crafts/FF1011COSTUM-doll.pdf.  You’ll need to measure your child to determine the exact dimensions.

Draw the shirt, skirt, purse and hat (trace these last two items) onto white poster board with a pencil. Draw in the frills and then paint in your chosen color. Allow to dry. Draw on additional details with a black marker. Cut out each piece. Use a hot glue gun to attach a piece of foam board to the back of the shirt (7”x8”) and skirt (7”x3”) to increase stiffness – you’ll need a lot of glue to make them stick well. Attach adhesive Velcro and elastic to the shirt and skirt pieces to hold them on to your child. Attach the bow to a headband with clear packing tape.

See more instructions and photos at this link:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/paper-doll-1024824/

Cuddly Duck

Old dance costumes can be the basis for a cute reusable Halloween hit! Our idea includes a 30-year-old dance costume (yellow with yellow feathers). Add yellow felt shaped over the shoes for duck feet and some extra feathers for a headpiece (yellow boa) and you’re all set – nearly no cost involved.

Jessie (Toy Story)

This outfit is so much cuter than the ones you’ll find in the store! The jeans and white shirt were purchased at the Goodwill store. The cow fabric and yellow material was purchased from a linen store and sewn on, although a glue gun would work equally as well. Red yarn was used for the hair and to add detail to the shirt – a glue gun can work miracles! The hat was ordered online for the finishing touch.

Buzz Lightyear & Alien

Pair up your kids for an adorable Halloween combo! The base of the Buzz Lightyear costume can be purchased in the store. Add homemade gloves (using basic white stretch gloves from any dollar store, some felt and a glue gun – see link below!) and shoes (felt glued around old fireman boots recycled from last year’s costume) to complete the look! Don’t forget baby brother as one of the green Aliens from Toy Story 3. Mix in a rocket made from foam board, markers and glitter attached to a red wagon and you’re ready to go Trick-or-Treat!

A How-To for the Gloves: http://zitzmanfam.blogspot.com/2010/10/to-infinity-and-beyond.html

Cowboy

Channel your child’s inner cowboy or cowgirl with a couple of inexpensive additions to items you already have at home! Pair a well-worn pair of jeans with a plaid shirt. Pull out an old bandana (you know you have one!) and add a hat from Oriental Trading or Party City. What cowboy or cowgirl would be complete without a horse? Find a stick pony at Dollar General and you’re ready for a fun evening filled with candy!

Olivia the Pig

This cute Olivia the Pig outfit was assembled from striped stockings and a shirt found in the store paired with a hand-made the little red dress (made from material from an old costume – recycled!) and a hat with the pig ears. To make the hat, use a polka-dot piece of scrapbooking paper and ears cut from poster board and painted pink.  

For more great last minute costume ideas, visit these sites:

http://familyfun.go.com/halloween/halloween-kids-costumes/last-minu...

http://www.squidoo.com/handmade-diy-fancy-dress-costume-ideas