When coming up with a costume for Halloween, there is an unlimited number of ideas to choose from. While you could go to a party-supply store and find a costume you like, it may be more rewarding (and less costly) to make a costume yourself. Whether you are making a costume for yourself or your kids, you are likely to have all of the materials you need already in your home.
While there are many, many different costumes you can make with stuff you already have, here are some ideas to get you going:
Zombie - Zombie costumes for any age can easily be created from items in your closet. Most people have some old, beat-up clothes stored away for whatever reason. While you might not ever wear these items, they will be perfect for a zombie costume. If you don’t have any clothes that look suitable for the undead, then you can take some items that you don’t wear anymore and rough them up a bit. You can cut the clothes to make them look tattered or rub them in the dirt to create a weathered look. Complete the costume by messing up your hair and applying face makeup until you look like you’ve been buried underground for a while.
Pile of Leaves - For a less morbid costume idea, you could dress up as a pile of leaves. Simply take a yellow, orange, or brown sweater, and attach some leaves to it! You could either go to a craft store and buy decorative leaves, or you could collect real leaves for a more realistic look. Be sure to attach some leaves to a hat as well. Carry along a rake with you to complete the look.
Photo by Bamsemums, sxc.hu
- If you like the color red, then a lobster costume is a good idea. By cutting up red plastic plates, you can construct a decent tail and shell. Attach the plates to a red sweater and red pants. There are a few things you can do to make claws. You could continue using the plastic plates to construct a pair of claws to attach to your sleeves. If you happen to have a set of red boxing gloves in your closet, these would also make a great set of claws. Alternately, red oven mitts would be an excellent option.
Taxicab - No matter how far away your kids are from getting their drivers' licenses, they can always pretend to drive on Halloween. Take a large cardboard box and seal all the sides shut. Then, make two corresponding holes on opposite sides, allowing the box to comfortably fit over your child’s body. Use suspenders or create some straps so the box will hang over the shoulders. Once the box is properly fitted, you and your child can turn it into a cab by painting it yellow or covering it with yellow construction paper. To create a more realistic effect, attach two flashlights to the front of the box to make working headlights. Complete the costume with a cab driver’s hat.
Toga - Toga costumes aren’t just for college frat parties. They can make a viable costume for Halloween as well. Simply take a sheet and wrap it around yourself. Once you have the basic design down, you can work on adding accessories. While everyone has a pair of sandals, you can make the look more authentic by attaching straps of fabric to the sandals and lacing them up your legs. Also, get some leaves, either real or fake, to adorn your hair and complete the Roman look.
Time Traveler - Have a bunch of decades-old clothes in your closet? What was fashionable back in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and even 90s can make a perfect Halloween costume in 2009. Make sure you find the appropriate accessories for your retro look. If going to a party, ask the host to play some songs from your era.
Scarecrow - You could also use your old clothes to create a scarecrow costume. With a flannel shirt and some overalls or jeans, you’ll have the basic parts of the costume already. You’ll just need to get some hay (real or fake) and arrange it so it sticks out of the shirt and pants. Accessorize with a straw hat and maybe even a fake crow to perch on your shoulder.
Head on a Platter - For a whimsical, yet creepy, costume, you can create a dinner table with your head as the main course. All you need is a big piece of cardboard, a table cloth, and a large, round plastic dish. Cut corresponding holes into these three items. Make sure the holes are big enough to get your head through. Once you have this basic table assembled, you can add to the effect by attaching a vase with flowers, silverware, and candlesticks.
Movie Theater Floor - Dressing up as the floor of a movie theater is a pretty unique costume idea. Begin with a black shirt and black pants. Then glue on a variety of things one would find on the movie theater floor. This can include candy wrappers, chewed up gum, napkins, and plastic drink lids and straws. Some old movie ticket stubs will also make a nice touch. Of course, no movie theater floor is complete without some popcorn!
Photo by Movers.com
- This may sound like a complicated costume, but it can easily come together with stuff you already have. Start with some old gloves that you don’t plan on using again. Poke holes in the tips of each finger of the gloves. Then cut some blade-shaped strips of cardboard, cover them with foil, and place in the hole of each finger tip to create the scissorhands. Wear a black shirt with a white button-down shirt over it. Then put on suspenders and attach them to gray pants. While this will be the basic costume, you can make it more detailed by getting a black wig and by applying white makeup to your face.