DIY Halloween Costumes For Kids

DIY Halloween Costumes For Kids

Paying ridiculous prices for Halloween costumes can take the fun out of the holiday. I bought store-bought costumes when my kids were little because they’re so cute, but as they got older, they could put a costume together on their own.

Fortunately, having the best costume for your kids doesn’t mean you paid for the most expensive one. There are many ways to save money (for more candy!) and still have awesome Halloween costumes. Here are some great last-minute DIY Halloween costumes for kids that you can put together yourself!

You might not even need to leave home to make some of these fun costumes. Explore what items you have and get creative:

• The Artist: Find an oversized denim or white button-down shirt and some black tights. If you have a felt beret or a bandana, you can add one of those as well. Make an artist’s palette from cardboard and spray paint. Finally, add a paintbrush, and that costume is ready to go out the door!
• The Mummy: Although you can use toilet paper, I recommend using strips of old cloth. Toilet paper rips easily, and if it gets wet, you are going to have a mess on your hands, so cloth is better if you have some old sheets, for example. Have your kid wear white clothes and shoes, if possible, so if the cloth shifts, it won’t be noticeable. Then, add some dirt or dust to the strips of cloth to make the mummy costume look aged, and wrap them up.
• The Scarecrow: Use a pair of old jeans, a denim or flannel shirt, and a floppy brown hat. Stuff in some straw and done!
• The Athlete/The Sports Fan: If you have a cheerleader outfit, sports shirt, or jersey around the house, you’re halfway there. Find whatever sports-related items you can and turn your kid into the ultimate athlete.
• The Ghost: Sounds simple, if not boring, but that doesn’t mean you can’t jazz it up. Use an old white sheet—maybe tear it up a little here and there to look even cooler. Then get some black construction paper “chains.” And if you really want to go whole hog, go to your local retail store and pick up an inexpensive lantern and a battery-operated tea light.
• Superhero: Create a superhero costume using a colored cape, mask, and logo cut out from felt or paper.
• Animal costume: Choose your child’s favorite animal and create a DIY costume using face paint, an ears headband, and a tail made from fabric or yarn.
• Harry Potter costume: Turn your child into their favorite wizard by making a robe from black fabric and adding glasses and a wand.
• Pumpkin costume: Make a cute pumpkin outfit by painting an orange shirt with a black marker to resemble the pumpkin face, and add green fabric leaves on top as the stem.

Spider cupcakes for Halloween

By shopping at your local thrift store, you can put together costumes instead of buying expensive retail ones or making complicated DIY Halloween costumes. See what costumes are already there, and then go wild.

• Bumblebee: Find a pair of yellow-and-black P.J.s, then scour the shelves for a set of wings. Once at home, make some antennae out of pipe cleaners, and the bumblebee is ready to buzz about town for some sweets.
• The Pirate: Pirates are always in style, and the costumes are easy to make. Get some boots (black or brown), some pants (black, brown, maroon, green, etc.), a loose-fitting (white or black) long-sleeved shirt, an inexpensive eyepatch, and a hat or bandana. Pirate Halloween costume complete. It’s time to go a plunderin’ for treats and goodies!
• Dorothy: Most little girls have seen The Wizard of Oz. And what little girl doesn’t want to wear sparkly red shoes? Find a blue gingham dress, a white apron, and some red shoes. You can add red glitter to the shoes if you can’t find any with it already on them. Do her hair up in two pigtails, and she is ready to see the wizard…to get some candy.
• Pop Star: A pop star costume is easy because the possibilities and outcomes are endless. Punk up your child’s hair, grab an old guitar or pair of drumsticks, and put them in well-loved, holey jeans. These are a few basic ideas to make this costume cool and easy.
• The Adventurer: Choosing and making a Halloween costume is an adventure; why not pay homage to that and be an adventurer for Halloween? Boys and girls alike will love dressing like Indiana Jones for All Hallows’ Eve. To complete the look, you may need cargo pants, boots, a brown jacket or button-down shirt, a compass, a satchel, and, of course, a hat. You and your mini Indiana Jones go have fun!

These ideas are starting points, so use what you have and let your child help with the details. Their costume doesn’t need to look exactly like anyone else’s to be fun. Brainstorm together, browse the thrift store if needed, and enjoy seeing what you can create!