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Spook-tacular Halloween Costumes
You Can Make Your Kids
By Lisa James, staff writer
The Halloween costume aisle at your favorite discount
store does not have to be your only outlet for costumes. Many
costumes can be made with things you already have in your home.
I love the challenge of creating new and different costumes for
my children. The costumes you create will be one of a kind and
unique, unlike the store brands.
Starting early is the key. Have your children pick
what they want to be as early as you can. We start talking about
Halloween in August, but you do not have to start this early.
I do this so I can get a good idea as to what my kids would like
to be. Late August is also the time when many catalogs start
publishing their Halloween costumes. Pictures in the catalogs
are a great resource for creating your own.
After picking out the costume idea, start looking
around your house, in thrift stores and craft stores for the items
you will need for your Halloween costumes. Sweat suits make a
great base to begin with.
Below are a few of the costumes my children and
I have come up with in past years and there are a few new ones
we threw together.
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POLICE
MAN COSTUME-
You
will need a pair of dark blue sweats. With colored
tape, write the word POLICE on the front of the sweats.
Add a black ball cap. That is just the basic outfit.
You can always add a belt with a flashlight, handcuffs,
billy club etc. Sunglasses and a badges are other
additions.
This
costume can also be changed for a Fireman with red
or yellow sweats. A construction worker could have
orange sweats. Even a convict. With black sweats,
make stripes around the entire outfit. Leave a space
on the front for prison numbers.
Click
on the picture for a larger view.
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| HARRY POTTER AND HERMIONIE COSTUME-
Harry can wear jeans and a striped rugby shirt. Actually
anything will work here seeing as he is a modern day
school kid.
Hermionie is the same way. Add a cloak or cape and
wands for both of them.
Harry has his telltale lightning bolt scar, perpetually
messy hair, and a pair of glasses. Use an eyebrow
pencil for the scar and hair gel for the messy locks.
If you can’t find an old pair of glasses, try forming
a pair out of pipe cleaners. Be careful with any
sharp points.
Hermionie is a witch so add a pointed witches hat
from the local store.
Don’t forget the brooms!
Click on the picture for a larger view.
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SIMPLE GHOST COSTUME-
Instead of an sheet that could cause tripping and
sight problems, start your ghost off with a warm pair
of sweats. An old white cloth used to cover the hair
and flow down the back. You can use old sheets or
white trash bags to cut up and add to the arms, waist,
neck or where ever your ghost needs. These can be
pinned, glued or sewn on to the sweats. Add face paint
and your ghost is ready for spooking.
Click on the picture for a larger view.
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| BABY
CHICK COSTUME-
A
pair of yellow sweats are needed for this costume.
Try using them inside out for the fuzzy look of the
fleece. The headband is made form elastic lace found
in stores where fabric is sold. Measure around the
child’s head with the lace and add an inch to the
measurement. Overlap the edges of the lace by 1/2
inch and sew together. Add the craft feathers to
the front of the headband and sew on.
The
feet are made of yellow felt. Cut out a pointed three
toed shape that is a little bigger then the child’s
shoes. It needs to be a bit bigger so that the shoes
aren’t seen, but not too big that the child will trip
over the toes. Cut and ‘x’ shape into the back of
the felt foot where your child’s foot will fit through.
When putting on the feet, put the child’s socks on
and the felt foot and then the shoes.
You
can also add feathers onto the neck and shoulder area
of the costume. A feather boa would work well for
this. You can also add wings by cutting out the appropriate
shape and adding it to the arms of the sweats. There
are endless possibilities.
Click
on the picture for a larger view.
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ALLIGATOR/DINOSAUR
COSTUME-
This
is one of my favorites. My son HAD to be an alligator.
I thought I was in big trouble this year. It ended
up being an easier project then I had thought.
You
will need a pair of dark green sweats, a panel of
green felt, a plastic green visor, googly eyes, and
a sheet of white craft foam.
Cut
two pieces of felt to the length and shape you want
for the tail. Add five to six inches to the top so
you can tuck and pin it into the sweat pants. Sew
the two pieces together and stuff with old rags or
plastic shopping bags for fullness.
Cut
the white foam sheet into teeth like shapes. You may
want to practice with a few until you get the shape
you desire. Cut out enough to make two rows of teeth
on the front of the visor. Hot glue the teeth on.
There
are many sizes of googly eyes in your craft store.
I liked the big ones so that they would show up well.
These are also glued onto the visor.
This
costume can also have additions. Cut a jagged piece
of felt out for around the neck. Add jagged scales
down the tail or a alligator/dinosaur feet to the
shoes.
Click
on the picture for a larger view.
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WITCH
COSTUME-
A simple dress pattern can easily be made into a
costume by using special fabrics and accessories.
This witch costume is an easy sew dress made with
shiny orange fabric. I made an overskirt with netting
and trimmed it with silver ric-rack. I attached two
colors of netting to the shoulder and then wrapped
it around the dress in the form of a sash and tied
it at my daughters waist.
We
bought the hat at the store and sewed orange, purple
and black ribbons to the
peak.
Around the base we added mylar spiders on a wire.
Click
on the picture for a larger view.
BLACK
CAT COSTUME-
Start
with a pair of black sweats. If you wear them inside
out they will be a
little
bit fuzzy. To make a tail you have a few options.
You can use a strip of fabric pinned to the sweat
pants.
You can sew a tube of fabric and stuff it and hang
it from the pants.
Or
you can sew the long tube of fabric and put an unwrapped
clothes hanger wire in it. This will make the tail
able to stand up and bend the way you would like it.
If you use the wire hanger, make a 3 to 4 inch wide
loop at one end. This will be the end you stick in
the pants. It gives it a wider base and will stay
in better this way. Please make sure you pad any
sharp ends of the wire so it does not scratch or poke
any children.
Add
a pair of homemade or store bought ears, face paint
or whiskers and you are
done.
Click
on the picture for a larger view.
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INDIANA
JONES COSTUME-
This
costume may take a little hunting at the local thrift
store. A pair of tan pants, white shirt and a large
belt are the first layer of this costume. The belt
goes across the chest and is buckled on the back.
The hat and ‘leather’ jacket are the finishing touches.
These finds are usually not very expensive. It will
be easier to find the earlier you start looking. We
added a rolled up jump rope for the whip and a toy
gun.
Click
on the picture for a larger view.
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| PIRATE
COSTUME-
This
costume can be put together all at home. A pair of
cut off jeans work really well. Even is the pants
are a little to big, a rope belt is a great addition.
Any bright, stripped shirt will do well. Cut the
arms in jagged cuts if you wish. A bandanna and an
eye patch are the final touches.
Click
on the picture for a larger view.
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PRINCESS
OR PROM QUEEN COSTUME-
Dig
out your old prom dresses. Your girls will love wearing
them. The shorter ones work better for little girls.
If you don’t have one try the thrift store.
Add
a crown, a few jewels and even a cape and your Princess
is good to go.
Click
on the picture for a larger view.
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CHEERLEADER
COSTUME-
This
costume is made up of a simple skirt pattern and a
sweat shirt. If it is warm enough on Halloween, you
could even forgo the skirt for a pair of solid colored
shorts.
The
sweatshirt is made by using paper backed fusible webbing.
Heat and Bond. Pick a matching fabric and follow the
directions on the webbing. Cut out the letters you
will be using. We were able to use a local die cut
machine to do our letters. If you are able to do this,
make sure the webbing is already fused onto your fabric
before cutting.
The
letters can now be ironed on to the sweatshirt. You
can leave them like they are or satin stitch around
them or use fabric paint to accent them and keep the
fabric from fraying.
Pom
pons, hair bows, small pompons for the shoes and colorful
socks complete the costume.
Click
on the picture for a larger view.
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| MAGICIAN
OR VAMPIRE COSTUME-
You
will need a pair of black pants, sweats work great,
a white button down shirt and a bow tie. You can either
make a cape or tie a large black garbage bag on for
a cape. Add a top hat and a magic wand for the magician.
Add face paint, vampire teeth and slicked back hair
for a vampire.
Sorry
no picture available
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FAIRY
COSTUME-
A
pair of pretty leotards can be accented by sewing
ribbon roses all over them. Sewing light, airy fabrics
to an elastic waistband will make a great skirt.
Try cutting the fabrics into large squares and sewing
them to the elastic from the middle of the square.
This will give you a handkerchief style skirt.
Purchase
wings and a wand and your outfit is complete.
For
more accessories add a flower and ivy crown and sash
for a garden fairy.
Sorry
no picture available
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| CLIFFORD
THE BIG RED DOG COSTUME-
A
red pair of sweats, small red, felt tail and ears.
A felt collar with a tag that has CLIFFORD written
on it is an added bonus.
Sorry
no picture available
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| BLUE
FROM BLUE'S CLUES COSTUME-
Start
with a pair of light blue sweats. Add darker blue
spots with felt. These can be sewn, glued or pinned
on. A small tail, ears and a collar completes this
costume.
Sorry
no picture available
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| MUMMY COSTUME-
White
sweat suit covered in torn sheet strips. The strips
can be tea dyed before hand to give the aged look.
Add a few spiders and their webs for a spooky Mummy.
Sorry
no picture available
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| CHILE
PEPPER COSTUME-
This
would be very cute for a baby or toddler. Your choice
of red, yellow or green sweats. Cut out a collar of
green felt in a jagged shape. Using untwisted green
paper twist, measure out about 12 inch lengths. The
number of lengths cut will depend on the size of the
child’s head. Glue the lengths together forming a
tube that will fit on to your child’s head. Carefully
roll up a little bit of the portion of the twist that
is close to the child’s face to give it a finished
look. Tie a small ribbon at the top of the child’s
head to form the stem. Re-twist the stem portion of
the hat so that it will look more like a stem.
Sorry
no picture available
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| BAG
OF JELLY BEANS COSTUME-
A
pair of sweats work well with this costume too. Using
a few yards of netting,(depends on the size of child)
make a bag by sewing two pieces of netting together
around three sides. You will want to measure about
where the legs will be and leave an opening for them.
The top will also need to be left open. This is the
bag your child will wear over the sweats. Make sure
it will be full enough to hold your child and the
balloons. Fill the bag with small blown up balloons
of all colors. Stuff these into the bag and then carefully
and loosely close the bag around the child’s neck.
You can use a loose bright ribbon to do this. Please
be careful.
Sorry
no picture available
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| CLUSTER
OF GRAPES COSTUME-
Pair
of purple sweats with round purple balloons attached
all over. This same idea can be used with many different
out comes. Clear balloons on white sweats for bubbles.
Grey balloons with grey sweats for a rain cloud. Let
your imagination take over here.
Sorry
no picture available
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| There are also many, many ideas on the Internet.
By doing a search for Halloween costumes, I came up with thousands.
There are so many interesting and easy ideas out there. Here is
one of my favorites. |
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| GUM STUCK TO THE BOTTOM OF A SHOE
COSTUME-
Dress in pink sweats. Using an old sheet, dye it
to a pink bubble gum color. Cut a hole in the sheet
for your face to stick through. Place the sheet over
your head and body. Tie an old shoe on the top of
your head and you are now the gum stuck to someone’s
shoe.
Sorry no picture available
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| FLOWER
COSTUME -
Start
with a green sweatsuit for the stem.
For
the headpiece: cut stiff poster board or cardboard
it in the shape of a doughnut. Then trace the flower
shaped petals and cut out. Split the headpiece under
the chin.
To
decorate it: I bought about five silk flowers and
took them apart and individually hot glued the petals
on to the cardboard. Then I cut out about four tabs
from card stock, folded them in half and ran a head
band through them. Then I stapled the tabs to the
back of the flower piece. (You may want to try to
find a way to cushion the edges around the face as
Emily complained about that.)
The
whole thing was only a few dollars! Enjoy!
***Submitted
by Mormonchic.com reader Dawn Norton.
Click
on the picture for a larger view.
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| STOPLIGHT COSTUME -
Start with a black sweatsuit and black canvas tennis
shoes for the base of the stoplight.
Cut out a green and yellow circle out of felt and glue
(or safety pin) them to the sweatshirt.
Paint the face a red circle.
Make a hat out of cardboard by cutting out a square
and painting it black. Fold it in half. Punch holes
in each side and string a tie to secure under the chin.
(Note, small children should not be left unsupervised
with anything that can tie or choke them. Exercise extreme
caution.) The top should be a triangular in shape.
***Submitted by Mormonchic.com reader CeCe.
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| CARROT COSTUME-
SWEAT PANTS
Bright orange sweats (orange socks too)! Or buy
all white and then buy the RIT fabric dye in the shade
of orange that you want and dye them. (Kool-Aid, or
generic drink mix, can also be used to dye garments.
It is surprisingly colorfast and works great.) (You
could also try painting the sweat suit with acrylic
paints.) Paint the face green and make a cute little
green hat (buy a green ski or winter hat) by gluing
or sewing long pieces of pipe cleaner, or green yarn
meant to look like the green leaves on top of the
carrot.
ORANGE FELT
Cut the felt out into a carrot shape, back and
front. You may need a few cardboard supports glued
inside.
Make a headband with sprouting green shapes out of
cardstock and felt. You can probably paint some small
brown lines throughout for the wrinkly bits of the
carrot.
POSTER BOARD
Large poster board can be used for a smaller carrot.
ORANGE FABRIC/SHEETS
Start with some orange fabric, or die a used sheet
Orange. Then measure the child's shoulders, and his
length from the shoulders down. Cut two big wedge
(carrot shapes) but allow another 3 inches or so on
each side. Leave the top open for his neck, and maybe
make drawstrings to tie it shut, then you can do the
same for the arms, then just sew from below the arms
down, and don't sew it closed on the bottom. He would
have to step into it. Then you could do some kind
of hat with the carrot greens on top. Maybe it would
be easier to cut it out of a big box, then just make
some kind of ties for the shoulders.
CHICKEN WIRE
Buy enough chicken wire to fit around the person,
leaving it very roomy to slip on and off. Shape the
wire into a carrot shape. Cover the wire inside and
out with orange felt. (If you would like a plump carrot,
cover the wire with cotton or cotton-poly batting
first, and then attach the orange felt with a glue
stick.) Cut out side holes for arms, making sure it
is covered completely with the felt so it does not
scratch the person. At the top of the carrot, add
to felt overall-like straps that will hang the costume
on the shoulders. Use a similar method for the hat,
using green felt. Cut fringe for the top.
Note: This would make for a good shape, but would
not be a costume that a person could sit in.
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