DIY Halloween Costume Hacks
Monster Door Decor
Ghosts, goblins and ghouls, oh my! Notably the spookiest month on the calendar, October begins the countdown to Halloween, the most kid and candy-centric celebration of the year. The stage set with fallen leaves, dipping temps, and dark autumn skies, it is the perfect opportunity to decorate the house with tombstones and webs, “Boo” neighborhood friends with surprises, and enjoy some seamless and simple fun. But long before the big day arrives, preparations must be made. In order to truly earn the hall-pass for endless sugar consumption and the rights to claiming championship status for costume creativity, Halloween outfits need to be secured.
When one kid wants to be Batman…
…the other has to be Robin.
What to be, What to be…
If your kid hasn’t had a costume idea in motion since the 4th of July, it is now time to get aggressive with a plan. With shipping delays affecting a myriad of goods arriving to store shelves (not to mention their prices), the pickings could be quite slim at the local pop-up Halloween shop right now. And if your child is the type that struggles to land on that perfect costume or better yet, changes their mind every two days, an old-fashioned DIY approach might save you time, tears and money. Of course, kicking it old-school when it comes to making a Halloween costume can be exciting as an idea but daunting as a reality. But don’t get spooked! Even if you don’t have your Nana’s vintage Singer sewing machine to whip up the wildest whims of your kiddo’s imagination, this is one scary scenario you might actually be able to trick and treat your way out of.
When wanting to be a dinosaur is the goal, but a store-bought costume is hard to find, we present to you…
Dinofish! Not exactly what the kid wanted, but pretty close, considering there was no sewing pattern involved.
Refresh, Reuse, Recycle:
You may be surprised at how many costume pieces you already have on hand. Paired with some ghostly makeup and fake broken teeth and bones, last year’s hockey jersey might be the perfect item to shred and stain for the ultimate “Zom-bonie” costume. Dive into your closet and tear up old tee-shirts and sheets to make Mummy rags. Ideas are endless when it comes to utilizing materials you already have and what’s even more exciting is the fact that you don’t even have to leave your house to get them.
Need a quick and inexpensive costume? An old t-shirt and a Sharpie just might save the day, as shown here with a Super-hero family costume.
“The Recessionables” debuted in 2009, during the great recession, complete with falling stock market logo.
2. Makeup Magic:
Nothing puts a dent in the Halloween budget like the add-ons and costume makeup is certainly a leader of fund draining when it comes to this category. Luckily, You-tube, Pinterest and the like have tips galore about how to make these spooktacular concoctions at home. If you have cornstarch, red lipstick, eye liner and some food dye, there is no end to the possibilities of DIY makeup.
Any Cincinnati native will know that Oyster crackers and mustard go together.
3. Custom Candy Containment:
Some kids do have it all figure out when it comes to their costumes. But when your 6th grader realizes she may have outgrown the cute, monogrammed, spider themed trick or treat bucket she’s been carrying around since kindergarten, it may be time to evolve her game. Snag an old pillowcase, some markers and either Halloween shaped cookie cutters or cutouts. Trace the shapes on the fabric to create a unique, one-of-a-kind candy collector.