How to Design Homemade Halloween Costumes on a Budget

With Halloween comes the dilemma of what costume to wear. However, you don’t need to spend big bucks this Halloween to make great costumes for your kids or yourself. You can create your own original costumes with things that you already have around the house. This is a fun project that you enlist the help of the entire family in. Choose a different costume for each person. You could also pick a group themed costume.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Use Boxes

1. Choose a box that is large enough to fit over the head or body. Leave enough breathing space

2. Draw the features of the character onto the box. For example, in order to create Sponge Bob Square Pants, spray paint a big box yellow. Draw in the "sponge holes." Paint or draw Sponge Bob's shorts on.

3. Create a walking Mac computer, playing card or racing car in a similar fashion.

Use Sweats, Tights, Swim Suits, and Leotards

4. Pull on a swim suit and long tights to be the basis for a super hero outfit. Knot or pin a long piece of fabric at the neck, and you have a cape. Draw the hero's symbol on some card stock paper and glue it to the chest. There you have an instant superhero!

5. Put on white or pink sweats (shirt and pants) to create a cute bunny outfit. Pin a big cotton ball to the seat of the pants. Cut out ears from construction paper and hold them in position using a headband.

6. Make a Lady Bug outfit form sweats and tights. Wear black tights, socks and black sweat shirt. Cut out a large heart-shaped poster board to make the wings. Spray paint it red. Paint in black dots or draw them on with a marker. Make two arm-holes by stapling black lengths of elastic onto the wings.

Recycle Old Clothes and Household Linens

7. A white tablecloth can easily be converted into a ghost costume by cutting out eye holes. Paint in a mouth after draping it over our ghost-to-be.

8. Cut a bed sheet into strips and wrap the strips around limbs, torso and head. Leave space for the eyes, nose and mouth. There you have it. You have a walking, talking mummy.

9. Old clothes can be ripped all over, patched and lightly bleached to create a scarecrow costume.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan ahead for Halloween by starting a costume box. Save old clothes, cardboard, sequins, or anything else you think might come in useful. You’ll have a great collection to start with next year
• Don't forget to include a child in this project. Make it sound like a fun adventure so no child feels like Halloween is being done on a budget!