Halloween is the perfect excuse to get creative, and you don’t need to splash out on a fancy costume. With a few things you probably already have at home, you can put together a fun Halloween outfit that looks great without breaking the bank.
Making your own costume can also be a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option! Kids grow so quickly that they can easily outgrow a costume before the next Halloween comes around, meaning you could end up spending money on something they only wear once or twice. Plus, many cheap, ready-made costumes are also made from synthetic, plastic-based materials, which can contribute to microplastic pollution.
Instead, reusing old clothes, cardboard, and craft supplies you already have means you can save money while giving things a new lease of life. Plus, getting the kids involved in making their costume can be just as fun as dressing up!
Whether your little one wants to be spooky, silly, or something completely random, here are some easy DIY Halloween costume ideas to try this year.
The Classic Ghost
You can’t really get much easier than a ghost costume. All you need is an old white sheet, a pair of scissors, and a little imagination.
Cut two holes for the eyes and drape the sheet over your child. For something a bit more fun, you could use black fabric paint or a marker to add a spooky face, or let them decorate the sheet themselves.
Top tip: Make sure the sheet is short enough that they can walk safely without tripping
A Little Witch
A witch costume is another Halloween classic and luckily it can be put together with clothes you already have at home!
A simple black dress, skirt or leggings can become the base of the costume. You can make a witch's hat from black card and decorate it with glitter, stars or coloured paper and then finish off the costume with a broom made from a stick and some twigs or strips of cardboard.
For an extra spooky touch, add some face paint and hair accessories.
DIY Skeleton
You don't need to buy a skeleton costume when you can make your own.
All you need is a plain black top, a pair of black trousers or leggings and white fabric paint or a pen to draw a skeleton design. If you don't want to paint your child's clothes, you could cut bone shapes from white paper or card and attach them instead.
Add some simple skeleton face paint, and you've got a spooky costume that's incredibly easy to put together!
Ancient Mummy
A mummy costume is great if you're looking for something quick and inexpensive.
Use an old white t-shirt and trousers as the base of the costume, then cut up an old white sheet into long strips. Wrap these loosely around your child to create a mummy effect; to keep them in place, it may help to use a fabric glue if you have some on hand.
For safety reasons, avoid wrapping the strips around your child's face or neck, and make sure they can move comfortably.
Finally, add some pale face paint and dark circles around the eyes, and you've got yourself an impressive Halloween costume!
Scarecrow
If your child is looking for something different this Halloween, why not turn them into a scarecrow?
You'll need a checked shirt, jeans or dungarees and a pair of wellies. If you have a straw hat lying around you could use that, or make your own from cardboard!
You could also stick on extra patches of fabric to your child's clothes and then finish with some face paint to add some rosy cheeks and a stitched mouth.
Messy Monster
Let your child's imagination run wild and give them the reins for this costume!
You can start them off with an old jumper or t-shirt and let them decorate it with scraps of felt, cardboard, fabric or anything else in the craft box. Googly eyes and colourful pipe cleaners would be a great addition! They could add extra teeth, spots, scales and even extra arms.
With this one, there are no rules, the weirder it looks, the better!
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