Here is a selection of costume ideas for kids, families, adults and pets!
Hot Air Balloonist Costume:
Have a cardboard box and some helium balloons? Take their breath away with this fun costume!
Have a cardboard box and some helium balloons? Take their breath away with this fun costume!
Flower Pot Costume:
All you need is a pot/bowl and some silk flowers! This project costs less than $5 to make courtesy of your local Dollar Store!
All you need is a pot/bowl and some silk flowers! This project costs less than $5 to make courtesy of your local Dollar Store!
- Plastic tub, $1 and up
- Silk flowers, about $3 and up
- Jump rope, $1
- Headband, on hand or $1
- Hot glue or tape, on hand
Robot Costume:
Cut head and arm holes in a cardboard box. Paint the box silver and glue or duct-tape random electrical items onto the front and back. Create the arms by attaching dryer venting to the arm holes with duct tape inside so it doesn't show. Cover the construction worker hat with aluminum foil. A gray turtleneck, gray sweatpants, gray shoes, and gray gloves complete the look.
Cut head and arm holes in a cardboard box. Paint the box silver and glue or duct-tape random electrical items onto the front and back. Create the arms by attaching dryer venting to the arm holes with duct tape inside so it doesn't show. Cover the construction worker hat with aluminum foil. A gray turtleneck, gray sweatpants, gray shoes, and gray gloves complete the look.
Gum Ball Machine Costume:
What kid, or adult wouldn’t love this sweet costume? So simple to make! All you need is a red skirt, tights, and shirt and a plastic bowl filled with gumballs.
What kid, or adult wouldn’t love this sweet costume? So simple to make! All you need is a red skirt, tights, and shirt and a plastic bowl filled with gumballs.
- Make a red skirt.
- Add gumball machine components (like a coin plate, knob and hole) made from felt.
- Buy a couple plastic bowls and plate from the dollar store. You'll need one large clear bowl to make the gumball bowl, one plate with the same diameter as the large bowl, and one smaller bowl.
- Hot glue the small bowl to the center of the plate. This will help eat up some of the space in the large bowl, so you don't have to fill the entire thing with gumballs (which would be too heavy for a little girl to wear).
- Fill the larger clear bowl halfway with gumballs, and then press the plate (now glued to the small bowl) on top like a lid. Hot glue them together.
- Glue some red ribbon around the bowl and attach ribbon to help support the weight of the bowl.
- Add a red beanie for the lid of the gumball machine.
Elvis Costume:
Cut out a collar from white foam and glue it onto the material on the jumpsuit so it stands up straight (if you're using a romper, you can skip this step). Use gold glitter T-shirt paint to add dots and lines. You can also include "Elvis" on the sleeves and "The King" on the back like Dina did. Apply spray-on hair color, and draw on lamb chop-style sideburns with eye pencil. Wrap the yellow scarf around the waist -- and mini-Elvis has entered the building.
Cut out a collar from white foam and glue it onto the material on the jumpsuit so it stands up straight (if you're using a romper, you can skip this step). Use gold glitter T-shirt paint to add dots and lines. You can also include "Elvis" on the sleeves and "The King" on the back like Dina did. Apply spray-on hair color, and draw on lamb chop-style sideburns with eye pencil. Wrap the yellow scarf around the waist -- and mini-Elvis has entered the building.
Spider Costume:
Cut the pants into strips as long as the sweatshirt arms and sew the sides together to create spider "arms." Stuff with fiber stuffing. Stitch one end of each of the arms to the sides of the sweatshirt and connect to each other at the cuffs with about 4 inches of yarn (this will make it so the arms lift together when your child raises his arms).
Cut out hand shapes from an old white pillowcase and sew together to make the hands. Stuff with fiber stuffing. Shortcut tip: White gloves can be used for this as well.
To get the fuzzy spider look, cut small holes randomly in the front and hood of the sweatshirt and crochet black and gray fur yarn all over. Alternatively, a furry gray boa can be cut to the size of the sweatshirt and hood and stitched into place.
Cut the pants into strips as long as the sweatshirt arms and sew the sides together to create spider "arms." Stuff with fiber stuffing. Stitch one end of each of the arms to the sides of the sweatshirt and connect to each other at the cuffs with about 4 inches of yarn (this will make it so the arms lift together when your child raises his arms).
Cut out hand shapes from an old white pillowcase and sew together to make the hands. Stuff with fiber stuffing. Shortcut tip: White gloves can be used for this as well.
To get the fuzzy spider look, cut small holes randomly in the front and hood of the sweatshirt and crochet black and gray fur yarn all over. Alternatively, a furry gray boa can be cut to the size of the sweatshirt and hood and stitched into place.
Zombie Costume:
Tear the sheet into strips. Cut the strips to fit across the front of the shirt, leaving a little slack so your child can easily get in and out. Starting at the top, sew the strips across each shoulder and add strips below so they overlap in layers. Do the same for the back of the shirt and the pants. Tip: Karen wrapped the legs of the pants while Jack was wearing them so she knew he could get in and out. She pinned the strips in place and carefully took them off to sew.
Spray green and gold spray paint on the under sides of the strips to create an eerie glow. Once in the costume, tie extra strips of fabric to your child's arms so they hang off and include one around his head for headband. Green makeup under the eyes finishes off the mummy look.
Tear the sheet into strips. Cut the strips to fit across the front of the shirt, leaving a little slack so your child can easily get in and out. Starting at the top, sew the strips across each shoulder and add strips below so they overlap in layers. Do the same for the back of the shirt and the pants. Tip: Karen wrapped the legs of the pants while Jack was wearing them so she knew he could get in and out. She pinned the strips in place and carefully took them off to sew.
Spray green and gold spray paint on the under sides of the strips to create an eerie glow. Once in the costume, tie extra strips of fabric to your child's arms so they hang off and include one around his head for headband. Green makeup under the eyes finishes off the mummy look.
Wizard of Oz Family Costume:
Dorothy: Adriana made the dress and apron using a store-bought costume pattern, but you could also buy a Dorothy dress, or layer a blue dress under a white apron. Dress your child in white socks or tights and red shoes, add a basket, and place a stuffed Toto inside. Braid hair or use a store-bought wig to complete the outfit.
Lion: Adriana found this one at a garage sale.
Scarecrow: Sew craft straw to the sleeves of the green turtleneck and the cuffs of the pants. Cut patches out of the felt, hot-glue straw to the back, and sew or glue onto the shirt and pants. Use rope to tie the cuffs of the shirt and pants and as a belt. Make the hat by using a child-size witch's hat that ties under the chin (Adriana used Emily's hat from the year before) and put brown eyeliner on your nose.
Tin Man: Cut a neck hole in the iridescent fabric, drape it over the body, and tie it at the waist with silver Christmas rope. Cover a cheap funnel with silver electrical tape for the hat and use a plastic axe for a prop.
Dorothy: Adriana made the dress and apron using a store-bought costume pattern, but you could also buy a Dorothy dress, or layer a blue dress under a white apron. Dress your child in white socks or tights and red shoes, add a basket, and place a stuffed Toto inside. Braid hair or use a store-bought wig to complete the outfit.
Lion: Adriana found this one at a garage sale.
Scarecrow: Sew craft straw to the sleeves of the green turtleneck and the cuffs of the pants. Cut patches out of the felt, hot-glue straw to the back, and sew or glue onto the shirt and pants. Use rope to tie the cuffs of the shirt and pants and as a belt. Make the hat by using a child-size witch's hat that ties under the chin (Adriana used Emily's hat from the year before) and put brown eyeliner on your nose.
Tin Man: Cut a neck hole in the iridescent fabric, drape it over the body, and tie it at the waist with silver Christmas rope. Cover a cheap funnel with silver electrical tape for the hat and use a plastic axe for a prop.
Popeye Family Costume:
Sweet Pea: Trace a sleep sack on the red broadcloth and cut the bottom to a point. Sew up the sides and leave the tops of the shoulders open. Add Velcro at the open tops so you can slip on the sack and secure easily. Dress your child in a red shirt or onesie and a white hat.
Popeye: Cut out panels from red fabric and sew or glue on some black stripes. Sew or glue the panels to the neckline. Cut out 3 large yellow circles for buttons and sew or glue to the front of the shirt. Draw on a tattoo with black eyeliner. Accessorize with a sailor hat and a pipe.
Olive Oyl: Sew a red stripe around the base of a black skirt using a zigzag setting on the sewing machine. Cut out a white "collar" and sew or glue it on a red shirt. Use red ribbon to tie back your hair.
Sweet Pea: Trace a sleep sack on the red broadcloth and cut the bottom to a point. Sew up the sides and leave the tops of the shoulders open. Add Velcro at the open tops so you can slip on the sack and secure easily. Dress your child in a red shirt or onesie and a white hat.
Popeye: Cut out panels from red fabric and sew or glue on some black stripes. Sew or glue the panels to the neckline. Cut out 3 large yellow circles for buttons and sew or glue to the front of the shirt. Draw on a tattoo with black eyeliner. Accessorize with a sailor hat and a pipe.
Olive Oyl: Sew a red stripe around the base of a black skirt using a zigzag setting on the sewing machine. Cut out a white "collar" and sew or glue it on a red shirt. Use red ribbon to tie back your hair.
Bat Winged Girl:
A broken black umbrella (cut in half) makes a great set of wings!
A broken black umbrella (cut in half) makes a great set of wings!
Castaway Couple Costume:
Tom Hanks: A rope tied shredded pillowcase, a fake beard and add a FedEx box to complete the costume. Tanning salon visit or cream is optional.
Wilson: Paper mache a ball and painted it white, then painted Wilson in burgundy. You can add a Wilson headband with palms coming out of the back for added effect.
Tom Hanks: A rope tied shredded pillowcase, a fake beard and add a FedEx box to complete the costume. Tanning salon visit or cream is optional.
Wilson: Paper mache a ball and painted it white, then painted Wilson in burgundy. You can add a Wilson headband with palms coming out of the back for added effect.
Snowman Costume:
This is a great costume if you have a million cotton balls and a lot of time on your hands. Accurately, it was made with chicken wire & buffalo snow. A snowman kit from Christmas Tree Shops was used to decorate the snowman.
This is a great costume if you have a million cotton balls and a lot of time on your hands. Accurately, it was made with chicken wire & buffalo snow. A snowman kit from Christmas Tree Shops was used to decorate the snowman.
Batdog & Robin
"Holy Hotdog", Iron-on felt makes quick work of creating this dynamic duo.
"Holy Hotdog", Iron-on felt makes quick work of creating this dynamic duo.
Ewok Pooch Costume:
Just take the stuffing out of an old teddy bear and sew it to a kerchief.
Just take the stuffing out of an old teddy bear and sew it to a kerchief.
Hot Dog Cat
Just go through your scarp fabric bag and find some patterns that work.
Just go through your scarp fabric bag and find some patterns that work.
Ghost Dog Costume:
You can make this one in five seconds flat... old sheet and willing pet is all that is needed.
You can make this one in five seconds flat... old sheet and willing pet is all that is needed.
Dinosaur Kitty
This one takes a little effort and sewing skills. But, well worth it the first time your kitty looks in the mirror!
This one takes a little effort and sewing skills. But, well worth it the first time your kitty looks in the mirror!
Guinea Pig Wizard
