by Chris Dixon

Created on: January 26, 2010   Last Updated: February 17, 2010

This Halloween make homemade costumes for a cheap treat!

Packaged costumes can be tricky. They can be expensive, un-original and often even offensive! This Halloween why not make homemade costumes for a cheap treat instead? The most memorable costumes are always handmade. And its a great way to spend time together as a family when your making them, and when your showing them off! To keep it cheap you really need to rummage through closets and trunks first to see what you have to start with. This is where I gather my inspiration. If I see a large white coat I will ask if anyone wants to be a vet or Dr. or scientist? Or if I find some overalls I will ask about farmers or scarecrows. Sweatsuits with hoodie jackets are great for making into almost any animal by simply adding some felt pieces as ears and eyes and so forth. I use black eyeliner to add whiskers and or noses to their faces too. Animals work best for younger kids. All ages love to join in and help make their costumes. Some teenagers might make themselves into zombies by shredding old clothes and whitening their faces. Double themes are also fun, for example a Dr.- zombie or a zombie- kitty cat.

These type of costumes can be pieced together fairly easily with items already in your closet, with very minimal effort.  And, If you have any creative bones in your body then Halloween is your time to shine! With just a little thought and energy you can make something really unique and spectacular! How about a fried egg? All you need is an white sheet, some wire hangers to make the frame and some yellow felt and stuffing for the yolk. I like to recycle plastic grocery store bags by using them as stuffing. Going out with your honey? Nothing pairs better with a fried egg than bacon! What a great couples costume!

How about going as a bunch of grapes? All you need is a whole bunch of purple or green balloons and to make yourself a little beanie hat with a leaf and either the same color or black clothes beneath and carefully safety pin the balloons on by the knot,  and just like that, your good as grapes! Another easy and great balloon costume is a bubble bath. Take a box you can fit into and paint it like a bathtub, and get inside it. Fill it with white balloons arranged like bubbles. Glue a rubber duck on top of some of the bubbles and put on a shower cap to complete the look.

When my daughter was in kindergarten she wanted to make her first costume. I took her to a dollar store where she picked out a tutu  and a feather boa along with some silk flowers and butterflies, all for under five dollars. We went home and I dropped dabs of glue wherever she wanted and she glued on the flowers and butterflies and ribbons and pretty trinkets shed found and before you know it, she had created the cutest little fairy costume I have ever seen! She was SO very proud of that fact too, she told everyone about it all halloween night!

So as you can see, handmade costumes CAN be done on the cheap and STILL come out pretty sweet!

Learn more about this author, Chris Dixon.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.