Do-It-Yourself Halloween Costumes

Get a little creative and you can wear your favorite childhood candy.

P

ackaged Halloween costumes are expensive and usually poorly made. Instead of spending $40-60 at a store buying a generic one that many people will surely also have, why not try making your own this year? You won't be able to replicate the hottest super-hero costume, but with a little creativity (and yes, a little money, but nowhere near what you'd spend on a costume at a shop), you can put together a great Halloween costume that's unique, original, and inexpensive. Here are a few ideas for you.

1)    Mad Scientist. Nearly all of us have a plaid shirt in our closets, and with a pair of khakis or black pants, a lab coat, a bow-tie, and a white coat, you're almost all the way there. Chances are you have most of those things already, and a bow tie/white coat don't cost much (especially if you can find one or both in a thrift shop). Top off your look with a pair of safety goggles and a beaker, and you're set.

2)    Safari Tour Guide. Similar to the scientist look, you probably already have most of what you'll need for this costume. A pair of khakis and a white tee-shirt are standard, and you can add a beige utility vest if you want. If not, just find a safari hat at a thrift store or a local clothing store, make binoculars out of paper towel rolls and some string, then pick up a stuffed animal of a jungle animal, like a lion or a giraffe.

Turn the popular board game into a clever DIY costume.

1)      Cruella DeVille. This classic character is an easy one. Simply put on a coat, staple some stuffed dogs to it (STUFFED dogs, not real ones!), and you're basically done. Red lipstick, some black and white spray-on hair dye, and a cigarette holder, and you're gold.

2)      Rubik's Cube. It's not the most mobile of costumes, but it's easy—get a big box (from Home Depot or Lowe's) and either paints or construction paper in different colors. Cut out arm holes as well as a hole for your head. Cut off the bottom flaps so you can walk, and wear either black or white pants and a shirt.

3)      A Bunch of Grapes. Blow up a few dozen purple or green balloons, then tape them onto yourself. Easy peasy!

4)      Clark Kent. All this requires is a Superman tee-shirt. Put it on under your regular clothes—wear a button-down shirt and a tie and some nice pants, top it off with glasses and a fedora, and occasionally during the night, pull open the buttons to reveal your true identity.

5)      Operation - The Board Game. Find a beige/nude-colored dress or pants/shirt and tape the various parts of the game (a butterfly for butterflies in the stomach, a wish bone, etc.), wear a rubber red nose, and carry around tongs.

6)      Candy Dots. Wear white and tape blue, yellow, and pink circles to yourself. Candy dots!

Halloween is just around the corner, so if you haven't bought or made a costume yet, you better get to it!