Halloween Costumes for Everyone
By Nancy Cavanaugh

This year, leave the store-bought costumes behind and try some of these ideas for quick-and-easy costumes that are also inexpensive. The costumes can be simple or elaborate depending on the age of the child, your creativity and your budget.

With a little bit of creativity, most of the costumes can be modified slightly to match the costume your child wants. Some alternatives have been suggested. Use your imagination and have fun!

Hobo

A favorite costume that will work for boys and girls is the hobo look.

You'll need:
     Old pair of pants
     Pair of suspenders
     Old flannel shirt
     Old black suit jacket
     Old socks
     Old shoes
     Face paint

"Beautify" all the clothes by dragging them around in the dirt while they're wet and let dry. Cut a couple of holes in the pants and a ragged edge on each pant leg. Rub the flannel shirt together in different spots to create some worn patches. Cut a hole in the toe of the sock if one doesn't already exist, then cut a hole in the shoe so that your toe is exposed.

Use the black face paint and a sponge to create a "five o'clock shadow" and grub up your face. Girls will need to grease back their hair with gel if it is short or tuck it under an old bowler hat if they have long hair.

Train Engineer

Just about every boy dreams about being a train engineer. This is another easy one that you can make with most of the things you'll need in the house already.

You'll need:
     Blue overalls
     White shirt
     Blue and white engineer hat
     Whistle
     Toy lantern
     Black face paint

You can use black face paint to grub up the face and get the clothes dusty by dragging them around in dirt.

Farmer

To be a farmer, use plain denim bib overalls, work or cowboy boots, a straw hat and a bit of hay to "chew" on. This would be a great twosome costume if the other person were dressed as a horse or cow.

Construction Worker

A construction worker could wear jeans, work boots, a blue work shirt, a tool belt around the waist with toy tools, and a hard hat.

Injured Skier

This costume is perfect for a child who is wheelchair-bound.

You'll need:
     Medical wrap
     Tape
     Black marker
     Old pair of jeans
     Winter sweater
     Winter hat
     Gloves
     Face paint

Cut off one of the jean legs at the knee. Put the pants on, then wrap the exposed leg with the wrap, leaving just the toes exposed. Tape it in place. Have people sign the cast with the black maker.

You can use the face paint to make bruises or cuts.

Pair of Dice

You'll need:
     Box big enough to fit around your body
     White spray paint
     Black construction paper or fun foam
     Scissors
     Glue or double-sided tape

Cut off the flaps and cut a hole in the bottom of the box big enough to fit around your head. Cut an arm hole in each side. Paint both boxes with the white spray paint. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Cut out 20 black circles from construction paper and glue them in the appropriate places on the dice. Have your friend make matching dice costume and ta-da! You and a friend will be a pair of dice.

Domino or Present

A thinner box could be a domino - spray paint the box white and use the dots on the front and back, laid out like you'd see on a domino. Or, use wrapping paper to cover the box and a bow glued on a headband and you're a present.

Train

You'll need:
     Box
     Spray paint - main color and black
     Cardboard scraps
     Construction paper or fun foam
     Scissors
     Coordinating 1" thick ribbon
     Conductor's hat
     Blue and white striped overalls
     White shirt
     Black face paint (optional)

Make sure the box is big enough to fit around your child's waist. Cut away the flaps, then cut out a hole for your child in the bottom. Spray paint the box in a bright train color. Allow it to dry completely.

With construction paper or fun foam, add stripes and a train number to sides. To make the train wheels, spray paint four cardboard circles black.

Attach ribbon to the back and front on each side to create a harness to go over the child's shoulders.

Dress up the child in the conductor's hat, overalls and a white shirt. You can use the black face paint to make the child's face "dirty" so s/he looks like s/he's put in a hard day on the tracks.

Make the opening on the top big enough to fit around your child and his/her stroller. This is perfect for younger kids who want to go with their older siblings but aren't quite big enough yet. This could also work for a child in a wheelchair.

Race Car

You'll need:
     Box
     Cardboard scraps
     Spray paint
     Glue
     Coordinating 1" thick ribbon

Cut away the box flaps, then cut a hole for your child in the bottom. Spray paint the box all red. Allow it to dry completely. Spray paint, let dry completely, then glue a cardboard spoiler to the back.

Attach some cardboard wheels that have been spray painted black.

Attach coordinating ribbon to the back and front on each side to create a harness to go over his/her shoulders.

Dress your child in black pants, a white turtle neck and toy race helmet.

As with the train, cutting a bigger hole will allow you to put the box around the child and his/her stroller. This could also work for a child in a wheelchair.

Black Widow Spider

You'll need:
     Black sweatpants
     Black hooded sweatshirt
     Black gloves
     3 pairs of black pantyhose
     Red felt
     Dark shoes
     Dark light weight stuffing
     Suspenders
     Needle
     Thread
     Scissors

For the legs, cut off the legs of the pantyhose so you have six spider legs, then stuff with anything dark and lightweight. Sew across the end to keep the stuffing from falling out. Sew on the legs around the waistband.

Cut out a circle from the red felt and either sew or glue onto the back of the sweatshirt.

When wearing the pants, use suspenders to help hold up the pants as the legs might pull them down. Wear the sweatshirt over the suspenders. Put on the black gloves and pull up the hood to give the impression of being a black widow spider.

Ladybug

You'll need:
     Black sweatpants
     Black sweatshirt
     Black shoes
     Poster board
     Red and black paint
     2 ft. black elastic
     Stapler and staples
     Black pom-poms
     Black pipe cleaners
     Black headband
     Face paint

Using a large piece of poster board or cardboard, cut out one large oval, then cut the oval to create two wings. Paint them red. Allow them to dry completely. Paint on several black dots.

To make arm holes, staple a seven-inch piece of black elastic onto the board so that the ends are four inches apart. Staple a second piece about eight inches from the first one. Repeat for the other wing.

For the antenna, attach black pom-poms to the ends of each pipe cleaner, then attach the pipe cleaners to the headband.

Use the face paint to give the child a pink nose and rosy red cheeks.

Butterfly

You'll need:
     Black sweatpants
     Black hooded sweatshirt
     Black shoes
     Black gloves
     Poster board
     Paint or felt or construction paper
     Paint brush
     Scissors
     Stapler and staples
     2 ft. black elastic
     Black headband
     2 black pipe cleaners
     Black pom-poms
     Face paint

Take a piece of poster board and cut out two wings. Paint the backs so that they're a mirror image. Allow them to dry completely, then paint the fronts so that they match the backs. You could also use felt or construction paper to create the design.

Staple five inches of black elastic to the edges of the wings with the ends about three inches apart. About eight inches away, staple seven inches of elastic about four inches apart. Repeat for the other wing.

Attach one pom-pom to each pipe cleaner. Wrap the other end of the pipe cleaner around a plastic headband.

Use the face paint to give the child a pink nose and rosy red cheeks.

This could become a bat costume by cutting bat wings from the cardboard and painting or spray painting them all black. You can use gray paint for highlighting the bones in the wings.

Skunk

You'll need:
     Black sweatpants
     Black hooded sweatshirt
     Black gloves
     Black shoes
     White faux fur
     Fabric glue or hot glue gun
     Black felt
     Scissors
     Thread
     Needle
     Double-sided tape
     Black felt
     Face paint

Cut the faux fur into a long strip and adhere it to the hood and down the back of the sweatshirt with strips of fabric glue or a hot glue gun.

Cut a small oval shape for the tummy area and adhere that with fabric glue or a hot glue gun.

For the ears, cut two triangles from black felt. Either hand sew or hot glue onto the hood. Have the child wear one pair of black socks on his hands and one pair on his feet.

Use the face paint to give the child a pink nose and whiskers.

Bunny

You'll need:
     Brown or white sweatpants and hooded sweatshirt
     Shoes to match the sweatsuit
     Gloves to match the sweatsuit
     Powder puff or large brown or white pom-pom
     Light pink felt
     Hot glue gun
     Craft glue
     Needle
     Thread
     White or brown and light pink stiff felt
     Plastic headband to match the sweatsuit
     Plastic or real carrot
     Face paint

Attach powder puff or pom-pom to the back of the sweatpants using a hot glue gun or by sewing in place.

Cut an oval out of the light pink felt and hot glue or sew it to the front of the sweatshirt.

Cut out two long bunny ears from the brown or white stiff felt and a smaller ear from the pink. Glue the pink onto the white or brown ear. When the glue is dry, attach the ears to the headband.

Use the fabric paint to give the child a pink nose and whiskers.

Cow, Lamb or Pig Costumes

To make a cow costume, add some black spots all over the white sweat suit, use white felt and some yarn to create a tail, and make horns and ears to glue to the headband. A small cow bell can be worn around the neck. Use the face paint for a pink nose, rosy red cheeks and black spots.

For a lamb, use a white or black fleecy sweatsuit, make a short tail and sew it to the back of the pants, and add lamb's ears. Use the face paint for a black nose and rosy red cheeks.

To make a pig, use a pink sweatsuit and add a pink curly tail and pink pig ears.

Nancy Cavanaugh, is a stay-at-home mom and avid crafter. You can find lots more fun crafts for kids, ages three to seven, at her site: Kids Holiday Crafts www.kidsholidaycrafts.com