Halloween is one of the most fun times of the year. The costumes, the parties, trick or treating or handing out candy and seeing the neighbourhood kids’ costumes, it’s also a great time to listen to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on repeat and no one thinks you’re weird for it. But it can all get really expensive, especially if you’re buying a premade costume, so we’ve put together a list of our favourite costume ideas you can make with things you already might have around the house, or things you can buy cheap to make yourself to keep a much lighter budget.
Zombie – all you need is some old clothes, cut some holes and add a bit of make up and you’re all set. You want to make fake blood? Try this – Three parts corn syrup, one part water, red food coloring, flour to thicken.
Tiger – Grab an orange shirt and learn to paint your face with this handy tutorial and you’re all set!
PB & J Sandwich – It’s a simple couples costume and it’s cheap and easy to make. Use this tutorial to get started.
Printable masks – The internet has EVERYTHING! Check out this ETSY store where you can purchase a cheap printable mask, then use clothing from home to dress it up and have fun.
Robot – It’s a classic! Grab an old cardboard box, cut some holes, use coloured paper from the dollar store and tin foil and away you go. Beep boop.
Ghost – While we’re on the subject of classic. The white sheet with holes cut out for eyes is an all-time classic that can’t go wrong.
Witch – Another classic. Black clothing is all you need for this one. You can usually find a hat for pretty cheap at a store near you
Skeleton – A black shirt and pants with some white duct tape, follow this tutorial and you’re all set! You can always add white and black make up too. (If you really want to have fun with this one, buy some glow in the dark tape!)
Librarian – Shhhh. This one is easy to make. A cardigan, dress shirt with a collar, a skirt or dress pants, glasses and some books from your shelf and you’re done!
Gumball Machine – White shirt, red pants. Your turn to glue! You’ll need small 1.5? multi-coloured pom poms and just attach them to the t-shirt with hot glue. Use a belt and for the buckle, make a .25 sign using a small piece of cardboard, attach with a safety pin or tape and that’s it.
Grapes – Blow up purple or green balloons and pin them to your shirt. Use green construction paper to make the topper
Pizza – Construction paper or foam. Cut a triangle shape, if needed paint or use construction paper to make the brown crust, red sauce, and yellow cheese. Cut toppings out of felt or construction paper and attach with hot glue. Neck strap you can use ribbon with hot glue.
Rock band – Great family or group costume and one you can do for cheap! Use what you might already have or visit a thrift store to purchase clothes, pick up some wigs and inflatable instruments. You can make a microphone out of an old toilet paper roll, and using an old tennis ball that you can spray paint silver, or visiting Michael’s and buying a cheap piece of circle foam and painting it. There is a fun tutorial HERE.
Jelly Belly’s – You’ll thank us for this one. Use a clear garbage bag and fill it with various coloured balloons. Blow them us small, you don’t want them too big here. Cut arm homes and use a ribbon around your neck to keep it up. Print or create a Jelly Belly logo, cut it out and glue it to the front of your bag and you’re set!
Smartie Pants – Cut up some boxes of Smarties and tape them onto your pants, grab a book to carry around and you’re done!
Operation – The game we loved as kids! This one looks really good. You need someone with a pair of scrubs and a some tweezers to go as the doctor. The other person is the patient and using read and white construction paper or felt, cut out the different shapes, tape them on, grab a clown nose and you’re done. Here is the TUTORIAL.
Scuba Diver – Black top and pants, snorkel and mask, and grab a couple old 2L pop bottles, paint them, use felt get them over your shoulder and you’re done.
Bubble bath – Similar to the grapes above. Get white balloons, blow them up and pin them onto a white shirt.
French KISS – You’ll need a black and white striped shirt, a beret, a baguette and paint your face like Gene Simmons or Paul Stanley of KISS
Deviled Egg – White t-shirt, one yellow piece of felt you cut in a circle and glue to the front. Grab some devil horns and you’re done
Life Gives You Lemons – All you need is a yellow shirt, a name tag that you fill in with “LIFE” and a basket of lemons.
Party Animals – Dress fancy, grab an animal mask and you’re ready for a night out!
Chip On Your Shoulder – One piece of yellow construction paper is all you need. Cut it then fold it like an accordion. Tape it on your shoulder.
Smart Cookie – Two shades of brown construction paper and some felt. Cut out the shape of a cookie with the lighter colour. Use the darker colour to make the chocolate chips and glue them on. Use felt to attach the front and back and you’re done!
TAG us in your Halloween social posts so we can see what you’ve come up with. Trick or treat!
