Budget Friendly Homemade Children's Halloween Costumes

Homemade Halloween costumes are a fun way to get creative and let your inner artist emerge. If creating a costume from scratch is not your thing, but the kids still want to make their own, then a trip to your local Michael's Craft Store is the place to go. Here are some great homemade costume ideas for your little ones to get creative with.

Homemade Robot Child Costume

Our first costume is one my son created last Halloween. This costume is great for kids ages 8 and up. To make the robot in Photo #1, you will need the following supplies:

2 cardboard boxes (one for the head and one for the body)
1 roll aluminum foil
1 pack of dryer duct (can be found at your local hardware store)
1 LED Christmas lights pack. (10 or so bulbs, battery operated)
Scissors or utility knife
Clear packing tape
Silver duct tape
Elastic string, roughly 14 inches long
Ballpoint pen or sharp pencil

Preparing Your Robot Costume

First, cut out the bottom of the larger box. Next, cut a hole in the top of the box large enough for the child's head to fit through. Now, have the child try on the box so you can properly measure where they child's arms will stick out. Cut circle holes for the arms.

The next step is to take the smaller box and cut the bottom out of it. Have the child put on the larger box and place the smaller on top. Mark the box where you think their face will be. Remove the boxes to begin cutting the face. Have your child design how the face should look, or you can copy it from the above photo. After the entire cutting is complete, it is time to cover your boxes with the aluminum foil. When that is done, it is time to put together the control panel on the chest.

Take a scrap piece of cardboard and cut it into a 4-inch square. Take this square and cover it with silver duct tape. Next, take the pencil and gently push through the tape and cardboard to make 10 small holes for the lights. You can make any pattern you like, but make the lights have enough wire between them to make it to the next hole. Put aside.

Putting Together Your Robot Costume

The first step in assembling your robot costume is to put the smaller box on the larger one and, using your clear packing tape, tape them together. Do it not only on the outside, but also inside as well. This is to reinforce it in case it tears away the foil covering. To attach the control panel, you will need to cut a small hole in the front center of the lower box, just large enough to put the battery pack through. Use the clear packing tape to secure the panel on the front of the costume, and the wiring on this inside of the box.

To put the arms on the robot costume, take the dryer duct and measure it to your child's arms. Cut only enough duct to reach from their shoulders to their hands. When that is done, have the child put on the 'sleeves' so the elastic can be attached. Take one end of the string and tie it to the top end of the duct, by the shoulder, and string it across to the other duct and tie it. This will hold the 'sleeves' on, but because of the elasticity, it will allow for easy removal later.

For added effect, you can twist some foil into antennae and tape them to the top of the head. To add even more to the costume, you can add two small tubes or hoses to the front of the costume as well. This is a very basic design to allow you or your child endless opportunities to get creative and have fun.

Other Costume Ideas

If you do not want to put a lot of time into creating a costume, but the kids still want to make their own, then a quick trip to your local Michael's Craft Store is the place to go. In the children's craft area, there are plenty of dress-up crafts to choose from. I have selected four that would make adorable Halloween costumes. (See photo #2 for all of the supplies.)

If your child would like to be a fireman, a sorcerer, a doctor or a nurse, Michael's has the supplies needed, and for cheap, too. These are great for the younger kids, ages 3 to 6.

For the fireman, a red foam hat is $3.99, and the matching vest is $1.00. To complete this costume, all your child needs is either a yellow rain slicker with matching pants or solid color sweats. Your child can even use markers to design the fireman's hat to their liking. The fireman costume total, if using clothes from home, is $4.99. Not bad for a Halloween costume.

If your child would like to be a sorcerer, the hat and matching cape are both $1.00 each. If they used a black T-shirt and matching black pants, then the entire costume is only $2.00 and you don't have to worry about the young child outgrowing an expensive costume.

Every year at our house, we always have at least one doctor or nurse come to our door. At Michael's, you can get a foam nurses hat for $3.99, a foam stethoscope for $1.00, and a nurse's vest for $1.00 If you combine those with white sweats or clothes, the entire costume would only be $5.99.

For the doctor, you can pick up a small set of scrubs or lab coat at your local thrift store or the child can just wear white. Michael's has a pack with both a surgical mask and hat for only $1.00. Adding the stethoscope for the extra $1.00 would make this costume $2.00.

These are great homemade costume ideas for kids at a super price. We are all watching our budgets these days, but the kids don't need to know!

For more great costume ideas, try these links: Easy Halloween Costume Idea: Dr. Neo Cortex from Crash Bandicoot Video Game and The Best Homemade Halloween Costumes for Couples.

Sources:
Personal Experience
www.Michaels.com and Michael's Craft Store