Halloween Costume Idea - "Dinner Table"

Halloween is a great time of year to let loose, be creative, and get in one more "just for fun" night before the cold winter and hustle and bustle of the holiday season descends on the world. What to dress as is always a big question for me, though. I despise "store-bought" costumes…even if it's kind of a witty idea; it's not YOUR idea. Halloween is a great time to flex your creative muscles, even if, like myself, your artistic ability is somewhere between "can't draw a straight line with a ruler" and "kindergartener with mittens on".

This article is about a costume I made a few years ago. It was fairly inexpensive and took only a couple hours (and not all at once). It got rave reviews from all the parties I attended, and like I said, it wasn't hard. What was the costume? A dinner Table!

To make your own Dinner Table costume, you'll need:

- A square box large enough for you fit over your shoulders. (I used a moving box from U-haul, but what you use will depend on your size)

- A disposable plastic tablecloth

- A set of junk silverware (fork, knife, and spoon)

- A large paper plate

- Paper Napkins

- A cheap clear plastic wine glass

- Cheap Salt and Pepper shakers

- A package of dark red Jello (cherry flavor works well)

- Scissors

- Rubber cement or other strong adhesive

- Stapler with sturdy staples

- Duct Tape

Once you have all the materials together, these are the steps you'll need to follow to create your costume:

1. Prepare the Jello as directed on the package. If there are directions for "jigglers" on the box, use that recipe…it makes more "solid" Jello. Fill the plastic wine glass half full of Jello, and put it in the fridge to set.

2. Take the box, and cut holes in it for your head and arms, so you can "wear" it comfortably.

3. Drape the disposable tablecloth over the box and cut away excess material. You want the box covered, but not too much "extra " material hanging. Staple the tablecloth in place securely; making sure the top is taut. Plan to wear a shirt that's the same color (or at least compliments) the tablecloth.

4. Cut a hole in the paper plate big enough for your head to fit through. Attach it over the "head" hole on the box. Now, your head is the main course of this nifty little "meal"

5. Using rubber cement or another adhesive, attach the silverware and napkins to the top of the box in the appropriate positions.

6. Attach the salt and pepper shakers to the top of the box, off to one side. This can be done with rubber cement or a small amount of duct tape, depending on the size and weight of the shakers.

7. Before heading out the party, take the Jello out of the fridge and attach the glass to the box using duct tape. The glass might be heavy, so you might need a lot of tape. You'll notice in the picture of the costume, I use a napkin to cover up the tape.

There you have it; a complete dinner with silverware, napkins, condiments, and a beverage. You make use any theme for your dinner. I went with a "Thanksgiving" theme, with fall colors and a stuffed turkey, but you could go with any number of themes, from a summer cookout to a holiday meal, to breakfast. The key is to use your creativity, be original, and have fun!

Happy Halloween! Trick or Treat!