My Best Halloween Costume Ever

My best Halloween costume ever was in third grade, when I went as a computer. It was my first time making my costume without parental help, and it turned out very nice. Also, it was different - I was the only computer at the houses I visited for Trick-or-Treat.

My Halloween costume was modeled after the computers of that generation. I used a large box to make the monitor and painted the outside of the box all one color. I then outlined the screen area and painted an open application with "typed in" words on my screen. Egg cartons made great keys for the keyboard. I also consulted a real keyboard for letter-placement accuracy before gluing the key board to the bottom of the box below the screen.

This is a nice costume for kids who want to do hands-on work themselves, and also for adults who are looking for a project that they can create from common household items. As an added bonus for kids, using a box to create the monitor screen allows for plenty of room for extra layers on cold Halloween evenings. It is just as easy to dress lightly underneath for comfort at indoor functions.

If you like the idea, but would prefer a more modern take, why not go flat-screen or laptop?

Instead of using a large, bulky box, a large piece of cardboard can be attached to your front to make a flat screen. It would probably be best to use Velcro with a strong hold to attach the cardboard to your top. This will make it much easier to get in and out of the Halloween costume, and will also make all functions - especially driving - much simpler.

I would recommend using an old, close-fitting top and attaching as much of the back surface of the cardboard as possible to your shirt. This will keep your "monitor screen" more stable and upright, as a looser top would sag. For kids going flat-screen in cool weather, try to find a top that will be close-fitting when worn over layers of clothes.

If egg cartons would be disproportionately large (or for laptops which usually have less defined keys), keys can be drawn in on a flat cardboard. If you have the time, you can use cardboard to create texture and raised keys, but they are not necessary to the overall effect of the costume. However you make your keys, the keyboard can then be glued directly to the cardboard.

Get creative with your monitor screen. Have a favorite photo enlarged to be your desktop background or paint a fun design and call it your screen saver. Type up a few lines size 72 font, print them out and attach inside a painted border for an "open application". You have the basis; the ways you can personalize this Halloween costume are endless