Three Cheap & Easy Homemade Halloween Costumes

Figuring out what the kids are going to dress up as every year for Halloween is stressful and so expensive. It seems the cheapest price for a Halloween costume is twenty dollars and that is just for one costume without the extras that go along with it. When you have more than one child to dress up, the cost can get to be quite astronomical.

The best thing you can do save money is make your own costumes, improvise with things you have and the things you can buy at the dollar store or your local discount store. Below I have listed three different costume ideas that will run you from absolutely no cost to just a few dollars each!

Dora the Explorer Costume ~ This is the easiest one!

When you looked at the Dora costumes at the store, did you notice that it's basically a pair of orange shorts and a pink t-shirt? Plus of course the wig and backpack.

All you need to make your little one Dora is the following:

Orange Shorts

Pink T-Shirt

White Sneakers

Black Wig

Backpack

Maybe you already have the shorts and t-shirt, if not check out goodwill or your local thrift store. You will probably find them for just a couple dollars. At the dollar store, you can find dress up wigs in all sorts of colors, find a black one and even if it is too long, just cut it once you get it home. Wal-Mart carries the Dora the Explorer backpack for under ten dollars and it is the perfect size for holding candy!

Pumpkin Costume ~ Another really simple one!

For a small child, you will need

Orange pillowcase (for a larger child you will need an orange sheet and you will need to stitch it like a pillowcase)

Small pillows, blankets or towels

Green felt.

Cut a small hole inside the hemmed part of the pillowcase and put a string through it all the way around, this is the top of the costume, the string will help secure the costume around your child's shoulders and neck. Then cut two holes large enough for the legs to fit through on the bottom and two holes for the arms about six inches below the hem on the top. Cut a leaf shape from the green felt, about eight to twelve inches long and three to four inches wide, this is the top of the costume. After you put your child inside the "pumpkin shell" stuff it with the pillows, blankets or towels. Add the top to your child's head and secure with bobby pins!

Three Blind Mice ~ A really cute idea if you have three children!

All you need for this costume is the following:

3 Grey sweat suits (Pants and shirts)

3 pieces of black yarn or ribbon (about 12 - 18" long)

3 Pairs of White Gloves (Check the dollar store or thrift store for these)

3 Pairs of Black Sunglasses (again check the dollar store or thrift store)

3 Black headbands

Cardboard

Black Marker or paint

Stapler

Cut six four inch circles from the cardboard and either color them black with a marker or paint them, after they have dried, staple them to the headbands so they stick up like ears, then stitch the tail (the black yarn or ribbon) to the back of the sweatpants. That's it! You are done and you have three blind mice!

See how simple it can be to dress up your child for Halloween without breaking the bank? Search the Internet for more great low cost halloween costume ideas!