Tips for Quick Halloween Costumes

Halloween's almost here and you don't want to be caught last minute with no costume, or maybe you're watching your budget. Here are some common things you can find around the house to create your own quick costume.

Let's start in the bathroom. Store bought Halloween make-up can be a pinch on the wallet. Here are some examples of things to use with your costume that may be handy in your bathroom at home:

-eyeliners for drawing
-lipsticks for coloring
-eyeshadow for dead-looking lips and eyes, also to color skin
-mascara as black paint
-toilet paper for stuffing
-white powders and baby powder to make old dusty hair

Now let's move to the closet. Children can use Mom and Dad's clothes for fun outfits. Also, we all have old clothes that we don't want anymore. There are many tricks you can use with old things in your closet such as:

-old dresses with a over-sized shirt over the top (so you can't see the feminine dress top) as a robe or cloak
-cut strips off and old shirt for ties and belts
-wire hangers can easily be bent and shaped into fairy wings with the bent hook part attaching to the back of the bra (be creative)
-old t-shirts can be cut into capes by cutting off the sleeves, then cutting up each side, and around the collar on the front of the shirt effectively cutting off the front of the shirt and leaving the collar to put over their head and the back of the shirt as the cape.

Next on the list is the kitchen. There is an abundance of tools to work with in the kitchen. All you have to do is look and use your imagination. Here are a few ieas:

-flour to rub on skin and face for a pale dead look, or sprinkle in hair for Grey hair
-kool-aid to stain things with
-coffee, beans, and rice to put in things such as bottles for shakers
-paper towel rolls as pirate telescopes and magic wands (paint them and paste or tape little things to it to match the costume)
-food coloring, ketchup, anything with a red color for blood
-make a thin mixture of flour and water and spread over skin, let dry, and it will crackle to give a cracked skin effect
-a butter bowl can be made into a crown by cutting a circle out of the bottom of the bowl to fit the top of the head, notches around the rim at the top, and then paint it
-when make-up is not available, berries such as strawberries and blackberries can be used to stain cheeks and lips (or wherever you want the color tint)

Miscellaneous items that can be used:

-to make hanging or wrinkled skin and sores, very thinly spread a small amount of regular white glue over the area (NOT around eyes, nose, or mouth and not to be used excessively), let it dry, then gently pull and stretch it the way you want it and apply some foundation make-up or powder to make it look like burnt skin
-plastic bags and blown up balloons for stuffing shirt sleeves to make muscles
-pillows stuffed into shirts for fat tummies
-cardboard boxes can be attached to suspenders with a hole cut in the bottom to slide over body and let suspenders rest on shoulders...make to resemble an army tank, UFO, car, anything you wish
-sheets of felt or thick material can be cut into masks and attached to a small elastic string (can use elastic from old pair of pants or clothes and cut into a small strip)

When time is of the essence, all you have to do is look around your home. There are many things to use as quick fixes for a Halloween costume. I have only mentioned a few, but you can use your imagination and come up with anything you wish. Personally, I think the best costumes are the ones you come up with yourself. They are the most original and you know that nobody else has will have one on just like it. Children love to do this because it lets them use their creativity and imagination instead of buying something at a store and then seeing other children wearing the same thing. Kids like to be individuals.

Keep in mind as you make your costume that you want your child to be easily seen. Be sure to use reflectors, bright clothing, anything to make them obvious to keep them safe when trick or treating. Have a Happy Halloween!