Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s time for creative costume planning! Making your kid's costumes can be fun and might even make room for a little bonding time while you let their imaginations run wild.
Military families are always looking for ways to stay in their budgets, and a DIY costume is one place to cut costs and create some family fun. Not sure where to start? Here are five easy DIY Halloween costumes your little ones will absolutely adore.
1) Inflatable Tube Man
This costume by Desert Chica is one of the silliest and most fun to create. The vibrant colors, funny movements, and creative thought make it an instant holiday favorite.
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Photo from Desert Chica. Used with permission.
What you need:
- Three solid-color pop-up hampers
- Black and white duct tape
- Black mesh
- Adjustable hem tape
- Permanent hem bonding strips
How to make it:
- Cut off the tops and bottoms of two hampers and cut just the top of the third.
- Cut the extra material into wide rectangles and wrap them to make tubes.
- Seal them using adjustable hem tape.
- Stack the hampers as they will fit on your child and cut arm holes.
- Place the hem tape around the arm holes to attach the arms to the body.
- Use extra strong bonding tape to connect the three hampers.
- Make eyes from the white and black duct tape.
- Draw and cut the mouth, then apply the black mesh.
2) Bunch of Grapes
Is there anything cuter than a bundle of grapes with your mini-me's face peering out at you? Probably not. Plus, it fits all the DIY categories.
Photo from iStock.com/Passakorn_14
What you need:
- Purple long-sleeve shirt
- Purple pants or leggings
- Purple balloons
- Headband
- Fake leaves
- Hot glue
How to make it:
- Blow up the balloons.
- Have your child dress in purple pants and a matching shirt.
- Fasten the balloons to the clothing using hot glue or safety pins.
- Hot glue the fake leaves to the headband and place it on their head.
3) Two Scoops
This sweet costume by MAMA Jots might make you want to eat your little tricker-treater right up—sprinkles and all!
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Photo from MAMA Jots. Used with permission.
What you need:
- Pink tutu skirt
- White tutu skirt
- Long-sleeve pink shirt
- Gold boots
- Cream leg warmers
- Felt rolls
- Red balloon
How to make it:
- Cut white and pink felt into scallop edges and glue them to the inside layer of the tutus.
- Make the sprinkles by rolling the felt and securing them with glue to the pink tutu.
- Dress your little one in leg warmers, boots, and a long-sleeve pink shirt.
- Put the white tutu skirt on.
- Place the pink tutu over their shoulders.
- Blow up the balloon, tie it to a hair clip, and place it on their head.
4) Cereal Bowl
Transform your child into their favorite breakfast treat with a cereal costume by i heart arts n crafts. This delightful creation will leave everyone craving a sweet, nostalgic snack!
What you need:
- A 16-gallon round tub or a round laundry hamper, depending on your child's age and size
- Six pool noodles (five different colors)
- Cardboard
- Ribbon
- Drill
- Glue
- Box of Fruit Loops
- White long-sleeve shirt
How to make it:
- Cut out the bottom of your tub or hamper.
- Cut a slit through one pool noodle and secure it around the top of the tub.
- Drill several holes around the top of the tub and fasten the noodle with zip ties.
- Cut the remaining multi-colored pool noodles into small rounds to mimic fruit loops.
- Stack and glue "cereal" to the top of the tub.
- Make suspenders by running ribbon through the handles.
- Cut a large spoon from cardboard and glue the remaining faux fruit loops to it.
5) Little Scuba Diver
Photo from Artsy Fartsy Mama. Used with permission.
This adorable scuba-diver costume from Artsy Fartsy Mama is not only the perfect Halloween costume, it's also an amazing recycling project. With a few tossable items, spray paint, and some elbow grease, your little diver is ready to trick or treat.
What you need:
- Backpack/leash/harness (the animal ones work fine, too)
- Black long-sleeve shirt
- Black pants
- Silver spray paint
- Craft foam
- Two 2-liter soda bottles
- One 1-liter soda bottle
- 4-6 scouring pads
- 1-yard nylon webbing
- Black nylon webbing with plastic buckle
- Black cord keeper tube
- Plastic zip ties
- Safety goggles
How to make it:
- Cut the top off a 1-liter soda bottle.
- Spray paint the individual top of the 1-liter bottle, the scouring pads, and both 2-liter bottles in silver.
- Adjust the nylon buckle to fit your child's waist as a belt.
- Attach webbing to the backpack straps for extra color if desired.
- Roll the scouring pads, hot glue them together, and attach them to the sides of the belt with hot glue to create weights.
- Zip-tie the 2-liter soda bottles to each other and secure them to the backpack.
- Cut two long pieces of cord keeper tube, then hot glue them to the sides of each 2-liter bottle. Connect the other ends to the lid of the 1-liter bottle
- Freehand fins from craft foam, and use glue or the velcro from your child's shoes to keep them attached to her feet.
- Complete the look with swim goggles.
DIY costumes are not only budget-friendly for military families, they're an opportunity for your kids to express their creativity. There's no sense in breaking the bank for a costume your child will likely wear once.
These five ideas are easy to execute, require minimal supplies, and are sure to delight your little ones. So gather your crafting materials and get ready for a spooktacular Halloween!
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