Spooky season is almost here, and the only thing that should give you chills is Halloween night, not your costume bill! Save money on expensive Halloween costumes by making your own. You just need a little bit of time and materials you already have at home.
A Building Block
Paint a large cardboard box in your child’s favorite color. Cut holes for their head and arms. Then glue plastic or Styrofoam cups to the front of the box and you have created your own building block!
Crayon
Dress your child in their favorite color from head to toe. Then buy a party hat in a matching color (or make your own using construction paper) and your child is transformed into their favorite color crayon.
Marathon Runner
Is your toddler’s favorite pastime running? Dress them up in their comfiest running outfit and then print out a number to stick on their shirt — now they are ready to run a candy marathon.
Race car (or any wheeled vehicle)
Transform cardboard boxes into something with wheels! The best thing about “boxtumes” is they are adaptable, which means you can make them to fit your child’s physical needs.
Other Costume Ideas
- Robot. Items needed: Cardboard boxes, aluminum foil, duct tape and bottle caps (or construction paper) for buttons. Instructions: Cover boxes with aluminum foil, then use duct tape and bottle caps to create control panels on the front. You can use a smaller box for the head with cut-out eye holes.
- Cat. Items needed: Black clothes, black headband, felt for ears and eyeliner for whiskers. Instructions: Dress your little one in black, attach cat ears made from black felt to a headband and draw on whiskers and a nose with eyeliner.
- Scarecrow. Items needed: Plaid shirt, overalls, straw or yellow yarn and face paint. Instructions: Stuff the ends of the shirt and overalls with straw or yarn to mimic straw. Add a floppy hat and draw a scarecrow face with face paint.
