washer and dryer
mike garten
Assembling this homemade washer dryer costume is not a tedious task. You can make cute washer and dryer costumes for kids using upcycled items you already have at home, like cardboard, takeout containers, and fabric straps. Starting with a large square cardboard box, create a control panel by folding the top flap in half and securing it with hot glue. Cut the neck and armholes, paint the box white and let dry. Add bottle caps and lids to buttons and knobs, or draw them by hand. For the washing machine, use a clear takeout container lid and a piece of fabric glued to the front of the box. For the dryer, make the door by cutting and pasting painted cardboard into squares. Accessorize the look with detergent bottles, dryer sheets, and extra laundry.
Related: 65 useful and easy upcycling ideas for all skill levels
lava lamp
oh sam
You’ll be the talk of the party with this 90s-inspired lava lamp costume. Although it looks professionally made, you can recreate this costume using dye, spray paint, Velcro strips, and a few other inexpensive materials.
buy orange lit dye
Get the tutorial with Aww Sam »
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houseplant costume
mike garten
These houseplant accessories are such a cute addition to an all-green outfit. For the beret, cut the pipe cleaners into smaller pieces and fold each piece in half. Apply a small dot of hot glue in the center and attach it to the beret. If you prefer a beanie, cut a strip of light green crepe paper 1.5 inches wide and a dark green stripe 1.75 inches wide. Curve the top into a point shape. Spread the stick glue across the light green strip. Place the floral wire in the center of the strip and place the dark green crepe paper on top. Smooth it with your fingers and let it dry. Curve the strips to create a leaf effect and attach them to the hat with hot glue or safety pins.
buy white pipe cleaners
tin man
pumpkin and princess
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“Maleficent” costume
Night owl blog
scrub daddy
mike garten
Create smiling Scrub Daddy and Scrub Mummy sponges from foam mattress toppers. Start with two large cardboard circles and paint both sides a darker shade than the foam topper. Using sharp fabric scissors, cut two circles from the foam about 2 inches wider than the cardboard. Trace and cut out a smiley face from one of the bubble circles. Attach both forms to the cardboard with hot glue. Attach thick ribbon straps to both circles with duct tape or gaffer tape. Complete the look with rubber cleaning gloves.
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Scarecrow
Night owl blog
pearl and shell costume
oh sam
This pearl and seashell maternity costume requires a few pieces of foam board and some spray paint. Glue the two shells together and then dress them in white to recreate the pearl.
buy foam board
Get the tutorial with Aww Sam »
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candyland characters
Chris loves Julia
You don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of individual costumes for your family every year. Instead, raid your family’s closets for items they already own and build on them. This way, this family dressed up as iconic characters from Candyland.
Get the tutorial with Chris Loves Julia »
burrito costume
oh sam
If you love burritos, why not dress up as your favorite food this Halloween? A beige shirt, silver skirt, and felt turn it into a burrito in one bite. Who could resist that?
buy green felt
Get the tutorial with Aww Sam »
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Nature-themed trio
mike garten
Dress up your family in nature-inspired costumes. For the mushroom beret, cut a variation of a round circle from white felt and hot glue the circle onto the beret. To create a tree headband, cut branches to the desired length and use hot glue to attach each branch to the headband. For the bug’s eyes, dip a piece of bubble wrap in green paint and apply it to the round sunglasses. Once the lenses are dry, decorate the frame with pipe cleaners and googly eyes.
buy pipe cleaners
“Flintstone” costume
beautiful mess
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A bowl of ramen
oh sam
You know the saying, “You are what you eat.” Ramen lovers, this is for you. Step inside this costume and it will become your favorite. Besides, what could be more fun than carrying around giant chopsticks on Halloween?
Get the tutorial with Aww Sam »
Ariel from “The Little Mermaid”
Photographer Mike Garten. Hair by Melon Weyante. Makeup by Mark Cornwall
Become a princess for Halloween (and the big sea!) with this handcrafted replica of Ariel’s mermaid appearance. She wears a simple purple top and a green scarf wrapped around her waist like a tail. DIY a seashell necklace and use your hair scarf as a belt.
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super mario bros
Photographer Mike Garten. Hair by Melon Weyante. Makeup by Mark Cornwall
Tanya from “White Lotus”
Photographer Mike Garten. Hair by Melon Weyante. Makeup by Mark Cornwall
Whether you liked the ending or not, Tanya is still an iconic character who deserves her own day. Find a patterned beach cover-up and wear it with chic shades and low heels. A suitcase is also a must!
buy dress cover up
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Wednesday Addams
Photographer Mike Garten. Hair by Melon Weyante. Makeup by Mark Cornwall
crystal ball
club craft
What could be better than looking into a crystal ball? And of course there’s the big papier-mâché version you can wear for Halloween! This crystal ball costume is made from 36-inch balloons covered in spray-painted newspaper.
Get the tutorial at Club Crafted »
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medusa
The house built by Lars
Don’t worry. These “snakes” will not turn your friends to stone. Inflate the balloons and use hairpins to attach them to your hair or clothes. Use different shades of blue and green to recreate reptilian creatures and add a few rubber snakes on top.
buy balloons
Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built »
bird halloween costume
mike garten
Transform your child into an eye-catching bird with impressive wings. You will need a white shirt and leggings, white mask foam, a cardboard box, white and metallic silver cupcake liners, white coffee filters, and tape (double-sided tape, gaff tape, or strong duct tape).
To create your own, follow these steps:
Fold the cupcake liner and coffee filter in half. Cut out two oval feather shapes from the cardboard box. Starting on one side, tape the coffee filters and overlap to create a “feathered” look. Spread one end out to create a wing shape. Add smaller cupcake liners for extra texture and mix in a few silver liners to make the sections pop. Make a tube out of cardboard and secure it to the back of the “wing” using gaff tape. Cover the back of the wings with more coffee filters and cupcake liners to hide the cardboard base. Repeat steps 3-6 for the other wing. . Using tape, overlap a small folded cupcake liner onto the white mask foam to create tighter/smaller wings on the bird’s face.
buy white coffee filter
buy metallic cupcake liners
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over 7 years of experience, including 5 years on staff at Good Housekeeping, who writes about the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas, and gifts for everyone. We covered all things home and holiday including guides. on any occasion). She’s also into feel-good TV, so you can see her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolia, and When Calls the Heart on the Hallmark Channel.
Laura Miller (she) is an assistant editor at Good Housekeeping and covers home design. Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC’s TODAY.com, covering everything from entertainment news to product reviews to the latest in pop culture.
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