When it’s time to start thinking about Halloween costumes (for you or your kids), you have two options: Head to a costume store and pick up a bagged costume, or create a DIY Halloween costume. Contrary to popular belief, not all DIY costumes require weeks of preparation—there are plenty of easy, last-minute Halloween costumes out there. Certain costumes do require a bit of time and effort, though, especially if you plan to show them off at the school Halloween party or in a costume parade.
If you’re looking for ideas for DIY Halloween costumes for people of all ages—from kids, toddlers, and infants to adults—look no further. We used models of all ages for our DIY costume ideas, but the beauty of a DIY Halloween costume is that you can make it work for people of any size by using the right supplies. Anyone can be Little Miss Sunshine or Raining Cats and Dogs with a little elbow grease.
Click through these smart DIY costume ideas (and their how-to guides) for inspiration and instructions. Once you find one that fits your needs, it’s time to start finding the right accompanying clothes and supplies—you might be surprised by how quickly your crafty costume comes together.
Shark Mask
Philip Friedman
This Halloween, you can put all your crafting focus on a mask: With the right DIY Halloween mask, the rest of your costume is a breeze. This DIY uses a carefully made shark mask. With this on your head, all you have to wear is gray clothing for a top-notch costume.
What You’ll Need:
Large piece of cardboardPrimer spray paintGray paintPink permanent markerBlack permanent markerThin elastic stringCraft knifeMagna Tac glueGray clothes
How-to:
Cover the cardboard with primer spray paint and let dry completely. Without primer, the cardboard will absorb the paint and require several coats, plus a lot of dry time in between to achieve a saturated color.Cut out the shark face with teeth, two pectoral (side) fins, and one dorsal (top) fin from the cardboard.Paint the shark face (except for the mouth area) and fins gray. Paint the mouth area white and line the bottom of the teeth in pink marker to create the “gums.” Draw eyes and eyebrows with black marker.Pierce a small hole in each of the side fins, thread a string of elastic through the two holes and knot the ends to secure. This will serve as the mask band.Glue the pectoral fins to the right and left sides of the shark face. Then glue the dorsal fin to the top of the face.Dress in all gray.
Craft developed by Morgan Levine
Lamb
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
This snuggly DIY costume is both comfortable and cozy, perfect for a chilly Halloween night. You’ll need a long sleeve shirt, leggings, and plenty of cotton balls to complete the disguise.
What You’ll Need:
White crewneck sweatshirt and pantsWhite long sleeve shirtCotton ballsBlack tapeBlack beanieBlack felt
How-to:
Cut the arms off the sweatshirt.Glue cotton balls to the sweatshirt.Tape the wrist of the undershirt and ankles of the pants with thick black tape.For the ears, cut ears from black felt and glue them to a beanie cap.
Shark
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Only a few supplies are needed to create this shark’s tough skin, including a hooded sweatshirt and felt. If you’re looking for a group costume idea, get your whole family to be fish, mermaids, and scuba divers for an under-the-sea theme.
What You’ll Need:
Grey hooded sweatshirt and pantsWhite feltBlack buttonsGrey feltHot glue gunScissorsRound cardboard cake baseRed felt
How-to:
Cut and glue white felt to the front of the grey hoodie.Using the white felt, cut a zigzag pattern for the teeth. Attach with glue around the inside edge of the hood.To make the fin, cut the round cardboard cake base into a shark fin shape.Cover the cardboard with grey felt.Attach with glue to the back of the grey hoodie.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Inspired by the book by Laura Numeroff, this literary DIY costume is immediately recognizable—and a great pick for any Halloween dresser-upper, especially one who has always loved reading If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.
What You’ll Need:
CardboardBrown fabricHot glue gun and sticksPolyester fiber fillBrown pom-pomsGrey and pink feltHeadbandWhite shirtBlue jean overalls
How-to:
Cut the cardboard into a 14-inch circle. If you’d like, snip a zig-zag bite into one side. Cut the fabric into a 20-inch circle. Start wrapping the fabric around the edge of the cardboard and tape it to the back of the board to secure it in place. Stop about three-quarters of the way around the circle and fill the pocket between the felt and cardboard with stuffing, then tape the last portion closed. Glue on pom-poms for chocolate chips.Cut two mouse ear shapes out of gray felt, then cut two smaller ear shapes out of pink felt. Glue the pink pieces onto the gray pieces to form ears, and adhere them to a headband.
Small Fry/French Fries
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Perfect for babies and adults alike, this french fry DIY costume is too-cute—and anyone can make it at home, thanks to our how-to guide.
What You’ll Need:
Yellow shirt and pantsRed foam core boardHot glue gun and sticksRed electrical tapeYellow pool noodleYellow ribbon
How-to:
To create the french fry box, cut the foam core into four rectangles: one 13″ x 8″. one 13″ x 9″, and two 6″ x 8″. (Note: You can adjust the size of the box as needed to fit your child; double or triple dimensions for an adult costume.) Hot glue the four pieces together to form a box shape that’s open on the top and bottom, then reinforce the inner corners with red electrical tape. Cut a curve along the top of the front piece.Using scissors, cut the pool noodle into french fry strips, then glue them to the inside of the box, making sure to leave enough room for you to fit comfortably inside the costume. Cut two pieces of ribbon for shoulder straps and glue them to the front and back inside of the box.Slip the box over your head, with the ribbon straps over your shoulders. Check that you have enough room to move comfortably. If needed, remove some of the fries or adjust the shoulder straps.
Aviator
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Take to the skies (even in your imagination) in this simple DIY Halloween costume, which takes minimal crafting but still looks well-done. If you already have a leather jacket, you’re halfway there. Just find goggles and a white scarf, and you’re ready for takeoff. If you don’t have all these essentials, they’re easy enough to make—read on for the DIY instructions.
What You’ll Need:
Brown winter hat with earflapsWhite t-shirtKhaki pantsBrown crewneck sweatshirt (if you don’t have a leather jacket)Brown tapeWhite scarfFurry felt fabricGoggles
How-to:
Cut the front center of the brown sweatshirt vertically from the bottom to the collar.Cut furry felt in the shape of a collar and cuffs and glue to the sweatshirt.Using the tape, create a trim around the sweatshirt with the furry.Tape the bottom edge and center of the sweatshirt too.
Avocado Toast
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
The most popular brunch item can also be the best DIY costume. Keep it simple with a basic avocado motif, and no one will be wondering what you’re dressed as this Halloween.
What You’ll Need:
White paper½-inch-thick foam cushionDark green fabricLight green fabricBrown dressLight and dark brown felt
How-to:
On the paper, draw a simple avocado shape large enough to cover your stomach. Trace the shape onto the foam and cut out, then trace the shape onto the dark green fabric and cut out. Cut a hole in both pieces for the pit of the avocado. Glue the fabric onto the foam. Cut a slightly smaller avocado shape from the light green fabric, cut a hole for the pit, and adhere on top.Cut out brown felt to form the corners of a toast slice. Attach the avocado to the stomach of the dress, then adhere the toast corners around the avocado.
Pig in a Blanket
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Hands down, the hit of the Halloween party season. Start by decking out your little one or yourself in pink, head to toe. Add felt ears and a bottle cap/button nose. Wrap up in a favorite blanket, and you’ve got one little piggy way too adorable to stay home.
What You’ll Need:
PaperPencil4 pieces of pink felt (we like E-Z felt, which is stiff and easier to work with)Pink headbandScissorsHot glue gunLarge bottle cap (we used a Gatorade cap)Pink ribbonPink buttonNewspaperPink acrylic paint (water-based)Paintbrush
How-to:
Create a template by drawing one ear on a piece of paper and cutting it out.Place a template on the felt as your guide. Cut out four ear-shaped pieces of pink felt.Glue around the edges of two pieces of felt. Stick each piece to the felt pieces without glue. (You’ll need two pieces of felt per ear so they are stable and won’t flop over.)Glue the ears to the pink headband.For the pig nose, lay the bottle cap on a piece of newspaper and paint it pink. Set it aside to dry overnight.Once dry, glue the button to the center of the bottle cap.Glue the ends of the ribbon to the inside of the cap. Tie around the head to secure.
Little Miss Sunshine
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
The ballots are in: This ray of sunshine wins the crown. Dress your shining star in all yellow and then make the sash and crown from a few everyday staples.
What You’ll Need:
Yellow dress and tightsYellow party hatsYellow headbandRibbon (two colors, one thin and one thick)Glue6 sheets of yellow adhesive feltLetters with adhesive backs
How-to:
Cut five round pieces of yellow felt in different sizes.Snip the tops off of six party hats. Glue these tops along the edges of the round piece of felt. Layer two to three round pieces of yellow felt on top of the party hats to make the center of the sun.Glue the new sun slightly off center on the child’s dress.Glue the thinner ribbon on top of the thicker ribbon. Using adhesive letters, spell “Little Miss.”For the hat, cut felt into shapes that resemble the sun’s rays. Glue along the rim of the headband.
Raining Cats and Dogs
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Uh-oh: Watch out for poodles! Pull out a rain slicker and Wellies and a few stuffed furry friends for a clever conceptual costume. All you need is an old umbrella and a hot glue gun to attach the toys, then just wait for the compliments for this DIY Halloween costume idea to rain down.
What You’ll Need:
UmbrellaStuffed animalsHot glue gun
How-to:
Open up the umbrella and hot glue one animal at a time on the outside. Let them rest in place to dry overnight.
Strawberry
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Think strawberry season is long gone? Think again. This unique costume is just perfect for Halloween and is one of the easiest DIY costumes to make.
What You’ll Need:
Red long sleeve shirt and pants, or red dress and tightsScissorsPaper and pencilGlueGreen beanieGreen feltGreen pipe cleanerOchre yellow craft paint
How-to:
Using paper and pencil, create teardrop shapes. Cut out. (This will be your stencil for the seeds.) Trace and fill in with paint all over the shirt and pants (or dress and tights for a more adult look).Create a leaf pattern on the green felt. Cut out. Glue green pipe cleaners to the underside of the green felt. You’ll use the leftover leaves for the cap.Glue leaves to the collar of the red shirt or dress.To make the hat, wrap pipe cleaners around the tip of the beanie cap.Glue leaves to the beanie cap.
Queen Peacock
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
This may be the most vivid, eye-catching DIY costume yet. It may look intricate, but besides the feathered skirt, you’ll just need to dress in a blue leotard or bodysuit and tights, or a long-sleeved shirt and leggings.
What You’ll Need:
Turquoise leotard, long tutu, tights (or shirt and leggings)Turquoise strawsTurquoise tissue paperGold, turquoise, and blue cupcake linersHeadbandPipe cleanersBlue mini pompomsTurquoise ribbon (about 1 yard)
How-to:
Wrap headband in blue ribbon and glue to secure on each end.Cut blue pipe cleaners 2-3 inches in length and glue them to the headband.Glue blue small pompoms to the top of the pipe cleaners.To make the feathers, flatten and cut gold and turquoise cupcake liners into teardrop shapes. Glue turquoise to the center bottom of the gold liner.Flatten and cut a small pie slice shape from the dark blue mini cupcake liner. Glue it to the turquoise liner.Cut tissue paper in a rectangle (the length of a straw).Fringe cut the rectangle tissue.Glue one sheet of cut tissue paper to either side of a straw. Then glue the cupcake liner portion to the top of the straw tissue paper.Cut tutu in the front center from the bottom to the waist (do not cut the waistband). Glue feathers to the tutu with cupcakes facing down in a zigzag pattern.
The Giving Tree
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Inspired by the book by Shel Silverstein, this DIY costume will let anyone relive the beautiful tale of the Giving Tree. Kids can certainly wear this costume, but we love it for adults, too—no one is more giving than a parent, after all.
What You’ll Need:
Hot glue gun and sticksGreen T-shirt and pantsArtificial leavesArtificial apple
How-to:
Glue the leaves to the arms and shoulders of the T-shirt.
Pharaoh
Philip Friedman
Rule the Halloween party (or family photoshoot) with this clever mask, which looks impressive but won’t actually take all day to make. Make it a full DIY costume with a dramatic black or white dress or simple shirt.
What You’ll Need:
Gold half mask
Gold contact paper
Solid colored washi tape
Black permanent marker
Magna Tac glue
How-To:
Trace the eyes of the gold mask in black permanent marker.Cut out the pharaoh hat’s top and two side pieces from gold contact paper. The top piece is shaped like a trapezoid (with a curved bottom) and the two side pieces are shaped like oblong trianglesAdd stripes to the gold paper using the washi tape. Glue the pieces to the mask.Cut out a snake shape from the contact paper and glue to the top part of the hat. Add eyes with black marker.Dress in a solid-colored black or white top. For even more impact, wear a long white dress.
Craft developed by Morgan Levine
Duck
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
A bunch of faux feathers and a pair of orange boots will have you ready to waddle around the block. The hat with eyeballs and a bill is made from a baseball cap, feathers, and a ping pong ball—DIY costumes don’t get much easier.
What You’ll Need:
Yellow sweatshirt and sweatpantsYellow baseball capOrange rain bootsYellow feather boaPing Pong ballBlack markerScissorsGlue
How-to:
Snip feathers from the boa. Glue bunches to the sleeves of the shirt and to the chest area.To make the hat, cut a ping pong ball in half and color it with black sharpie. Glue to the sides of the baseball cap.Glue a few feathers to the baseball cap.
Skeleton
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
This is a sweet DIY twist on a classic costume that requires a few frilly strands of ribbon to make those funny bones at home. This costume works for just about any age group: You’ll just need a black long sleeve shirt and pants and white pleated ribbon.
What You’ll Need:
Black long sleeve shirt and pantsWhite hatGlueScissorsWhite pleated ribbon (about 2 to 3 yards)
How-to:
Cut and glue ribbon to the shirt and pants. Cut and glue strips of ribbon for the spine, ribs, arm, and leg bones.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Take the literal route this Halloween with this literary DIY costume inspired by the book by C.S. Lewis. As a combination of the three titular features of the book, you’re sure to get a laugh from everyone who gets the costume.
What You’ll Need:
Orange marabou feather trim (found at the crafts supply store)Orange shirt or dressParty hatBlack feltHeadbandBrown craft foamDark brown marker
How-to:
The lion: Cut the marabou trim and glue it around the collar of the shirt or dress.
The witch: Cover the party hat with black felt. Cut a circle that’s wider than the base of the party hat and glue it to the bottom of the hat. Glue the entire hat to a headband.
The wardrobe: Print the wardrobe template—it’s sized to print on an 8½” x 11″ piece of paper, but you can scale up or down as desired when printing. Cut out the template, trace it onto the foam and cut out. Use the marker to add drawers to the wardrobe, then adhere it to the front of the shirt or dress.
Spelling Bee
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Wondering what all the buzz is about? Cue the cutest bee on the block. This DIY costume starts with a basic black leotard or bodysuit and matching opaque tights. Dress up the leotard with yellow tape and adhesive letters. For the wings, you’ll need to hit the recycling bin and your closet.
What You’ll Need:
Black leotardBlack tightsBlack pipe cleaners2 hangersClear recycling bagsVelcroYellow tapeAdhesive letters
How-to:
Using yellow tape, make three large stripes on the black leotard, both front and back.Stick adhesive letters on the leotard (in any fun and random order).For the wings, take two hangers and mold them into the shape of wings. Cover the wings with plastic bags. Secure around the edges with glue.For the antennae, glue two pipe cleaners to the headband. Place adhesive letters on the pipe cleaners.
Astronaut
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Prepare to blast off into the streets! Dress as a high-flying adventure seeker in all white and use duct tape to add bands around the arms and stripes down the legs. For this DIY costume idea to really take off, you’ll need a super cool power pack, which you can make from empty tubes of Pringles, two party hats, and some streamers.
What You’ll Need:
White pants and shirt2 empty Pringles canisters2 wine corksDuct tapeGlueParty hatsStreamers in red, orange, and yellowSilver spray paint
How-to:
Cut strips of duct tape and adhere them around the shirt sleeves and along the pant legs.For the power pack, glue party hats to the bottom of each empty canister.Attach the canisters together by gluing wine corks between both. Set aside to dry.On newspaper in a well-ventilated area, spray paint the entire pack silver.Cut streamers into 12-inch long pieces and layer about five pieces on top of one another.Tape one stack to the bottom of each of the canisters.
Hula Person
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
For the person who lives for the luau, make sure they’re dressed for island hopping this Halloween. This Hawaiian-inspired get-up starts with a brown paper bag (or butcher paper for adults) and is properly accessorized with clusters of colorful cupcake liners.
What You’ll Need:
Hawaiian shirtBike or running shortsFlip flopsBrown paper bag (or butcher paper for a DIY costume for adults)Cupcake linersDouble-sided tapeGlueRibbonStapler
How-to:
Cut open the paper bag and lay it flat. If using butcher paper, spread out a long sheet.Using scissors, make 1-inch wide strips from one end of the bag to the other, stopping 2 to 3 inches from the top. Repeat all around until the skirt is completely frayed.Glue a longer piece of ribbon to the top of the paper (along the uncut portion) and leave it long enough to tie behind like an apron.For the lei, open up five cupcake liners and staple them together in their centers. Crease them together so that they resemble a flower and glue them to a long piece of ribbon.Repeat this until you completely cover the ribbon with these clusters. Tie the ribbon as a long necklace.
Superhero
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s more like a super-easy-to-pull-together DIY costume that calls for a brave (and adorable) hero. Make this costume in a flash with supplies from the junk drawer and linen closet. Turn this into a group Halloween costume by making every member of the group a superhero for the night.
What You’ll Need:
Pants and a shirt (or a jumpsuit) in the same colorBath towel (or trash bag)Duct tape (in assorted colors)Adhesive felt sheets
How-to:
Cut out the letter of your child’s first or last name from felt. Stick to the shirt.Tape a towel to the shirt (around the shoulders) to make the cape.
Detective
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Pulling together this simple super sleuth’s disguise will seem elementary. This aspiring Sherlock Holmes is dressed in black from head to toe, topped with a cape, and accessorized with adjusted headgear. Unless you have a magnifying glass at home, a canning jar lid and a sponge brush complete the private eye’s look.
What You’ll Need:
Black shirtBlack pantsCape (preferably in a dark color)2 beige baseball capsBlack ribbonCanning jar lidSponge brush handleBlack spray paint
How-to:
Remove the center of a canning jar.Glue a sponge brush handle to the canning jar lid.On a piece of newspaper in a well-ventilated area, paint the handle black.For the cap, take two hats and glue one inside the other with the bills facing the opposite directions.Glue black ribbon on top of the hat. Make a bow.
Grammar Police
Kate Lacey; Stylist: Kristine Trevino
Encourage everyone to practice better grammar with this playful DIY costume: Use an all-black clothing base and some basic crafting to make it happen. For a pair or group costume, recruit more people and give everyone a grammar rule to enforce on their hat or shirt.
What You’ll Need:
Adhesive lettersBlack shirtBaseball capGold paperBeltPlastic handcuffsNotepadSunglasses
How-to:
Write “Grammar Police” with adhesive letters on the front of the shirt.Attach “they’re, their, there” on the baseball cap.Cut paper into the shape of a sheriff’s badge and tape it to the belt.Accessorize with the handcuffs, sunglasses, and a notepad to jot down the names of grammar rule breakers.
Genie
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
If you’re dreaming of a magical disguise, then watch how quickly this one comes together. Start with a blue jumper or jumpsuit and add a little embellishment for an ornate—but easy—DIY Halloween costume.
What You’ll Need:
Blue jumper or jumpsuitWhite or blue long sleeve shirtScarves in various colorsGold party hatGold jacket fastenersGold round dot stickersGold tapeStringRug or doormat
How-to:
Cut the bottom half of the shirt off. (It should look like half a shirt.)Make a slit down the center of the shirt, going from top to bottom.Decorate with gold dot stickers, gold tape, and gold jacket fasteners.Attach dot stickers to string and tape to the inside of the jacket so they dangle in the front.Using the gold tape and gold dot stickers, embellish the waist of the jumper, bottom of the legs, and top of the jumper.Cut the top portion of the gold party hat leaving just the bottom (about 2-3 inches from the bottom).Tape two scarves to the inside of the party hat, letting the scarves dangle down from the back of the party hat.If you have them, tie more scarves around your waist.
Smart Cookie
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Dress sharply, hang a cookie around your neck, and memorize some fun facts: Now you’re the smartest cookie on the block, thanks to this DIY Halloween costume.
What You’ll Need:
CardboardGraduation capKhaki pants and a sweater, a suit, or another smart outfitBrown fabricTapePolyester fiber fillBrown pom-pomsBlack ribbon
How-to:
Cut the cardboard into a circle large enough to cover your chest. Trace a circle several inches larger than the cardboard shape onto the fabric and cut it out. Start wrapping the fabric around the edge of the cardboard and tape it to the back of the board to secure it in place. Stop about three-quarters of the way around the circle and fill the pocket between the felt and cardboard with stuffing, then tape the last portion closed. Glue on pom-poms for chocolate chips. Attach strips of wide ribbon to the top of the cookie and tie them behind your neck.
Owl Mask
Philip Friedman
Sport this mask on Halloween, and no one will be wondering what you are, even if your clothes are pretty basic. (Honestly, all you need are brown clothes or a simple brown dress to pull this DIY costume off.)
What You’ll Need:
Plain half mask
Feathers of various sizes and shapes
Yellow cardstock
Magna Tac glueBrown clothes
How-to:
Glue feathers on the half mask, making sure to define the spaces around the eyes, on the forehead, and above the nose.Fold cardstock in half and cut out a beak shape (it will look something like half a heart). Unfold and then glue to the nose part of the mask.Dress in a brown shirt or dress.
Craft developed by Morgan Levine
Pot of Gold Under the Rainbow
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Feeling lucky? This DIY Halloween costume has a tongue-in-cheek twist. It’s designed for pregnant women, but anyone can pull off this cheerful, funny look.
What You’ll Need:
Blue dress or oversized t-shirtBlue tights, leggings, or pantsBlack feltHot glue gun and sticksTulle in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purpleToy coinsHeadband
How-to:
Cut a cauldron shape from the black felt and glue it to the belly of the dress, leaving the top of the cauldron open.Cut three 4-foot-long strips of red tulle and knot them together at both ends. Repeat with the other colors. Glue one knot to the inner edge of the cauldron, wrap the tulle around the shoulder of the dress, and glue the knot at the other end of the tulle to the back of the dress. Repeat with all of the colors to create a rainbow.Glue the coins to the top of the cauldron and to a headband.
Rainbow Fish
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
One fish, two fish, red fish, rainbow fish! This colorful DIY costume is so easy to make. (The scales on the disguise are just flattened cupcake liners in a variety of colors glued to a sweatshirt.) Start with a red base layer—a sweatshirt and either pants or leggings—and add a rainbow of shades.
What You’ll Need:
Red crewneck sweatshirt and pants or leggingsRed hatHot glue gunScissorsBlack markerCupcake liners in assorted colors (red, orange, yellow, blue, green, blue, purple)Ping Pong ball
How-to:
Open and flatten cupcake liners.Starting from the bottom, glue cupcake liners to the sweatshirt. Begin with a row of purple, then work your way through the rainbow.For the fish face, cut the ping pong ball in half and add eyes with the black marker. Make sure to leave a little white on the ends.Glue eyes to red cap; set aside to dry.Fold four red cupcake liners in half and glue a pair next to each ball.
The Little Prince
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Inspired by the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, this adorable DIY costume is a must-try for kids and nostalgic adults alike.
What You’ll Need:
Hot glue gun and sticksYellow buttonsGreen shirtYellow webbingVelcroGreen pantsYellow scarfArtificial red rose
How-to:
Glue yellow buttons down the front of the shirt.To make the belt, cut the yellow webbing to size around your waist and secure it in place with Velcro strips.
Cat Out of the Bag
Kate Lacey; Stylist: Kristine Trevino
Get idiomatic this Halloween with a clever play on words. Dressing up as a cat is always fun, so even if you decide to ditch the bag halfway through your celebration, you’ll still have a great costume.
What You’ll Need:
Orange marabou feather trim (found at crafts supply stores)White shirtWhite feltHeadband2 foam core boardsBrown craft paperSpray adhesiveBrown tapeBrown ribbon
How-to:
Glue marabou trim around the cuffs, collar, and arms of a white shirt. Cut triangular ears out of the white felt and attach orange marabou trim. Glue the ears onto a headband.To make the box, cut the foam boards into two same-size rectangles large enough to cover your chest. Using spray adhesive, attach brown craft paper to the boards. Cut strips of paper for the sides of the bag and use brown tape to attach them to the boards. To make shoulder straps, cut two lengths of ribbon a few inches longer than the desired strap length. Adhere the pieces to the tops of the boards and let them dry completely.
Safari Guide
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Lions, tigers, giraffes, oh, my! This adventurer’s outfit begins with basic khaki shorts, a white T-shirt, and sneakers (or boots). If you have them, a green or khaki vest and binoculars finish the look. If not, make it a DIY costume by making the vest and binoculars from a paper grocery bag and empty toilet paper tubes. Grab a stuffed animal to bring with you, and your on-safari look is complete.
What You’ll Need:
Khaki shortsWhite t-shirtSneakers or bootsBrown grocery bagPencilScissorsKraft mini envelopes (in natural)ButtonsGlue stickToilet paper rolls (2)Felt padsTwine or stringGlue
How-to:
Measure the paper bag against the wearer’s chest. Mark holes for the arms and head; cut these out.Glue envelopes on the front of the vest to create pockets. Glue buttons on the envelopes. Let dry overnight.For the binoculars, take two toilet paper rolls and glue 4-5 felt pads between the two tubes in order to keep them together.On the exterior of each roll, make a small hole for stringing the twine through and creating a strap.
Ice Cream Sundae
Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan
For the person who has a major sweet tooth, this homemade costume calls for the works: vanilla ice cream, strawberry syrup, chocolate fudge, and a cherry on top. Stick with our DIY instructions, or swap in different colors for your own favorite flavors.
What You’ll Need:
Brown capeletBrown tutuVelcroScissorsFabric glue2 pink tank topsBrown leggingsFishnet fabric (available at fabric stores)HeadbandBrown ribbon (about a yard)Brown feltPipe cleaners (various colors)Styrofoam ball (medium-sized)Glitter glue
How-to:
Add velcro to the ends of the capelet for a closure. Cut 1-inch pieces of pipe cleaner in alternating colors and glue them to the capelet with fabric glue.Create a sauce-like dripping by cutting the bottom of a pink tank top.For the marshmallow sauce, glue 1-inch lengths of cut pipe cleaner to the brown tutu with fabric glueFor the cone bottom, cut a piece of elastic fishnet that hangs from the waist to the ankle. Glue the fishnet to the leggings waistband to secure.Cut a piece of brown felt into a 5-inch circle and make the edges wavy like sauce. Add a piece of brown pleated trim around the edge, securing with fabric glue.For the whipped cream, glue a small mound of quilt batting to the center and cover with ¾-inch lengths of pipe cleaner in varying colors, securing with fabric glue.Cover the styrofoam ball with glitter and stick a red pipe cleaner in the top for the stem. Glue the cherry to the center of the “whipped cream” with hot glue. Glue the entire thing (along the base of the brown felt) to the headband.
Spice Girls
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Dress up as the other spice girls with this hilarious DIY costume. Making the costume is easy—all you need is a good-humored buddy to get in on the joke with you. You can also turn this into a group costume by adding as many spices as you can think of.
What You’ll Need:
Yellow foam sheetRed apronAdhesive lettersRed plastic party hat
How-to:
Cut the foam into a slanted strip, about 7 inches wide and the length of the width of the apron. Glue the strip to the front of the apron. Use letters to spell out the spice name. Top off the look with a red plastic hat.
Solar System
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Be the center of the universe on October 31 with this clever, simple DIY. Designed for pregnant women, this costume emphasizes baby bumps of all sizes, but also works for non-pregnant people with an astronomical leaning.
What You’ll Need:
Yellow fabricHot glue gun and sticksBlack dressYellow craft foam2-inch and 1½-inch styrofoam half ballsMarkersSilver confetti stars (found at party supply stores)Headband
How-to:
Cut a 6-inch circle from the yellow fabric and glue it to the belly of the dress. Cut several same-size triangles from the yellow foam and adhere them around the yellow circle to create the sun.Using markers, decorate several styrofoam half balls to look like planets, then let dry before gluing them onto the dress. Glue stars onto the dress.Color a styrofoam half ball yellow and let dry. Cut triangles from the yellow foam to create sun bursts and glue them to the bottom of the styrofoam. Glue the sun to the headband and let dry.
Social (Media) Butterfly Costume
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Show off your great sense of humor with this funny DIY Halloween costume. Use popular social media logos—or make up some of your own—and challenge everyone you meet to guess what you are: Whoever gets it on the first try deserves a congratulatory post.
What You’ll Need:
Large sheet of cardstockPink plastic tableclothSpray adhesivePink feltIron-on fabric transfer paperDressButterfliesHeadbandOptional: selfie stick
How-to:
Cut the paper into a set of wings. Trace the wings onto the tablecloth twice and cut out, then attach the tablecloth pieces to both sides of the wings with spray adhesive. Cut decorative wing details from the felt and glue them onto the wings.Print social media symbols onto fabric transfer sheets (remember to reverse text or images before printing), then iron them onto the dress. Glue butterflies onto the dress and headband. Optional: Hold a selfie stick.
Love Bug
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan
To make this heartfelt DIY costume, you’ll need to cut hearts out of red, pink, and black felt and glue them to a long-sleeved shirt and tutu. Don’t forget to add wings by fashioning them out of tights and a wire hanger. Pair the outfit with fun tights and a headband attached with even more hearts.
What You’ll Need:
Red, pink, and black feltScissorsFabric gluePipe cleanersTutuTightsLong-sleeved shirtWire hangerHeadbandRibbonRed paper stock
How-to:
Cut felt hearts out and glue them to the shirt and tutu with fabric glue.Make wings out of wire hangers and tights: Shape hangers into a wing shape and then stretch tights over the hanger. Glue felt hearts to these wings.Cut hearts out of glittered or plain red paper. Glue hearts to pipe cleaners and wrap the pipe cleaner around the headband.
Unicorn
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Who hasn’t dreamed of being a unicorn one Halloween? Save money on expensive store-bought options with this homemade unicorn costume: To make it adult-sized, simply buy extra supplies.
What You’ll Need:
Party hatHot glue gun and sticksPolyester fiber fill4 sheets of purple and 2 sheets of pink feltPink elastic cord or ribbonPurple hoodiePurple pants or leggings
How-to:
To make the horn: Cut the party hat from point to base and roll it tighter, creating a smaller cone shape, and glue in place. Fill the cone with stuffing, then wrap the outside with purple felt. Wrap the pink cord around the cone in a spiral, gluing in place as you go. Let dry, then glue the horn to the top of the hood.Cut two ear shapes from the purple felt and glue them onto the hood, on either side of the horn.To make fringe for the mane and tail: Glue two sheets of pink and two sheets of purple felt together, applying glue along just one edge of each sheet of felt, similar to a book. Let dry, then cut ½-inch-wide strips of fringe, starting at the open side of the felt and stopping before the glued edge so the fringe remains attached along one edge. Hot glue some of the fringe along the center of the hood for a mane and adhere some to the bottom of the hoodie for a tail.
Lightning Cloud
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
When Halloween strikes, have this DIY costume ready to go by dressing up a basic sweatshirt as a cloud and adding lightning bolts to pants.
What You’ll Need:
White crewneck sweatshirtGrey sweatpantsScissorsWhite capAluminum silver tapePolyester Fiber
How-to:
Glue Polyester fiber to the front of the white sweatshirt.Glue Polyester fiber to the front of the cap.Cut aluminum tape in the shape of lightning bolts.Glue lightning bolts to pants.
Flower
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Dress in green leggings and a long-sleeved T-shirt. For the main part, the petal collar, you’ll need yellow and pink felt (you can also opt for your favorite colors) and green pipe cleaners. Cut out petal shapes from the felt and glue pipe cleaners to the underside of the petals. Add in some accessories like a watering can (which can also double as a Halloween treat bag).
What You’ll Need:
Green long sleeve shirt and pantsYellow hatScissorsHot glue gunYellow and pink feltGreen pipe cleaners
How-to:
Cut pink felt in the shape of flower petals.Cut and glue green pipe cleaners to the underside of each petal.Glue petals to the collar of the shirt.Cut yellow felt into small petals (this will become the center of a flower).Glue small yellow petals to pink petals. Then glue these to the tip of the hat creating the center of the flower.
Princess Peacock
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
This alternative to our other peacock DIY costume has a shorter skirt—and no troublesome train—for a little extra mobility. Dress in deep blue—we recommend a leotard and tights or a shirt and leggings—and dress up a matching tutu with homemade feathers.
What You’ll Need:
Dark blue leotard, short tutu, tights (or a shirt and leggings)Blue tissue paperGold, turquoise, blue cupcake linersBlue strawsHeadbandPipe cleanersBlue mini pompoms
How-to:
Cut blue pipe cleaners 2-3 inches in length and glue to the headband.Glue blue small pompoms to the top of the pipe cleaners.For the feathers, flatten and cut gold and turquoise cupcake liners into teardrop shapes.Glue turquoise liner to the center bottom of the gold liner.Flatten and cut a small pie slice shape from the dark blue mini cupcake liner. Glue it to the turquoise liner.Cut tissue paper in a rectangle the length of a straw.Fringe cut the rectangle tissue.Glue one sheet of cut tissue paper to either side of a straw.Glue the cupcake liner part to the top of the straw tissue paper. Then glue feathers to the tutu in a fan pattern.
Under the Weather
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
What You’ll Need:
Small white balloonsBathrobe and pajama pants or leggingsWooden dowelBlue and yellow cardstockStringIce packHeadband
How-to:
Blow up approximately seven small balloons. Arrange three balloons around one end of the dowel and glue them in place. Adhere the other balloons onto the base balloons to form a cloud shape.Cut a lightning bolt from the yellow cardstock and glue it to the dowel, just below the cloud.Cut the blue cardstock into teardrop shapes and glue onto several lengths of string, spacing them out to form the raindrops. Glue the strings to the underside of the balloon cloud.Complete the look by attaching the ice pack to the headband.
Flapper
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Make it the Roaring Twenties—again—by dressing up as the iconic Flapper Girl this Halloween. If you can’t find the perfect dress, make your own—we used sticky notes for the perfect fringe.
What You’ll Need:
White dressPink sticky notesScissors or fringe scissorsRed metallic tapeStaplerGold dot stickerMini cupcake linersHeadband
How-to:
Cut slits in sticky notes (every 3-4 inches) using fringe scissors or regular scissors.Tape a row of fringed Post-its horizontally to the dress with red metallic tape.Open two mini cupcake liners and staple them in the center. Cover the staple with a gold dot sticker. Glue to the top of the dress as decoration.For the headband, glue one fringed sticky note and flattened mini cupcake liner to the headband.
Fairy Godmother Costume
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
For those who love fairy tales but want to do something different than the usual princess costume, look no further than this easy and enchanted DIY costume. Find a tutu, star-shaped stickers, a headband, and silver garland, work a little crafting magic, and you’ll have a great costume in no time.
What You’ll Need:
White leotard or bodysuit with tutuCoffee filtersGlueScissorsRound cake cardboard baseChopsticksAluminum tapeSilver garlandWhite headbandStar stickers
How-to:
Cut the round cake cardboard base into two wing shapes.Fold coffee filters in half and glue them to cardboard wings, making layers. Glue to both sides of each wing.Glue wings to the back of the leotard at an angle. Then glue the ribbon in the center where both wings come together for decoration.Decorate wings and leotard with star stickers.To make the wand, cover 1 chopstick with aluminum tape.Glue silver Christmas garland to the top.For the crown, glue silver Christmas garland to the white headband.
Anne of Green Gables
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Few costumes are as charming as this one, inspired by the books by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Young and grown-up Anne fans alike can dress up as her, thanks to this easy DIY.
What You’ll Need:
Green ribbonStraw hatLeather beltBooksButton-down shirtWhite apronLong skirt
How-to:
Tie the ribbon around the hat. If you can, style hair into braided pigtails.Wrap a leather belt around a small stack of books.
Magic 8-Ball
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
This DIY costume may have been developed for a pregnant person, but anyone can dress up as a Magic 8-Ball this year with this simple guide.
What You’ll Need:
Black maternity dress (or a regular black dress if you’re not pregnant)White fabric paintAdhesive feltPurple cardstockAdhesive lettersBlack laundry bag
How-to:
Paint a white circle onto the stomach of the dress and let it dry. Cut an “8” from the felt and attach it to the white circle.Cut a triangle from the cardstock, write out “I see diapers in your future” in adhesive letters, and glue it to the front of the dress. (For a non-pregnant alternative, write another prediction: “Better luck next time” or “Ask again later” are great options.)To make a cape, cut the laundry bag in half width-wise, remove the drawstring from the top, and replace it with a red ribbon.
Junior Mint
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Sure, this DIY costume is absolutely adorable on a tyke, but adults—especially Junior Mint fans—can still get in on the fun: Simply adjust the directions here to suit adult (or bigger kid) dimensions.
What You’ll Need:
Green feltHot glue gun and sticksGreen pipe cleanersGreen T-shirtGreen baseball capAdhesive letters (“J” and “R”)
How-to:
Print and cut out the mint leaf template. Trace the shape onto the green felt to create as many leaves as you’d like, then cut them out. Glue the pipe cleaners to the leaves to create veins, then glue the leaves to the front of the T-shirt.
Attach the letters “J” and “R” to the baseball cap.
Sea Monster
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Show off your wild side in this clever and colorful costume. This outfit comes together with streamers, cupcake liners, felt, Ping Pong balls, and a matching hooded sweatshirt and pants.
What You’ll Need:
Matching hooded sweatshirt and pantsGreen streamersScissorsPing Pong ballsOrange and white feltCupcake linersFabric glueScissorsBlack marker
How-to:
Create fringe by cutting strips on the ends of the streamers.Attach streamers to the cuffs of the pants and top. Fold the cupcake liners in half and glue cupcake liners along the sweatshirt sleeves in a line.Cut circles from the orange felt and glue them to the sweatshirt torso.Cut triangles from the white felt and attach them along the hood.Color one side of the Ping Pong balls black with the marker. Glue to the sweatshirt hood for eyes.
Movie Director
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
This classic filmmaker get-up (black pants, cardigan, bow tie, beret) is easy enough for any behind-the-scenes movie-maker to pull off. Just wear the clothes, or take your DIY Halloween costume to the next level with some simple crafting.
What You’ll Need:
Black pantsCardiganBow tieBeretPastry bagDrawer pullSmall chalk boardBlack duct tapeStyrofoam coneSpray paint in black and redWhite tape
How-to:
Cut white tape into ¼-inch thick strips and make an arrow shape. Attach to the plain black chalkboard. Repeat to complete a line of arrows across the top. Write your film’s name in chalk.For the megaphone, turn a pastry bag inside out. On newspaper in a well-ventilated area, paint it red. Let dry.Insert a styrofoam cone inside the bag to give it structure.To make a handle, glue a drawer pull to the side of the bag.
Bookworm
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan
A novel idea for the person who always has their nose in a book, the bookworm DIY costume is both silly and adorable at the same time. Pull the disguise together with felt, Styrofoam balls, a sweatshirt, sweatpants, and plastic glasses. When it’s time for trick-or-treating, take a favorite book or two along to complete the costume.
What You’ll Need:
Pants and pullover hooded sweatshirt in greenScissorsStyrofoam ballGreen feltFabric glueGreen pipe cleanersBow tieGreen string
How-to:
Cover a small styrofoam ball in green felt. Then attach it to the end of the pipe cleaner.Glue 4 tabs of felt (about 2″ long) to the bottom of each antenna and use these to secure the antennae to the hood by gluing them on with fabric glue.Glue a bow tie to the neck area of the hoodie with fabric glue.Glue green strings with fabric glue along the outside of the hoodie to create the worm’s furrows.
Owl
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan
Whooo needs a last-minute costume idea? The night owl’s getup starts with brown leggings and a shirt and calls for cupcake liners, faux feathers, a headband, and ribbon.
What You’ll Need:
Brown long sleeve shirt and pants or brown dress (tights optional)Fabric capeGlue gunCupcake liners (in brown and gold)FeathersGlassesHeadband (in brown or black)WireRibbon
How-to:
Fold cupcake liners in half (or cut them in half). Starting from the bottom of the shirt or dress and working your way up, glue them to the shirt, layering them length-wise.For the cape, apply liners in the same fashion, starting at the bottom edge of the cape and layering them length-wise as you make your way around the cape.Hot glue feathers to the top of glasses for that sharp wise owl look.For the headband, bundle feathers together and wrap them with wire, followed by ribbon. Attach ribbon at the base of the headband, securing with hot glue. Wrap the wire securely around the headband.
Mad Scientist
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Mixing potions, whipping up weird experiments, and dreaming up another great invention: This DIY costume idea can turn anyone into the next great creator. To make this scientist’s lab attire, start with everyday basics, which include khakis, a plaid shirt, and a bow tie. Finish it off with goggles, a lab coat, and the right gummy concoction. If you happen to have goggles and a lab coat, your costume is ready to go. If not, try this DIY guide to make your own.
What You’ll Need:
Khaki pantsPlaid shirtBow tieWhite dress shirt (the larger the better)CD sleevesGlueCarpenter’s goggles
How-to:
Cut the bottom of the shirt straight across the bottom.Glue CD envelopes to the front of the shirt to create pockets.
Mother of Pearl
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Own your baby bump this Halloween with this subtle, playful costume idea. Your belly does most of the work, so you can show it off with just a little crafting know-how.
What You’ll Need:
White fabricDressIridescent fabricWhite printer paperPink feltWhite pom-pomsHeadband
How-to:
Cut a 6-inch circle from the white fabric and glue it to the belly of the dress. Cut a second 6-inch circle from the iridescent fabric and glue it on top of the first circle.Accordion-fold two sheets of white paper, trim as needed, then adhere them above and below the fabric pearl to form the clamshell.Cut two 5″ x 6″ ovals from the pink felt and adhere them to the inside of both halves of the shell.
Monarch Butterfly
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
This DIY Halloween costume starts easily enough: Dress in all black. To create the wings, you’ll need hangers, black trash bags, and colorful tape. And for the royal duds, it’s simple to pull together this crown with some felt and everyday office supplies.
What You’ll Need:
Black leggings and shirt4 HangersBlack trash bagsDouble-sided tapeBlack adhesive feltScissorsElmer’s glueClear packing tapeOffice dots (in white and gold)Orange feltVelcroBlack headband
How-to:
Shape hangers to resemble butterfly wings and stick them together with clear tape. Cover edges of hangers with black adhesive felt.Cover both sides of the wings with black trash bags. Attach with double-sided tape.Cut patterns out of the orange felt. Adhere the orange pieces to both sides of the trash bag-covered wings. Decorate the wings with gold and white office stickers.Attach one strip of Velcro to the shirt and the other to the wings. Secure and adjust.For the crown, decorate a plain black headband with orange felt and stickers.
Saturn
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
A DIY costume idea that’s—c’mon, we have to say it—out-of-this-world. This getup revolves around black pants (or black sweats) and a shirt sprinkled with a constellation of shining star stickers. Layer on a bright sweatshirt that you’ve painted with Saturn-like bands. Then add a pillow for stuffing and top it all off with as many “rings” as you can twirl.
What You’ll Need:
Black shirt and pantsHula hoopsStar stickersOversized gold sweatshirtScissorsNewspaperOrange acrylic paint (water-based)PaintbrushFabric glue
How-to:
Place the black outfit on a flat surface. Adhere “stars” all over, specifically covering the legs and arms, the areas not covered by the gold vest.Cut the arms off the old sweatshirt. To create a polished look and to remove frayed edges, hem the arm holes with fabric glue.Place the sweatshirt on a sheet of newspaper on a flat surface. Paint diagonal stripes using your paint and brush. Let dry overnight.
Flower Child
Kate Lacey; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Be a flower child in the literal sense with this flower-focused costume: All it takes is a dress that you probably already have and some quick DIY magic.
What You’ll Need:
Brown feltGreen dressYellow feltArtificial sunflowersHeadband
How-to:
Cut a 6-inch circle from the brown felt and glue it to the belly of the dress.
Print and cut out the petal templates. Trace the largest petal onto yellow felt several times and cut out. Glue the petals around the felt circle, cutting out more petals as needed. Then trace and cut out medium-size petals from the felt and glue them on top of the large petals, closer to the center. Repeat with the smallest size petals.
Glue artificial sunflowers to the headband.
Scuba Diver
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Take the plunge with a DIY costume ensemble you can assemble from your summer wardrobe: board shorts, a rash guard, and water shoes. (Warning: Walking in flippers will definitely cut into trick-or-treat time.) The protective goggles come straight from the toolbox, and the oxygen tank is made from spray-painted water bottles.
What You’ll Need:
2 one-liter bottlesBlack spray paintYellow utility tapeBlack shoelacesHot glue gunBlack cord coversPacifierBoard shortsRash guardWater shoesProtective goggles
How-to:
Make sure the bottles are empty and dry. Spray paint one bottle at a time. Let dry overnight.Take the now black bottles and wrap rings around the bottoms and the tops of each bottle with the yellow tape.Glue the shoelaces to the tops and bottoms of each bottle. Secure around the wearer’s shoulders.For the mouth device, cover one end of the cord with yellow tape.Glue the pacifier to the other end of the cord cover. Let dry overnight.
Race Car Driver
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
If they can’t get enough of cars and trucks, they’ll want to wear this one even past October 31. Go from zero to race-ready in a jiffy by decorating an everyday tracksuit with a few strips of tape. Don’t forget to add accessories like a matching hat, trophy, and checkered flag. (Race car and pit crew optional.)
What You’ll Need:
TracksuitCheckered duct tapeBlack masking tapeBaseball capRace car–themed stickersIron-on patchScissorsGlueWhite ribbon (about 2 yards)Black ribbon (about 2 yards)Dowel
How-to:
Using the checkered tape, add a stripe along the sides of each arm, from collar to wrist, on the tracksuit.Take the black tape and make a horizontal stripe across the middle of the jacket.Glue iron on the patch to the top left front of the jacket.On the tracksuit pants, starting from the waist and running down to the cuff, add a stripe with the checkered tape.Decorate the front of the cap with checkered duct tape, black tape, and car stickers.To make a flag, cut ribbon to desired length of flag.Weave white & black ribbon together and glue at each end. Cut excess ribbon.Cut dowel to desired length.Glue ribbon to dowel.
Drummer
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
Beat it, kid—a drum, that is. Whip up this uniform out of a shirt and pants you trim with red utility tape and spray-painted bottle caps; the hat is a paper-covered oatmeal container. Switch out the drum for a curtain rod and you’re the leader of the local band (of trick-or-treaters).
What You’ll Need:
Bottle caps (from water or soda bottles)NewspaperGold acrylic paint (water-based)PaintbrushRed utility tapeHot glue gunOatmeal canisterScissorsWhite construction paperGlue dotsHole punchWhite shoelacesWhite shirtBlack pantsDrum or curtain rod
How-to:
Place bottle caps on a piece of newspaper and paint them gold. Let dry overnight.Make three to four lines on the shirt using the red tape. Adhere each strip about 2 to 3 inches apart.Glue painted bottle caps at the ends of each strip of red tape. Let stand to dry overnight.For the drummer’s hat, wrap the paper around the container to fit to size. (You want to completely cover the oatmeal container.) Trim any excess paper off the top or bottom. Secure paper to the container with two or three glue dots.Wrap a ring on the bottom of the canister with the red tape.Position the hat on the head and find the best spot for securing the strap. Punch two holes and string shoelaces through the holes.
Mermaid
Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Elizabeth MacLennan
Make a splash with this easy-to-create disguise that requires streamers, cupcake liners, ribbon, a headband, and seashells. Find a fake starfish at the craft store or toy store and fashion a little necklace out of it for a little extra pizzazz.
What You’ll Need:
Blue or green dress or shirt and skirt with matching leggingsCrepe paper streamersGlue gunCupcake liners (in assorted colors and sizes)HeadbandTeal ribbon (about two yards)StarfishGold cord
How-to:
Glue lengths of crepe paper streamers in alternating colors around the waistline of a child’s dress or skirt.Fold cupcake liners in half.Working from bottom to top, glue to the bodice of a dress or shirt. Layer the liners length-wise, alternating colors.Fold cupcake liners in half and layer them length-wise along the bottoms of leggings (if desired), layering lengthwise and alternating colors. (You’ll need about two rows.)Fold cupcake liners in half and glue the largest cupcake liner in the middle of the headband and the smaller liners on either side. Hot glue starfish to each of the liners.For the necklace, hot glue a starfish to a length of golden cord.
Fisher
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
There’s no catch to how easy this DIY Halloween costume is to make—but there are a few household items required. The only thing you’ll need to make is the fishing pole. For the raincoat and pants, just add a strip of silver tape to the arms, legs, and torso portion of the jacket and pants.
What You’ll Need:
Raincoat and pantsSilver tapeRain bootsGlueTapeDowelCeiling hook (available at hardware stores)RibbonPlastic fishToilet paper roll2 bottle capsGrey paint
How-to:
Cut a hole in the center of the toilet paper roll and stick a dowel through the hole.Glue two bottle caps to each side of the toilet paper roll.Paint the entire dowel, toilet paper rolls, and bottle caps grey. Set aside to dry.Glue ribbon to the top center of the dowel (leave extra ribbon hanging like a fishing pole). Wrap the remaining ribbon around the toilet paper roll and tape it down.Attach a ceiling hook to the end of the ribbon with glue to create the fishing hook.Attach a toy fish to the end of the hook.Tape lines around the arms, torso, and legs of the rain jacket and pants.
Angel
Glenn Glasser; Styling: Kristine Trevino
This DIY angel costume comes together practically on the fly. Dress all in white—a favorite dress or oversized shirt, tights, and comfy shoes. For the halo and wings, you’ll need pipe cleaners, cardboard, and coffee filters.
What You’ll Need:
Gold pipe cleanersPencilHole punchCoffee filtersWhite cardboardWhite shoelacesTape or glue dotsWhite clothes and shoes
How-to:
Make a halo shape by twisting the gold pipe cleaners into proper form.Draw the shape of two angel wings on cardboard; cut them out.Decide on the most comfortable spot to wear the wings, then punch 4 holes in the cardboard. String shoelaces through them to tie around your shoulders.Fold coffee filters in half and adhere them with tape or glue to the cardboard to resemble feathers.
LEGO Person
Philip Friedman
This might be the most recognizable pop culture DIY costume out there. Because you can focus on making the perfect Halloween mask, your crafting is sure to be a success—and when it’s time to dress up, you can throw on almost anything to polish off the costume.
What You’ll Need:
Yellow feltBlack feltElastic stringMagna Tac glue
How-to:
Cut out a Lego-shaped head from yellow felt. Measure on your face to find out where to cut circles for the eyes.Make eyebrows and a mouth by cutting strips of black felt. Glue to the face.Trim a piece of elastic string and glue the ends to the sides of the face for the mask band. To make it more secure, you can also glue a small piece of felt on top of the ends of the string.Dress in solid, primary colors.
Craft developed by Morgan Levine
Tips for Choosing (and Rocking) a DIY Costume
Ready to get your craft on? Try these tips to ensure your DIY costume is a smash it.
Narrow down your options.
The sky’s the limit when you’re DIYing your costume, which can make it hard to settle on the perfect costume. Some questions that can help you narrow it down:
What are you into? If you have a passion for a particular movie, show, or a particular hobby, that can be inspiration for the perfect costume.What are your Halloween plans? If you’ll be accompanying trick-or-treaters on a chilly Halloween evening, you may want a costume that includes a cozy coat and comfortable shoes, while if you’ll be wearing it at a party, you’ll want to consider whether it’s easy to sit and eat or drink in your costume.What kind of mood are you looking to set? Even a simple costume like a cat can go in a number of different directions, so think about whether you want to look sweet, silly, scary, or sexy.
Think about the time commitment.
Some DIY costumes take just minutes to prep, while others may need hours of shopping and crafting to achieve. Make sure you have enough time to get the costume prepped and ready well in advance of your Halloween parties, trunk or treats, or trick-or-treating. (The last thing you want to be doing on Halloween Eve is pulling an all-nighter hot gluing sequins to a homemade mermaid tail.)
Look at your budget.
DIY costumes can often be cheaper than store-bought options, especially if you can make use of things you already have at home. See what’s in your closet (or even your kitchen or bathroom!) that can be repurposed for your costume, and look for ways to minimize the damage to them. (For instance, look to pin or tape add-ons to your clothes, so you can take them off and wear them again.)
And don’t forget to crowdsource! If you know your friend has the perfect shoes for your Barbie getup, see if you can get a loaner for the night. (Buy Nothing groups are also a great place to source costume supplies—ask for a “wish” of anything from art supplies to clothing, and you just might receive!)
Consider your skillset.
While the DIY costume ideas above are relatively easy for even beginner crafters to pull off, you’ll find plenty of more elaborate DIY costumes out there that may require sewing, drawing, or other artistic skills. You’ll want to choose something that won’t be too tough for you to pull off.
