As Halloween draws nearer, options seem to be limited to the quick and easy pre-packaged costumes found on the
high street and Grandma’s old costume patterns which take about 10 hours too many to make.
What we often forget about is option number 3, the ‘pulled together’ costume, which can be made with materials that
are currentlyliving in the nooks and crannys of your house.
Option 3 is often the best option as it is inexpensive, creative, fun and results in a unique costume that both you and your
child can be proud of creating together!
Below are 9 quick and easy costume ideas to get you started:
1) PROPER PIRATE
MATERIALS
Scissors
Black sweatpants or Old Jeans
White Shirt
Red Sash or Rope
Bandana
Oversize black T-shirt
Hot-glue gun
Cardboard
Aluminum foil
Black Felt
String
DIRECTIONS
VEST
Cut arms off black T-shirt, cut neckline into a “V” then cut down front in the center to create the vest
TROUSERS
Cut off bottom of the sweatpant or jean legs jaggedly so they are just below knee length
SWORD
-Cut the cardboard in the shape of a sword
-Wrap the aluminum foil onto the ‘blade’ of the cardboard sword
-With the leftover material from the trousers, glue gun the fabric to the handle of the sword
EYE PATCH
-Using the left over material from your child’s trousers cut the shape of an eye patch out large enough to cover your
child’s eyes
-With a knife, cut two holes into the edges
-Cut the string in half and feed each piece separately though the hole you have created and tie a knot
-Place the eye patch over your child’s eye and tie the two separate pieces of string around his/her head
* Dress your child in the white shirt, vest and trousers and tie the red sash or rope around the child’s waist and tie
the bandana into a triangle and place around their head
2) PRECIOUS PRESENT
MATERIALS
Scissors
Wrapping paper
Tape
Ribbon
Glue Gun
DIRECTIONS
-Cover a large box with wrapping paper.
-Make a hole in the bottom and top as well as two holes for the arms
-Tie a ribbon or place a bow onto your child’s head
3) SWEETHEART SWEATSUIT ANIMAL
MATERIALS
Sweatsuit
White pom, pom balls or cotton balls
Construction Paper
Glue or Pins
Facepaint
DIRECTIONS
(Bunny/Dog/Cat/Bear)
TAIL
-(DOG/CAT) Using the sweatsuit of your choice, cut out a tail from construction paper and pin it to the bottom
backside of the sweatsuit.
-(BUNNY/BEAR) Glue or pin pom-poms or cluster of cotton balls onto the backside of the sweatsuit bottoms
EARS
-Cut a set of ears out of construction paper and attach them to the hood of the sweatshirt with hot glue, pins or tape
FACE
-Paint a nose and/or whiskers on your child’s face!
4) MISCHIEVOUS MUMMY
MATERIALS
White Sheet
Scissors
White Facepaint
Black Facepaint
Thermals
White or clear electrical/medical tape
DIRECTIONS
-Cut the white sheet into strips
-Paint their face white and smear black under their eyes
-Get your child into their thermals and wrap the strips around
them securing the pieces with tape
-Wrap the head too leaving the eyes, mouth and nose un-blocked
5) GREAT GHOST
MATERIALS
White Sheet
Scissors
DIRECTIONS
-Cut eyes and a mouth into the white sheet
-Place the sheet over your child’s head
6) BEAUTIFUL BUNCH OF GRAPES
MATERIALS
Bag of purple balloons
Bag of pins
Purple trousers and long sleeved shirt
Purple facepaint
Green Beanie/Toque
DIRECTIONS
-Blow up the balloons and fasten the ends to the purple clothing
-Place Green Beanie/Toque on the child’s head and paint their face purple
7) JOLLY BAG OF JELLY BEANS
MATERIALS
Colourful balloons
Large, clear coloured bin bag
Purple trousers and long sleeved shirt
Ribbon
Pins
White piece of paper
Markers
DIRECTIONS
-Blow up all the balloons
-Cut two holes for legs into the bottom of the bag and two arm
holes in the middle
-Put the bag onto your child’s body with their legs and arms
sticking out of the holes and fill the bag up with the blown up balloons
-Write ‘JELLY BEANS’ on the paper in colourful marker and pin it to the front of the bag
-Loosely tie the top of the bag around the shoulders with colourful ribbon
-Cut off any excess bag from around the face
7) DIVA IN THE DAY SPA
MATERIALS
- Bath robe
- Towel
- Facepaint
- Slippers
- Nail Polish
DIRECTIONS
-Wrap hair in a hand towel and secure it with a safety pin
-Paint toe and finger nails
-Use the facepaint to create the look of a spa face mask
8) FRIENDLY FARMER
MATERIALS
Overalls
Plaid Shirt
Wellies
Straw hat, bandana or elastics for pig tails
Small stuffed animals
Pins
Cardboard
Grey Paint
Bucket
DIRECTIONS
-Put on the overalls, plaid shirt and willies
-Braid hair into plaits (if possible)
-Tie the bandana around the neck loosely
-Cut the cardboard into the shape of a pitch fork and paint it
-Pin the small stuffed animals to the overalls
-Use the bucket for candy collection
9) GORGEOUS GYPSEY
MATERIALS
Mismatched skirts
Loose colourful top
Scarves
Costume Jewelry
Old purse
Tambourine
DIRECTIONS
-Layer mismatched skirts
-Tie one scarf around your child’s head, drape one over her shoulders,
and tie one around her waist
-Use the old purse for candy collection
-Add lipstick and facepaint
It’s almost that time of year again! Time to start thinking about Christmas puddings and sticking fillers. If it all seems a little too early for you, then try and get into the Christmas spirit with the Christmas Lights Switch On in London. There will be a series of simultaneous events with A Christmas Carol theme on Tuesday 3rd November (5 – 6.30pm) in City of London, Oxford Street, Regent Street. The theme is based on the Disney version of Charles Dickens’ classic and the stars of the film will be joining in the celebrations! Jim Carrey will be helping with the celebrations at Oxford Street, Colin Firth and Robin Wright Penn will be on hand at Regent Street and with Bob Hoskins over at St Paul’s Cathedral, you shouldn’t be short of Hollywood star spotting! The evening will then continue with live music and entertainment throughout the streets of central London to keep everyone entertained!
