5 Easy DIY Halloween Costumes and Decorations

Halloween is in HOW many days? Don’t worry, we have some last-minute costume and décor ideas that can make you look like a pro and that you can make with your child. If you’re putting things together in a hurry and on a budget, no problem. You could use materials from around the house to create a masterpiece.

Here’s some costume inspiration for busy parents:

1. The Mummy

Use an old sheet or a roll of gauze bandages to give your child a “preserved” look. If using a white sheet, rip it into long strips. Wrap the strips or the gauze around your child in two sections – top and bottom – keeping the top separate from the bottom (you’ll thank us later for this tip). Dab smoky eye shadow around your child’s eyes and a little on the cheeks.

2. The Superhero

Start with leggings and a matching T shirt. You’ll also need some spare felt, safety pins or fabric glue, child-safe scissors and a solid-colored blanket or sheet. First, cut out a large letter –– from the felt, then attach it to the T shirt with safety pins or fabric glue. Cut other pieces of felt into strips and turn them into a belt, headband or eye mask. Add a solid-colored blanket or sheet and you’ve got a Superhero cape.

3. The Emoji

Got a yellow T shirt in a size that’s too big for your kiddo? Perfect! Next thing you’ll need is a printout of “emoji” facial expressions. Then, attach the selected emoji to the T shirt with glue or safety pins, or use a stick-on emoji. If you have several yellow T shirts, you could make more emoji T shirts and have the whole family go trick-or-treating as every mood.

Don’t let your Halloween creativity stop with the costume. It’s also easy to give your house or apartment a face lift before the trick-or-treaters arrive. Here are some options:

4. Wicked Welcome

Turn your front door into a spooky or silly face that can catch the eyes of passersby. All you need is some white or colored paper, tape, child-safety scissors and imagination.

5. Eerie Entryway

Transform your entryway into a critter cave. Begin by stretching cotton batting into long pieces, then positioning them in the entryway to create fake cobwebs. Sprinkle plastic or paper spiders throughout the cobwebs for a Halloween-style, spine-tingling effect. Finish the look by hanging cut-out paper bats from the ceiling.

A Word on Safety

Halloween is a lot of fun for you and the children, but it’s important to play it safe.
– Remember to keep your pathways cleared and well-lit for trick-or-treaters.
– Make sure that your kids are visible when trick-or-treating at night by attaching reflective tape to their costumes.
– Don’t forget to check the candy they bring home!