How to Make Your Own Halloween Costumes

Guide Note You don't have to be a professional seamstress or Martha Stewart to make your own Halloween costume. There are hundreds of costumes you can make and most of them make use of items you have laying around the house. You can also make your own cape, Halloween makeup and masks.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Classic Costumes
• Costumes that Use Colored Clothing
• Costumes that Only Require a Sign
• Costumes that Use Simple Props
• Box Costumes
• Costumes for Men
• Costumes for Women
• Make Your Own Halloween Makeup
• Make Your Own Mask
• Make a (No-Sew) Cape
• Costume Resources
• Conclusion
• References

Making a Halloween Costume Tips

1. Use cardboard or paper mache to make your own props.
2. Plan your costume for your event.
3. Your costume should be comfortable and easy to maneuver.
4. You can make almost any color Halloween makeup with cornstarch and cold cream.
5. Capes are easy to make and do not require sewing.

More Halloween Costumes

Harry Potter and the whole Hogwarts gang offer plenty of costume inspiration!

For those with a bouncing bundle of joy in their lives, we have baby costume ideas galore

If you love Hannah Montana, hurry to our page about Hannah Montana costumes

For more detailed tips, we provide ideas for you to have the best Halloween costume

• by Darcy Logan

Introduction

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Lenore Edman)
  If you don't know how to sew but still need a creative Halloween costume, what do you do? Sure, there is the old standby "ghost" but what do you do with the sheet when you're done? Here are some great Halloween costume great ideas which range in difficulty from very simple to somewhat advanced. This page also shows you how to make your own Halloween makeup or fake blood, no sew capes and masks.

• As you consider your options, keep in mind some of the following tips:
  1. You can easily make weapons and other props out of cardboard that is painted and covered with tinfoil.¹
  2. Shop at your local thrift shop or Goodwill for any clothing that you might need.
  3. Consider where you are going before picking a costume.² Don't choose a costume that is large if you're going to be at a crowded party.
  4. Make sure you can get out of your costume.³ After a couple hours, you will need to use the restroom.

• • For more information, check out Mahalo's How to Have the Best Halloween Costume at the Party and How to Make Halloween Props.

Classic Costumes

• There are some costumes that are classics, but they still have their place.

1. Construction Worker: Wear tight jeans, a white t-shirt or tank top and a tool belt.⁴ Add a hard hat if you can find one.
2. Cowboy or Cowgirl: Wear jeans and a western shirt with boots and a bandanna.⁵ If possible, add the signature cowboy hat.⁵
3. Farmer: Wear a pair of overalls and a flannel shirt. If possible, carry around a few stuffed animals.
4. Fireman: Get a yellow raincoat and (optional) yellow pants, black electrical tape, black spray paint, a fire hat and black boots. Wrap electrical tape twice around each arm and leg of the raincoat and pants. Spray the hat black and let dry.⁶
5. Gypsy: Wear a long flowing skirt and a puffy blouse. Add lots of gold jewelry, a belt and a shawl.⁵
6. Hippie: Wear bell bottom jeans, jeans with rips or a peasant skirt. Add leather sandals, tie dye shirt, love beads, peace buttons and funky sunglasses.⁵
7. Mummy: Wear white clothing. Either wrap strips of white sheets (or old t-shirts) or use gauze.³
8. Nerd: Get a pair of pants that are several inches too short and a button down shirt. Add a bow tie, white socks, black shoes and dark frame glasses.⁵ Add tape around the nose piece of the glasses and slick back your hair.¹
9. Rapper: Wear jeans that are several sizes too large with a black t-shirt. Add gold chains and a baseball cap that is on backwards.⁵
10. Scarecrow: Wear a pair of jeans (preferably with patches) and a long flannel shirt. Attach straw to the cuffs and shirt using duct tape.⁵ You can top it off with a Quick & straw hat and use an eyebrow pencil to draw a large smile and triangle shapes around the eyes.⁶ Warning: This costume is on AskMen.com's list of Halloween Costumes Guys Should Never Wear.⁷
11. Soldier or Hunter: Wear camouflage clothing. Add some camouflage makeup, a canteen, a compass and a backpack.¹

Costumes that Use Colored Clothing

• All of these costumes require you to have clothing that is all the same color. Some require props, but most do not.

1. 

   (Creative Commons photo by Nate Steiner)
   Bag of jelly beans: Wear white (or at least a white shirt). Get a large clear plastic trash bag. Cut out holes for your legs and your arms.⁵ Step inside the bag and then fill it with different colored balloons.³ Use a flash scarf to tie the bag around your neck.⁵
2. Blackmail: Dress in black and attach a postage stamp to your chest.⁸
3. Bubble Gum: Wear pink clothing and attach a shoe to the top of your head.⁸
4. Crayon: Dress in any color you want. Use construction paper to make a pointed hat. Paint your face the same color. Use black magic marker to write the word "crayon" down the length of your body.⁵
5. Cow: Dress in a white or brown sweatsuit. Cut out felt or fabric patches and attach them to the suit.⁶ Make a tail using fabric. Add a large bell around your neck.
6. Deviled Egg: Dress in white. Paint or attach a yellow circle to your stomach. Add devil horns, a devil tail and a pitchfork.⁹
7. Grapevine: Wear brown body suit or leotard.⁵ Use safety pins to attach purple or green balloons to your suit. Pin it through the end not the inflated part. The song "Heard it through the Grapevine" is optional.
8. Gold Digger: Dress in gold or yellow. Sprinkle some gold glitter in your makeup and spray gold glitter in your hair. Paint a toy shovel and some rocks gold to add as props.⁹
9. Highway: Dress in black. Paint two solid or dotted yellow lines down the middle of your shirt. You can also glue Matchbox cars on to both sides of the road.⁵
10. iPod Commercial: Dress in black (including black shoes and black gloves). Cover your face with black makeup. Either dye your hair black (with washout dye) or wear a back skull cap. Add white accessories such as a belt, fake pears, wingtips, etc. Wear your iPod.³
11. Magic 8 Ball: Dress in black and attach a large 8 out of white cloth or paper and pin it to your back.⁸ When someone asks you what you are, tell them "Reply hazy, try again," "Better not tell you now" or "Ask again later." You can also say one of the standard 8-ball phrases whenever someone shakes your hand.
12. Partly Cloudy with a Chance of Showers: Dress in blue. Glue white cotton balls on your shirt and carry a squirt gun.⁹
13. Pink Floyd: Dress in pink and wear a name tag that says "Floyd."⁸
14. Road Kill: Dress in black. Paint a wide red stripe on the front of your shirt.⁹
15. Speed Bump: Dress in black. Paint a wide yellow stripe on the front of a black T-shirt.⁹
16. Spider: Dress in black, preferably with a black hooded sweatshirt. Stuff four black tube socks or two pairs of black nylon with cotton batting (or old sheets).⁵ Pin the socks to the side of your outfit. Use string to attach the arms to your own so that the legs move when yours do.⁶ Optional: Paint a red hourglass on your back (to look like a black widow).
17. Tickled Pink: Dress in pink and carry a feather.⁹

Costumes that Only Require a Sign

• For these costumes, all you need is some markers and a piece of cardboard to make the appropriate sign. Some costumes may also require tape or safety pins so you can attach the sign.

1. Got Milk?: Paint a while milk mustache on your lip and carry a sign that says "Got Milk?"⁹
2. Invisible Man/Woman: Carry a sign that says "I'm the invisible man" or "I'm the invisible woman." When people claim that they can see you either curse and insist you're going to return the costume to the store or shake your head sadly and tell them it's not a very good costume.
3. Nudist on Strike: Dress normally and carry a sign that reads "Nudist on Strike."⁸ If you want to be really creative, carry with you a list of demands.
4. MasterCard Ad: Attach a sign to your back that reads (amounts may vary):
   • Shirt: $25
   • Pants: $40
   • Shoes: $70.
   • Costume that requires minimal effort: Priceless.

Costumes that Use Simple Props

• These costumes allow you to wear your own clothing but will require the use of a few props.

1. 

   (Creative Commons photo by Chad Riley)
   Babysitter: Strap a doll so it rests on your bottom.⁸
2. Ceiling Fan: Write the words "Go Ceilings!" on a shirt. Grab a few pom poms or a foam finger.⁸
3. Cereal Killer: Carry around an empty cereal box with a plastic knife sticking out of it. Drip red paint down the side of the knife holes.¹⁰
4. Golf Tee: Attach a golfball to your head using a headband.⁸
5. Head in the Clouds: Glue cotton balls onto a hat.⁹
6. Identity Crisis: Write different names on the "Hello, my name is..." name tags.⁹
7. Jellyfish: Tape strips of shimmery material to the inside of an umbrella (preferably clear). If you cut bubble wrap at at an angle, you'll get the best effect. Tape a few glow sticks to the inside of the umbrella or suspend them fron the umbrella spokes. Dress as a snorkeler or fisherman for extra effect.³
8. Lame Excuse: Write various excuses on Post-It Notes, attach them to your body and walk around with a cane.¹¹
9. Leaf Blower: Tie a leaf to a baseball cap so it dangles in front of your face. When someone asks you what you are, blow on the leaf.⁹
10. Pain in the Butt: Attach a large bandaid to your bottom.⁸
11. Quarter Pounder: Get a quarter and a hammer. If anyone asks you what you are, set the quarter down and hit it with the hammer.⁸
12. Self-Absorbed: Attach sponges to your body.⁸
13. Someone You Can Count On: Cut out big numbers and attach them to your clothes.⁸
14. Static Cling: Attach spare socks, underwear and dryer sheets onto your clothes using safety pins. For extra effect, spray your hair so it stands out.⁹
15. Substitute Teacher: Dress conservatively. Pin a paper airplane into your hair, tape a "kick me" sign on your back, add paper clips and a few spit wads. If possible, add chalk prints onto your clothes.⁹
16. Tourist: Wear loud clothing, a camera, a hat and have a few maps sticking out of your pockets.¹
17. Trash Bag: Make holes for your legs and arms in a large trash bag. Fill it with newspaper or foam. Then tie it at the top and dirty your face a little.⁹

Box Costumes

• If you have a large box lying around, you can use it to make any of the following costumes. If you don't, check with your local grocery store or appliance store--they typically receive larger boxes. If necessary, you can also purchase a large box from moving companies or shipping centers.

1. Dice: Paint the box white and draw or paint black dots onto it.¹²
2. God's Gift to Women/Men: Cover the box with wrapping paper and add a bow. Attach a tag that says "To: Women From: God" or "To Men From: God." Don't be surprised (or insulted) if some ask if God has a return policy.
3. Milk Carton: Spray the box white and wear white clothing. Cut out arm and leg holes. Write MILK in large letters on the front and back side. Enlarge a photo of yourself and attach it to one side of the other sides of the carton and write the word "MISSING" above it.⁵
4. Present: Cover the box with wrapping paper (Christmas, birthday, etc.) and add a bow.¹²
5. Refrigerator: Paint the box white. Fold the top of the box closed, but leave the bottom open. Cut out a holes for the head and arms. Use marker to draw a handle and attach various trinkets for "magnets." Add a couple of sticky notes with messages.¹²
6. Television: Cut out holes in the box for your arms and legs. Draw channel and volume controls on the front. You could also attach milk jug lids for the knobs.¹² Draw or attach an image from your favorite TV show on the front. If desired, affix pipe cleaners to a headband for antennae.⁵

How to Make Your Own Halloween Makeup

• Halloween makeup is very easy to make. You can create any color makeup with a little cornstarch, cold cream and food coloring.
  1. Stir 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon cold cream together until well blended.¹³
  2. Add 1/2 teaspoon water and stir.¹³
  3. Add food coloring and stir until you obtain the color you desire.¹³

• Fake blood can be made by combining red food coloring and corn syrup. If you need to make scars or sores, combine pink face tissue (Kleenex) and corn syrup.¹⁴ For more information on how to apply different makeup effects, check out any of the following links:
  1. Halloween on the Web from Aristotle: Gruesome Makeup Hints
  2. The Raven's: Fake Blood Recipes
  3. US Scouting Service Project: First Aid Special Effects
  4. KidzKorner: Make Your Own Halloween Make-up
  5. Canoe.ca: Halloween
  6. Halloween Online Magazine: Got Blood?
  7. Make-Stuff: Make Your Own Halloween Monster Make-up for Kids

How to Make Your Own Mask

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Ralph Hogaboom)
  If your costume calls for a mask, you can easily make your own using paper mache. To make a paper mache mask, you need flour, salt, water, newspaper and acrylic paint. You will also need some type of form. This can be any of the following:
  1. A balloon.¹⁵
  2. A neutral half-mask.¹⁶
  3. An old Halloween mask.¹⁷

How to Make Paper Mache Paste

• Good paper mache paste should be the consistency of a thick soup or a little thinner than glue.^{17 16} You can use regular flour, but unbleached flour is supposed to work better.¹⁸
  1. Mix flour and water until it is a little thinner than glue or like a thick soup.¹⁶
  2. Add about a teaspoon of salt to the mix. The salt will help prevent mold.¹⁹
  3. You can add a little white glue to make the paste stronger.
  4. Stir the mixture until you have dissolved most of the lumps.

• An alternative recipe is to boil about five parts water to one part flour.²⁰ Let the mixture simmer three minutes.¹⁹ Then add a teaspoon of salt and let it cool before using.

Making the Mask

• Once you have your paste, you can begin working on your mask. You will want to cover your work area with plastic to protect it before you get started.

• 1. Cut strips of newspaper about 1 inch wide and about 6 to 8 inches long.¹⁵
  2. Dip a piece of newspaper into the paste.
  3. Strip excess liquid from it by squeezing it between your fingers.¹⁸
  4. Apply it to the mask. Make sure you smooth each strip out and release any trapped air bubbles.¹⁸
  5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 until the entire mask is covered.

• Once you have laid your first layer, you can either wait for it to dry or start adding a second layer.
  1. For a durable mask, you will need at least six layers.¹⁷
  2. Each layer should be laid in the opposite direction of the previous one.¹⁸
  3. If you want to add features to your mask, you can start after you've laid the second or third layer.¹⁶ You can use cardboard, masking tape, foil or similar items to help your build up areas.¹⁵
  4. When you are finished, let your mask dry completely for at least a day before painting.

How to Make a (No-Sew) Cape

• You can make an inexpensive cape for any costume very easily with a little fabric and bonding tape or fusable hem.²¹ You will need about 9 to 11 yards of fabric. All you need to do is cut the fabric to the appropriate shape. Use the bonding tape to "hem" the edges. Then, hot glue or hand sew thick ribbon, velcro or rickrack on each side of the opening so it can be tied closed.²² If desired, you can decorate the cape with fabric paints.²¹ You can find examples of these capes at any of the following locations:
  1. MarthaStewart.com: His and Her Royal Highness Costumes
  2. HobbyCraft: Witch's Outfit & No Sew Cape
  3. ClubMom: No-Sew Dress-Up Cape
  4. Nestle's Very Best Kids: "No Sew" Dracula Costume
  5. DTLK's Growing Together: No Sew Cloaks

Costume Resources

• If you've gone through this page and still haven't found a Halloween costume that fits your personality, then you should check out some of Mahalo's many pages on Halloween costumes for more ideas. You can also browse some of the following pages for more ideas.
  1. About.com: Creating Halloween Costumes | Free Creative Halloween Costume Ideas | Fast and Simple Last-Minute Costumes  
  2. Costume Idea Zone  
  3. Costumzee.com: How To & DIY Costumes
  4. DLTK: Halloween Costume Database
  5. FabricLink: Halloween Costume Closet
  6. FamilyFun.com: Halloween Costumes
  7. HERSHEY'S TrickOrTreats: Halloween Costume Ideas
  8. Kids Turn Central: Halloween Costumes
  9. Making Friends.com: Halloween Crafts  
  10. MarthaStewart.com Search: Halloween Costume

Conclusion

• Now that you have found the perfect costume, you might want to check out some of Mahalo's other pages on Halloween such as How to Carve a Killer Pumpkin, How to Make Your Own Haunted House, How to Plan a Kids' Halloween Party, How to Plan a Killer Halloween Party and How to Trick or Treat Safely

References for How to Make Your Own Halloween Costumes

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Stretcher.com: Halloween Costumes: Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas
2. ↑ AskMen.com: Bad Halloween Costumes
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} FOXNews.com: 8 Killer Do-It-Yourself Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
4. ↑ AskMen.com: Cool Halloween Costumes
5. ↑ ^{5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14} Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} iVillage: Quick & Easy Halloween Costumes: 5 Great Ideas
7. ↑ AskMen.com: Halloween Costumes Guys Should Never Wear
8. ↑ ^{8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11} The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
9. ↑ ^{9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12} Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
10. ↑ The F.U.N. Place Halloween Hangout: Quick Costumes
11. ↑ About.com: Lame Excuse Costume  
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3} FamilyCorner.com: Cardboard Box Costumes
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} FamilyCorner.com: Homemade Halloween Make Up, Bruises & Blood
14. ↑ Halloween on the Web from Aristotle: Gruesome Makeup Hints
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2} About.com: Paper Mache Masks and Heads
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3} Commedia dell 'Arte: How to Make Commedia Masks
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1 17.2} Deep Creek Times: Mask Making
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3} The Papier Mache Resource: Make a Papier Mache Mask
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} About.com: Paper Mache Paste Recipes
20. ↑ Buzzle.com: Paper Mache Masks  
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} HobbyCraft: Witch's Outfit & No Sew Cape
22. ↑ DTLK's Growing Together: No Sew Cloaks