You do not need to have professional sewing skills to learn how to make your own Halloween costumes. There are numerous costumes that a person can make with little to no sewing skill needed. Most of them make use of items that are already around the house. A person can also make his own cape, Halloween makeup and masks.

Weapons and other props can be made out of cardboard that is painted and covered with tinfoil.Stretcher.com: Halloween Costumes: Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas People can shop at their local thrift shop or Goodwill for any clothing that they might need to enhance their costume. Before working on a costume idea, a person should consider where he is going so that he can make a costume appropriate for the theme.AskMen.com: Bad Halloween Costumes He should be careful not to choose a costume that is large if he is going to a crowded party. Also, a person should make sure that he can get out of his costume without a tremendous amount of effort. This could become an issue during bathroom breaks.

1. Construction Worker: Wear tight jeans, a white t-shirt or tank top and a tool belt.AskMen.com: Cool Halloween Costumes Add a hard hat if you can find one.
2. Cowboy or Cowgirl: Wear jeans and a western shirt with boots and a bandanna.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill If possible, add the signature cowboy hat.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill
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, 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 outfit. Spray the hat black and let it dry.iVillage: Quick & Easy Halloween Costumes: 5 Great Ideas
5. Gypsy: Wear a long flowing skirt and a puffy blouse. Add lots of gold jewelry, a belt and a shawl.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill
6. Hippie: Wear bell bottom jeans, jeans with rips or a peasant skirt. Add leather sandals, a tie dye shirt, love beads, peace buttons and funky sunglasses.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill
7. Mummy: Wear white clothing. Wrap yourself with strips of white sheets, old t-shirts or gauze.FOXNews.com: 8 Killer Do-It-Yourself Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
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.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill Add tape around the nose piece of the glasses and slick back your hair.Stretcher.com: Halloween Costumes: Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas
9. Rapper: Wear jeans that are several sizes too large with a black t-shirt. Add gold chains and a baseball cap that is worn backwards.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill
10. Scarecrow: Wear a pair of jeans with patches and a long flannel shirt. Attach straw to the cuffs and shirt using duct tape.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill You can top it off with a straw hat. Use an eyebrow pencil to draw a large smile and triangle shapes around the eyes.iVillage: Quick & Easy Halloween Costumes: 5 Great Ideas
11. Soldier or Hunter: Wear camouflage clothing. Add some camouflage makeup, a canteen, a compass and a backpack.Stretcher.com: Halloween Costumes: Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas

1. Bag of Jelly Beans: Wear white. Get a large clear plastic trash bag. Cut out holes for your legs and your arms.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill Step inside the bag and fill it with different colored balloons.FOXNews.com: 8 Killer Do-It-Yourself Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006) Use a scarf to tie the bag around your neck.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill
2. Blackmail: Dress in black and attach a postage stamp to your chest.The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
3. Bubble Gum: Wear pink clothing and attach a shoe to the top of your head.The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
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].Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill
5. Cow: Dress in a white or brown sweatsuit. Cut out felt or fabric patches and attach them to the suit.iVillage: Quick & Easy Halloween Costumes: 5 Great Ideas 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.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
7. Grapevine: Wear a brown body suit or leotard.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill Use safety pins to attach purple or green balloons to your suit. Pin it through the end not the inflated part.
8. Gold Digger: Dress in gold or yellow. Sprinkle some gold glitter in your makeup and spray gold glitter in your hair. Use a toy shovel and some rocks as props.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
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.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill
10. iPod Commercial: Dress in black. Cover your face with black makeup. Either dye your hair black with washout dye or wear a black skull cap. Add white accessories such as a belt, fake pears and wingtips. Wear your iPod.FOXNews.com: 8 Killer Do-It-Yourself Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
11. Magic 8 Ball: Dress in black and attach a large 8 made out of white cloth or paper and pin it to your back.The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
12. Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Showers: Dress in blue. Glue white cotton balls on your shirt and carry a squirt gun.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
13. Pink Floyd: Dress in pink and wear a name tag that says "Floyd."The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
14. Road Kill: Dress in black. Paint a wide red stripe on the front of your shirt.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
15. Speed Bump: Dress in black. Paint a wide yellow stripe on the front of a black t-shirt.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
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.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill 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.iVillage: Quick & Easy Halloween Costumes: 5 Great Ideas Optional: Paint a red hourglass on your back to look like a black widow spider.
17. Tickled Pink: Dress in pink and carry a feather.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)

1. Babysitter: Strap on a doll so that it rests on your bottom.The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
2. Ceiling Fan: Write the words "Go Ceilings!" on a shirt. Grab a few pom poms or a foam finger.The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
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.The F.U.N. Place Halloween Hangout: Quick Costumes
4. Golf Tee: Attach a golf ball to your head using a headband.The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
5. Head in the Clouds: Glue cotton balls onto a hat.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
6. Identity Crisis: Write different names on the "Hello, my name is..." name tags and attach them to yourself.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
7. Jellyfish: Tape strips of shimmery material to the inside of a clear umbrella. 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 from the umbrella spokes. Dress as a snorkeler or fisherman for extra effect.FOXNews.com: 8 Killer Do-It-Yourself Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
8. Leaf Blower: Tie a leaf to a baseball cap so it dangles in front of your face. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
9. Pain in the Butt: Attach a large Band-aid to your bottom.The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
10. Self-Absorbed: Attach sponges to your body.The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
11. Someone You Can Count On: Cut out big numbers and attach them to your clothes.The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase: Halloween Ideas (September 15, 2008)
12. 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.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/north/s_476821.html Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
13. 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.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)
14. Tourist: Wear loud clothing, a camera, a hat and have a few maps sticking out of your pockets.Stretcher.com: Halloween Costumes: Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas
15. Trash Bag: Make holes for your legs and arms in a large trash bag. Fill it with newspaper or foam. Next, tie it at the top and dirty your face a little.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (October 27, 2006)

• 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.FamilyCorner.com: Cardboard Box Costumes
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."
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 carton and write the word "MISSING" above it.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill
4. Present: Cover the box with wrapping paper and add a bow.FamilyCorner.com: Cardboard Box Costumes
5. Refrigerator: Paint the box white. Fold the top of the box closed, but leave the bottom open. Cut out holes for the head and arms. Use a marker to draw a handle and attach various trinkets for "magnets." Add a couple of sticky notes with messages.FamilyCorner.com: Cardboard Box Costumes
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.FamilyCorner.com: Cardboard Box Costumes Draw or attach an image from your favorite TV show on the front. If desired, affix pipe cleaners to a headband for antennae.Goodwill Halloween Headquarters: Create Your Own Costume at Goodwill

You can create any color makeup with a little cornstarch, cold cream and food coloring.

• 1. Stir 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon cold cream together until well blended.FamilyCorner.com: Homemade Halloween Make Up, Bruises & Blood
  2. Add 1/2 teaspoon water and stir.FamilyCorner.com: Homemade Halloween Make Up, Bruises & Blood
  3. Add food coloring and stir until you obtain the color you desire.FamilyCorner.com: Homemade Halloween Make Up, Bruises & Blood

• 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 and corn syrup.Halloween on the Web from Aristotle: Gruesome Makeup Hints

• You can make an inexpensive cape for any costume with a little fabric and bonding tape.HobbyCraft: Witch's Outfit & No Sew Cape You will need about 9 to 11 yards of fabric.

1. Cut the fabric to the appropriate shape.
2. Use the bonding tape to "hem" the edges.
3. Then, hot glue or hand sew thick ribbon, Velcro or rickrack on each side of the opening, so it can be tied closed.DTLK's Growing Together: No Sew Cloaks
4. If desired, you can decorate the cape with fabric paints.HobbyCraft: Witch's Outfit & No Sew Cape

Making the Paste:

• Good paper mache paste should be the consistency of a thick soup or a little thinner than glue.Deep Creek Times: Mask Making Commedia dell 'Arte: How to Make Commedia Masks You can use regular flour, but unbleached flour is better.The Papier Mache Resource: Make a Papier Mache Mask
  1. Mix flour and water until it is a little thinner than glue or like a thick soup.Commedia dell 'Arte: How to Make Commedia Masks
  2. Add about a teaspoon of salt to the mix. The salt will help prevent mold.
  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.

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.
  2. Dip a piece of newspaper into the paste.
  3. Strip excess liquid from it by squeezing it between your fingers.The Papier Mache Resource: Make a Papier Mache Mask
  4. Apply it to the mask. Make sure you smooth each strip out and release any trapped air bubbles.The Papier Mache Resource: Make a Papier Mache Mask
  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.Deep Creek Times: Mask Making
  2. Each layer should be laid in the opposite direction of the previous one.The Papier Mache Resource: Make a Papier Mache Mask
  3. If you want to add features to your mask, you can start after you've laid the second or third layer.Commedia dell 'Arte: How to Make Commedia Masks You can use masking tape, foil or similar items to help you build up areas.
  4. When you are finished, let your mask dry completely for at least a day before painting.