Having a fun or scary Halloween costume doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little imagination and a few inexpensive supplies, you can create some easy Halloween costumes that are fun and affordable!
1. Robot
Supplies:
– silver spray paint
– cardboard box
– Glue gun and glue
– Gray or silver tights
– Battery-operated Christmas lights
– Duct tape
– Gray or silver gloves
– Miscellaneous items such as nuts & bolts, circuit boards, blocks, buttons, switches, etc.
Instructions:
Cut holes in the box for arms and head. Glue the miscellaneous items on the front of the box. Spray paint the entire box with the silver paint and let dry. Cut small holes and poke the lights through. Secure the battery pack onto the inside of the box with the duct tape.
2. Red Lego Piece
Supplies:
– Rectangular cardboard box
– Red party cups
– Red spray paint
– Glue gun and glue
Instructions:
Cut head and arm holes, a large hole on the bottom for your legs, plus 8 circles on the front of the cardboard box matching a 2X4 Lego brick, making sure the holes are smaller than the diameter of the top of the cups. Insert the cups from the inside of the box outward with the bottom of the cup showing on the outside of the box and secure on the inside with glue. Spray paint the box. Viola! You’re a Lego brick!
3. Scarecrow
Supplies:
– Old clothes, oversized
– Rope
– Hay
– Floppy hat
– Eyeliner
– Old work gloves
Instructions:
Cut or rip the clothes a little to make them look tattered. Put on the clothes and tie the rope around your waist over the shirt as a belt. Stuff hay into the neck of the shirt, under the hat, and bottom of the sleeves so it’s visible. Use the eyeliner to draw your scarecrow face to look like stitches. For a creepier scarecrow look, cut eye and mouth holes into a 2’x2’ piece of burlap and tie it over your head with a piece of rope.
4. Rubik’s Cube
Supplies:
– Large, square cardboard box
– Black spray paint
– Craft foam sheets in the 6 cube colors
– Glue gun and glue
Instructions:
Cut head and arm holes and one big hole for your legs in the box and spray paint the entire thing black. Cut foam sheets into squares. The size of the squares will depend on the size of your box but you should allow for about an inch between each square and around the outside of each side of the box. Glue them to the sides, either uniform colors on each side (solved) or random (unsolved).
5. Unicorn
Supplies:
– White shirt
– White sweatpants
– Cardstock
– Rainbow wig
– Plastic headband
– Glue
– Safety pin
– Rubber band
– Rainbow glitter
Instructions:
Roll the cardstock into a narrow cone and use some to cut ear shapes. Glue these to the headband. For the tail, gather it together to make a ponytail and secure it with the rubber band. Use the safety pin to secure it to the back of the sweatpants. Before you go out in your costume, sprinkle yourself with rainbow glitter!
6. Russell, the pile of leaves
Supplies:
– Sweatshirt and sweatpants (fall colors look best)
– Knit cap
– 2 or 3 long strands of fall leaf garland
– Glue gun and glue
– Small rake
Instructions:
Remove the leaves from the garland. Glue them to the sweatshirt and hat, covering as much surface as possible. That’s it. When you go out in your costume, be sure to bring the rake!
7. Skeleton
Supplies:
– Long-sleeved black shirt
– Black sweatpants
– Black knit cap or skeleton mask
– White or glow-in-the-dark paint
– Paintbrush
Instructions:
Lay the shirt and pants out on the floor and paint bones in the shape of a skeleton. If you’re not using a skeleton mask, paint a skull on the hat.
8. Paper Doll
Supplies:
– Large poster board
– Paint
– Thick black marker
– Elastic
– Stapler
– Glue gun and glue
– Headband
Instructions:
Using the marker, draw an outfit that is proportionate to your body. (tracing a shirt and pants or dress might make this easier.) Be sure to include tabs on the top and sides of the clothes like you would see on a paper doll. Paint and cut them out. Draw and paint something for your head too―a hat, a big bow, or you could even draw hair. Glue it to the headband. Staple the elastic to the clothes so that you can wear them.
9. Rosie the Riveter
Supplies:
– Red bandana
– White paint dauber
– Denim shirt
Instructions:
This costume couldn’t be easier. If you can find a red bandana with white polka dots, that would be ideal. But if you can’t find one, use the white paint dauber to make dots on the red bandana or paint white dots on it. Tie the bandana around your hair with the knot on top. If you don’t have a denim shirt, check your local thrift store. Roll up the sleeves on the shirt and flex that muscle. That’s it!
10. Princess Leia
Supplies:
– White sheet
– Dark brown wig
– White belt
– Glue gun and glue
– Headband
Instructions:
Cut a hole for your head and secure the waist with the belt. For the hair, make two braids with the wig and use the glue gun to arrange the hair into two large buns that will cover your ears. Gluing them to the headband will provide more support.
Use these easy Halloween costume ideas to get into the Halloween spirit and look great without spending a lot. Of course, if you’re looking for other ideas of how to enjoy Halloween on a budget, learn about all the fun fall activities you can enjoy without spending very much money.Happy Halloween from NDR!
