Easy Halloween Costumes

So Halloween is coming and I needed soem quick and easy costumes for  kids. Here's what I found:

Cowboy or Cowgirl

Cowboys and cowgirls pretty much wore regular clothes. So you can probably find most of this stuff around the house: blue jeans, western-type shirt, a belt and a bandana. You can probably borrow a cowboy hat from someone if you don't have one. Or you can splurge at a party supply store for under $10. Cowboy boots aren't totally necessary - hiking boots would work - but depending on where you're going nobody will notice. For a pirate costume one year, I made "boot coverings" (to go over sneakers) out of felt.

Bag o' Trash

Yep - you read that right. Nothing ruins a Halloween like having to wear your winter coat over your costume. That's just about the pinacle of kid humiliation. Here's is a good cold weater costume. What a brilliant idea - but it's not really mine. First, cut arm and leg holes in a garbage bag (you'd better get the good ones). Stuff it with newspapers or whatever you have around the house. Then tie it with string around the neck - not too tight now! Glue or tape a few (clean) garbage items to the ourside and that's about it!

Ghost - the Ol' Standby

What could be easier than a ghost costume? Chances are, you have an old sheet laying around - or know someone who does. Ask Grandma. For safety, I would recommend cutting a large hole for the whole head or face rather than cutting eye holes. You can use white face paint or a white ski cap to complete the look. You can also accessorize to be a specific kind of ghost. My middle son was a "ninja ghost" last year. We got a toy sword that was stuffed in a "belt" made out of a strip torn off the sheet. We borrowed a generic scary mask from friends. He wore - you guessed it - black sweats underneath the sheet. I cut the edges of the sheet to make fringe. A lot of people said it was one of the more frightening costumes they'd seen in a while.

Robot

This one, my son came up with. We already have a gray sweat suit so that works. Again, it's worth buying a sweat suit for a costume because you can always use it another time. My husband always has computer items coming in and out so we have a lot of large boxes. (Ack!) All we need now is a can of silver spray paint. Take a large box (one that your child's torso can fit in) and tape it up securely. Cut the bottom out and cut head and arm holes. Spray paint it silver and let the child "go to town" decorating it with markers and construction paper. A clean popcorn tub makes for a nice hat.

Skunk

One of my fondest Halloween memories is of a skunk costume that my mother made for me. If I'm not mistaken, we all had one, my mother, my sister and me. Is really easy. It's just a black sweat suit (which would be useful any time of year so it's worth buying), with a tail sewn on. You can make the tail out of any white and black fabric. You only need a little. Faux fur can get expensive - s try fleece or felt. Sometimes you can get scraps for cheap. Maybe you have something lying around the house.

Smurf???

When we were young, we weren't allowed to be any thing "scary" for Halloween. We were usually something like a clown or Care Bear. One year, I was Smurfette (which dates me a bit). I loved Smurfs. I would get up bright and early every Saturday morning to watch the Smurfs TV show and eat breakfast on my Smurf tray. So for the costume, I wore a blue sleeper-type pajamas and a wig made out of yellow yarn. My mom made a smurf hat out of white felt. I think the Smurfs are out of fashion these days, but if you're looking to go retro-cool, maybe this is for you! Check out Smurfs if you still have no idea what I'm talking about.