Handmade Halloween :: 6 DIY Costumes in 30 Minutes or Less

Fall is upon us. The weather is cooling off, crunchy leaves are underfoot, and pumpkin spice has exploded everywhere. You can almost smell the Thanksgiving turkey, and before you know it Christmas will be here, but first up is the glorious sugar-fest that is Halloween. 

October begins with a plan for an elaborate, handmade costume, but when Halloween week arrives you’ve yet to start making said masterpiece. If this sounds familiar (or if you like the idea of a homemade costume but not the idea of putting hours upon hours of work into it) then read on, my friend.

The following costumes require minimal prep, a small list of supplies, and less than half an hour of your time:

Bubble Bath

Supplies:
White balloons
White clothing
Safety pins
Rubber ducky
Shower accessories like a loofah, shower cap, etc. (optional)

Blow up the balloons and safety pin them to your child’s clothing. While they trick-or-treat, have them carry around the rubber ducky and other optional shower accessories – that’s it!

Lumberjack

Supplies:
Jeans
Boots
Flannel shirt
Beanie
Suspenders
Brown face paint
Toy ax (optional)

This costume is primarily composed of items that are probably already in your child’s closet: jeans, boots, a flannel shirt, and a beanie. Add some suspenders, some brown face paint for a beard, and (optional) an ax, and you’re done! We found the toy ax in a set of firefighter toys.

Building Blocks

Supplies:
Cardboard box, plus extra cardboard for circles
Paint – can be spray paint, acrylic paint, house paint, whatever you have on hand
Hot glue gun
Utility knife or scissors

Grab a cardboard box approximately the size of your child’s torso, and cut a hole in each side for their arms and a hole in the top for their head. Use the extra cardboard to cut four or six circles (however many will fit) and glue them to the front of the box. Finally, paint the whole thing the color of your choosing.

Superhero

Supplies:
Solid-colored shirt
Superhero emblem (I used an iron-on patch, you could also use a large sticker, or draw it yourself)
Fabric for cape
Hot glue gun (or needle and thread)
Scissors

If you’re using an iron-on patch like I did, then plug in your iron first. While it’s heating up, grab the fabric for the cape. Cut a rectangle approximately the width of your child’s shoulders and as long as their torso, with a scalloped edge on one of the short sides. Now your iron should be hot enough to iron your patch onto the shirt, or you can put on your sticker, or draw on the emblem if you’re artistically inclined (I’m not). After decorating the shirt appropriately, you need to attach the cape to the shirt. On the back of the shirt, at the shoulder seams next to the neck, you can either hot glue or sew the cape to the shirt. If you’re really in a pinch, you could also use safety pins!

Jelly Beans

Supplies:
Multi-colored balloons
Clear trash bag
Scissors
‘Jelly Belly’ logo (optional)

Cut a hole in the bottom of the trash bag just large enough to fit over your child’s head. Stuff the bag with the balloons and tie a knot to close it at your child’s waist. If you have a logo printed out, you can secure it to the front of the trash bag.

Artist

Supplies:
Apron
Paintbrush
Acrylic paints
Cardboard (for palette)
Pencil
Scissors
Beret and face paint (optional)

Draw a palette shape on the piece of cardboard and cut it out. Add circles of different colors of acrylic paints on the palette, and put some dabs and dashes of paint on the apron. Have your child wear the apron and carry the palette and paintbrush. If you have a beret and some face paint to make a mustache, you can have yourself a ‘French’ artist.

Lauren C. Davis
Born a Southern girl, Lauren and her family moved to Wichita when she was in middle school. She came back to town after graduating from the University of Kansas, was set up on a blind date with a Wichita native, Ben, and they were married 11 months later. In June of 2015 they added a sweet, rambunctious boy, Henry, to their family. Lauren is a 'mostly' stay-at-home mom, but also shares her beauty expertise on Instagram. Lauren loves traveling with Ben, adventures with Henry, a good Netflix binge, chocolate, carbs, and a nap when she can get it.