Kids
want to have "the best" Halloween costume ever. Are you up to the
task? Whether you don't have a creative bone in your body, or you can sew the
best and most elaborate costume ever, sometimes you just don't have time or
energy. Here are some costume ideas for kids (and some that could be
used by playful adults) that are quick and easy.
A
few were hits with my own kids and their friends, while some are ideas I've
found in magazines and on the internet. Always think safety when planning your
child's costume. You can of course be a quick ghost with the white sheet; a
clown; a scarecrow; a hippy; or a nerd, but if you want a little more
creativity here ar a few ideas:
1. Clifford the Big Red Dog: One of the cutest and easiest costumes we made for my
6 y.o. and he won a costume contest with it. Find a red turtleneck or
sweatshirt and (harder to find) red sweat pants. Cut long floppy dog ears out
of red felt, bobby pin to hair on each side of the head. Add red face paint and
a black painted nose, black eyeliner whiskers and you have Clifford! You could
also do Blue from Blue's Clues or Magenta, take a look at a picture of those
two to place felt cutouts for their spots. No sewing involved, just
safety pin or fabric glue them on the clothes.
2. Bunch of grapes: Yeah it's been done, but by your kids? Buy green
or purple balloons, attach them to a matching color or near matching color
outfit, making them thicker on the top of the body and tapering down. Add a
brown knit cap, maybe a couple of brown felt cutout leaves and you have a bunch
of grapes. When using latex balloons this idea is better for a child who is old
enough not to try to take a bite out of a balloon (choking hazard).
3. Be a road: Wear all black or all gray (black for an asphalt
highway, gray for concrete) and cut out felt long rectangle strips to be glued
on to be the dotted line on a road. Attach toy cars and road signs onto the
outfit. For the bit older and more gruesome you can attach some "road kill"
in the form of a stuffed animal or a car crash.
4. Pizza: Cut out a large triangle from cardboard with a
rounded large end, cut out a hole for the face.. Paint the sauce in red then
add cutouts from construction paper or other materials that look like your
favorite pizza toppings, round brown felt for pepperoni; green strips for green
pepper and attach with glue or hot glue. Top with shredded cheese, beige strips
of felt work well. Attach with elastic trips or a belt attached to both sides
of the pizza and put around the waist. Stick head through the hole. Carry a
pizza bag or carryout box for candy.
5. Laundry basket: Take a cheap round laundry basket and cut a hole
in the bottom wide enough your child can fit his or her body into it. Attach
clothesline or twine to each side of the basket over both shoulders to hold it
on. Put some "dirty" clothes in the basket, draping a couple over the
side and maybe a sock over the child's head. You might throw in an empty fabric
softener box or detergent bottle.
6. Deviled Egg: Dress in all white. Attach a yellow felt or other
fabric circle onto your stomach. Wear devil horns and carry a pitchfork.
7. Magician: Black pants, black long sleeve button down shirt,
black cape. Carry a stuffed bunny, a cane, a deck of cards, or some magicians
props.
8. Bunny rabbit: Wear all white, gray, or your favorite bunny
color. Cut out matching colored floppy ears from felt, with pink felt for the
inside of the ears, bobby pin to head. Color the nose pink, maybe some pink
cheeks, draw on black whiskers. Stick a bunch of white cotton balls together
and attach for a tail. Hop around.
9. Dust bunny: see above costume, carry a feather duster.
How to's:
Bruises:
Use dark blue, charcoal/deep gray, and shimmery green eye shadows. Using a make
up brush, swirl it in the deep blue and brush onto your skin where you want the
bruise. Use a cotton swab or fingertip to smudge on dry dark blue and charcoal.
Brush a little green around the edges of the "bruise". Smudge it all
together slightly with your fingertip.
Fake blood recipe: Add drops of hot water to 1/2 cup of corn syrup
stirring until it is the right consistency. Once the consistency of thick
blood, stir in a few drops of dish washing liquid then some drops of red food
coloring. The dish soap helps the mixture to wash off more easily. You can add
a drop of green food coloring to deepen the shade of the blood. Store in the
frig until needed and smear or drip on where you want the blood. (be aware
that food coloring can stain clothing.)
Home made face paint: (I have used this recipe, just be careful because
food coloring can stain clothing). Mix 1 part corn starch with 1/2 part cold
cream and 1/2 part water (ratio might be 1 tsp corn starch to 1/2 tsp cold
cream and 1/2 tsp water). Stir together and separate mixture if you've made a
larger batch. Add food coloring to each batch to create the color you desire.
Washes off with soap and water. Use on a clean dry face, make sure it is really
dry. Paint on the face paint with a small brush to create designs, said Kel.
