By Vicki Little
My absolute favorite costume from childhood was not a fancy store-bought one. It was one that my mom and I made together from scratch, using a giant cardboard box and other items we found around the house. Can you guess what I was? A television. You know, back in the days before flat-screen TVs. I drew a large picture of Heathcliff for the TV screen, and we put a smaller box on top for a VCR. I even had a headband that we turned into an antennae!
As easy as it is to just go out and buy a costume, it can also be expensive — and you often end up wearing the same costume as someone else. Do-it-yourself costumes are much more original and less expensive. Here are 10 ideas to get your spooky senses thinking:
1) A Dice – A little white and black paint and some arm holes in a box — and you are set!
2) A LEGO – Again, a simple painted cardboard box with some circular bumps glued on top will work wonders.
3) Despicable Me – Overalls, yellow hoodie, goggles, some pipe cleaners, and some black-and-white felt is all you need!
4) Popcorn – Popcorn peanuts or real popcorn attached to a tight white hoodie will work well as the popcorn, and then all you need is a white-and-red-striped outfit. You can decorate a box or use fabric for this.
5) Spaghetti – As easy as popcorn using a couple of spools of light yellow yarn attached to a red hoodie (for sauce). Add meatballs with balls of brown yarn. Make a bowl with a large lampshade by turning it upside down and cutting a slit in it so you can take it on and off.
6) Cabbage Patch Doll – Great for babies or toddlers in a stroller. Simply find a box large enough to fit over your stroller and rest on the handles, cut the front off for the “screen” area where the plastic usually is, and then dress your kiddo up like a cabbage patch doll … using exactly what the company does for the hair — yarn!
7) Dirty Laundry – This one is extremely easy! Cut the bottom out of a laundry hamper, attach suspenders to hold them up, and then throw some laundry in it!
8) Any Candy Bar – Seriously easy, but oh-so-cute! Sew together three sides of long, heavy fabric. Cut out a hole on the top for a head and one on each side for the arms, and use fabric glue to add the letters M&M or your choice of candy bar and voila! You have a candy bar!
9) Mario or Luigi – Despicable Me with a twist. All you need is some overalls, white gloves, a fake mustache, and a cute hat. Remember, red=Mario and yellow=Luigi!
10) A Donut – Yep, a donut! Get a water ring and some brown or white fabric to wrap it in, add a dark brown felt on top and cover with colorful felt scraps for sprinkles. Done.
What is your favorite costume from your childhood?
Vicki Little is a work-at-home mom with two young kids. A Colorado native, she is the Publisher and Editor of Macaroni Kid Aurora and Downtown Denver. When she isn’t writing or trying to keep up with her kids she can be found volunteering, reading, or enjoying a bottle of wine with friends.
Want more from The Mother List? Sign up here!
~
