Halloween is a busy time of year for single moms with young kids. Picking the perfect costume can be time consuming and expensive. So why not opt out of those pricey, pre-made costumes and make your own? Here are five easy do-it-yourself costume ideas:
Raining Cats and Dogs
Hey it's raining cats and dogs! This costume idea is sure to entertain, plus if it does rain, you are covered.
You will need: your brightest rainy-day gear, an umbrella, printed pictures of cats and dogs, and tape.
Print pictures of cats and dogs and tape them all over your open umbrella. Put on your rain coat and boots and you are ready to go.
A Rubik's Cube
A Rubik's cube is a fun and easy-to-make idea for kids and adults.
You will need: a square cardboard box; scissors; black, green, blue, orange, yellow, and red paint; and a paint brush.
Cut a head and arm holes in an upside down square box with the opening facing down (one large hole in the bottom of the box and two smaller holes on opposite sides). Paint a grid of nine squares on each side of the box using the black paint. Fill in the squares with the other colors of paint. You can mix and match or do each side in one color. Your kids will have fun helping you paint! Wear black spandex to draw attention to your Rubik's Cube.
The Sun
Dressing up as the sun is a surefire way to "light" up the party.
You will need: poster board, yellow markers and colored pencils (if necessary), a black marker for the face, and scissors.
Sketch out the shape of a sun on your poster board. You can use yellow poster board or you can use white and color it yellow. Once you have your sketch, cut it out. Make sure to give your sun a face! Punch two holes in the top about twelve inches apart. Cut a piece of string to tie through the holes, so you can wear your "sun" as a necklace. Wear yellow pants and a long sleeve yellow top to finish off the look.
A Television Set
A box television set might be a thing of the past, but that's what makes it the perfect costume idea.
You will need: a square cardboard box; gray paint; a paint brush; tape; white poster board to make a screen; and some gray pipe cleaner.
Cut a head and arm holes in an upside down square box with the opening facing down (one large hole in the bottom of the box and two smaller holes on opposite sides). Paint the entire box gray. Cut the white poster board to fit onto the front side of the box leaving one to two inches of gray around the edges. Enlist your kids to draw a scene on the white poster board and then tape it to the box. Bend the pipe cleaner into a headband with two "antennas" sticking up. Wear black spandex to draw attention to your Television Set.
Rock-Paper-Scissors
If you've got two friends but don't want to be the three musketeers again, then Rock-Paper-Scissors is for you.
You will need: 2 friends, a pack of poster board, scissors, a hole-punch, markers or colored pencils, and string.
Rock: Cut one piece of poster board into a jagged circle and color it gray or brown. Punch two holes one inch from the edge and about twelve inches apart. Cut a piece of string to tie through the holes, so you can wear your "rock" as a necklace.
Paper: Turning one piece of poster board to the portrait position, draw a red vertical line down the left side of the "page" about two inches away from the edge. Draw blue horizontal lines across the "page" starting two inches down. Punch two holes in the top of the "page" about twelve inches apart. Cut a piece of string to tie through the holes, so you can wear your "paper" as a necklace.
Scissors: Cut a piece of poster board into the shape of scissors (for those of you, myself included, that need assistance, use a pencil to sketch out the scissors). You can design the scissors so they are open or closed. Color the handle of the scissors a bright color (red or blue) and the blades gray. Punch one hole in the handle and one in the blades. Cut a piece of string to tie through the holes, so you can wear your "scissors" as a necklace.
Wear dark clothes to draw attention to your Rock-Paper-Scissors.
No matter what you choose to dress up as for Halloween, making your own costumes is a fun way to spend time with your kids. These quick and easy ideas are a great way to make memories with your kids that will last a lifetime.