In need of a last minute Halloween costume using simple supplies and easy-to-follow steps? Now you have a list of 28 costumes with directions. These costumes use materials from around the house or inexpensive ones that you can afford to help you be Halloween-ready and look great!!
1. Batman and Robin
Materials For Batman: 1 yard of black tulle fabric and 1 yard of yellow tulle fabric, 1 yard of black shiny fake leather fabric, a band of elastic the size of your waist, one black tank top, one roll of yellow duct tape, eighteen inches of string, two large safety pins, scissors, and a pair of black spandex
Materials for Robin: 1 yard of red tulle fabric and 1 yard of green tulle fabric, 1 yard of red shiny fake leather fabric, a band of elastic the size of your waist, one red tank top, one roll each of yellow and black duct tape, eighteen inches of string, two large safety pins, scissors, and a pair of black spandex.
How-To: Batman and Robin must make tutus using the colors listed above for each costume. To make each tutu, cut the tulle fabric into strips about 3 inches wide. The strips should be double the desired length of your tutu (for a 9”-length, cut strips 18” long). Then fold the strips in half lengthwise, forming a U-shape. Lying the U-shape underneath one of the elastic bands, grab the two loose ends of the fabric and loop them through the U-shape, pulling it through tightly to form a knot. Repeat this until the elastic band is completely full and your desired fluffiness is reached. While making these tutus you must
alternate colors, black and yellow for Batman, and red and green for Robin. To make your capes, cut each yard of shiny fake leather fabric to the desired cape length. Attach the cape using safety pins. Take your plain tank tops and use duct tape to make the Batman outline on the black tank top with yellow duct tape and the Robin logo using yellow and black duct tape on the red tank top. Put on your tank tops, black spandex, tutus, and capes and your costume is almost complete. Using the leftover fabric from the black cape, cut out two masks – one for Batman and one for Robin. Attach these using the string to tie them around your head. You have now concealed your identity and are officially Batman and Robin!!
2. Three Blind Mice
Materials: Two to three empty paper towel rolls, one roll black duct tape or electricians tape, black skirt with a black top or a black dress, black headband, two pieces of black construction paper, and black-rimmed glasses.
How-To: The clothing part of this costume is quite simple. All you need is a black shirt and black skirt or a black dress. (Boys, if you want to be the Three Blind Mice, please wear pants!!) Next, it is all about making the accessories. To make your mouse ears cut two circles out of black construction paper. Then, cut the bottom third of the paper circle off and grab your plain black headband. Take the black tape and tape the straight part of the ears to the headband until your ears are secured and standing straight up. Next, make your cane, which is also a simple process. Take two or three empty paper towel rolls, depending on your desired cane length, tape them together using black tape, then completely cover them with the black tape. You now have your walking stick. Finally, take a pair of old black glasses and pop the lens out. You are now one of the Three Blind Mice!
3. Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy
Materials: Two red long-sleeve shirts, one pair black shorts, one pair green tights, two pair of dishwashing gloves – one blue and one green, one pair of black spandex, purple fabric the width of your waist plus two inches, 1/2-yard of blue fabric, one white hat, one shower cap, a plain black mask, tinfoil, clear packing tape, two large safety pins, scissors, and one sheet each of purple and yellow construction paper.
How-To: Mermaid Man: Put on your green tights under the black spandex. Use the yellow fabric as a belt; secure with safety pins. Put on a red shirt and tuck it into your belt and spandex. Cut out two large seashell shapes and a starfish from the purple construction paper. Using tinfoil and tape, create a swimsuit top from the seashells and place the starfish across your face, lying on your nose. Cut the letter “M” from the yellow construction paper, and tape this to the front of your belt. Put on your shower cap and green dishwashing gloves – you are now ready to swim in the deep blue sea!
How-To Barnacle Boy: Put on the black shorts and red shirt, tuck your shirt into your shorts, and tie the blue fabric around your neck like a scarf. Cut the letter “B” from the yellow construction paper and tape it to the front of your black shorts. Put on your white hat and black mask (which can be cut out of black construction paper and attached with string if a mask is unavailable). Add your blue dishwashing gloves and you are ready to join your partner!
4. Scarecrow
Materials: One pair of jeans, one flannel shirt, black eyeliner – both pencil and liquid, and orange lipstick.
How-To: Put on a pair of jeans or jean shorts (depending on the weather) and a flannel shirt of any color. This costume is mainly about the face painting and accessories you add to complete your scarecrow. To paint your face, first start with your eyes. Use liquid eyeliner to line your top and bottom lashes, and then draw long lashes angling in on the bottom lash line also with the liquid pen. Fill them in with the pencil eyeliner, making them appear thick and dark. Next take orange lipstick and color circles on your cheeks and an orange triangle on your nose. Outline the triangle on your nose using the liquid liner and draw black dashes through the line sideways. You can put the lipstick on your lips for an added effect. After finishing your cosmetics, braid your hair or fix it in a messy, windy hairstyle. To top off this costume, add a few leaves or twigs to your hair, or straw if you have some handy.
5. Ted…The Movie
Materials: White face paint, black eyeliner, a headband, one sheet each of brown and nude or cream construction paper, clear packing tape, scissors, brown or nude-colored long sleeve t-shirt, shorts, gloves, and pillow stuffing (Fiberfil is available at Jo Ann’s craft store).
How-To: Take your shirt and cut an 8-inch slit in the side. Put on the shirt and stuff pillow stuffing into the slit, to portray Ted when he was torn open in the movie. Leave some stuffing hanging out of the slit. Next, put on the shorts and glove. To make the ears for Ted, cut the brown construction paper into two half circles. Do the same with the cream paper, but make your half circles a little smaller than the brown ones so they will fit inside. Tape these half circles together, as shown in the picture, and then tape the ears onto the headband. This costume is mainly about the face paint. Using the white face paint, outline a circle around your mouth and nose, then color the circle in so that it is completely white. Color in the tip of your nose with the black eyeliner, and your bear nose is complete. Put on your gloves and you are now ready for the big screen, Ted!
6. Nerd
Materials: A pair of plaid shorts or pants, a dress shirt or polo shirt, suspenders, and ‘nerd’ black-framed glasses. Old schoolbook is optional.
How-To: Put on your plaid shorts or pants, a polo or dress shirt, suspenders, and glasses. Preferably, mismatch colors and patterns to add to the nerdy-ness of the outfit. For an added touch, un-tuck part of your shirt and carry around a schoolbook.
7. Cheetah
Materials: One brown creamy eye shadow stick, creamy gold eye shadow, brown eyeliner, one pair cheetah-print leggings or tights, and a nude or black leotard.
How-To: The costume itself for this outfit is pretty simple. Put on your cheetah-print tights or leggings and leotard. The fun part of this costume is the make up! First take a creamy, brown eye shadow stick to form the outer edges of the spots on your face and neck and then use a creamy, gold eye shadow to fill in these spots. It is easiest to apply the creamy gold eye shadow with your finger. Then use the brown eyeliner for some additional spots and your nose. Create your face while using the picture as a guide!
8. Finding Nemo – Marlin and Dory
Materials: Three yards of black tulle fabric for each costume, two elastic strips the length of each of your waists minus 2 inches, scissors, one roll each of black, yellow, and white duct tape, one orange and one blue tank top, and two pair of spandex
How-To: Put on your spandex and your tank tops. For Dory, put on the blue tank top and take the rolls of black and yellow duct tape. Cut small wavy pieces of both duct tapes and tape them to the sides of your shirt to appear as the colors of scales on a fish. For Marlin, put on the orange top and do this same thing using the black and white tape. Then make your two black tutus. To make a tutu, cut the tulle fabric into strips about 3 inches wide. The strips should be double the desired length of your tutu (for a 9”-length, cut strips 18” long). Then fold the strips in half lengthwise, forming a U-shape. Lying the U-shape underneath the elastic bands, grab the two loose ends of the fabric and loop them through the U-shape, pulling it through tightly to form a knot. Repeat this until the elastic band is completely full and you have reached your desired fluffiness. Put your tutu on over your spandex. Walk around with a fishy face and look for Nemo!
9. Bunch of Grapes
Materials: Black pants and black long sleeve shirt, one or two packages of green balloons, and one box of safety pins.
How-To: Put on black pants and a black long sleeve shirt to start off your costume. Blow up green balloons, tie the ends, and safety pin each balloon end to your shirt. Use as many balloons as you wish until the desired number of grapes has been reached. You are now a grape cluster. Avoid sharp objects!
10. Ty Beanie Babies
Materials: Four yards of animal print fabric or colored fabric depending on which animal you wish you to be, three large safety pins, several pieces of construction paper (white, red, and any color necessary for ears or other accessories), glue, duct tape that matches your costume, a headband, and white paint.
How-To: Take the fabric and wrap it around your body like a toga, secure the toga with safety pins. Take construction paper and make the accessories for your outfit. For example, if you are a fox, make fox ears out of construction paper by cutting two triangles and taping the ears to the headband using matching color duct tape. To make the Ty sign, take white construction paper and cut it into a heart. Next, take red construction paper and cut out a heart about half an inch smaller than the white heart. Glue the red heart on top of the white heart. Then use the white paint to write “Ty” on the red heart. Attach this to your costume and you are officially a Ty beanie baby.
11. Loofah
Materials: Three to four yards tulle fabric of any color depending on the color loofah you want to be, two elastic bands (one the size of your waist minus one inch, the other the size of your chest right under your arms minus one inch), two feet of rope (rope is optional), and slippers if desired
How-To: Two very fluffy tutus are required. To make a tutu, cut the tulle fabric into strips about 3 inches wide. The strips should be double the desired length of your tutu (for a 9”-length, cut strips 18” long). Then fold the strips in half lengthwise, forming a U-shape. Lying the U-shape underneath one of the elastic bands, grab the two loose ends of the fabric and loop them through the U-shape, pulling it through tightly to form a knot. Repeat this until the elastic band is completely full and your desired fluffiness is reached. Then, make a second tutu. Put these on, one around your waist and one around your chest, and fluff them out. For an added effect, tie a piece of rope to one of the pieces of elastic as the handle of the loofah, but this is optional. You can also add slippers to your costume.
12. Smurf
Materials: One pair blue leggings, one blue t-shirt and ½-yard of white fabric.
How-To: Cut the piece of white fabric into a triangle, fit around your head, and sew into a triangle hat. You can do this easily with thread and a needle by hand, no sewing machine needed!! Put on your blue leggings, blue t-shirt, and hat and you are all Smurfed-up. To go above and beyond on this costume, paint your face blue or wear a long sleeve blue shirt to add blue arms. This is a simple low-budget costume –that requires minimal time.
13. Lego Man
Materials: One very large square cardboard box, scissors, one cement post holder (cylinder-shaped), one empty Pringles can, tape or glue, paint (whatever color you desire to be), a pair of pants, yellow rubber gloves, and sharpies.
How-To: Take a large square cardboard box and cut out the bottom, a hole for your head, and two holes for your arms. Paint the box whichever color Lego block you desire to be. Wear pants with this costume, so your legs can appear as Lego-ish as possible! For your head, paint the cement post holder yellow. Next, cut the bottom off of a Pringles can and use as the circle at the top of your Lego head; paint this yellow as well. Attach this with tape or glue. Using a sharpie, draw a face on your head. Put on your cardboard body and cement post holder head with your rubber gloves and you are an awesome Lego man!!
14. iPod Nano
Materials: One roll of Duct Tape (choose your own color based on the color iPod you want to be), small roll of strong packing tape, one old t-shirt or tank top, and two sheets of blank paper.
How-To: Put the old t-shirt or tank top on, decide where on your chest you want the iPod to start, and wrap your first strip of duct tape at that spot. Wrap with separate strips that are the width of your body, rather than with a continuous roll, as the continuous roll can be very difficult to manage. Continue wrapping the tape piece-by-piece around the t-shirt, tight to the body to make it fitted. This is easiest if a friend wraps you, as it is hard to completely cover yourself with tape! After you are wrapped and reach your desired length, cut the top of your tank top or t shirt off, so your shoulders are bare and the iPod is the starting point rather than the t-shirt or tank top. Then draw your own iPod screen using markers on a piece of blank paper with song title, artist, album and the volume line or timer. Then, place the piece of paper toward the top of your iPod where the screen would lie. Using the packing tape, tape the paper to your chest. Using scissors, cut out a circle of paper and make it the fast forward, rewind, and play button. Tape this at the bottom of your iPod. Viola!! You are an iPod!! Awesome music not included.
15. Jesus
Materials: One white long-sleeve shirt, a white flat bed sheet, five large safety pins, a red piece of fabric approximately one foot wide and four feet long, a garland of artificial twigs, and two large pipe cleaners. (You can find the fabric, garland and pipe cleaners at Jo Ann’s fabrics.)
How-To: Put on your white long-sleeve shirt and wrap your white sheet around your body, making a toga with the sheet lying over your right shoulder. Secure the toga with safety pins at the shoulder and around your waist to help hold the sheet down. Take the piece of red fabric, lay it over your left shoulder, and tie it at your right hip, like a shawl. Take the garland of artificial twigs and twist them together making a crown shape, secure with pipe cleaners and place on your head like a crown. An added bonus of this costume is letting your long hair hang down, but if you don’t have time to grow it out, you can always buy a wig at your local Walmart.
16. Crayons
Materials: One old t-shirt or tank top, one roll of duct tape the color of the crayon you wish to be, scissors, four pieces of black construction paper, one roll clear packing tape, and one roll of black duct tape
How to: First, put on your t-shirt or tank top, decide where you want the Crayon to start and wrap your first layer of duct tape at that spot. First, put the old t-shirt or tank top on, decide where on your chest you want the Crayon to start, and wrap your first strip of duct tape at that spot. Wrap with separate strips that are the width of your body, rather than with a continuous roll, as the continuous roll can be very difficult to manage. Continue wrapping the tape piece-by-piece around the t-shirt, tight to the body to make it fitted. This is easiest if a friend wraps you, as it is hard to completely cover yourself with tape! After you are wrapped and reach your desired length, cut the top of your tank top or t shirt off, so your shoulders are bare and the Crayon is the starting point rather than the t-shirt or tank top. Take the black duct tape, measure and cut a strip the length of your Crayon, then cut it in half lengthwise with a wave going down the middle. Put one of these new strips around the top of your crayon and one at the bottom, with the wavy sides pointed inward. Take construction paper and cut out large letters to spell the word Crayola. Use clear packing tape to secure the letters down the middle of the front of your crayon so it reads Crayola. You are now a colorful Crayola Crayon!
17. Double Mint Twins
Materials: Two green Skirt, two plain white tank top, T-shirt transfer paper from Walmart, and one yard of green ribbon.
How-To: First things first, you need to print off the Double Mint logo onto a piece of transfer paper, which can be bought at Walmart. You can find this logo on Google Images. Next use an iron to transfer this onto the front of your tank top (ironing directions are located on the packaging for the transfer paper). Then, put your tank top on with your green skirt and tie some ribbon in your hair. Repeat this for your twin as well. Get a pack of Double Mint Gum to complete the costume – and smile!
18. Bum
Materials: One plaid flannel shirt, a pair of sweats, one cardboard square, one sharpie, and a hat. An old cork and a match are optional.
How-To: This costume is very easy to throw together with things from around the house! Put on a flannel shirt and a pair of sweats with any kind of hat. Write on your cardboard sign with a sharpie, something along the lines of “Will Work for Beer” or “Please help – out of Work” and you are officially a bum for Halloween! If you have a cork, burn it and rub the residue on your face and neck – and be a dirty bum! Let the cork cool off first or you will be a burnt bum!!
19. Bubble Gum Machine
Materials: One clear garbage bag with cinch-able top, four yards of ribbon, one roll of clear wide masking tape, at least 15 to 20 multi colored balloons, a red shirt or tank top, and a pair of black pants or leggings.
How-To: Blow up your balloons and tie each one. Put on your red shirt or tank top and your black pants or leggings. Take the clear garbage bag and cut the bottom off, then fold clear masking tape over the edge of the bag you just cut to make it thicker. Measure every two inches around that perimeter and make a slit as wide as your ribbon. Put your slit ½ inch away from the edge of the bag; the slits should be made on the tape. Next, thread your ribbon through your bag going over-under-over-under, etc. through every slit until the ribbon goes all the way around the bottom of the bag. Step into your bag with the cinched part around your hips. Cinch and tie to hold in place. Fill balloons from the top to load the gumball machine. When you are “full”, cinch the ribbon to fit under your armpits and tie the ribbon to secure. Get ready for quarters that are coming your way because everyone will want a gumball!
20. Tarzan
Materials: Approximately four yards of animal print fabric (enough to wrap around your waist plus a few inches extra for tying), scissors, and compression shorts.
How-To: Measure the animal print fabric to fit around your waist plus about four to five inches extra. Fold the fabric in half and cut into a right triangle, allowing for the width or base of the triangle to be the desired length of your costume. Take the fabric, tie it around your waist on the right hip, and throw on a pair of compression shorts. Boys, an added bonus is to plan this costume in advance and grow your hair out long, if not, you can always purchase a wig from your local WalMart. Tada! You are Tarzan!
21. Minion
Materials: One yellow t-shirt, a pair of jean shorts, one thick black headband, one pair of black suspenders, one roll of duct tape, one sheet each of black and white construction paper, scotch tape, a large piece of tinfoil, a yellow hat, and two large black pipe cleaners
How-To: Put on the yellow t-shirt and jean shorts. Next, attach your black suspenders to your shorts. Put on your yellow hat and then position the black headband over the hat so that it lies across your forehead. Now you need to make the eyes. Take the white construction paper and cut out two circles about the size of the base of a glass. Cut out two small black circles from the black construction paper and tape to the middle of the white circles. Wrap tinfoil around the outer edge of the white circle and your minion eyes are finished. Put tape on the back of the eyes you just created, and tape them to the front of your headband. Secure the black pipe cleaners to the top of your hat, standing upright. You are now a member of the cast of “Despicable Me”.
22. Piñata
Materials: Four or five rolls of different color streamers, clear packing tape, scissors, one extra long old t-shirt or tank top (Hanes Men ribbed tank top from Walmart work best).
How-To: Cut strips of colored streamers to about the width of your body and attach to the bottom half of strips of packing tape. Put the old t-shirt or tank top on, decide where on your chest you want the piñata to start, and wrap your first strip of tape at that spot. Wrap with separate strips that are the width of your body, rather than with a continuous roll, as the continuous roll can be very difficult to manage. Continue wrapping the tape piece-by-piece around the shirt, tight to the body to make it fitted. This is easiest if a friend wraps you, as it is hard to completely cover yourself with tape! After you are wrapped and reach your desired length, cut the top of your tank top or t shirt off, so your shoulders are bare and the piñata is the starting point rather than the t-shirt or tank top. After you finish your piñata, take scissors and cut slits into all of the streamers, creating a fringed look and you are now a piñata! Beware of sticks!
23. Victoria’s Secret Bag
Materials: A large Victoria’s Secret shopping bag, one yard of pink ribbon, one package of pink tissue paper, three yards of pink tulle fabric, a band of elastic the size of your waist, scissors, and one pair of spandex shorts ( I would recommend pink or black, but any color would work).
How-To: Take a large used Victoria’s Secret shopping bag and cut out the bottom of the bag. Tie a ribbon to the top of each handle of the bag, attaching one side of the bag to the other. This will be your shoulder strap. Put the Victoria’s Secret bag on as if it were a shirt (as shown in the picture), and then stuff the top with pink tissue paper. Next, you get to make a pink, fluffy tutu. To make a tutu, cut the tulle fabric into strips about 3 inches wide. The strips should be double the desired length of your tutu (for a 9”-length, cut strips 18” long). Then fold the strips in half lengthwise, forming a U-shape. Lying the U-shape underneath the elastic bands, grab the two loose ends of the fabric and loop them through the U-shape, pulling it through tightly to form a knot. Repeat this until the elastic band is completely full and you have reached your desired fluffiness. Put on spandex under the tutu and go shopping for Halloween fun!
24. Blades of Glory
Materials: Two sequined spandex bodysuits – one blue and one orange, and two wigs – one brown and one blonde.
How-To: Live by a sorority? Get ready to raid their rush closet, as these boys sought help from the Delta Gamma sorority here at the University of Montana to find supplies for this costume. Put on your awesome, decorative spandex bodysuits. The blue sequined bodysuit is accompanied by a blonde wig and a brown hairdo sets off the orange suit. You are now prepared to hit the ice and skate to victory in the movie Blades of Glory!
25. Rubik’s Cube
Materials: A large square cardboard box that you can fit around your body, scissors, black duct tape, and markers.
How-To: Divide each side of the cardboard box into nine equal squares; draw lines to designate each square. Tear the black duct tape in half lengthwise and tape over the lines you have drawn. Next, use markers of different colors and color each taped off square a different color, to make an unsolved Rubik’s cube. Continue until all squares are colored. The last step is to cut a head hole and arm holes into your box so you can wear it over your shirt. Try it on and you are now a Rubik’s cube!
26. Stick Person
Materials: Grey Sweatshirt and sweatpants, white paper plate, and one roll of duct tape (any color).
How-To: Put on the grey sweatpants. Then, put the grey sweatshirt on backwards. Using the duct tape, create two long legs, a thin body, and two arms. Tape these body parts onto your sweat suit on the matching parts of your body. On the back of the paper plate, draw a smiley face and tape that to the hood of the sweatshirt when it is pulled over your face. Stick Person complete. Remain in place while your paper face is visible!
27. Dime Piece
Materials: One large white poster board, one roll of metallic silver duct tape, one roll of black duct tape, a black sharpie, and four yards of black ribbon.
How-To: Ever wanted to be considered a gorgeous dime-piece? Now you can! To create your giant dime-piece costume, cut a giant circle out of the white poster board and cover it entirely with metallic silver duct tape. Take the black duct tape and tear it into smaller strips to spell the word “LIBERTY” along the edge of the circle from the mid-left to the top middle. In the middle of the circle, tape out an outline of the shape of a head. Next, draw a face inside the outline with the sharpie. Using the duct tape, write the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” in the bottom left corner and the year of your choice in the bottom right corner. In the top right corner, write “10 cents” to clarify you are a dime. Attach the ribbon to the poster board with silver duct tape, and put over your head. You are now looking like a very classy dime-piece!
28. Where’s Waldo
Materials: One red t-shirt, one roll of white duct tape, a pair of jeans, glasses with dark frames, and a red hat.
How-To: Put on your jeans, red t-shirt, and red hat. Cut white stripes out of duct tape long enough to fit around your chest and tape them to the shirt so that the shirt is red and white stripes. Put on your glasses and hide in a crowd. Everyone will be searching for you because you are Waldo!