Homemade Halloween Costumes

Homemade Halloween Costumes Presents Easy Halloween Crafts For Kids

2007-08-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

While you are making your homemade Halloween costumes, why not get the kids involved with these easy Halloween crafts for kids. Young kids may need assistance with these so make sure an adult is supervising these crafts.

1. Spooky Spiders
Supplies: black construction paper, black pipe cleaners, cotton balls or cotton stuffing, small saucer or bowl.
Directions: Trace a circle onto the black construction paper with a small bowl or saucer. (You will need to cut out two circles per spider.) Place cotton balls or stuffing on top of the first circle, then lay the second circle on top of the cotton stuffing and staple the circle half-way around. Insert three 4" pipe cleaners on each side of spider, then staple the second half of the circles together. Bend the pipe cleaners at an angle to make the spider "legs".

2. Trick-or-Treat Goody Bags
Supplies: small brown paper lunch bags, Halloween stickers, treats (candy, pencils, erasers, bubblegum, etc.), markers or other art supplies
Directions: Decorate the paper bags however you like with your art supplies. Add treats to the bags then fold the top of the bag down and tape shut with a Halloween sticker.

3. Trick-or-Treat Bucket
Supplies: ice cream bucket, construction paper, crayons, markers, glitter, glue (any craft supplies you like)
Directions: Draw ghosts, pumpkins, scarecrows, etc onto construction paper. Cut out decorations and glue to the outside of an ice cream bucket.

4. Tiny Pumpkins
Supplies: acorns, green paint and orange paint, newspaper
Directions: spread newspaper and lay acorn on top of newspaper. Paint the bottom of the acorns with orange paint. Wait for the paint to dry, then paint the top of the acorns green (this is the 'stem' of the pumpkin). Allow paint to dry thoroughly.

I hope you enjoy these easy halloween crafts for kids. For additional fun Halloween ideas and homemade Halloween costumes, visit www.ILoveHalloweenCostumes.com.

The Allure of Homemade Halloween Costumes

2007-08-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

My appreciation for homemade Halloween costumes developed when I stumbled upon a treasure trove of hand-made costumes at a garage sale several years ago when my kids were much younger. I grabbed everything they had at a cost of $6-$8 each. I picked up a robot, two scarecrows (different sizes), an angel, and the cream of the crop, a hand-stitched lions costume sized for a 4 yr old.

The costumes were beautiful, unique and fun. My kids loved them and wore them whenever they could and until the last possible moment before they finally, and with great sadness, grew out of them for good. I swore I would never buy a costume from a store again.

Unfortunately, I soon discovered how difficult it is to find quality, homemade costumes at garage sales...apparently that day in July a few years back was, indeed, my lucky day - never to be repeated.

A couple years later, when my kids had all grown out of the incredibly awesome garage sale costumes, I turned to eBay in hopes of finding more of the same. I did find a gorgeous white tiger costume for pennies on the dollar (if you exclude the exorbitant shipping charges), then followed that purchase with one which didn't quite live up to its description - but was still an acceptable alternative to our store-bought options that year.

The point I am trying to make is this...if you are fed up with the overpriced, low-quality Halloween costumes from discount stores, but cannot afford the higher quality costumes from the premium costume stores, you do have other options.

Hit the Resale Shops

Spend a day hitting garage sales to see if you can stumble upon the home of the Mom we all look to with friendly envy (you know the one...the organized room parent who brings homemade cupcakes in for birthdays and sends handmade greeting cards to every one who attends the carnival planning meeting, while maintaining a spotless home and cooking meals that would put the food pyramid to shame.)

Or, look for Halloween costumes on eBay or other, less popular auction sites to find unusual homemade Halloween costumes, or premium store-bought costumes (you know the ones) at a price you can afford.

Search the internet for Halloween costume ideas or pick up an eBook, such as the one offered at ILoveHalloweenCostumes.com, which offers over 90 unique costume ideas, including last minute ideas for those of us who have been procrastinating in hopes of Halloween being canceled this year.

Halloween doesn't have to be drudgery; it can be creative and fun. It can be a time for your little ones to use their imaginations and have fun with dress-up. Older kids can get involved in making their own homemade Halloween costumes - it will be a tradition they will always remember.

Homemade Halloween Costumes Can Make Halloween Fun For Everyone!

2007-08-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

As a very busy mom of two young children, I have to admit I never expected to be making homemade Halloween costumes, but it actually has made the 'dreaded' occasion much more bearable.

Let me explain...

First, as a matter of full disclosure, I need to tell you that 1) I am not crafty, domestic, creative, or imaginative - much to the dismay of my children who actually do possess all of these qualities (well, except the domestic one.) and 2) Halloween is easily my least favorite 'occasion' of the year (primarily because of points outlined in #1).

I can list at least 10 reasons why I am not a huge fan of the whole "Halloween tradition", but one of main reasons is dealing with the stress of the 'Halloween costume'.

You Know What I'm Talking About!

The contention begins every year around Labor Day, just after school has started and the stores are scrambling to move in the Halloween displays to fill the void left by the now passé school supplies.

It's the same old thing every year. There's the princess, the pirate, the clown (which scares my youngest to tears), the new rock star 'divas' for our budding 6 year olds (just the image I want my daughter to project), the vampires (and the vampire brides so the girls won't feel left out), the favorite television character du jour, and the traditional witch - not to mention the zombie, the mummy, and walking death, otherwise known as 'Scream'.

(On a side note, when my oldest was in second grade, he hid under his desk during the school parade because he was afraid of the 'scream' costumes. I'll never forget the look on his face as he hovered below knowing he was missing out on the fun. I still can't believe they allow these types of costumes in elementary school.)

When kids are very, very young, it is easier to get away with store-bought costumes. Most 3 or 4 year olds will be overjoyed with being a 'real' fairy princess or, pirate for a day ("arghh"!) They'll be even more ecstatic if they can actually be 'twins' with Sally from daycare, who is wearing the exact same princess dress!

But, fast-forward a few years and suddenly being 'twins' is no longer an acceptable situation. The search begins for the perfect costume that will be completely different from any one else's (which, of course, is impossible with store-bought costumes).

This is when I discovered the joy of homemade Halloween costumes.

About the Author of Homemade Halloween Costumes

2007-08-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

About the author of Homemade Halloween Costumes on blogger:

JDS is a busy mom of two, on a quest to help make life easier for other moms and dads who are finding time is at a premium. Her mission is to locate, research and recommend only the best products guaranteed to make life easier, yet more fulfilling, without breaking the bank.

We hope you enjoy making homemade halloween costumes as much as we do.