Halloween Costumes in a Flash
by Elizabeth HolthausDid you wait 'til the last minute to costume the kids? No need to worry -- we've got some quick-fix ideas right here.
All you need to make these costumes is a cardboard box, some household items, and a few art supplies.
Robot: Use a small box for the head, with a large space cut out for the face; use a larger box for the body with holes cut out for the head and arms. Other materials: Paint, sparkly stick-ons, aluminum pans with stickers for the control panel.
Television: All you need is a box over the head with the screen area cut out. Works well for the future stand-up comic or the child who knows lots of movies by heart.
Planes, trains, and automobiles: Remove the top and bottom flaps of a box, then place the box around your child's middle and attach with over-the-shoulder ties. Then, with paint, paper plates, tin cans, some additional cardboard, and imagination, your child could be the following:
A race car: Paint racing stripes; add cans, cups, or stickers for front and rear lights. Don't forget the sponsor's names on the side and the personalized license plates (ISCAREU).
A firefighter in a fire engine: Paint the box bright red with ladders on the sides. Use aluminum pie plates for reflectors. A plastic firefighter's hat is a good addition. Your child will be more than happy to come up with the siren sound! When you need a costume fast, nothing works better than good old plastic trash bags!
Cut a hole in the top for your child's head, stuff the bag with newspapers, ties at the bottom, and with a few more supplies, you've got a bumblebee (black bag, yellow crepe-paper stripes, antennae on headband), ladybug (red paper dots on black, antennae), or baked potato (stuff the bag, then wrap in aluminum foil). For a giant pumpkin -- an ultra-quicky -- just stuff a giant pumpkin leaf bag!
Bag O' Balloons
Here's a neat costume trick. All you need is a bag o' balloons.
A bag of purple balloons makes a kid (or adult) into a great bunch of grapes. It might be worth just one quick trip to the store. Blow up as many balloons as necessary. Tape them to a sweatshirt or jacket and attach a few to a hat. Your child's legs can be the stem.
Tip: Also makes a great bunch of cherries. Or mix it up for that Fruit-of-the-Loom look.
Instant Ears
Okay, are you still panicking? It's never too late for the The Ears/Nose/Tail Solution. Just add a tail and one or two ears (big hunk of styrofoam cheese optional).
For babies and toddlers who are too small for a full costume, just make your littlest one an adorable bunny, kitty, puppy, or even an elephant. All it takes is ears (construction paper or cardboard attached to a hat or headband) and a nose (a tiny bit of makeup on the nose and cheeks, and the appropriate tail pinned to the back of pajamas or a sweatsuit).
And the best costume award goes to...
The girl who cut a hole in the bottom of a utility basket just the right size to fit around her middle, filled it up with old garments from the ragbag, and went to school as a laundry basket. Idea submitted to our discussion boards by Iris Rose.
