From silly statements to old-fashioned concepts, a homemade Halloween costume doesn't have to be a shameful creation. Wear a unique creation with pride, especially when decorated with one-of-a-kind details crafted by hand.
From Hawaiian luau to snack candies, unusual costume concepts are filled with potential for fun designs for Halloween and other dress-up occasions. Below are materials and tips for crafting these ideas by hand.
Hawaiian Hula Fun
Create a carefree costume of a hula dancer, only the perfect size for a Halloween party. A simple "grass" skirt styled after an old-fashioned craft design and a novelty "shell" bra are just a few of this costume's fun feature.
Materials Needed:
- two sheets of newspaper
- scissors
- glue
- green paint
- paint brush
- silk flowers
- needle and thread
- two large half-shells
- one hand drill and small bit
- metallic yarn
Paint two sheets of newspaper with green paint, covering the text as best possible. Once the paper is dry, glue the two sheets together at one end and let dry. Cut the paper into thin, vertical strips to form a grass "skirt" that can wrap around the wearer's waist and be taped in place.
Create the flower lei by stringing silk flowers with needle and thread to form a festive flower necklace and headdress. Make a decorative "shell bra" by drilling a small hole in each opposite side of two half-shells; string them together with metallic yarn and tie over a bathing suit top.
Bag o' Candy
Become a bag of M&M's or jellybeans with a creative design using balloons to achieve a "full" appearance. A perfect costume for trick or treating, crafters should be careful not to overfill the bag to avoid spending a whole evening on their feet at the Halloween party.
Materials Needed:
- one large clear plastic garbage bag
- one package of large multicolored party balloons
- white paint
- craft paint brush
- scissors
- tape
Shake open a large, clear trash bag and cut two slits at the bottom, one on either side to create arm and leg holes. Blow up the package of balloons, a wide variety of colors. Use the white craft paint and brush to paint a candy symbol for "M&Ms" or a Skittles "s" for small balloons.
Climb inside the bag and have a friend fill it with balloons, until the candy bag is full. Trim and tape the top of the bag lightly around the neck to hold it closed.
Retro Robot
Transform two cardboard boxes into a wind-up robot costume rife with creative potential. From tin foil trim to vintage sewing items, the items available for creating the costume are unlimited.
Materials Needed:
- one large cardboard box (torso)
- one small cardboard (helmet)
- one clear plastic disposable plate
- non-toxic silver enamel craft paint
- colored craft paint
- paint brush
- one exacto knife
- screw-on soda caps
- broken tv remote
- old radio dials,
- salvaged computer hardware
- tin foil
Assemble the large box and cut one whole in either side to form arm holes; cut a hole in the top large enough for a head to slide through. Assemble the smaller head-sized box and cut a circular hole in the front, slightly smaller than the plastic plate. Glue the plate inside to form the "helmet shield".
Paint the boxes with silver enamel paint, then decorate them with bits of old computer hardware to form "control panels", old radio dials or remote parts to form "buttons", even painted soda bottle caps to form dials. Wire antennas, craft buttons, and other materials can also be used to decorate the finished costume.
Use tin foil to cover pant legs, shirt sleeves and other "non-robot" parts to match the costume's torso and helmet.
Cheesy and silly Halloween costumes can be the life of the party at this year's Halloween bash. Create an inexpensive and unique outfit that shows off creative skills and cool concepts.
Sarah Briggs - For the last two years, I have designed primitive dolls and folk art sculptures (such as Edwin Drood and the Ghost of Marley) for Cordwood ...
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