Halloween Costume Ideas

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Barbara J. Feldman

For me, the scariest part of Halloween was always the costume time crunch. Tick, tick, tick. It's getting closer and closer. The pressure is mounting. What will the kids be for Halloween? I hope the following sites, with their many homemade Halloween costume ideas, will relieve some of your costume stress.

13 Pumpkin Avenue: Costumes

3 stars

13 Pumpkin Avenue is a good place to jumpstart your creative juices. More than fifty homemade costumes are illustrated and described, but many of the ideas need some filling in. Best bets are the wacky costumes such as Grapes in a Bag (cut two holes in the bottom of a clear trash bag, step into it, and then fill it purple balloons) or Tea Bag (made with white fabric and dried leaves.) There's also a page of ideas for trick-or-treaters in wheelchairs (drape an orange trash bag over you and the chair to become a pumpkin) and a recipe for homemade makeup.

Costume Idea Zone

5 stars

Costume Idea Zone is my pick of the day, even though they don't specifically address kids' costumes. Their ideas are divided into five categories: Unique & Unusual, Ideas for Couples, Ideas for Groups, Traditional, and Quick & Easy. Many of the couple ideas could be adapted to siblings, such as Pirate and Treasure Chest, where one dresses as a pirate, and the other dresses in gold, decorated in beads and coins. My favorites are in Quick and Easy, but I doubt many young kids would go for ideas such as Tickled Pink: wear pink clothes and carry a feather.

Family Fun: Halloween Costumes

5 stars

"What are you going to be for Halloween this year? Help your child answer that age-old question with one of the more than 100 easy-to-make Halloween costume ideas below." FamilyFun hits the mark with an outstanding collection of ideas. Toddlers have their own category, as do procrastinators and families wanting a group theme. Be sure to browse the Most Unique ideas, as many did not seem very difficult. I seem to be drawn to balloon-based costumes, because I liked the adorable Bubble Bather Costume (filled under Most Unique.)

Halloween is Here: Halloween Costume Ideas

3 stars

The Halloween is Here costume ideas aren't illustrated, but I like the variety and quantity of the them. There is a large makeup section, which includhttp://www.surfnetkids.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt.cgi?__mode=view&_type=entry&id=18935&blog_id=13 Halloween Costume Ideas | Entries | Surfnetkids New Design | Movable Type Publishing Platformes recipes for fake warts (make them from whole peppercorns) and fake intestines ( use stuffed pantyhose.) Kid and adult costumes aren't listed separately, but most of these ideas (such as Spiderman, Rock Star or Statue of Liberty) could be used by any age group.

Robin's FYI: Homemade Halloween Costumes

4 stars

"There are many commercial costumes available at the local stores, however between the cost, and lack of imagination, and the fact you end up with a half dozen kids all looking the same at a party." Robin organizes her ideas by material, such as boxes, sweats, tights, or leotards. I like this look-in-your-closet approach to Halloween, as its what we've always done at our house. You may not have the most elaborate costume, but it certainly will be easy and economical.