Re-published with permission from www.robinsfyi.com. Editor's Note: Edited for format.


COSTUMES FROM THE CLOSET OR SECOND HAND STORE

The Old Stand By -- A Ghost
Grab a old white sheet, cut out the eyes. Be sure its is short enough not to trip you. Take scrap piece of sheet, and sew up a simple treat bag.
OR
Why be the same old plain ghost? A ghost going out in public might like to get dressed up a little. Use the same old white sheet, cut out holes for the eyes and a small slit for the mouth. Then dress it up a little. Put eye shadow and lashes around the eyes. Lipstick for the mouth. Put a little color on the cheeks. How about earrings and a necklace ? You could color in a beard or mustache. Use something besides just a white sheet to be a little more fancy.

Soda Pop Can
Use a round barrel, cut a hole in the bottom. You cut holes for arms and your head. Paint it the colors of a pop can. Presto! You have a pop can!!!

Clown
Use sweat clothes that are too large. Decorate by using either fabric paint, or markers. For those who dare, try tie-die. Tack on some large pop-poms, add a cheap wig, hat, and make-up. You may also stuff the extra space in clothing with tissue. However this could be messy, if you need to make a "pit-stop".

Scarecrow
Use an over-sized flannel shirt, faded blue jeans with patches, rope for belt and to tie at the cuffs of his jeans and sleeves, stuff the shirt and jeans with plastic grocery, or paper, a little bit of straw to hang out of jeans and shirt. Add a little bit of make-up.

The American Tourist
Use a guy's loud Hawaii shirt, shorts (if weather permits) and a large straw hat. For gals, start with a bright loud dress, flats, big sun hat and a straw bag. Don't forget to have a camera, and maps hanging out, and that look of being lost. Guys can use a tourist bag, (like you get from travel agents, and gals can use the straw bag for their treats.

1960's Hippy
This one is hard, after all its all back in style! What is real, and what is costume? ;-) Tie die clothing, long wig (in the old days we called a "fall", sandals, headband, anything with fringe on it (vests, purse...) light colored sun glasses.

Old Man
Dark pants (cuffed), and jacket, most any dress shirt, man's flannel hat, walking cane. Gray the hair, with any of the commercial temporary colors, or dust with a little flour.

Old Woman
Old style dress, just below knee, knee-hi stockings rolled down a little, oxfords, large black purse. Your chance to be a real nerd. Slick back the hair, grab some pants that are too short, white shirt, white socks, penny loafers, or lace up oxfords, pocket protector, with lots of pens, dark rim glasses (don't forget to tape the corner, or at least paper clip it) briefcase, or backpack for treat bag.

DO IT IN TIGHTS & LEOTARDS OR SWEATS

Skunk
Black. Add a white strip down the back ... be careful everyone may run.

Bunny
Pink, brown, or white. Add a powder puff or large pom-pom to the backside, and a set of ears made from construction paper and a plastic headband. Now just hop on out and enjoy.

Turtle
Green. Attach a piece of poster board to the back. Simply cut the poster board into a large oval, make random marks like a turtle shell, and paint.

Puppy
Brown, tan or white. Either paint, or pin paper spots on. Make floppy ears and bobby pin to hair over your ears. The tail can be most anything, depending on what type of doggie you wish to be. Add a little make-up.

Kitten
Gold, brown, tan, white. Make ears from construction paper, attach to head band or bobby pin in to hair. Sew a simple round tail, and pin on.

Spider
Black. For the legs grab some cheap black hose, stuff with any thing dark and light weight. Either sew, or staple to keep stuffing from falling out. Pin to clothing, add a little make-up.

From Our Guests ...
Lady Bug
Use a pair of black sweats and black sweat shirt (and a pair of black shoes). Use a large piece of poster board or cardboard and cut out a large oval. Paint it red with black dots. Staple black elastic pieces (in a loop) onto the board to make arm holes. For the antenna attach craft pipe cleaners with black pom poms on the ends to a headband. From: Shaundi Gopp

Snowman
Last year my 3 year old was a snowman. It was the easiest costume so far! I bought white sweats, christmas socks, white keds tennis shoes, a cheap black hat, fake snow, mittens, scarf and black pom poms for the coal!

I sprayed the hat to look like snow and added a cheap red bird from the craft store. I bought a white mask and bought a cheap carrot from the craft store and glued it onto the nose part of the mask. I glued the pompoms on his sweatshirt and that was it. Cheap, simple and he was adorable. Besides he was the only frosty we saw! He also had to have white face makeup on!! From: Andee Heneghan

Cereal Killer
Attach little cereal boxes to a shirt, cut a slit in the boxes, glue in plastic knives into the holes, drip red paint running down from the knife hole in the box. From:Gail McNitt

A Bunch of Grapes
Using green or pruple sweats, attach balloons of the same color with safety pins. Paint face and hands same color. From: Barbara Brown

Grapes appear to be popular! Here is one from Jo:
My fav was purple tights, purple (long sleeves) body suit (I can't think of what it's really called), 12 purple balloons and a green felt hat. Balloons are pinned (by the tied off end to the fabric in a triangle shape, 3 on top, 2 in middle and 1 at bottom (on front and back). I was a bunch of grapes and the hit of the party!

Bag of Jelly Beans
Lots of different colored balloons. Large clear plastic bag (I got mine from the grocery store - the BIG bags that they put all the recycled cans in), colorful ribbon, two safety pins and two pieces of white cardboard.

Blow up all the balloons. Cut two leg holes in the bottom of the bag and two arm holes near the middle. Have your child stand in the bag and fill with blown up balloons. Write on each piece of cardboard "JELLY BEANS 2 CENTS EACH". Safety pins signs to front and back of bag. LOOSELY tie around shoulders with a colorful ribbon. Cut off excess bag around face From: Dee

Black Eye Pea
When I was younger, a teacher from my elementary school dressed up as a "black eyed pea" and it was so cute, my mother dressed me up the same way the next year. It is simple and cheap. Wearing all white, with black tennis shoes, I cut out the letter 'P' from black construction paper and pinned the P's all over the white outfit. I painted a black spot over one eye ("black eye" ... get it? :) hee hee) and I was a "black-eyed 'P' " From: Angela

COSTUMES MADE FROM BOXES
Just use your imagination.

Pokemon Card
Last year I made my 6 year old into his favorite POKEMON card. I used a box and made his head BLASTOISE'S head. My computer scanner, felt, my computer's publisher and a little creativity made him the hit of the party! - from Bonnie.

Paint it silver, glue on a few extras a presto ... a robot.

Paint it red, tack on some paper plate wheels, and you are a race car.

Paint it white and a handle and you will be a cool refrigerator.

Paint it light tan, tack on a small flat box. Draw on a keyboard, you will be the first walking Macintosh. (may work with Windows ;-) )

Wrap it in Christmas paper, add a large bow.. wow a Christmas present.

Paint it bright colors, and a crank. You can pop into the local Halloween party as a Jack-in-the-box.

Cover with table cloth, glue on silver plastic platter in the middle (cut hole for head to pop through. Glue on a couple of place settings of Plastic dishes, and glasses. Now your head on a silver platter.

Thomas The Engine & Friends
Made from a cardboard box:
Get a small box big enough to fit around your childs waist. Paint box blue (for Thomas), or green (for Percy) etc. With colored construction paper add stripes and train number to sides, also add black train wheels. On front make a 3D face with construction paper to match your train of choice. Attach a belt from a robe to each side and harness over shoulders. Dress child up with a conductor's hat. From: Trish

COSTUMES FOR CHAIR USERS
With a little thought you may come up lots of ideas that make the chair a natural part of the costume. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

King or Queen on Throne
Convert chair into a throne, by wrapping the back and arm rests with gold or silver foil/paper. Use plastic gems (from craft store), old jewelry, Christmas garland to give it that "special look".

Simply wear a cape of a royal color (velvet looks great). Scepters and crowns can be purchased at most retail stores, or make your own!

If an attendant will be going, they may dress as the mate (King or Queen) or as a court jester.

A variation of this would be to dress like Santa and have the attendant be an elf.

Skier
Skiers have a bad habit of falling and breaking a bone or two. This opens the door for a great costume. Just put on some ski clothing (hat, scarf ...). Wrap a leg in wide white gauze (to look like cast) and if you really want to "ham it up" and you use a power chair, wrap an arm too.

Ventriloquist
If you know anyone who has a ventriloquist doll, this can be a quick and easy one. You may wish to go with the formal look wearing a tux, or the casual look by dressing to match the doll.

Gift, Dice, Jack-in-a-box or Robot
Find a box that will fit comformably over chair (still allowing you room to maneuver inside). Remove top flaps, cut hole in top for head, and in sides for arms. Decorate.
For gift box, wrap box in wrapping paper, make a large bow and wear as hat.

For dice, paint box white, paint black spots. Remember the top should the "1".

To be a Jack-in-the-box, paint the box in bright colors, than wear a matching top and hat. Clown make-up will add that little extra.

To be a robot, cover box in foil, then use your imagination to decorate.

Car, Truck or Space Ship
Again using a box (as above) decorate as your favorite vehicle.

The space ship can be done much as the robot. This can be real cool costume for high tech power chairs and or using a vent.

MAKE YOUR OWN MAKE-UP
You will need:
2 tablespoons of soft shortening
4 tablespoons of cornstarch
Food coloring

Mix shortening and cornstarch. Separate the recipe into different cups, add food coloring.

Wash your face and any area that you will be applying makeup to and then dry thoroughly.

Apply a thin coat of cold cream to the entire face.

Using a cotton ball, gently pat cornstarch over cold cream. Keep your eyes closed.

Apply make-up with fingers tips.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out all of Robin's Halloween ideas!