In October, children can become someone or something extraordinary. Instead of shopping for a costume, why not make one with your child? You'll have fun and save money at the same time.

Choose the character

Help your child to decide who or what to be. A pumpkin? A furry rabbit? A favorite story character such as Anne of Green Gables? A chocolate-milk carton? Encourage young children to choose reassuring ideas, rather than scary or violent costumes.

Design the costume

Look at pictures or the real thing, then have your child make a sketch or list. Something as simple as a pair of overalls, a festive red shirt and a bandana might appeal to a toddler who likes trains. Older children gravitate to more elaborate fantasies, such as favorite book characters.

What materials will you need? Cardboard boxes are strong and easy to cover with paint, aluminum foil or colored paper. Paper grocery bags are simple to cut and decorate with markers or paint, but they tear easily. Bright fabrics can be sewn into an eye-popping clown suit and can be worn again. Margarine tubs, egg cartons and packing pieces have multiple possibilities -- recycle materials when possible.

Think about safety, too. Avoid long skirts, floppy pants or constricting costumes that could cause your child to fall. Also beware of masks that make it difficult to see. Makeup or face paint is usually a better idea for young children rather than anything that covers their faces. Consider using glow-in-the-dark materials.

Put it together

Set aside time a week or so before the party or parade to complete the costume. Make sure your child does as much of the construction as possible. Try on the pieces to make sure everything fits.

Happy Halloween!

Baseball Player

Ages: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

Pillowcase 3 black buttons White glue or needle and thread Permanent markers Square box that fits the head or a baseball hat Construction paper

Background:

Transform your child into their favorite baseball player in minutes.

What to do:

Place the seamed end of the pillowcase at the top. Cut a V-shaped opening for the neck. Cut armholes.

Glue or sew the buttons down the front of the shirt.

Draw your favorite team's name, symbols, and numbers. (Examples: stripes for Yankees, a big R for Royals, a halo for Angels.)

Cut off three of the box flaps, leaving one for the bill of the hat. Cover the box and the flap with construction paper in your team's colors.

Draw the team's initials, matching the uniform, on the front of the cap.

You're child is ready for the major leagues!

Bat Costume

Ages: 3-5, 6-8

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

Black 30-gallon trash bag 6 cardboard strips, 2-inches by 8-inches Cardboard rectangle, 7-inches by 9-inches White poster-board scrapsWhite glue or rubber cement Black yarn

Background:

Got ten minutes? You can put together this bat costume in no time.

What to do: Slit open one side and the bottom of the trash bag.

Cut a V-shaped neck opening in the center of one long side.

Scallop the edges of the bag as shown. Save the scraps.

Staple the cardboard strips to the wings.

Staple the sides together under each arm.

Cover the cardboard rectangle with the trash bag scraps.

Cut eye, nose, and mouth holes. Cut two fangs from white Poster-board and glue them in place. Add black ears. Punch a hole at each side of the mask and add yarn ties.

Ages: 3-5, 6-8

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

Brown kraft paper, 10-inches long by 30-36-inches wide Glue or stapler

Background: Follow these directions for any furry creature.

What to do:

Fold the paper in half crosswise.

Have the child lie on the kraft paper with shoulders at the fold line. Draw around the child as shown.

Cut away excess paper.

Cut a round neck opening, slitted in the back to fit over the child's head.

Glue or staple all edges as shown.

Cut narrow strips from the scrap paper for fur. Fringe the strips along one side and glue to the costume body in rows.

Bee Costume

Ages: 3-5, 6-8

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

2 sheets of oak tag, 27-inches by 18-inches Gold paper White glue 8 strips of brown construction paper, 3-inches by 18-inches Thread cone or cone formed from posterboard Eight 10-inch lengths of gold yarn 4 sheets of yellow paper, 18-inches x 9-inches 4 large paper fasteners Telephone wire

Background:

The whole neighborhood will be buzzing about this bee costume. Wear black clothing or leotard and tights beneath this costume.

What to do:

Cover one side of each sheet of oak tag with gold paper. Round off all corners with scissors.

Glue the strips of brown paper to the sheets of oak tag.

Cover the cone with gold paper and attach it to the costume with telephone wire.

Punch a hole at each shoulder and on each side. Tie a length of yarn through each hole.

Cut four wing shapes from yellow paper at one time. Glue the wings together in pairs.

Fold back the flaps and punch two holes in each flap. Punch four holes in the back of the costume where the wings will go.

Attach the wings with brads.

Clown Costume

Ages: 3-5, 6-8

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

Pillowcase Colorful felt scraps Thick yarn Paper plate Colored markers Hole punch

Background:

Clowning around is easy with this simple costume idea.

What to do: Place the hemmed opening of the pillowcase at the top of the costume. Slit the hem and gather with yarn.

Cut armholes in the sides of the costume. Cut scalloped leg holes at the bottom.

Cut colorful circles of felt and staple them all over the costume.

Cut eyes in the paper plate for eyes, nose, and mouth. Outline the mouth and nose with red marker, the eyes with black. Add red cheeks and black tears under the eyes.

Punch a row of holes along the top of the mask. Tie short lengths of yarn through the holes, fraying the yarn to create the hair.

Punch a hole in each side of the mask and add yarn ties.

Ages: 3-5, 6-8

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

Pillowcase Black felt White glue 2 small black buttons 2 large black buttons Needle and thread (optional) Black poster-board White ribbon

Background:

Make this version of the pillowcase costume for a formal party. What to do: Place the seamed end of the pillowcase at the top and cut a V-shaped neck opening. Cut two armholes.

Cut the vest in front and tails in back, as shown.

Cut a bow tie from black felt and glue it in place.

Glue or sew the two small buttons under the bow tie and the large buttons on the back, as shown.

To make the top hat, cut a rectangle from black poster-board that will fit around the head with a 2" overlap.

Form a cylinder from the rectangle and staple to fasten.

Trace one end of the cylinder on black poster-board. Draw another circle 3-inches outside the first one to form hat brim. Cut out.

Cut slits 2 inches deep, about 1 inch apart, at one end of the cylinder. Bend up these tabs.

Slip the brim over the cylinder. Glue or staple the cylinder to the brim.

Trim the hat with white ribbon.

Fairy Princess Costume

Ages: 3-5, 6-8

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

Two 30-gallon white trash bags Masking tape White paper or fabric White yarn Tracing paper Silver or gold paper White oak tag

Background:

Transform trash bags into a special princess costume. What to do: Cut a round neck opening in the bottom of one bag. Slit it in the back to fit over the head.

Slit open the sides of the bag and cut sleeves as shown.

Overlap the sides to form seams and tape on inner sides.

Cut a scalloped edge around the open end of the bag.

Cut a collar from white paper or fabric. Punch corresponding holes in the front yoke and lace with yarn.

Trace the star pattern and cut it out. Outline the pattern on silver or gold paper. Cut out enough stars to decorate dress and hat. Glue stars on dress and collar.

Form a cone to fit the head from oak tag. Staple together.

Glue remaining stars on cone.

Cut the second trash bag in half along the sides and bottom. Use one panel as the veil of the hat.

Stuff one end of the veil into the seam near the top of the cone. Secure with tape on the inside.

Punch a hole at each side of the hat and add yarn ties.

Knight in Armor Costume

Ages: 6-8, 9-12

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

2 sheets of poster-board Black or gray yarn Silver paper or aluminum foil White glue or rubber cement Black permanent marker One-gallon plastic milk jug Scraps of foil, felt, ribbon, telephone wire, yarn, colored paper

Background:

Transform your child into a knight in shining armor with the help of a milk jug and some tin foil.

What to do:

Cut the sheets of poster-board to the appropriate length and round off the corners.

Cut a round neckline, as shown.

Cut the paper or foil in strips or scallops. Glue on the armor to cover one side of each poster-board sheet.

Decorate the armor shapes with black permanent marker.

Punch a hole at each shoulder and two holes at each side. Tie a length of yarn through each hole to join halves of costume.

Cut out milk jug as shown. The higher you cut, the larger the helmet will be.

Glue on various scraps to decorate the jug.

Add details with permanent marker.

Add a red scarf as a neck drape, a homemade shield, and sword to complete this costume, if desired.

Lizard Costume

Ages: 3-5, 6-8

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

Pillowcase Green vinyl Green crayon Black permanent marker Tracing paper Mask patterns Red felt Green and black yarn Stapler

Background:

Make this reptile for an especially creepy effect.

What to do:

Place the seamed end of the pillowcase at the top of the costume. Cut a jagged neck opening and armholes, as shown.

Cut a small U-shaped opening in the center of the hemmed end to create legs.

Feed green yarn through the hem to form a drawstring for each leg.

Unwrap a green crayon and rub it on its side to color the costume.

Draw scales on the costume with black permanent marker.

Cut a tail from green vinyl and staple it to the costume.

Trace the mask patterns and cut them out.

Fold vinyl in half. Place mask pattern on folded line and outline it. Cut out mask and eyeholes.

Glue black yarn to mask to decorate eyes and form shapes around the mouth.

Outline the tongue pattern on red felt and cut out. Staple in place.

Punch holes and add yarn ties to mask.

Basic Paper Costume

Ages: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

12-inch wide kraft paper, sturdy wrapping paper, or lightweight flexible plastic Stapler Yarn

Background:

Use the basic paper costume to create the knight in armor costume (shown above) as well as the scarecrow, bee and bear costumes.

What to do:

Cut four strips to the needed length. Place the strips in pairs.

Staple each pair together along half the length of one side. Open each pair.

Lay the pairs together and staple as shown, leaving room for armholes.

Punch rows of corresponding holes across the shoulders and down the front.

Lace yarn through the holes and tie to close the shoulders and front.

VARIATIONS: To make a pullover top, shorten the strips and leave the bottom open.

Make a V-neckline by folding under the corners at the neck and stapling.

Paper-Plate Masks Costume

Ages: 3-5, 6-8

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art

What you'll need:

Paper plates Scissors Decorative supplies (e.g., markers, glitter, feathers) Elastic string and paper clips (or a popsicle stick)

What to do:

Take paper plates and cut out spaces for eyes and nose. Decorate the plate any way you desire. Smaller children might want to paint the whole plate orange. Put black outlines around the eye and nose holes, draw a jack-o'-lantern mouth, and become an instant pumpkin.

Once the plate is decorated, you can tie elastic string to paper clips and punch the paper clips through the sides of the plate to hold the mask to the face. Or just glue the plate to a popsicle stick and hold it in front of your face.

Basic Pillowcase Costume

Ages: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

Pillowcase Permanent markers Thick yarn (optional)

Background:

Create the clown and lizard costumes from this pattern.

What to do:

Put the hemmed opening at the top or bottom according to the directions for each costume.

Cut the neckline in one of these ways: a V-shaped cut, a round cut with a slit in the back, a U-shaped cut, or a square cut.

Add details with permanent markers or extra fabric which you staple on.

Create a gathered effect by cutting a slit in the hem and running a length of thick yarn through it. Tie the two ends together, puckering the hem at the neck, waist, or legs, as desired.

Scarecrow Costume

Ages: 3-5, 6-8

Location: Indoors

Skills: Art, Physical

What you'll need:

Lightweight plastic or paper, 12-inches wide Yarn Colorful construction paper scraps Gold ribbon White glue Paper plate Colored markers

Background:

Lightweight plastic works well for this costume.

What to do:

Make the basic paper costume.

Cut lengths of gold ribbon and glue on at shoulders and ankles to look like straw.

Cut patches from construction paper and glue to costume.

Cut holes in paper plate for eyes, nose, and mouth.

Decorate the mask with yarn, construction paper, and markers.

Punch a hole in each side of the mask and add yarn ties.