Easy Homemade Halloween Costumes for Kids

Do you spend hours every year searching for a Halloween costume for your son or daughter? Store-bought costumes are expensive, and there isn't a wide selection, either. Chances are that your little trick-or-treater will run into someone wearing the exact same costume he has. Why not be creative this Halloween? Here are a few ideas to get you started!

Rock Star: Tease the hair or spike it with gel. Dress them in some funky clothes and have them carry a play guitar or one from a Wii game. For a Kiss theme, make a star-shaped stencil from cardboard or poster board. Paint the child's face white with Halloween makeup. Place the stencil over the eyes and apply black makeup, using a soft brush.

Cowboy: If your lil' partner doesn't have a pair of cowboy boots, search the thrift shops or Ebay. Put a pair of jeans on Tex and stuff them into the boots. He can wear a flannel or denim shirt. For a vest, cut the arms off an old coat or cut one out of brown felt. Get a bandana from the dollar store and a cowboy hat from Walmart. To make a cowgirl skirt, use an old denim skirt. Glue fringe at the bottom (from a craft store or Walmart), using E6000 glue. If you have an old white skirt, use black acrylic paint to add some cow spots to the skirt.

Robot: Save cardboard rolls from wrapping paper and paper towels, along with shoe boxes. You need 2 rolls for each leg and 2 rolls for each arm. Measure 2 for the thighs, 2 for the calves, 2 for the upper arms, and 2 for the forearms. Make a slit down each roll so that it can be opened and placed on the limb. For the head, use a shoebox that has been cut in half. Find old clothes for the body. Spray paint all with metallic silver or gray paint and let dry. For the head, place the shoe box halves over the child's head, with the open end at the bottom (the neck). Cut out holes for eyes and mouth. Join halves together with silver duct tape. GLue black or silver buttons on chest for knobs and controls.

Robin Hood/Peter Pan: Make a hat from 2 squares of green felt that have been cut into triangles. Glue or sew together and add a feather. For a simple tunic, purchase about 2 yards of green material and cut a hole in the center for the head. Gather at the waist with a belt or sash and trim the length to just above the knees, using a zigzag. Use brown tights for Robin Hood, along with a bow from the dollar store. Make a quiver for the arrows by glueing brown felt over a paper towel roll. Attach it to an old belt, to be worn slung over the shoulder. For Peter Pan, use green tights.

Mummy: Dress child in close-fitting clothes and wrap with white gauze. Secure with safety pins.

Princess: You'll need a long dress or a long nightgown. Adorn it with acrylic jewels. Buy a crown from the dollar store, or make a hat by cutting poster board into a cone shape. Use an old scarf to hang from the hat.

Fairy: Make a simple tunic like the one for Robin Hood, using pink, green, purple, silver, or gold material. Gather it at the waist with a sash. Use white or glitter tights. Buy a pair of wings and a wand from the dollar store. Use ballet shoes for slippers.

Black-eyed pea: Paint a big "P" on an old white t-shirt, or use a black marker. Paint a black circle around one of the child's eyes. This is an ultra-simple costume, but kids seem to think it's hilarious!