Enter Big Daddy. I think we may have spent $75 total on costumes since we've been together. And that's for the whole family (including the ridiculously priced $25 glorified bat jammies for Nutt's first Halloween). This is not what I'm used to but I think we've made due pretty well.
The year before last, I bought an old lacy nightie from the American Rescue Workers thrift store for $6 and wound up turning it into a really awesome witch costume for Tink (plus a $6.99 hat from Walmart). Evel found a bunch of random old costumes that he put together into some sort of demon dragon ballerina that was heading out for a fishing trip. That's Evel for you.
But I've kind of realized that you can get away with spending less on Halloween (thanks to my parents and living with Big Daddy). Kids will make due with what they have (once they realize that resistance is futile). So here are some ideas that you can use to save yourself some money this Halloween, especially if you're like us and haven't bought costumes yet this year. Stay tuned below for the photo highlights of Halloweens past!
MUMMY
Probably the easiest of the cheap costumes to pull off. If you're like us and you're recovering from a flood, you will have 2 cases of toilet paper from the Red Cross sitting around (if not, go buy some). Wrap up your kids and viola! Instant mummification! By the end of the night, the TP should be partially unraveled and dirty and dragging about a half a mile behind your child, adding to the effect. This costume also subs as instant tissues if your kids noses are running from the brisk, Halloween air. We all know they're going to wipe their noses on their sleeves, anyway.
CHRISTMAS PRESENT
Get a box. Get some wrapping paper. Wrap the box in the wrapping paper, taking care to secure it well. Cut holes for the arms and head and a big hole in the bottom for the legs and to get your child in and out of the costume. Put them in the box and slap a big bow on their head. You now have a costume and hours of fun for your child's siblings as they push the kid in the box over and run away (just ask my sister).
CAT
Buy a black turtleneck, black pants, black shoes and a black headband. Dress the kid in the black clothes and shoes. Draw black cat ears on a piece of flimsy cardboard (the front of a school notebook works well), taking care to make the little red insides of the ears. Cut them out and tape or glue them to the headband. Put the headband on your kid. Draw a cat face on your child, complete with a little red nose and whiskers. (You may also want to buy some rubbing alcohol to get the magic marker off of your child's face before school the next day).
HOBO
Raid Dad's closet for some clothes (look for lots of flannel and jeans that have been worn to hang drywall or work on a car). Dress the child in these clothes. DO NOT use a belt...you must use clothesline or rope to keep the pants up. Stuff a pillow inside the shirt to make a belly. Smear some dirt on your kid, mess up their hair and give them a candy cigar. You have a hobo. Bonus points if you add a flannel that is tied to the end of a stick like a carry-all or a flask in the front shirt pocket.
GRAPES
Blow up a bunch of purple balloons. Get a purple hoodie and pants and dress your child in them. Pin the balloons to your child. Viola! A bunch of grapes. This costume will make it until your child tries to squeeze through the neighbors overgrown hedges. Bring the earplugs.
OLD LADY
Get some of Granny's old clothes (mumu's, support stockings, orthopedic shoes, old glasses) and dress your child in them. Put their hair back in a bun and cover it with powder to give it the illusion of having grey hair. Put some bright red lipstick on them and you have an old lady. Bonus points if you can score a cane or walker.
VAMPIRE
Dress your kid in their little, black 3-piece suit. Make a cape out of a black pillowcase (for a toddler) or a black sheet (for a bigger kid). Slick their hair down and make a noticable part on one side. Paint their face ghostly pale. Mix some red food coloring into corn syrup and paint it on your child's face so it looks like blood dripping from their mouth. Buy a set of plastic vampire teeth and you're set. Make sure you teach them to do the evil laugh (MUAHAHAHAHA!)
BEETLEJUICE
Start out with the vampire costume. Paint white stripes on the suit to make it look like Beetlejuice's suit from the movie. Instead of slicking the kid's hair down, spike it up and put some powder in it. Paint the face white but rub some dirt around the hairline. Stick a rubber snake in his pocket.
So I hope that helps give you some inspiration for next Halloween. Without further ado, here's there reason you're all actually here...THE PICTURES!
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| Wow, what a picture to start with. Lizzie G in an outfit that was a bit too convincing. |
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| Evel and his BFF playing dress up |
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| Halloween 1985. These WERE the awesome costumes back then. |
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| The witch costume that Nana S made for me. I wore it for three years until it didn't fit anymore. |
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| Another Halloween 85 gem |
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| Believe it or not, this is me (and Lizzie G in another questionable costume). My, my how times have changed... |
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| Shitbrick being creepy |
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| Halloween 2011 - Joe Dirt, a green monster thing and a vampire. |
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| Halloween 2009 - The witch costume I made Tink and our weird skeleton goth old lady. |
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| Halloween 2010 - The weird dragon ballerina, bat boy and the kitty cat. |
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| He's the one that will be choosing our nursing homes |
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| Nana S and Evel as a cowboy. Another quick homemade costume. |
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| Our little Nittany Lion |
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| It was a costume for Elvis's birthday but Satan didn't care |
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| Not really a costume but it's a great opportunity to embarrass Evel. |
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| Trid as a unicorn and Evel in the Teletubbie costume that my mom made him |
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