DIY Costumes from Your Closet + One Item

Sometimes, you have everything you need for a great costume already in your closet. All you need to add is just that one little thing that will add the finishing touch.

Jellyfish

Dress in blue. Take a metal coat hanger and bend it into a circle. Cover one side loosely with plastic wrap and attach it with clear packing tape. Lay crumpled pink or purple or blue tissue paper in the center and add another layer of loose plastic wrap.

Cut pieces of plastic wrap and white curling ribbon to dangle.

Little Red Riding Hood

You or your child can wear just about anything to be Little Red Riding Hood. Lira has been the red-robed fairytale heroine twice. The first time, she wore a pair of khaki overalls with a red shirt underneath. More recently, she wore a white pinafore. All I had to do was purchase a red hood which I was able to find at Party City for less than $5.

Super Mario

If you have a pair of denim overalls and a red t-shirt in the closet, you can get away with this costume. Super Mario requires a monogrammed hat (which I found on Ebay in a package with a fake moustache and the waaaaay too big white gloves).

Curious George

This costume got a lot of buzz for us at the fall festival when Ruble was small and needed to be carried everywhere. He wore brown pants and a brown shirt from his closet and I found a $1 Curious George mask at Party City. Bill work a yellow button down with khaki pants and I covered a black witch’e shat from Target with yellow felt. The leftover felt made his tie which we attached with a safety pin.

Butterfly

No, we do not decorate for Christmas in October but this picture reminded me of another idea. Purchase a pair of wings and dress your child in whatever they have that matches. Twist some chenille stems around a headband for the antenna.

Speaking of wings…

Bumble Bee

The year I was pregnant and dressed as a bumble bee, Lira wanted to try on my costume. It actually looked really cute which showed me that even over-sized t-shirts can work for kid costumes.

Black-Eyed Pea

Have a white t-shirt and black duct tape? All you need to pick up is a little face paint to make a black eye and you have a black-eyed pea! One word of advice, exagerate the black eye. Most people thought an unruly student had hit Bill and they missed the pun completely. Too bad because I think it is so funny!

What costumes do you have hanging in your closet?

Linked with love at the Sunday Showcase and Mingle Monday.