Need a homemade Halloween costume? We've rounded up our 8 of the easiest you can actually make at home...
You’ll be pleased to hear that you can actually do Halloween on a budget and it can be just as fun. Whether you’re a dab hand with a sewing machine or you’re new to this whole Halloween thing, we’ve got eight classic homemade Halloween costumes you can put together surprisingly easily yourself.
Halloween can start to get a little pricey when you tot up everything you need to buy. From the Halloween crafts you want to make, to Halloween games you need to buy and pulling off your extravagant Halloween party ideas – not forgetting the pile of trick or treat supplies you’ll need to stock up on before the big night!
So taking control of making your own costumes can save you a lot of money.
We’ve got classic homemade Halloween costumes to take your little ones from weekend casual to wicked witch and everyday schoolkid to blood-thristy vampire.
Not only will your homemade Halloween costumes last for years to come, but your little ones will stand out from the creepy crowd in their couture creations!
Click through our round-up of homemade Halloween costumes and how to make them and get your creative Halloween hat on!
How to make a witch costume
The classic Halloween costume for girls - the shops will be full of witch costumes and accessories this Halloween. You can keep this costume fairly simple, or go all out with broomsticks, face paint, fake warts and all!
On a budget: Cut head and arm holes into a bin bag and turn it into a dress with a belt around the middle, then shred the bottom. Buy a witch's hat for a few pounds from the supermarket and ta-da - there's your witch costume. If you're feeling creative, complete the look with some wicked witch face paint, our step-by-step guide shows you how.
How to make a vampire costume
This homemade Halloween costume idea is bound to be popular with any Twilight fans. The crucial part of this costume for kids is the fake vampire teeth - they'll love them (although we bet they won't stay in for long once they realise how hard it is to talk and eat sweets while wearing them).
On a budget: Vampire teeth are available cheaply from costume shops and supermarkets and you can get face paints fairly cheaply too. Follow our vampire face paint guide. After that, the whole costume can be made from things you already have. Traditional vampires wear black trousers and white shirts, just don't ruin their school uniform! The final touch comes in the form of a cape, which you can fashion out of a bin liner.
How to make a werewolf costume
Werewolf is a little bit more complicated to create, but will be worth the effort if you want your kids to have an impressive costume. You can be sure that not many other children on the street will be wearing the same thing, too.
On a budget: Buy some fake fur from a craft shop (or online) and either buy brown trousers and a top from somewhere cheap, like Primark, or use some old clothes you already have, like an old pair of pyjamas. Sew or glue fur around the bottoms of the legs, ends of the sleeves and round the collar. It's a bonus if the top you're using has a hood - you can add fur round there too. Draw some whiskers onto your child's face using eyeliner, and you have your own little werewolf to send out and howl at the moon.
How to make a mummy costume
This ancient Egyptian mummy has to be one of the most fun to make - kids will enjoy getting into character, too.
On a budget: Dress your child in a white T-shirt and any colour trousers, then wrap toilet roll around their body. Kids love it if you stay still while they spin around wrapping themselves up in the roll! A bandage around the head is a nice touch and you can paint any part of their face that's showing with white face paint. You could even attach some 'treasures' to the mummy's bindings, just like a real-life mummy!
How to make a ghost costume
The classic ghost is the best costume if (like us) you've left getting organised a little late and are having a last-minute panic!
On a budget: Get an old sheet, throw it over your child's head and mark out the eyes and mouth. Remove the sheet, cut the eyes and mouth out and put it back on. That's it! Although we do recommend tying the bottom of the sheet up to prevent your child from tripping over it. Now get your kids to practice their scary ghost noise... wooooo!
How to make a skeleton costume
Another classic choice for Halloween. If you're really organised, making this costume can be a project for you and the kids in the week running up to Halloween.
On a budget: Buy the cheapest black trousers and t-shirt you can find (or use old ones if you've already got some) and buy some white fabric paint - you can get this for just a few pounds per pot. Cut a bone template out of cardboard, paint it with the fabric paint and press on to the clothes. Repeat this all over the outfit until you have your skeleton. If you want to do face paint too, we've got a step-by-step guide to a skull face.
How to make a pirate costume
It's not the most traditional of homemade Halloween costumes, but it's great fun and is perfect for any little Jack Sparrow fans, arrrr!
On a budget: Black trousers and an old white shirt with a belt around the middle are the basics for this costume. Then add either a pirate hat or a head scarf and an eye patch (you'll probably be able to get these in the supermarket). If you want to add a few more items, a waistcoat, hook or sword are nice finishing touches.
How to make a zombie costume
Probably the best costume for children who love to act - they'll enjoy all the moaning and groaning noises, plus pulling zombie faces (like these cheeky zombies!).
On a budget: Face paint is really the most important thing for a zombie - give them a white base and some blood dripping from the mouth, then add dark circles under the eyes. Clothes can just be anything old that looks a bit distressed - zombies have just climbed out of the ground after all.