Try One of Our Last-Minute Halloween Costumes for Kids

October 24, 2013

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Credit: Heather Mildenstein

Suddenly, it's October 31 and the question remains unanswered: What will your child be for Halloween? Back away from the old sheet-ghost standby. Here are four adorable kids' costumes you can assemble using basic household supplies and a little ingenuity.

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Credit: Heather Mildenstein

You've been staring down invitations to Halloween parties and trick-or-treating festivities for weeks, but you still haven't had the chance to actually get working on your little one's costume. Don't lose your head! There are many ways you can dress all the ghouls and goblins in your life without resorting to cliché costumes you'd find in nearby Halloween superstores. Using the materials in your DIY toolkit, you can create unique and adorable looks for preschoolers and school-aged children through pre-teens and young adolescents.

We're breaking down four different costumes that can be made in an hour or less; each are so easy that they can be assembled on Halloween eve if need be (a quick way to salvage any accidents!). They're perfect for boys and girls of any age, as the base of each costume is anchored by clothes that are most likely hanging in their closets. In most cases, you can remove the alterations you made just as easily, making these ideas much more eco-friendly than entirely new costumes altogether.

First, we use Martha's collection of acrylic paint—available at Michaels, a nontoxic and water-based option that will simply wash off with water—to face paint life-like webs on the cheeks to go alongside our spider costume. If you can't source these festive webs, don't worry; our adorable sailor outfit comes together with toolkit staples like duct tape and Sharpie markers. If you're fond of painting at home, you'll probably have all the necessary materials for our roving masterpiece costume as well, which is a fun option to actually make with your child's help as well.

Whichever costume you choose to make will scare up as much candy as your little one can get their hands on. If the whole family is in need for a costume, take a peek at other last-minute costumes for adults and a few ideas for your pets, too.

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Super Spider Kid

Credit: Heather Mildenstein

Alison Faulkner of The Alison Show turned a tangle of leftover faux webbing and a few pretend spiders into the creepy-cute Super Spider Kid costume.

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What You'll Need

Credit: Heather Mildenstein

Here's what you'll need to get started on this costume:

Thin paintbrush
Fun World Super Stretch Spider Web, $10.49, amazon.com.
Muzboo Realistic Plastic Spider Toys, $9, amazon.com.
Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paint, $2 for 8-ounces, michaels.com.

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Step 1

Credit: Heather Mildenstein

Dress your child in all black. Stretch the web around your child by having them put their arms and legs through openings in the web as if they were putting on a shirt and pants.

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Step 2

Credit: Heather Mildenstein

Stretching the web as you go, tangle a few plastic spiders into the webbing.

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Step 3

Credit: Heather Mildenstein

To create a spiderweb on your child's cheek, use a selection of acrylic face paints. These products are nontoxic and water-based and wash off with water. Paint concentric circles on your child's face with a thin paintbrush, then paint lines out from the middle of the center circle.

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Step 4

Credit: Heather Mildenstein

Use a dollop of corn syrup to stick a spider to your child's cheek or hair. They'll be ready to take part in the night of trick-or-treating.