Quick Takes: Easy Halloween Costumes

Have you been so swamped lately that you are suddenly caught with a Halloween costume your child must have and little time or money to put one together?  If you are not into Martha Stewart level costumes, here are three cheap, quick, and simple ideas that have been fun hits for my gremlins over the years.

Cards:  [$2 per child] great for groups of kids
Use sheets of white poster board.  Make each posterboard into the face of a playing card.  If artistic go for the face cards, if not aim for the number cards. Use rope, ribbon, or shoelaces to string through two hole you make at the top of the card to hang the card around the neck. [Keep the holes a couple of inches away from the edge.] This is particularly fun if you have a group and can go as a pair, three of a kind, or maybe even a "full house."

Turtle: [$2-3] great for younger children
Use dark green or light brown posterboard as a base or use markers, finger paint, poster paint, or even crayons on regular posterboard or even cardboard. Use two pieces and cut them into ovals big enough to cover the child from neck to knees [or ankles if the child is small]. Make the oval for the 'top shell' a couple inches larger all around than the smaller 'underbelly' one. Using pictures paint, color, or decorate one for the top shell and the smaller lighter color one for the underbelly.  Dress the child in green or black turtleneck [sorry for the pun] top and pants. A hooded sweatshirt is even better! Put holes at the shoulders and each side of the waist.  Use ribbon, string, orfshoelaces to tie the shells together loosely at each side and at the shoulders.  If you do this carefully your child will be able to "hide" inside the shell but pulling it up to cover his/her head.

Laundry basket: [$4-5] good for older kids 
Buy a super cheap plastic laundry basket or use one that can be thrown away afterwards. Cut a hole in the bottom for the child to step into so that the basket can be pulled up to hips or waist. Make two loops with string or rope , one for over each shoulder so the child doesn't have to hold the basket up. When the child is ready to go fill the basket around the child with towels, pjs, pillowcases etc, hanging some partly over the side like an overfull laundry basket.

What are your favorite last-minute costume ideas?

photo credit: web.utah.edu