Thursday, September 29, 2016

DIY Halloween Costumes

Halloween is a little over a month away and I am starting to plan out my costume for this year. If you have read my "About Me" page, you will know I love dressing up for Halloween! Store bought costumes can be so expensive! Who wants to spend $60-100 on something you will wear once or twice?  The last few years, I have made my own (thanks to Pinterest!) using things that I already had around the house or could buy cheaply. I spent less than $25 making these costumes!



Last year, a few of my co-workers wanted to dress as characters from Alice in Wonderland. I immediately knew I wanted to be the Mad Hatter...the crazy looking Johnny Depp version! I immediate started pinning ideas and got to work making my hat.


I made my hat out of cardboard that I already had, using the tutorial found HERE. Instead of velvet, I used a stretchy polyester type fabric, mainly because it was cheaper. I got the black fabric for the hat; colorful fabric for the bow; and lace cuffs for my sleeves, all from the fabric store for just around $10.

Most of the clothes were from my own closet (or my husbands), but I did find the brown jacket at Goodwill for about $5. I hand tacked the lace onto the cuffs of the jacket and tied a bow out of the fabric strip around my neck.


I curled and teased my hair and used orange hair spray to achieve a crazy look. I used bright blues and fuchsias for my makeup, which I based off of several looks I found on Pinterest. I borrowed the tea cup from my friends daughter and even painted my nails with the Alice in Wonderland theme!


A lot of people did not even recognize me and our group was one of the winners of the office costume contest!

Another easy DIY costume is Flo from Progressive; I went as her a few years ago. All you need is white pants, white top, apron, and canvas shoes. (Excuse the grainy picture...it was before iPhone and blogging days)


I purchased a white apron from the craft section in Walmart and used iron-on transfer paper to affix the Progressive logo. I printed out the logo and glued it onto a standard mailing box. My "buttons" are also made out of cardboard and printed logos, attached with a safety pin. You can find downloadable templates for the apron, box, and buttons HERE.


Luckily my hair already looked a lot like hers, so I just teased the crown and added a black headband and her signature red lips. People still talk about my Flo costume and how much I looked like her!


Which one of these is your favorite? Do you have any DIY costume suggestions?

For more Halloween ideas, be sure to follow my Pinterest board!

12 comments:

  1. OMG, both of these costumes are amazing!! Such a great idea!

    xx, Elise
    www.sparkleandslippers.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you so much! I think the Mad Hatter has been my favorite one so far! I have to figure out what to be this year!

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  2. These are both so cute! I dressed as the Mad Hatter a couple of years ago and everyone loved my costume, too. You did such a fabulous job on both of these. I love dressing up, too, and have been thinking about what I want to be this year. Not a clue yet...

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    1. Oh, I need to see your Mad Hatter; I bet it was great! I am trying to figure out what I am going to be too!

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  3. I love DIY costumes! I've done my daughter's the past 2 years and this year I am trying to figure out how to make her into Papa Smurf (her choice, not mine). These are great ideas!

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    1. DIY is the best way to go! Oh, I bet the Papa smurf costume will be so cute! I did not know the smurfs were still around!

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  4. Both of these are pretty awesome - I'm obsessed with Halloween, but don't ever know what to be! Hoping this year is different - thanks for the inspiration. I loved both of them :)

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    1. Thanks Ashley! I am proud of them! I can't wait to see what you decide. When I was pregnant, I went as a pumpkin!

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  5. How great are these! I can see why your group won! I love DIY costumes so much better than store bought! I'm still working on my idea for this year. Thanks for the inspiration! I love the whole Alice and Wonderland theme. You nailed Flo as well!

    www.allthingsrenee.com

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    1. Thank you! I do too because they are unique. Alice in Wonderland has been my favorite theme so far!

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