Halloween is just around the corner (!!), and my kids are already so excited to go trick-or-treating. I love spooky season as much as the next mom, but it does bring a little bit of anxiety. Namely: what costumes will my kids want? Will they have their size in a store, or will I have to make it myself? Will they change their minds at the last minute? How many costumes will they need this year for every school dress-up day, fall festival, and Halloween party we go to?
Even if your kids have already planned their costumes for spooky season, it’s never a bad idea to have a few backup, last-minute ideas you can whip up in a flash. I’ve rounded up a few easy DIY costumes that don’t require sewing (or too much creativity).
1. Zombie
Whether your kid wants to be a zombie from Minecraft or just a regular, run-of-the-mill undead, this is a great option. Just wear jeans and a t-shirt (feel free to add a little fake blood) and teach them how to walk with their arms in the air. Add green face paint to make it more realistic.
2. Mummy
Your child will be the cutest mummy ever this Halloween!
©Anastassiya Bezhekeneva/Shutterstock.com
One easy costume just requires a white top sheet. Blogger Nellie Bellie recommends ripping (not cutting) strips of the sheet to create wrappings for your mummy. For more authentic, risen-from-the-dead vibes, soak your wrappings in coffee to stain them, then rinse and dry them. Come Halloween, you can wrap these around your kid and secure them with safety pins, maybe adding some face paint to complete the look!
3. Pumpkin
Take a little jack-o’-lantern trick-or-treating this year by dressing your child in a pumpkin costume! Just dress them in an orange shirt and draw triangle eyes and a crooked mouth with black Sharpie (or use hot glue guns to stick felt shapes to the shirt). This would look great paired with green or orange pants and with some orange face paint.
4. Dalmatian
Dalmatian? Don’t mind if I do! Any dog costume is easy to do yourself — just rub black eyeliner on your child’s nose — but Dalmatians are extra fun. Pin black polka dots on a white shirt or pants (or tutu), then use face paint to draw big black circles on their face. A red ribbon can be tied loosely around their neck for a cute bow collar.
5. Cowboy/Cowgirl
If you have a cowboy hat and boots, this is an easy DIY costume.
©Katie Groves/Shutterstock.com
Take your cowboy or cowgirl to the next level by creating a pool noodle horse for them to ride on! All you’ll need is a shortened pool noodle that fits your child’s size. Attach a tube sock to one end, then use twine, ribbon, buttons, and hot glue to transform it into a horse’s head (Country Living has a tutorial here).
6. KPop Demon Hunters
Got a white skirt and a black bomber jacket? Or playful-patterned sweatpants and a hoodie? These are all options to help your kid dress like their favorite Idol from KPop Demon Hunters. Plus, a brightly colored wig or temporary hair dye to recreate one of the girls’ fabulous hairstyles.
7. Wednesday Addams
Don't forget to practice a pout for the Wednesday Addams costume!
©Andrew Angelov/Shutterstock.com
With her penchant for all-black fashion, Wednesday Addams is an easy costume to DIY. Simply braid your child’s hair into two braids and dress them in a black shirt and pants or a dress. Add some ghostly pale white face makeup and red lips to complete the look.
8. Minion
Dress your child up like a Minion this year with overalls, a yellow t-shirt, and big goggles leftover from swim season. Give them a banana for a prop, and they’re ready to go!
9. Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has so many eras, your child can pick their favorite one and go from there.
©Noam Galai/Getty Images / via Getty Images
Dressing like a popstar has never been easier. Use pink eyeshadow to draw a heart around one eye, then have your girl put on her prettiest pastels for the Lover era. A gold shimmery dress with boots and a “13” drawn on one hand is an easy way for the Fearless era. The possibilities are endless!
10. Labubu
Labubus are the hot new toy this year, and you can bet they will be a popular Halloween option as well. This one works well with any fuzzy pajama onesies (they are stuffed animals, after all!), plus face makeup to give your child extra-wide eyes and teeth outside their mouths. This TikTok tutorial is easy to follow along with!
11. Crazy Cat Lady
Does your daughter want to be a crazy cat lady? Tie or safety pin her stuffed animals on a robe, then add fake glasses and put her hair up in rollers to complete this fun look, shared by blogger Crafty Morning. You could also make cute old lady hair with cotton balls!
The image featured at the top of this post is ©New Africa/Shutterstock.com