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Halloween night in many countries brings out the creative side in little girls, boys, and adults alike. From neighborhood trick-or-treating to school parties and mall events, everyone wants to wear something spooky, funny, or cute without spending too much during this spooky holiday. The good news? You don’t need to buy expensive Halloween costumes. With a few things from your house—like a white t-shirt, cardboard, craft foam, and hot glue—you can create something amazing in no time.
This list of easy DIY Halloween costumes is perfect for busy parents, creative kids, and funky friends who want to make something memorable together. These ideas will help you pull together a creative outfit that’s budget-friendly and fun!
Easy DIY Halloween Costumes Using Everyday T-shirts
Turn your closet into your costume shop. These ideas need minimal prep—just mix, match, and wear.
- Classic Ghost – Grab a white t-shirt or old white sheet, cut out two holes for the eyes, and you’re ready to float around. A black marker adds extra details if you want a cartoonish face.
- Black Cat – Wear black clothes, cut paper triangles for ears, attach them to a headband, and draw whiskers with eyeliner.
- Vampire Chic – Pair a black dress or black shirt with a red t-shirt as a cape lining. Use red lipstick as fake blood and slick your hair back.
- Mummy Wrap – Use toilet paper or strips of white fabric to wrap around black clothes. Add brown paint smudges for a dusty effect.
- Nerdy Student – A t-shirt tucked into high-waisted jeans, suspenders, glasses (remove the lenses), and a cardboard “Math Club” tag complete the look.
- Tourist – Throw on a floral shirt, a straw hat, and a camera around your neck. Carry a map or paper brochure as props.
- Scarecrow – Wear jeans, a plaid shirt, and a straw hat. Use brown makeup to outline stitches across your face.
- Witch on the Go – Black dress, pointed hat, and a broomstick (made from a stick and strips of brown paper). Add a necklace with a moon or star charm for flair.
- Zombie Teen – Rip an old t-shirt, splatter red paint, and use powder to make your skin look pale. Messy hair is a must.
- ’80s Throwback – Use bright pink, blue, and neon clothes. Tie your shirt at the side and wear thick headbands or bangles.
No Sew DIY Halloween Costumes Using Craft Materials
No need to sew. Just cut, glue, and tape! These costumes use craft foam, cardboard, and poster board. Perfect for family DIY sessions.
- Robot – Use a box, cover it with silver foil, and stick bottle caps or paper circles for buttons. A strip of LED lights adds a cool effect.
- Playing Card – Cut a poster board into a rectangle, paint hearts or spades, and wear it with a white t-shirt and black pants.
- Jellyfish – Use a clear umbrella as the head, add strips of ribbon or paper streamers for tentacles, and wear blue clothes underneath.
- LEGO Block – Paint a box your favorite color, glue on round paper cups, and wear it over black clothes.
- Popcorn Bucket – Paint red and white stripes on a box, glue on crumpled yellow paper for popcorn, and attach a “Popcorn” tag.
- Cereal Killer – Tape mini cereal boxes onto a shirt, add plastic spoons stuck with hot glue, and fake red paint “splashes.”
- Cloud & Rainbow – Stick cotton on a white shirt for clouds, attach colorful strips of paper or fabric as a rainbow that hangs from your shoulders.
- Pizza Slice – Cut cardboard into a triangle, paint it brown and yellow, add red paper pepperoni circles, and attach straps to wear it.
- Dice Pair – Paint two boxes white, draw black dots, and wear them over a t-shirt. Great for friends or siblings.
- Ice Cream Cone – Use a brown cardboard cone for the hat and a pink shirt as the ice cream scoop. Add sprinkles made from colored paper.
Two Materials, One Costume for a Last-Minute Costume
Limited materials? No problem! These are your last-minute lifesavers where you only need two items, and you’re ready for the party.
- Emoji Face – Yellow poster board + black marker = instant emoji. Cut out a circle, draw your favorite face, and attach a string to wear it.
- Cactus – Green shirt + white yarn strips glued as spikes. Add a pink flower on a headband for cuteness.
- Rain Cloud – Grey t-shirt + cotton balls glued in cloud shapes. Tape paper raindrops on strings and let them hang down.
- Stick Figure – White shirt + black tape to create a stick figure outline. Add a paper circle face on a headband.
- Unicorn – Headband with a paper cone horn + pastel tulle skirt or pink dress.
- Flower Pot – Brown cardboard “pot” skirt + green shirt. Add fake flowers sticking out of your collar.
- Gumball Machine – Red t-shirt + colourful pom-poms glued on the chest. Add a paper slot tag labelled “₱5.00”
- Sushi Roll – White t-shirt + orange pillowcase “salmon” on your back, tied with a black strip of fabric for “nori.”
- Farmer – Plaid shirt + straw hat. Add a cardboard pitchfork for fun.
- Butterfly – Black t-shirt + painted paper wings taped to the shoulders. Use paint or markers to create a wing pattern.
For families living in Camella Provence in Bulacan, DIY projects like these are even easier. The nearby Vista Mall Malolos offers affordable craft supplies like glue, poster board, and paint. You can grab everything you need to create your easy DIY Halloween costumes and even check out seasonal decorations while you’re there.
Fun Group and Friendship-Themed Halloween Costumes
These are perfect for siblings, cousins, or barkadas who want to wear coordinated outfits that stand out.
- Salt and Pepper – One wears white, the other black. Add an “S” and “P” cutout from paper.
- Social Media Icons – Each friend wears a shirt painted with a social media logo. Use craft foam for clean shapes.
- Pac-Man & Ghosts – Yellow cardboard circle for Pac-Man, colored t-shirts for ghosts with eyes glued on.
- Poker Chips – Wear circular cardboard “chips” in red, blue, and white, with big printed numbers or logos. Great as a group with a “Dealer” costume!
- Fruit Basket – Each friend picks a fruit: banana (yellow shirt), strawberry (red t-shirt with white dots), grape (purple balloons).
- Netflix and Chill – One wears a red shirt labelled “Netflix,” the other a blue shirt labelled “Chill.” Funny and effortless.
- Construction Crew – Jeans, white shirts, and yellow paper hats. Add reflective tape for realism.
- Mario & Luigi – Red and green t-shirts, matching caps, and cardboard “M” and “L” tags.
- Crayons – Each friend wears a solid-colored dress or shirt with “Crayola” written in black marker.
- “Guess Who” Game Characters – Print your favourite character’s photo, glue it to a headband, and wear simple clothes.
Magical and Whimsical DIY Costumes for Kids
These costumes bring out some great imaginations and fun, perfect for trick-or-treating or school parades.
- Dragon – Use green cardboard triangles as scales, attach them along the back of a hoodie, and add wings made from paper.
- Superhero – Cape from an old t-shirt, paper mask, and craft foam symbol on the chest.
- Cupcake – Pink shirt, paper “wrapper” skirt, and cotton ball frosting on a headband.
- Mermaid – Blue or green skirt with a paper fin pattern, and a shell headband.
- Rainbow Fairy – Colorful tulle skirt, wings from poster board, and a wand made from a stick and star-shaped paper.
- Cotton Candy Cutie – Use a pink or blue t-shirt and wrap light pink or blue tulle around the torso to mimic fluffy candy. Attach a paper cone “stick” to a headband so it looks like you’re the cotton candy itself.
- Firefly Glow – Wear black clothes, attach yellow paper circles (the “glow”), and tape a small battery, tealight or glow stick to the back. Add silver paper wings for a magical nighttime bug effect.
- Bubblegum Princess – A bright pink dress, a clear plastic bag filled with pink balloons (small ones!) around the torso for “bubbles,” and a “Bubblegum” label made from craft foam.
- Paper Doll Character – Cut large cardboard accessories (like a dress, hat, and shoes) with paper “tabs” drawn on the sides. Paint or color them, then hang them from strings or tape them onto your clothes to look like a life-sized paper doll.
- Toy Soldier from The Nutcracker – Dress your child in a red t-shirt, blue pants, and a paper or cardboard hat painted black with a yellow stripe. Use gold tape or ribbon for “buttons” and shoulder straps. Add a toy drum (made from a small box and a string) for a festive marching touch.
Home Improvement Materials Essentials for Easy Costume Crafting
You don’t need to buy everything new. Many costume materials come from items already lying around your house, or they could come from the rest of the home improvement projects that you’ve had stashed in your house.
- Hot Glue Gun: Perfect for attaching fabric, foam, or cardboard edges quickly.
- Box Cutter or X-Acto Knife: For precise cuts on poster board and craft foam (with adult supervision).
- Tape and Glue: Masking tape for patterns, glue for attaching decorations.
- Paint and Brushes: Use old wall paint or leftover acrylics for costume details.
- Cardboard Boxes: Recycle delivery boxes for robots, dice, or food-themed costumes.
- Fabric Scraps: Old shirts or dresses can become capes, skirts, or accessories.
- Glass Jars: Can be reused for “potion” props or spooky accessories.
When families repurpose these materials, not only do they save money, but they also encourage kids to think creatively. It’s all about transforming what’s already at home into something fun and imaginative.
Conclusion
Creating your own Halloween costumes doesn’t have to be stressful. Many of these can be made in half the time it would take you to head to the mall and buy one. Not to mention that you can put your spin and style to it, since you’re the one making it! These easy DIY Halloween costumes prove that with a bit of cardboard, fabric, and glue, anyone can bring to life a look that feels special. The fun of Halloween lies in the laughter, creativity, and moments spent crafting together with family and friends.
This year, many Vista Malls are gearing up for the much-awaited Pixel Creeps event, an exciting Halloween celebration that will surely have plenty of spooktacular fun. Stay tuned for more updates regarding the event and start preparing your best DIY looks early!
Grab your tape, paper, and hot glue. It’s time to create colorful costumes that pop out in every Halloween photo!
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