Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

One week left before the kiddos (and some adults) get all dressed up in costumes, going door to door begging for candy. If you haven't gotten a costume for your darling son or daughter, don't panic. There are some great household items that will easily transform them into another character long enough to get gobs of candy.

1. A sheet. And no, I'm not telling you to dress your child up as a ghost. A belted sheet, some jeans, boots, and an eye patch will make a great pirate costume. Cut a whole in the middle of the sheet for your child's head. Gather the sheet at the waist and put on a belt. A couple of safety pins under the arms will finish off the look.  While we're working with a sheet, you can dress up your cutie as an angel, shepherd, or wise man...oh yeah, save those tips for the Nativity coming up in a few weeks.

 2. Poster board.  You'll need two sheets of poster board, ribbon/string, and art supplies.  Your child can be a Bologna Sandwich (draw and cut out huge bread slices and dress your child in red) or a Watch (draw and cut out huge watch faces and dress in one color...for the fancy set make it Michael Kors, wear a sparkly sweater and grey pants) or even SpongeBob.  Punch holes at the top of the boards and slide your ribbon through. Use a little hot glue to reinforce the holes.

3. Face Paint. Now we're talking! Your child can be Two Face from Batman and wear a suit, flip a quarter...Mime face and wear all black....A sleep deprived mom with dark circles under the eyes, a house coat, rollers, and a coffee mug (we can probably go as twins).

4. Don't Trick or Treat at all...My son decided that he didn't want to go Trick or Treating for several reasons (the level of anxiety when he approaches these dramatically decorated homes, his religious convictions, and MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE!). He's a pretty deep guy to be 8 years old. There are lot of fun things to do at malls and restaurants. Have a party with and without costumes for kids to hang out and enjoy a fall Friday night. We usually through out or gave away over half the candy anyway, so this year we'll be enjoying Wolverine's antics eating cotton candy. I don't know what's my son's going to have.