It's bound to happen to most parents at some point: a big Halloween event is staring them in the face, and their kid does not have a costume. So what's a mom to do? Throw all the kids in the minivan and make a late night trip to the store just so little Johnny can dress up for the school's trick or treat that you JUST learned about five minutes ago? Ughhh, too stressful, and besides, the kids will take too much time picking out their costumes!
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How about a costume you can make … in minutes … with things you have on hand around the house? Calm down, no one has to be Martha Stewart. And truthfully, kids only notice the candy they collect at the end of the night! But there might just be more supplies for the perfect costume hanging around the house than one might think.
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Those toilet paper rolls? Binoculars. Toilet paper? Mummy. It's unbelievable what incredible things Halloween costumes can be made from, with a little ingenuity and quick thinking. It's true: There are some insanely easy costumes that can be made with items we all have lying around the house.
Keep this list handy when the 31st rolls around!
What is your go-to last-minute costume?
Images via Sean Locke Photography/shutterstock and Zack Seckler/Corbis
Bag of Leaves
All you need is a plastic garbage bag, some glue, and some leaves! Lay the bag down flat, and cut out a hole for the head and two holes for arms. Glue some leaves around the top as if the bag is overflowing, and voila … done!
Pile of Leaves
Similar to the previous idea, only you're going to want to glue a LOT more leaves to the bag — you want to cover the entire thing (back and front) to get the full effect.
Duck Dynasty's Uncle Si
Have a graying mop around the house? Turn it upside down, attach to your kiddo's chin, and tie up over the head. Add a camo hat and a camo jacket, a plastic cup, and some glasses, and you've got the quirky reality star.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
A mop works here too. Plop it on your kiddo's head as the "spaghetti" and throw a colander on top. Add a red t-shirt for sauce with some balls of brown paper, aka "meatballs" attached, and you're done!
Athlete
You've got to have a few balls and a jersey hanging around the house, don't you? Easiest. Costume. EVER.
Robot
Got a cardboard box? Got some tin foil? Wrap the foil around the box. Cut holes for arms and a hole for the head. Tell them to put on gray sweats. Done!
Ghost
How could you forget the old eyeholes in a sheet trick?
Superhero
Superman and Batman are over-rated compared to SuperKid! Cut the initial of their first name out of a piece of paper and pin to a solid colored shirt. Tie a towel or sheet round their neck as a cape, and they're ready to save the world.
Ninja
Every kid should have a black shirt & black pants in the closet. Have them get dressed. Now take a black shirt, and have them poke their face through the neckhole, but don't let them take it any farther than their nose — their mouth should remain covered, along with some of the forehead! Tie the sleeves behind their head, and you've got a ninja! If you have any red fabric lying around, add a sash, but if not, you've still got plenty!
Snow
White shirt. White pants. Stick cotton "snowballs" all over, and you're good to go. If you want to go for all white, you can try your cold cream smeared on their face with a little glitter mixed in!
