Making Costumes For Halloween

Making costumes for Halloween? There's more than one way to skin this cat!

If you've got lots of kids to outfit for Halloween, or the chosen costume is a bit out of your price range, a fun and economical alternative is making costumes for Halloween. What if you're not a seamstress or don't even have a sewing machine? You can still make costumes for Halloween. It all comes down to how you define 'make'. Just as you can bake a cake from scratch or whip one together with a mix, in both cases, you made a cake. So it is with making Halloween costumes. Let's take a look at your options.
Sewing a Halloween costume yourself is time-consuming, but on the other hand has its rewards. The costume is super customizable as you can choose any fabrics or colors you like. People who enjoy sewing, and have the time, usually derive pleasure from the endeavor.
However, most of have schedules that would try the patience of a Saint and simply don't have the time for lengthy projects. The solution? Go take a look at second-hand and Thrift clothing shops for your basic ingredients. For example, if you need to make a Princess costume, look in the formal wear sections for a flower girl type of dress or a prom dress. Look at shoes, too, which might enhance the costume. Making costumes for Halloween from these clothes shop finds make it a piece of cake, so to speak. No matter what your costume needs, from a Pirate to a pumpkin, you'll find the basic clothes right there.
Online vintage clothing stores are another possibility. These shops also typically offer accessory items, such as hats and costume jewelry. Check eBay for things like tiaras, wands, fake weapons and other such props.
Get right over to the fabric shop and look in the notions section for lace, ribbons, trims, fringes, tassels, buttons, appliques, collars and other such custom attachments. Ribbons, silk roses and beads can do a lot to decorate a shoe. Let the kids pick their favorites.
Browse the fabrics for designs and fabrics from which you might make a belt, sash, veil or whatever the costume requires for authenticity. Check the formal wear section for gauzy fabrics you can use for veils. Just an eighth of a yard of gold lame makes a lovely sash for a dress. Check out the felts for Robin Hood's tunic or hat. You can gather everything you need to complete the costume.
If you haven't got one, pick up a glue gun and a supply of glue sticks. That's all you need to attach the decorations.
Making costumes for Halloween can be as easy as that! You can be sure your kids will treasure your homemade Halloween costume for years to come. It is, after all, a one-of-a-kind costume! Original, inexpensive and fun for all.

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Quick Halloween Celebrity Costume ideas

These quick Halloween celebrity costume ideas are knockouts!

The celebrity theme Halloween costume is perhaps one of the easiest, fastest and most successful of party costumes. You may be invited to a sort of impromptu Halloween bash at the last minute, so to speak. If you've got just a week's notice, rental shops will be out of most stock and discount store racks will be picked clean. Where do you find a costume? Here's how to put together a list of quick Halloween celebrity costume ideas in a hurry, be the hit of the party and not spend much.
Pick your favorite celebrities. Use the image feature of Google to locate images of your celebrity pick. You'll find the images form a composite style analysis, allowing quick Halloween celebrity costume ideas to flow like silk.
If you're going as a couple, some of our picks for quick Halloween celebrity costume ideas are naturals for a couple. The idea is to simply catch the style of the desired celebrity, noting signature items such as hats and jewelry. Shop thrift or retro shops for clothing, shoes and accessories. Inexpensive wigs are readily available and can be styled, gelled or whatever. Makeup may be important to capture the celebrity persona. You want to be easily identifiable, with your true identity anyone's guess.
The femme fatale is a popular celebrity costume genre. Take Marilyn Monroe, or perhaps Paris Hilton. Marilyn would require red lipstick, a short blond wig you'd style and a 1960s glamor girl dress with wide skirt and dainty heels. Among the femme fatales, Paris might require nothing more than lingerie, the wig and plenty of pink lipstick and mascara, if you have the nerve. Otherwise, you can go for a sun dress. Unmistakably Paris.
How about some classic celebrities? Lauren Bacall and Bogie had strong, distinctive personas. Lauren's signatures were her slim 1940s high-class dresses, her hair and a provocative, strong personality. Thrift and retro stores and a wig are your resources. Bogie's hat, the ever present cigarette and plain suit describe him to a T. Add a little sophisticated macho and you're Bogie. Developing your character is key to any quick Halloween celebrity costume idea that works.
Using this technique, think about these celebrity possibilities: Elvis is a perennial favorite. How about Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie, complete with 1950s eyeglasses and shimmering red vamp dress? Scare fans may enjoy being Robert Englund, as Freddie Krueger or the Phantom of the Opera. Hannibal Lecter is another unforgettable scary guy. Get a mask like that he wore after he was caged. A couple? She's Clarice, with a bottle of Chianti and a piece of liver. Pick your celebrity.
Here's a good one: Governor Sarah Palin is now a celebrity politician. Early 1950s eyeglasses, a navy suit and a 1950s bouffant. Easily replicated and identified! Arguably the top pick quick Halloween celebrity costume idea.

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Medieval Halloween Costume Party

Throw a Medieval Halloween costume party for a new romantic twist every party-goer enjoys!

Halloween is one of the most popular holiday party events of the year. Perhaps the attraction is that, as with Mardi Gras, you can dress up in elaborate costumes and pretend, for that evening, to be some intriguing figure of the past. Here's a great theme party idea for all of you Halloween hosts out there. Try something different this year. Throw a Medieval Halloween costume party your guests will not soon forget. Besides, imagine the surprise on the neighborhood trick-or-treaters' faces when you open the door to offer up your basket of treats!
The Medieval period is often thought to be a romantic period where ladies wore long, flowing gowns of sumptuous materials and men were their Knights in shining armor. The lady of the castle kept an ample medicinal garden to serve the villagers and her household. While this may not be the whole picture of life in Medieval times, it does comprise the positive images of the time.
Here's how to plan and stage your magnificent Medieval Halloween costume party. You'll need proper invitations, table settings that give the flavor of the authentic Medieval table, fun props, a few Medieval recipes (adapted to today's ingredients) and ales and wines befitting the occasion. Your guests do the rest in their glorious costumes. Perhaps not surprisingly, men often enjoy a chance to be the knight of your dreams, as this theme provides a venue in which to be both manly and romantic.
For invitations, you can take one of two tacks. You can use the parchment and calligraphy option, or put a little special scary Halloween effect in place. Use the parchment to print your request for the pleasure of your guest's company in the old cut-out letter ransom format. A well done invitation becomes a party favor too!
Take the time to locate a few local and online costume rental shops to give your guests some leads on attire.
Medieval table settings were simple, but specific to the etiquette of the times. Long wooden plates and plain ceramic plates and bowls were commonly used. One fun and authentic alternative is to form plates of long bread loaves, halved lengthwise. Goblets for wine and ceramic ale cups were the norm. Knives and spoons only, please. The fork was not yet in use!
Medieval props are abundant online, designed to suit every budget. Several large candles, placed around and above diners, is a must for a Medieval Halloween costume party success.
Look at library recipe books or online Medieval cuisine and choose a few authentic dishes. One highly recommended entree is roast beef with cinnamon gravy – delicious! Contemporary food can certainly round out your Medieval menu. Wrap it up with your choice of ales and wines.
The Medieval Halloween costume party theme is guaranteed to be a hit. Oh, don't forget to spread a few cobwebs around the dining area, for authenticity's sake!

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Homemade Halloween Costumes For Kids

Easy, original, and awesome homemade Halloween costumes for kids!

On Halloween, a kid's imagination is brightly lit with fantasies of dressing up as a pirate, a la Brad Pitt, or perhaps the loveliest little angel. This second most popular holiday of the year gives every kid a chance to fantasize and, be, for that one night a hero, cowgirl, witch, or anything that suits their fantasy.
While there are plenty of shops and discount stores you can shop for ready made costumes, there are two disadvantages to off-the-rack costumes over the homemade Halloween costumes for kids. First, if the kids are going trick or treating and your child sees every other girl in her costume, she may feel slightly deflated. Homemade Halloween costumes for kids are one of a kind. Second, making Halloween costumes is cheaper than buying.
So, what if you're not a seamstress? No problem. In this case, get a simple ready made costume. For girls, you can embellish with feathers, sequins, beads, lace, flowers and such lavishness. For boys, fancy trims enhancing the realistic Pirate image (or super hero or Fireman), makes this costume unique. How about a scarf for his bandanna? Now, all you need is a glue gun and you're good to go. Craft, thrift and fabric stores are great places to find these special add-ons.
Some younger kids know right off the bat who or what they want to be on Halloween. If your child can't decide, help them through their general costume themes, such as movie or cartoon characters. You can probably make suggestions when you have a good idea whether they'd rather be funny, pretty or scary.
As kids get older, their appreciation for unusual and perhaps a tad more bizarre Halloween costumes grows. Sometimes groups of teens will decide to all wear the same costume to make a real statement as they pluck their loot from your Halloween basket. Let them decide (within your ethical values) on their costume. That and the candy is the whole fun of Halloween!
Once your child has decided on the costume, it's time to shop. If you are an experienced seamstress, you may not even need a pattern, for, say a ghost! Attaching those neon-glow stars and planets will make your ghost highly visible and add a mysterious glow, enhancing the costume.
Whether you choose to buy or make your kids Halloween costume, be sure the fabric is fire-retardant, for safety's sake. The most successful homemade Halloween costumes for kids are those made with the add-ons they choose, not you. Talk about original!
Perhaps the best reason in favor of homemade Halloween costumes for kids is that you get to spend some time, enjoying and indulging your kid's fantasies.

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Plus Size Halloween Costumes

Choosing Plus Size Halloween Costumes

Halloween is not just for the slim and fit. Almost everyone loves the holiday, and someone who may be a bit heavier than their friends does not have to stay home, or settle for a costume that is drab and uninteresting. There are many great ideas for plus size Halloween costumes that look great and can be the best ones at a party. You obviously do not want to go out in a negligee if you don’t have the body for it, but don’t worry, that is far from your only option for dressing up and hanging out with friends on this fun holiday.
What helps when choosing plus size Halloween costumes is to remember that you want to look for the out of the ordinary type of costume. Don’t limit your imagination to what you think of as common costumes. You can find things that are much more interesting, and things that you are going to feel comfortable in while you are out. What good is going out if you are going to feel out of place and poorly dressed? You want plus size adult costumes that work for you and your body size. That is the key to good style anyway - no matter when you are dressing.
Look for these plus size Halloween costumes on the Internet. What you will be looking for are things that come in these sizes, and there are more than you think, and also things that you think are going to feel good for you when you wear them. Though there can be discomfort with any type of Halloween costume, you want to know you are not going to be self conscious, even if you have an itchy spot from odd material. Feel good, and you are going to have more fun when you go out in your plus size Halloween costumes.
You can put together your home made plus size Halloween costumes if you want to do so. You can look around for ideas through the Internet to find what would work well for you. You may have to buy some parts and pieces, but that is easy enough. Use your imagination for all that it is worth, and come up with something you can be proud of. You may not think you can be a few of your ideas, but that is not an option. Do what you want, and figure out how to do it in a way that you are going to have a good time.

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Halloween Yard Decorations

There are some neighborhoods that come alive for the Halloween season, and some that remain relatively dark. If you are on one of the streets that seems to become an entirely different place each year, you may want to get in on the action. One of the best ways to get in on the fun is to have some interesting Halloween yard decorations that you can use from year to year. Some many only last one season, but others can be put away to be used time and time again. No matter what your personality, there is something fun out there just for you.
When you want to have a cemetery for your Halloween yard decorations, you are in luck. There are tons of way to do this, and they no longer have to look so cheesy - though there is nothing wrong with that look if that is what you want to go with for your lawn. Many of the new styles of these popular Halloween yard decorations look so real that you may not be able to tell the difference until you get right up to them for a close inspection. They come with some very funny sayings at times, so you can go spooky and funny at the same time.
If you want to go with something lighter for your Halloween yard decorations, as in things your children will love at a younger age, you can find a variety of blow up decorations like witches, pumpkins, and some other interesting items. Some of these are lit up from the inside, and some come with a wind machine that allows them to blow in the breeze for a very cool effect. These Halloween yard decorations are much like the ones you see at Christmas that feature various Christmas characters and themes.
You can also come up with some great designs on your own by buying odd Halloween yard decorations and coming up with your own layout. You can find spooky trees that you can light up, funky fences to have around your cemetery, and perhaps some skulls, webs, and pumpkins to go with them. You can use fog machines to add a very eerie feeling to the entire set up, and don’t forget the sound effects. You may have the yard that all the kids are talking about, and can’t wait to see the next year and the year after that.
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Halloween Party Food

A mix of gross and yummy Halloween party foods for kids

Halloween is a great holiday for kids. They get to dress up as whomever – or whatever – showing off their costumes at school, which isn't conducive to much serious school work, but hey, it's Halloween! Then there's an evening of trick or treating to look forward to as well. Throwing a Halloween party for the kids is the icing on the cake. So, as Mom or teacher, what is appropriate food for this spooky holiday party occasion? Here are a few ideas for Halloween party foods that are easy to fix and guaranteed to produce giggles and grossed-out expressions.
You want to have a mix of dishes, some clearly cute and edible, with others that have the kids staring in disbelief and then daring one another to eat them. The gross ones are best if they taste good. Otherwise, you'll end up with wasted food.
First, we'll tackle the cute Halloween party foods you use to lure the kids to the buffet. Some Halloween paper plates and napkins adds a festive look.
To a batch of sugar cookie dough, add red and yellow food coloring, drop by drop, until a proper shade of pumpkin is achieved. Use yellow icing to decorate the faces.
If you don't have a divided bowl, with at least three compartments, pick one up at a dollar type store. Make a big batch of popcorn and melt some butter in the microwave. Divide in three portions and use food coloring to tint one bright yellow, one orange and the last black. Use red, green and blue food coloring to make black. You may be surprised to see the black popcorn disappear first. So this is one-third yucky, but overall cute.
Spider Brownies are cute, creepy and delicious. Cute the brownies into squares, squeeze a circle of white icing in the center and plop a plastic spider or other creepy crawler from the party store right on top of the icing. The bugs can serve as party favors too.
Now on to some of the gross Halloween party food.
To a gallon of milk, add sufficient green food color to produce a disgusting color. Serve in clear plastic glasses for maximum effect.
Normally called deviled eggs, you can use a few tricks to make Be-deviled eyeballs. Cut your eggs in half, scoop out the yolks and set aside. Dip the whites briefly in a bowl of food coloring red water. Mash the yolks, then turn them an unseemly green. Alternatively, you can leave the yolks yellow and fill the eggs. Then, use red coloring and a toothpick to swirl into a bloodshot look. You can use thin slices of celery for the pupils. Ewww!
A package of lady finger cookies are easily made into a ghoulish treat. Cut the ends off each 'finger' and dip each in some red gel icing, arranging severed pieces closely, but not together!
These Halloween party foods are a real scream!