Everyone here always has great ideas for cheap Halloween costumes.
I need to take that one step further.
I literally have *no* money right now, and a costume party coming up on the 30th.
Does anyone have any ideas about outfits that can be made with things around the house? (i've ruled out ghost) Or if I fail in that endeavour...a costume that can be made for under $5?
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
My wife and i are going to Salem, and she is dressing up in a big flannel nightgown and going as a baby, with her hair in pigtails adn a teddy bear.
That is really cheap, and not too racy...I don't know what you are willing to go as, but there are a ton of ideas women can do just with makeup and normal clothing used in unsual ways....
Kwea
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
Buy a bag of pipe cleaners, and braid them into your hair, preferably many smaller braids. Instant Medusa.
Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :
Wrap yourself in toilet paper. Mummy!
Or put a tin-foil hat on your head and talk to the voices. This also works well on busy streets.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I like the Medusa idea. I might just borrow that one... Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Cut a large P out of construction paper and attach it to your shirt. Use black eye-shadow to give yourself a black eye.
You're a Black-eyed Pea!
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
What can I do with a long black skirt, and a black bustierre (sp?) I bought to perform Time Warp from Rocky Horror?
Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
Put on a suit jacket, and once at the party steal people's wallets and attack the colored?
I know I'm going as a Republican this year...
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
A few years ago I didn't even dress up. I just told people I was performing an experiment on whether or not a person actually had to be dressed up to get candy on Halloween. I got a good sized bag full of candy. What made it funnier was I was 19
[ October 27, 2004, 02:43 AM: Message edited by: Boris ]
Posted by Wonko The Sane (Member # 2945) on :
dressup as a Sim (make that shape that floats over their heads and some way to make it look like it is floating over yours)
Posted by signal (Member # 6828) on :
I was gonna say dress normally and tell everyone you dressed as a crazy person, because they look like everyone else.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
You wouldn't happen to have any sculpy just sitting around, would you? If you do, make yourself a pair of stumpy little horns that, if affixed to your head, would just barely be visible as they poked up through your hair. When you make them, shape them around a pencil or something so that there is a hollow tube running through them. After you've baked them in the oven you can spray paint them if you'd like, or leave them their natural "bone" color. Thread them onto a shoe string, position them on your head toward the front, with the string looping back behind your ears and tying at the base of your skull. Arrange your hair so that the string isn't visible at all, and the horns are barely visible, and you've got a very cheap, fairly cool, subtle halloween costume. I wore horns like this for halloween last year, and if asked said that I wasn't dressed up. Usually people would notice the horns a few minutes into the conversation. Their reactions ranged from laughter to concern.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
"Son, you've got horns growing out of your head... you might want to get that looked at."
Hobbes Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
"What can I do with a long black skirt, and a black bustierre (sp?) I bought to perform Time Warp from Rocky Horror? "
mail them to me
I'm being lazy this year and doing the Catholic school girl thing. Apparently, I have all the peices already in my closet, they've just never been worn together.
I might go out and spring for some of those jelly bracelets just to see if anyone gets it.
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
I had some friends that went as a priest and a school girl. She put a hand print on her butt.
I might end up going to a party on Saturday and have considered going as something out of Kingdom of Loathing. I figure I'll put a pot on my head and be a sauceror. Maybe I can get some scrap linoleum at Home Depot and make a staff.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Be the Paper Bag Princess! (That's what I'm dressing my daughter as.) All it takes is a plain paper bag (or a couple taped together if you're too big for just one), something unnoticable to wear under it, and some aluminum foil for a crown.
Actually, this costume is part of our larger "theme". We're going to the "trunk or treat" on Friday and decorating our trunk as the "Night of the Living Books". We're each dressing up as a favorite character from the cover of a book, and displaying the books as part of the trunk decoration. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Note: I've actually done the mummy thing with toilet paper. I made that joke that my costume could be used twice.
Ahem.
But it was a lot of fun. Posted by Intelligence3 (Member # 6944) on :
A friend of mine once wrapped himself in tinfoil and went as "that thing in the back of the fridge." He won "scariest costume." Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:I made that joke that my costume could be used twice.
Ew. That wiped the smile right off my face.
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
The favorite in high school was to pin socks to your clothes and go as static cling.
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
I think you should go as a nudist. It's cheap, easy and at least half the party will love it.
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
I did the paper bag princess thing once. I wore a paper bag (with clothes under, of course), and I blackened my face, hands, and bag with mascara. I also ratted my hair with lots of hair spray. I don't think I did a crown, simply because I didn't have one and didn't have any time to make one.
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
How is it so many people know The Paper Bag Princess but didn't know Robert Munsch (from EL's what Canadian things do you know quiz. Even though Munsch is American. But I digress). Poor man gets no respect.
Last year a really let my hair down and went out as a scientist. It's probably more thrilling for people who aren't scientists. But if you know any they could probably loan you a lab coat, goggles, gloves, random chemicals that you can slip in the party punch. It's be great!
Hmm... I just realized I have a curling game this Halloween. I should get dressed up for that...
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
Go with what you've got there and tease your hair big. Carry a broom and go as the Wicked Witch of the Eighties.
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
I vote for the bedspread. Good old ghost!
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"What can I do with a long black skirt, and a black bustierre (sp?) I bought to perform Time Warp from Rocky Horror?"
Our door is always open.
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
Y'know, Halloween really alters people's thinking. For instance, one year I just HAD to be a minstrel. I had a recorder (the instrument) and I wanted a feathered hat and made my mom spend 70 BUCKS on a minstrel shirt.
It was the ugliest outfit in all of creation and I never wore it past that one night.
Poor mommy Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Bob - curling? Wow, you MUST be Canadian.
I haven't curled since grade 10 phys ed.
Hmm. Another thought for a costume. Go as a curler. As in, toque, mits, other winter wear, and a broom for sweeping the ice.
If you needs tips on appropriate dress, watch "Men with Brooms"
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
WARNING! DO NOT WATCH MEN WITH BROOMS.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Nobody's done the suit/tie/Mormon bit yet. I'm mildly surprised.
I had a friend put on a silk scarf over his head, grab an old computer mouse up his sleeve, used and old CD as an Eye Patch and some software manual covers over his silk shirt and dark pants.
He was a software pirate.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I love that! You could also go as an MIB if you've got a black suit and sunglasses.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
or as one of the Blues Brothers with the same outfit as the MIB guys. =)
Hey Farmgirl!!! If you're ever here for Halloween...... <giggle>
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Noemon: You mean like this?
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
Cut a few slashes in your clothes and go as the winner of a knife fight.
quote:Nobody's done the suit/tie/Mormon bit yet. I'm mildly surprised.
Heeeey, I like that. I just might steal that one. Posted by Marlozhan (Member # 2422) on :
There's always the "dressing up like a grape by pinning green/purpkle balloons on a green/ purple outfit" costume. It works pretty well.
Oh! or you could be a TV by cutting holes in a box for your legs and arms and then putting a movie poster on it
[ October 27, 2004, 11:55 PM: Message edited by: Marlozhan ]
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
My Dad once finished off a box of cheerios for breakfast on Halloween. He threw the bag in the garbage and pulled a knife from the cutlery drawer. Stabbed the knife through the box and went as a "cereal killer."
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Yep Eljay, just the thing. Mine are a bit smaller, for more subtle effect. I didn't actually make mine though; I got 'em at a Renn Festival a few years back. They'd be easy to make though.
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
Okay, so I'm thinking the bustierre, my pants with holes up the sides (oh dear, please don't think i'm a hoochie -- i bought these all for theatrical roles!) and this sheer black cover/jacket thingee. And a witches hat! And i'll be...Witches Brew!
hoohaa!
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Yes, they would be. Mine are from Renn Fest, too. I got the little bit longer ones because I normally pull my hair back in a barrette, so it poofs up around the horns a little and covers the string better.
That is what I will be doing at work the Friday before Halloween. Friday is casual day, after all.
Edit: Sounds fun, Leonide!
[ October 28, 2004, 12:38 AM: Message edited by: ElJay ]
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I just finished making my daughter's Paper Bag Princess costume. It turned out rather well. I just hope it works; we're going to get pictures as soon as it's on becasue we're not sure how long it will last on a 6-month-old. I buffered/reinforced all cut places with tape, since I don't want her to get paper cuts. I cut open the whole back and left the cut for easy on/off (I'll safety pin it to her sleep and play). And for hygenic reasons, I didn't put any dirt, fake or otherwise, on it, I just crumpled it. I wrapped the aluminum foil around a headband and secured it with tape, also covering the bottom of the foil (which would have rested against her head) to prevent irritation. I can't wait to see it on her!
[ October 28, 2004, 03:30 PM: Message edited by: ketchupqueen ]
Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
Get a yellow shirt, write "US Postal Service" on it, get a bike helmet, and you're Lance Armstrong.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
My younger daughter's costume: gray sweat pants and sweat shirt crown (plastic, 88 cents) from wal-mart cat ears, tail and bow tie (for collar?) from the dollar store a piece of white fabric sewn by hand on the front of the sweat shirt (will come off easily after Halloween)
she's a kitty princess.
On the morning news program, the weatherman is a rubiks cube - large square box with the bottom removed, painted different colors on each side. It looks like black electrical tape to mark out the squares. The top flaps are loose. He has arm holes and a square hole cut out for the head. Looks a bit uncomfortable, but easy to make.
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
this works well for men, but women can pull it off too. wear the upper torso of a business suit and boxer shorts or pajama bottoms or whatever you please down beneath. tell people you are an anchorwoman.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
My wife took out an old outfit and stuffed it with a pillow, then took off her shoes.
She was "The sexist's dream --Bare-foot and Pregnant"
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
*hangs head in shame*
I opened my piggy-bank and discovered I had $34 dollars in change. So when Strider decided to go to the thrift shop in town to look for his Halloween costume, I couldn't resist buying my own.
We're going as "unsrespected professions"
He's a used car salesman...I'm a skeezy waitress.
We'll be sure and take pictures
Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :
ketchupqueen, that's so cute.
Posted by Audeo (Member # 5130) on :
You get long black socks, black sweat-pants, and two long-sleeved black shirts, Wear everything normally, except for one shirt. That you drape over your head so that the bottom is just above your eyes, and the sleeves are behind your shoulders. Cross the sleeves over the lower half of your face, wrap around, and tie behind your head. It should look similar to a ninja mask. My entire ultimate frisbee team dressed up like this for a halloween tournament last year.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Thank you, Sara. I'll post pictures of her in it tonight or tomorrow.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
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