Consider it a challenge. Is it possible to make an almost-free Halloween costume? Sure! Historically, Halloween was a time for people to use their creativity to make costumes, often on the cheap, using discarded or recycled household items. So, find a big, clean cardboard box, assemble some recycled materials, and get to work.
For those who get discouraged at arts-and-crafts projects, consider this, the cheapest, easiest costume of all: use a large cardboard box, cut holes for the head and arms, and decorate it like one huge present.
57 Ideas for Cheap or Free Box Based Halloween Costumes
Here are some ideas. For people who want to dress up with another person--for instance, parents with children, or couples--see Almost Free, Double-Trouble Halloween Costumes.
- advent calendar (the wearer's face can be one window)
- airplane
- ambulance
- box of pills, antidote to H1N1 swine flu (go as a double-trouble pair: see H1N1 costume)
- bar of soap
- bird house
- book, book case, Bible, encyclopedia
- box of candy
- box of crayons
- box of popcorn
- box of shoes (e.g., Nike or some brand written on the side)
- box of toothpaste
- bus
- cell phone
- cereal box
- checkerboard
- chessboard
- Christmas present
- computer
- dice
- doghouse
- domino
- Empire State Building
- everything-but-the-kitchen sink
- Fedex truck
- futuristic car
- Hershey bar
- house
- IPod
- keyboard
- kitchen sink
- large mirror (use tin foil for "mirror")
- liquid soap container
- make believe monsters or animals
- old-fashioned phone booth
- over-sized street sign
- pack of gum
- patch of grass
- picture frame (with large photo inside)
- planter
- plate with knife, fork, spoon
- platter of fruit or food
- race car
- refrigerator
- report card
- robot
- rocket ship
- safe (maybe with jewels spilling out)
- skateboard
- skyscraper
- stove
- subway
- telephone
- trains (go as a pair)
- truck
- UPS truck
- weird and wacky imaginative animals, monsters and vehicles
What to Prepare
To assemble a cheap, cardboard box-based costume, one needs:
- boxes (preferably more than one to allow for experimentation
- sketch pad
- pencil
- straight edge
- sharp scissors or knife
- patience
- paint or fabric with glue
- imaginative decorative items * (*beware, this is where it can get expensive)
- hat or wig
Use a Big Cardboard Box as Halloween Costume for Adults, Kids
Adults and children alike can do a lot with a box that's large enough to wear. Look in the garage or basement, or ask at the local appliance store, liquor store, or supermarket. If possible, find two boxes per costume. That way, it's easy to allow one's imagination to run wild and experiment with one box without risking the entire costume.
What Comes First? The Costume or the Box?
Certain costumes fit certain shapes.
Square boxes lend themselves, for instance, to being transformed into a costume that looks like dice,or a checkerboard.
Oblong boxes work as costumes that resemble vehicles – trucks, trains, cars, planes, or cell phones, breakfast cereal, and so on.
If the box fits, wear it!
Other Recycled Materials to Spruce Up that Homemade Halloween Costume
Lesson # 1: For those who don't live alone, consider other peoples clothes; big clothes look funny on small people, and vice-versa. One big advantage: it's free.
Lesson # 2: Start collecting now. Recycled things are free! Items that can be used to decorate costumes (normally tossed in the garbage) include things that bind, such as string, ribbon or shoelaces. Or, use things to cover the box, such as wrapping paper, cloth, old clothes or buttons. To add special features, try egg containers, large soda containers (excellent for jets on rocketships), the inner paper tube from a roll of toilet paper or paper towels, or empty dishwasher detergent jugs. Newspaper is plentiful and can be used as stuffing, wrapping, for paper-mache, and a zillion other things.
Sky's the limit.
Hygiene
Kids love to crawl inside of boxes and play with them, so first things first: make sure the box being used for Halloween is clean. Spray it with Lysol outside, and let it air out for a day, just to make sure.
Safety — A Teachable Moment
While engaged in making a wonderful, free, environmentally-friendly Halloween costume, squeeze a little more goodness out of the moment. Talk to the kids about healthy habits such as H1N1 handwashing routines. When washing up after working on the costume, spend a little time discussing hygiene.
For safety's sake, adults should supervise the cutting of heavy cardboard boxes.
Also, make sure the costume fits the circumstance. If a small child is simply going to walk in a parade, the need to move is different than if he or she is going to be running through the neighborhood trick-or-treating. Make sure the child has full vision in the costume, to avoid falling, tripping, and other mishaps.
Make sure the box is the right size for the child, and the child can get out of it if necessary.
Warn all Halloween trick-or-treaters to stay away from lit pumpkins. If decorating with fabric, consider using flame retardant material.
Halloween can be a recycling fest! No need to spend precious cash on costumes, if there's time and imagination to make one's own. Use big cardboard boxes for creative made at home Halloween costumes. It's cheap – almost free, if one is careful – fun, and a good opportunity to share creative moments with friends, loved ones and the kids.
