Many kids, particularly older ones,
want to dress up in scary or gruesome costumes. These are fun to create and
leave plenty of room for error. Be sure to use our
face
paint recipe, bruises and fake blood!
Mummy
white sweatsuit
white sheets or gauze
tea bags Tear white sheets into long strips. Gauze will look the most realistic
but sheets work just as well. Wash and dry the pieces once or twice using
plenty of bleach. Afterward, soak the pieces in watered down tea to stain
slightly. Allow the strips to dry, then rub a little dirt on them for the
finishing touch. Children can wear white clothing underneath their bandages.
Give everything a dried out, dead look by applying plenty of baby powder
to the sheets. Wrap each body part separately, secure the ends with white
or clear medical tape. Apply light-colored make-up where skin is showing.
To give it a rotting effect, smudge dark make-up around the eyes, mouth,
along fingers, under fingernails, and so on. Using make up and fake blood,
a scars and a few gash marks.
Witch
black sweatshirt
black skirt
cape or black material or shawl
witch's hat
broom
black shoes
white calf socks (dyeing green is optional)
red tape or craft paint
black lipstick
black nail polish
If weather is on the cold side, have child wear black or green tights under
outfit. A cape can be fashioned easily from black material or a black sheet.
Put socks on, then wrap red tape around from bottom to top, to create a striped
sock effect. Socks can be dyed green first if you prefer. You may also use
craft paint for the stripes, but tape is faster and easier. Carry broom and
wear witch's hat. Paint face green and add dark smudges around eyes and mouth.
Use black lipstick and nail polish to finish the look. Adding a wart is
optional!
Dracula
black satin or black material for cape
black suit coat or sweatshirt
white shirt
black pants
black shoes
red scarf or neckerchief (red material strip will work)
fake fangs
After child is dressed, tie red material around neck as a neckerchief. Slick
child's hair back, paint face white. Put teeth in then apply fake blood around
corners of mouth. Smudge dark circles around eyes. Carefully tie cape around
neck.
Devil
red sweatsuit (hood optional)
red satin or material cape (can be fashioned from sheet)
red or black shoes
plastic or cardboard pitchfork
plastic headband
horns cut from white posterboard
Make a pitchfork out of cardboard and spray paint red, or purchase a plastic
one. Glue horns on to headband. Tie on cape, paint face and hands red. Use
black paint to create a mustache and goatee, smudge dark marks near cheek
bones and eyes.
Frankenstein
old green coat
ripped shirt
black pants
large black boots
Slick hair upward with gel and hairspray. Black hair paint is a plus. Paint
face green and add scars and stitch marks. Walk with arms extended and legs
completely straight.
Note: If you can find a cardboard cylinder that you can cut to fit your child's
head, create the flat head from Frankenstein by painting it black!
Pumpkin
orange, green or brown hooded sweatsuit
large orange pumpkin leaf bag
newspaper
silk leaves
Cut arm holes and head hole in the pumpkin bag. Have the child put the bag
on and stuff it with newspapers. Seal it at the bottom with tape. Attach
silk leaves around shoulders and neck.
For infants: Use an orange onesie and a piece of green felt. After child
is dressed, cut the green felt in a circle. Take another piece of felt and
make a small stem, glue it on top of the circle with a glue gun. Attach a
piece of elastic and put on baby as a hat.
Skeleton
black sweatpants
black turtleneck
bones, cut out of white contact paper
white gloves
To create the bones, draw out three or four ribs for each side of rib cage,
draw out simple limbs, no need to get extravagant. Apply to clothing. Paint
face white and apply dark smudges around eyes, nose and mouth. If you don't
have gloves, paint hands white.
Variation: Add bones to sweatsuit using white felt or fabric paint.
Ghost
old white sheet
scissors
Probably the easiest costume on Earth! Simply cut holes for eyes and arms
and you are all set! To add a little whimsy, you can finish it off with a
top hat.
Accident Victim
old clothes
black fabric paint
crutches
gauze bandages or strips of white material
sling
Put some black fabric paint onto one of your car's tires. Place the clothing
just near the tire and run them over a few times to create great looking
tire marks. When paint is dry, rub clothes in dirt a little. Wrap head in
bandages or white material. Wrap one arm and one leg as well. Apply make
up to include scars, blood, bruises, and any other gore you like. Put some
blood and mud in hair and let it dry. Put arm in sling and walk with one
or two crutches.
Variation: This is a great costume for a child in a wheelchair!
Road Kill
gray sweatsuit (hood optional)
white tape
old stuffed animal
Cut 2 inch pieces of white tape and run up shirt as the center of a highway.
Cut up stuffed animal and pin various parts to the shirt. Use dirt or mud
and fake blood to "decorate" the stuffed animal.
Grim Reaper
oversized black hooded sweatsuit
black material, enough to cover whole body
black shoes
scythe, made from cardboard and aluminum foil
Fashion a scythe from cardboard. Wrap the blade in aluminum foil. Paint child's
face white and smudge black around eyes, nose, and mouth. After child is
dressed, wrap black material around like a cape, but encompass the whole
body. Close with safety pins. Hood should have been oversized so that much
of the face will be hidden.
About the Author:
Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children. She is also the owner of FamilyCorner.com Magazine. Subscribe to her free newsletter by clicking "sign up" below
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