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How does Halloween manage to sneak up on us every year? You know it’s coming and think you have plenty of time to get a costume together—and then, all of the sudden, you need to be at a party in an hour and you’ve got nothing! Well, not this year. We’ve got you covered with 12 creative costumes that won’t break the bank.
1. Charlie Brown
Start with a pair of black shorts and a plain yellow T-shirt. Then use black duct tape to make the zig-zag line around the bottom of the shirt. To complete the look, carry a football or bring your dog with you. (Hopefully he is black and white, and looks at least a little bit like Snoopy.)
2. Circus Performer
This is a glamorous option—you basically get dressed up with full makeup and add a feather to your hair. The more sparkle the better.
3. Medusa
All this DIY headpiece requires is toy snakes (you can buy ’em cheap on Amazon), a headband and some twist ties or glue to attach the snakes. Give your creation a coating of gold spray paint and—bam!—you’ll be the evil monster from Greek mythology in no time.
4. Snail
Use craft paper and ribbon to make a wearable shell, and a headband, craft paper and painted styrofoam balls for eyes. The result is adorable, and the instructions are fairly simple.
5. Rosie The Riveter
High-wasted pants, button-down shirt and a red bandanna—it doesn’t get easier than that. You may have to do a few pushups before you head out. If you’re going to be flexing all night, you may as well have those biceps popping.
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6. Strawberry
Add some white or black spots to a red shirt or dress and then glue together a green stem hat. This could work for various fruits, from pineapples to grapes. Get some friends together and go as a fruit salad!
7. Bat
After dressing head-to-toe in black and following these instructions, you will have turned into a bat. Good thing you had that old black umbrella on hand.
8. Baby
Get out your adult-sized footy pajamas—you know you have some or at least want an excuse to get them. Then snag a stuffed animal and a pacifier (or ring pop, for a sweet option), and you’re done.
9. Waldo and/or Wenda
If you can manage to find a red and white hat with a pom pom, it will make this costume. Otherwise, you just need some jeans and a striped shirt.
10. Fortune Teller
This is such a flexible costume that you are sure to have what you need on hand. With just some hoop earrings and a few scarves, you can pull this off pretty quickly.
11. Mime
This will require a black-and-white stripped shirt with a red bandana tied around the neck. Add a bowler hat from the dollar store and perhaps some white gloves, and voila—you are a mime!
12. Garden Gnome
The reason this costume works is because there are so many different ways to put it together. Any pants with a button-down shirt will do. Maybe throw a brown belt around your waist. A pointy red hat could be made from paper or felt depending on your time frame. Finish it off with a beard (you can get one on Amazon for $7.99).
When all else fails, use one of these puns to get yourself out the door in a flash:
Aircraft Carrier: Carry around a toy airplane all night.
The Seven Seas: Pin seven Cs to your shirt and call it a night.
Identity Thief: Wear a bunch of “Hello my name is…” stickers with different names on them. Bonus points for using names of people who are at the party.
Cereal Killer: Attach a few bloody cereal boxes to your shirt with some plastic knives sticking out.
Breadwinner: Grab a loaf of bread and any cheap medal ( you can find.