Week one of October is almost over. For me, this signals the start of pumpkin carving, scary movies and too much candy. But it also means lot of banging my head on the wall, trying to figure out a clever costume idea. Anyone else in the same boat?
 
Well, I have one friend who might be able to help us! Everyone, meet Hannah: the master of cheap, clever and creative DIY costumes.

 
Hannah is like no other person I’ve met. She marches to the beat of her own drum, she’s always dancing, and I swear her creative juices could quench the world’s thirst. I know that’s a weird thing to say, but if you grew up anticipating her annual Halloween ensembles like I did, you’d understand. They’re always visually exciting and always fearless.
 
And luckily for us, she agreed to bare all online and share some costume how-to’s!

1. Cotton Candy


This costume is NSFD(ancing), according to Hannah, but it’s brazen loudness kinda makes up for it. She used a clear garbage bag (plastic wrap works too!), and stuffed it with cotton that she had hand-dyed pink. She recommends using 2/3 of the cotton to stick it in the bag, and wrapping the other third around your head (using string and lots of bobby pins). Twist a white poster board into the cone of the cotton candy to make it stay, create a hole in the cotton and secure it with more bobby pins. Lastly, a pink crew-neck and pink tights really take the costume to the next level. Just remember your manners when your fluff starts sticking to other people on the dance floor.

2. Jelly Belly


Another candy costume, but this one is even sweeter (my apologies for that pun). Using a roll of clear plastic that she found in her garage, Hannah rolled out a large sheet and cut two holes for her legs (which she reinforced with clear packing tape so that they wouldn’t tear while walking). Her warning: “this will start to feel like a diaper, but don’t worry — that means you’re doing it right!” She pulled up the sides of the plastic and tied them together over her shoulders, and used more packing tape where necessary. For the jelly beans, just blow up water balloons (sans water to avoid any drunken mishaps!) and stuff them in there. Maybe print out a “Jelly Belly” sign too! This costume might not be so safe in a crowded bar…and, warning number two: “you’ll need to push around the the balloons a bit if you attempt to sit, well, anywhere.”

3. Dinosaur


Not only is this costume idea super versatile, it will also keep you warm while you’re out trick-or-treating (or, you know, making bad choices). Hannah took an old white hoodie and dyed it green, and then cut out teeth, spikes, and a tail out of a few sheets of colored felt. Using some spare cotton she had lying around, she stuffed both the spikes and the tail to give them more life. Worn over a Barnie-colored dress, this Dino-sweater becomes a costume. And if dinos aren’t your thing? Easy! You can apply the same ideas to make any animal into a hoodie.

Oh, and you see her friend’s hot sauce costume? Hannah made that too (by simply pinning the words onto a solid dress). So easy!

I think it’s safe to say I’m leaving my costume in her able hands this year. And if you’re looking for even more fun, crafty Halloween ideas, click through the gallery of some of Hannah’s best!

Would you guys try any of these??