DIY Halloween Costumes

If you adore homemade Halloween costumes but the thought of spending hours making one is enough to keep the craft supplies at bay, I have the perfect solution for you: Halloween costumes made from (wait for it…) … boxes, wrapping paper and ribbon! My mom and I put together eight different costume ideas to inspire you. Each took one-to-two hours to create, and, because kids love boxes, they were giddy they could wear one for Halloween.

Grab a 14-inch square box, three or four different wrapping papers, ruler, packing tape, craft glue, ribbon and a box cutter. Cut the bottom out, a 7-and-a-half-inch hole in the top for your child's head, and two smaller holes for their arms. Cover your box with wrapping paper, and tape or glue in place. Cut horns out of the scrap cardboard (we used two 9×8-inch pieces), cover with paper using glue and adhere to your monster. Next cut out and glue on the remaining details of your monster. Embellish with ribbon!

We used a 14-inch square box, but taped the bottom flaps straight down so the finished height was 22 inches. Tape down the top of the box and cut a 7-and-a-half-inch hole in the top for your child's head and smaller ones on the side for his arms. Cover and embellish with wrapping papers. Cut a key from scrap cardboard, cover with paper, make a slit in the side of your robot and stick the key in. To make the shoes, cut the bottom out of smaller boxes and a hole in the top for your child's foot, and cover with wrapping paper.

You'll want approximately two pieces of cardboard cut to 29×18 inches, three or more different wrapping or craft papers, craft and hot glue or packing tape, ribbon and a ruler. Spend some time drafting the design you want on the front and back of your iPhone. Use the ruler to get measurements and cut each element. Then cover the front and back or your iPhone with paper using craft glue. Next, connect the cardboard by hot gluing ribbon on the backside of each. To finish up, cover the backside of the cardboard and glued ribbon with paper (optional).

I la, la, love this one! Cut the bottom out of a 14-inch square box and a 7-and-a-half-inch hole for your child's head. Cover with fancy wrapping paper, leaving the bottom open. Use ribbon to embellish the box and a headband or hairclip. For an added touch, use scrap pieces of paper to make a gift tag.

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To make a knight, cut out the back and chest plates (12×17 inches, each), shield (13×12 inches), sword (6-and-a-half-by-19 inches). Cover each piece, and embellish with wrapping paper and ribbon. Hot glue ribbon to the back of the front and back of the plates to hold them together, making sure to leave enough room for our knight's head to fit through!

If you grew up in the '80s and your kids often leave you puzzled or wanting to throw something, then a Rubik's Cube might be the perfect costume idea. It was also the easiest one to make, and one of the cutest. Simply fold down the top and bottom of a 16-inch square box and paint the outside black. While you wait for it to dry, cut six 4-and-three-fourths-inch squares out of six different colored papers. Glue nine squares to each side of the box, randomly. Lastly, hot glue ribbon to the inside of the box, crisscrossing in the back for straps.

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This one needs a little more construction than the other costumes, but is well worth it. Tuck the bottom flaps of a rectangular box up, and tuck three of the top flaps down, taping the fourth one flush with the top of the box. This side will be the front of the horse. Find a smaller box for the horse's head. Cover and add detail, using wrapping paper, to both boxes. Hot glue one end of a small piece of cardboard to the horse's head. Cut a slit in the front of the horse, and slide the other side of the cardboard through, attaching the head. Attach ribbon straps to the top-front flap and back end of the box.

We used a 12-inch square box, three different wrapping papers, craft glue, packing tape, box cutter and stretchy ribbon (or elastic). Cut two 22×16-inch pieces and one 8×8-inch piece from your box. Draw one side of the wings on a 22×16-inch cardboard piece. Cut along your line using a box cutter. Trace your wing onto the other 22×16-inch piece and cut. Cover the 8-inch square piece of cardboard on both sides with wrapping paper. Using packing tape, connect each wing using the 8×8-inch piece of cardboard. Using craft glue, cover both sides of wings with paper. Finish by hot gluing ribbon or elastic to the wings!

Add this graphic to your Pinterest boards as ideas for creating DIY Halloween costumes made from boxes for your kids.