Halloween has a way of creeping up when you least expect it, so don’t let this year’s festivities catch you unprepared! While the thrill of pulling together a costume at the last minute might appeal to some adrenaline junkies, you’ll thank yourself later if you start planning now. With several weekends left before October 31, there’s plenty of time to get creative and craft a hilarious, one-of-a-kind DIY costume that’s sure to impress, get a few laughs, and possibly win a few costume contests.
Before diving into the glue gun and glitter, take a moment to brainstorm your direction. Do you want to coordinate a group ensemble with friends or create a family-themed look that everyone can enjoy? Couples costumes, in particular, offer a fun way to show off a sense of humor—or a clever pun or two. If you prefer an easy win, go for something that starts simple and build from there. For instance, take a basic pumpkin costume and add some plaid patches to transform yourself into a literal “pumpkin patch.” It’s low effort, high payoff, and guaranteed laughs.
Once your costume plan is set and your craft store haul is complete, you can start turning your attention to the rest of your Halloween celebration. Whether you’re hosting a spooky soirée or heading out for a night of trick-or-treating with the kids, it’s worth mapping out the details early. From eerie snacks to frightfully fun desserts, your Halloween menu deserves just as much creativity as your costume.
If you love pun Halloween costumes, this pumpkin "patch" costume is for you! Store-bought adult and kid pumpkin costumes get a quick upgrade with the addition of a few fabric patches. You can either sew on the patches, attach them with fabric glue, or use Stitch Witchery. Wear a long sleeve t-shirt and tights under the costume, if desired.
Wine and cheese night can be every (Halloween) night with this clever cheese board costume! Wood blocks, craft beads, and wired burlap ribbon stand in for charcuterie, cheese cubes, and all the rest of the fixings.
You'll be the hippest group around with these floral patterned ghost costumes. This is one of those ingenious costumes that requires very little crafting but does require the help of a friend. To make: Drape a vintage floral sheet over your head. Once the four corners are in the correct location, have a friend, very gently, mark the eyes location with a Sharpie. Use sharp scissors to cut out the eye holes. Wear with comfy sneakers. Voilà, you’re done!
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Campfire Family Costume
Becky Luigart-Stayner
Halloween is s'more fun when you go all in as a family. Pair a thermos costume with Smokey the Bear, a s'mores fairy, and a campfire for a perfect-for-fall idea.
Grab your friends or go solo for this fun idea. Use old cardboard boxes to trace the outline of a dress or shirt and skirt, and cut out the “outfit” base. Use hot glue or a spray adhesive to apply fabric to the cut pieces of cardboard. Once dry, cut the fabric as close to the cardboard edges as possible. Add buttons, zippers, or other fun accessories to your outfits using hot glue. Glue ribbon in a U-shape around the shoulder to hang around the neck. If working with two separate pieces of an outfit, glue ribbon around the top edges of the bottom half, too. These will tie around the back of the model. Hot glue the doll tabs on a diagonal on the edge of your outfit pieces. Wear a tight-fitting dress in a color close to your skin and tie the pieces on!
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Country Music Costume
Becky Luigart-Stayner
Any nineties country fan will love this funny take on Alan Jackson's song, "Chattahoochee." For the skiier, don ripped jeans, a vintage-looking life vest, cowboy hat, boots, and a slalom ski, which you can find on eBay. For the “pyramid of cans in the pale moonlight,” empty and rinse out six beer cans, then hot-glue cans in a pyramid shape to a solid-colored t-shirt. Cut out a moon shape from light-blue glitter cardstock, then secure to a headband with hot glue. Embellish the base with assorted metallic stars.
The Ticketmaster struggle is real! Print a screenshot of the infamous ticketing waiting screen on a 18" x 24" foam board at a local printer or UPS store. Add pink grosgrain ribbon and wear it around your neck like a necklace. Pair with your favorite Eras-inspired look and a few tear-shaped rhinestones on your cheek.
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Jolene Costume
Becky Luigart-Stayner
This outfit inspired by Dolly Parton's classic song is going to be as popular as it is easy! For those of us without flaming locks of auburn hair, search for an auburn-red wig. Next, download and print out this name tag that says “Hello My Name Is Jolene” and attach it to a plain shirt. Finish the look with your best pair of jeans and cowgirl boots.
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Devil Costume
This tongue-in-cheek riff on "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" will be an especially easy costume to pull off for any University of Georgia fans. (Go Dawgs!) All you need is a Georgia sweatshirt or T-shirt, some devil accessories, and a toy violin—excuse us, fiddle—spray-painted gold.
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Balloon Darts Costume
Becky Luigart Stayner for Country Living
It’s a costume and a game! Start with a white tri-fold presentation board. Create stripes with blue 1 1/2-inch painter’s tape, with strips spaced roughly 1 ½ inches apart. (You could paint your own stripes, but this tactic is much faster!) Mount hanging monkey prizes on the outside flaps, securing to the board with twist ties. Drill five columns of four holes in the middle of the board. Blow up small dart balloons, then stick the balloon ties through the holes. (If desired, you can secure the balloon ties in place using painter’s tape on the board’s back.) Add "Balloon Darts" signage and a decorative chain of fair tickets. Drill two holes at the top of the board to accommodate a length of grosgrain ribbon to wear around the neck. Use a hot glue gun to cover a plain drugstore headband with a strip of paper tickets; add a couple of balloon darts.
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Stanley Thermos Costume
Becky Luigart-Stayner for Country Living
Download a Stanley-esque green pattern, or take a close-up photo of your favorite Thermos and have the image printed on 48-inch-wide by 36-inch-rall poster paper at your local printer or UPS store. Wrap yourself in the paper “sleeve,” which you can secure with tape. Using a hole-punch, cut holes at the top of the poster to thread ribbon. Add a Stanley logo. Spray-paint a pail with silver spray-paint to wear as the lid. Carry around your Stanley Thermos to reinforce the message.
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"All My Exes" Group Costume
Becky Luigart-Stayner
The classic George Strait song inspired this costume. To bring this ditty to life, we procured a few small town T-shirts from Hometown Apparel and roped in a few friends who were game for an easy group costume. Add some jeans and a cowboy hat from your own closets and you’ll be good to go! (You can also make your own outfits using plain T-shirts and iron-on letters.)
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Wagon Wheel Costume
Becky Luigart-Stayner
Pay homage to "Wagon Wheel" by Darius Rucker with this fun idea. Sift through your local thrift store for a small decorative wheel or purchase one online. String some suede cord through the spokes to make a necklace. (We suggest doubling up the cord to help hold the weight.) Then, don your best country duds and finish with cowboy boots!
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Butter Cow
Becky Lugart-Stayner
Pay homage to the Iowa State Fair’s long-standing tradition with this cheeky take on a butter cow sculpture. Start with a stick of butter costume and pair it with a cow mask or cow headband. Pin on a prize ribbon rosette made from construction paper—”First Place, Butter Sculpting”—to help connect the dots for those still scratching their heads.
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Souvenir Snow Globe Halloween Costume
This souvenir snow globe costume is for the pro crafter. Make it personal based on where you live, or perhaps a favorite place to travel.
This one’s so easy! Start with a solid yellow shirt and a pair of jeans. Coat a plastic plant saucer (ours is 13 inches; size up as needed) with blue spray-paint. Secure rubber ducks to the saucer with Velcro. Add a “Duck Pond” sign to the “pond,” then hang it around the neck using grosgrain ribbon. (You can secure the ribbon to the pool with duct tape or drill holes.) Hot-glue a rubber duck to a blue headband.
Note: This costume idea can also be repurposed for a pet; simply secure the duck pond with Velcro to the back of a yellow pet raincoat.
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Paint Chip Costume
Becky Luigart-Stayner
Calling all makeover mavens! This paint chip costume comes together in under 30 minutes with items you likely already have sitting around the house. Simply paint a piece of foam board desired colors add cute names and voila!
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Old Lady Baby Funny Halloween Costume
MmeEmil//Getty Images
A baby girl dressed as a grandma...never gets old! Transform your little one with just three items—a cardigan, faux pearls, and a gray or white wig. This idea works for boys too (minus the pearls). Just don't expect that wig to last long! (Bonus points if you can get her to wear some glasses, at least for a photo.)
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Cereal Bowl Funny Halloween Costume
Studio DIY
This Halloween, go as everyone's favorite breakfast or late-night snack with this incredibly creative and funny costume. (Yes, those are sliced pool noodles as the cereal—so clever!).
Turn a green track suit into a prickly cactus with white yarn and the simplest sewing skills. Stitch a red flower on the hoodie for the perfect touch. This cute costume works for kids and adults of all ages.