I think this year we are going to get more creative with dd's halloween costume. She has already told me she wants to be a cat so we will go from there.

It has got to be more frugal and original than just running to Target and buying one.

Last year we went to our town's Halloween festival/parade and all the kids looked the same. It wasn't like when I was a kid and there was some creativity involved...

I really want her to stand out in the crowd this year.

Are you making or buying?

What are the pros and cons of each?

well ds 6 wanted to be a transformer so we bought his costume. now ds 3 wants to be an army guy so we are kinda making his costume from stuff we can get at the military surplus store. he also wants a tank to ride on!! so we are gonna get some card board and decorate up the wagon as a tank.. don't know what dd will be she is only gonna be one next week.

pros of buying would be easier
cons can be costly and unoriginal.

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'The will of God will never take you where the
Grace of God will not protect you.'

HAVE A BOOTIFUL HALLOWEEN

I don't know yet. Sarah has no idea what she wants to be yet, and Andy keeps changing his mind, going between a robot, a pirate, a Transformer, or an Army dude (his words, not mine)! So, we'll see. Sarah was a cheerleader a couple years ago, and the skorts still fits her, but the top is too short (it would bare her midrif, and I'm not cool with that). I thought about seeing if I could find a suitable top that would match the red, white, & blue cheer skorts, and having her go as that again! lol

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~*~ Angie~*~
Wife to Brian
SAHM to Sarah & Andy 2/11/2000

I got a carebear costume last summer for $1. Dd wasn't big enough for it yet, so she went as a cheerleader last year.. got the jumper for $.25 at a garage sale, spent $5 total on the tights and turtleneck to go under it. She will use the care bear costume this year as it fits perfectly!

Ds wanted to be a ghost last year, so I made him a costume with a piece of white fabric last year.. Tried to cut him eye holes, but as it wouldn't stay put on his head I ended up making him a cyclops ghost. LOL This year he wants to be a robot. We went to Target today and got him a black sweatsuit, and will be looking for a box over the next couple of weeks. His costume including paint should be around $15... but considering he can use the sweatsuit after the big day, I am considering his cost to probably be ~$3.

I'm not the most crafty person in the world so it's hard for me to make a costume. Plus it is so darn cold here on Halloween so I want them in a warmer costume. So many times I see kids in flimsy costumes that just get covered with a coat. My youngest will wear the lion costume that her sister wore at that age. My oldest wants to be Hannah Montana so I'm searching for a blond wig and a microphone.

Goodwill has Halloween tables set up now with different costumes and accessories. It would be easy right now to come up with a cowboy/cowgirl theme.

I wasn't impressed with what Target had to offer---same things every year so it's not the best place to go if you want an original costume.

I really considered making a costume, but we bought one instead.
I was thinking that it is almost about the same cost to make one as it is to buy one sometimes.....plus it takes a lot less time too.

......of course that is depending on what your child wants to be.

Regarding the cat costume. My Mom was very good with a sewing machine. When I was a kid she made me a black cat costume one year. She took the pattern for a clown costume that she had already. Basicly, just the suit part. Made it all out of shiny black material Tafita type stuff I guess. Then she sewed on a tail She put a hanger wire in the taile to make it stick out. I wore black gloves, painted my nose and had wiskers. She even made a bonnet type of hat that had ears. The inside part of the ears were white so that they would pop out.
That was one of my favorite costumes as a kid!!

My son wants to be Cars pit crew. I will probibly buy the costume because I am not crafty at all. I have a $5.00 off at Party City to get the cost down to $20. My daughter will be the Little Mermaid. I actually bought this dress up outfit after Christmas for $4.98. I have shoes from her outfit last year that where to big that will hopefully fit this year, if not I bought some white Mary Janes for $2 that will go. Hers will be a little different since it is dress up and not a costume from anywhere. Guess that is not too bad...

When Target or Party City marks down their costumes after Halloween to around $5, I have my kids pick out new ones for the next year. It may seem mean, but really it has gotten to be a tradition around here now... This year we are superman and the flash.

I am going to have my mom make the girls there costumes!! they want ot be pioneer girls!!
like Laura Ingalls!! last year they were Gopher Cheerleaders!! they had the outfits already as they have the teams cheer dresses anyhow!!(we go to sporting events all the time!!)

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls A Peanut, a monkey and a little burrito.

I was also disappointed to see the children in the cheaply made store bought costumes. Last year my daughter was tinker bell but I'd like to try to keep them original going forward. I'll try to make what they want to be.

I made a clown costume for my youngest and antenna for my oldest's butterfly costume. I bought the wings. I enjoyed making the clown costume. The only thing I bought was some pom poms, I had everything else on hand.

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