Save On Halloween Costumes

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- It's time to get your little ghost, goblin or ghoul ready for Halloween. 

And, if the price of a store bought costume spooks your wallet, well Michelle Sullivan with KidsNationalGeographic.com shows you how to make a creative and fun costume that won't bust your budget.

Save money by making costumes yourself using items already available in the closet or at the thrift store.

It's easier to get creative than you might think, and avoid purchasing store-bought costumes that are often made from questionable materials.  More often than not, these wind up getting thrown out after a single use which is not earth-friendly.

Participate in a costume swap with friends or other families in our neighborhood. 

Breathe new life into something you made or purchased last year for your little one by passing it along to someone else.  Make a few phone calls and have fellow soccer moms bring last year's costumes to the weekend match and have a quick swap session.

Avoid Halloween-store makeup kits.  Instead of buying a makeup kit from a Halloween store, which often comes with no ingredients listed, a warning sign, use eco-friendly makeup that mom can use long after the holiday is over. 

Zinc oxide is a great option to use in place of white face paint and can be used as the base for a number of costume makeup ideas.  Brown, green, grey and blue eyeshadows and dark eyeliner can be used to create ghastly-looking scars and bruises.

Decorate a pillowcase or reusable canvas shopping bag to carry the trick-or-treat haul.   

Don't buy a new plastic pumpkin this year.  If you have one laying around from last year, reuse it.  Or better yet, since some can be laden with lead, go old-school and decorate a pillowcase or canvas shopping bag. 

Hand out candy made with organic sugar or Fair Trade chocolate.  Your local natural foods store will often get into the spirit of the holiday by carrying individually wrapped organic and fair trade candies including lollipops, chocolate and toffee.  And, it's still sweet enough to not get tricked for handing it out!

Costumes:

Spaghetti and Meatballs:  Large cardboard boas, small tablecloth or fabric, craft glue, large plastic plate, cream-colored yarn, brown pom-poms, red felt, baseball cap, paper napkin, plastic utensils, plastic salt and pepper shakers, plastic vase with flowers.

Aquarium:  Large cardboard box, silver paint or construction paper, blue cellophane, duct tape, craft foam, fishing line, seashells (from your last family vacation), plastic greenery, snorkel mask or goggles and flippers (optional).

Cat Up a Tree.  Green shirt, brown pants, leafy garlands, safety pins, stuffed cat, bobby pins or elastic headband.

Candy bag.  Pillow case or canvas tote bag, potatoes (to carve out for ink stamping) fabric paints.