Kids Halloween Costume Ideas
It's that time of the year where pumpkins are on every door step and the aisles at the grocery store are stocked with candy. It's Halloween! A favorite time of the year for the little ones because it's the one time of the year they get to dress up and fill a bag with candy and goodies. With that being said, it's time to start thinking about what costume they are going to wear. Does your little one have their costumes yet? Picking out what to be for Halloween has been a hard one in my house and we usually wait till the last minute which isn't too good because most the costumes are picked over by then. If you have that same problem in your house then here are a few easy costumes that you can easily put together on your own. These ideas range from buying a few key items at your local costume store to buying a few materials at your local fabric store.

Hula Girl
If you live in warmer climates, like we do, then hula girls would be a great option. It only take a few key items and you have a cute costume in minutes.
Here's what you'll need:
1.) Elastic banded grass hula skirt (found at your local costume supply store)
2.) Cloth Flower Lei (found at your local costume or party supply store)
3.) Cloth Flower Bracelet
4.) Flip Flops
5.) Solid colored sleeveless top
Optional Items: Sunglasses, flowers for hair, and music to carry along while trick or treating.
The elastic banded grass hula skirt is essential to making sure the skirt fits to your child's waist. Most costume or party supply stores have options for different sizes.

Chocolate Chip Cookie
Chocolate Chip Cookies are consumed in mass in my house so I'm surprised one of my little ones hasn't turned into one. This costume was only appropriate for one of them this Halloween. It takes a few items that you can find at your local fabric store and some things you may already have in their closet. If you don't have a sewing machine you can also use a hot glue gun to help in constructing this costume. The best part this costume cost about $5.00 to make!

Here's what you'll need:
1.) 1 yard tan colored felt (can be found at your local fabric store)
2.) 1/2 yard chocolate brown colored felt (can be found at your local fabric store)
3.) Small pins
4.) Brown tights or pants
5.) Brown shirt (long sleeve or short)
6.) Hot glue gun with glue sticks
7.) Scissors
8.) Poly-Fill (found at your local fabric store)
9.) Needle and thread
Instructions:
1.) Fold tan felt in half. Make a circle with a diameter of 16-inches. Look around your house for something that is round and with this same measurement. I used a lamp shade to help with my circle. Draw two circles side by side using a pen or fabric pencil. Then using pins, pin the felt together around the circles. This is important to do because when you cut out the circle the felt stays in place and you will get two equal pieces. Now cut circles out. You should have two sets of circles all in equal size diameter. Leave the sets of circles pinned together (two separate sets).
2.) Take one set of circles and using a sewing machine sew the circles together leaving about a 3-inch space open. Once the two pieces are sewn together turn inside out so the sewn edges are now on the inside. Set aside.
3.) Now lay the chocolate brown felt out and fold in half. Draw smaller circles using a pen or fabric pencil in the diameter of 2-inches. Again, find something in your house that can help you in making these circles. Make 8 to 10 circles. Before cutting circles out pin the felt together so you can cut two circles out at a time. This will save you some time in cutting. In the end you should have 16 to 20 chocolate brown circles which will act as your chocolate chips.
4.) Place glue gun on low heat. Lay the sewn felt circle out and on one side and evenly position the chocolate brown chocolate chip circles out. About 8 to 10 chocolate chips. Once positioned take one chocolate chip and on back place the hot glue. Then return to it's position on the tan felt circle and allow to dry. Continue with the remaining chocolate chip circles.
5.) Take some of the poly-fill and fill the inside of the circle. Fill to make the cookie as big and fluffy as you desire. Then using a needle and thread sew the open space up to close the cookie up.
6.) Continue with the above steps with the second tan felt circles cut out earlier until you have a stuffed chocolate chip cookie.
7.) Take the chocolate brown felt and cut two equal strips out measuring 2-inches in width and 14 to 15-inch in length. These will act as the straps to your chocolate chip cookie.
8.) Take one end of the chocolate strap that you just cut out and on the back left side of one of your cookies glue the end about 5-inches down on the back of the cookie. Glue in two places using the hot glue gun. To make sure the strap is secure you can also use a needle and thread to tack the strap down. Continue with the other strap placing it 5-inches next to the strap just placed and secure as above.
9.) With the loose two ends of the straps criss-cross them and attach them to the second cookie on the back side. You will have to size on your child to make sure the cookies fit properly before attaching. Again, to make sure the straps are secure you can use a needle and thread to tack down.
10.) Dress child in brown pants or tights and brown shirt and place cookie over head. You now have your own little chocolate chip cookie.

Pictured above: Chocolate Brown and Tan Felt, Cookie Circles with Chocolate Chip Circles and Strapes, Strapes on the back of the front cookie, Strapes on the back of the back cookie.

Another look at the front of the chocolate chip cookie costume.
Lady Bug
Here is another cute costume that cost about $5 to $10 to make at home. All you'll need is a sewing machine and a little time and your little one will be flying around the neighborhood come Halloween. For this costume I would recommend you use your sewing machine, but I promise it doesn't take that much sewing.

Here's what you'll need:
1.) 2 yards red felt
2.) 1/2 yard black felt
3.) Small pins
4.) Needle and Thread
5.) Poly Fill
6.) Glue Gun with Glue Sticks
7.) Fabric pencil (optional)
8.) Black pants or tights
9.) Black shirt (long sleeve or short)
10.) Headband/Antennas (can find at local party supply or costume store)
Instructions:
1.) Fold red felt in half. Make a circle with a diameter of 18-inches. Look around your house for something that is round and with this same measurement. I used a lamp shade to help with my circle. Draw circle using a pen or fabric pencil. Then using pins, pin the felt together around the circle. This is important to do because when you cut out the circle the felt stays in place and you will get two equal pieces. Now cut circle out. You should have two circles all in equal size diameter. Leave the circles pinned together.
2.) Take the black felt and lay out on a flat work surface. Here I would recommend having your child close by for measuring. You are going to draw out on the felt using a fabric pencil the shape of a sleeveless tank with straps and a scoop next. It will also have sides. If you want to use one of your child's sleeves shirts you could do this also. Pictured below. This piece will act as the front of the ladybug and you'll be able to slip over child's neck and their arms will be able to be through the two side holes.
3.) Pin the black piece between the red circles you cut out earlier. You'll then need to cut off any excess black material. You'll want to shape the black piece to the red circles. Then sew around the circle using your sewing machine leaving about 2 to 3-inches open.
4.) Turn the circle inside out. On the front you will have the black piece and on the back side you'll have a red blank circle, but don't worry not for long.
5.) With the excess black felt you have fold in half. Draw about three to four 3 to 3 1/4-inch circles with a fabric pencil. I used a soup can to help with the shape of the circles. These circles will act as your ladybug spots. Using the pins, pin the felt together around the circle. This is important to do because when you cut out the circle the felt stays in place and you will get two equal pieces. Now cut circles out. You should have 6 to 8 circles all in equal size diameter once you have finished cutting the circles out.
6.) Take the black circles and place evenly on the back blank side of the red felt. Using glue gun, heated to low, glue black dots to the felt.
7.) Take poly fill and fill the interior of the circles. You'll only want to fill it slightly. Once filled take a needle and thread and sew the opening up.
8.) Then fit onto your child and make any needed adjustments to the front section. If it is too big you can easily cut where needed and use your sewing machine to adjust.
9.) Once completed, dress your little one in black tights and a black shirt place ladybug costume on and top with black antenna. You will have a easy costume for your little one that will make you and your child happy.

The cutout of the Ladybug front.
If you are like me and wait till the last minute to find that perfect costume I'm hoping these ideas will help in your search. These costumes will not only be fun for your little ones but will be fun for you to make for them. And even better, they cost less then $15. I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween!
If you have any questions on the above just let me know in the comments below and I will try my best in directing you.