Homemade Halloween costumes - Bat, Pirate & Angel
Halloween costumes: Spooky bat
With a little effort, a broken umbrella can be turned into a spookily realistic bat outfit for adults or children.
You will need:
- Black umbrella
- Pliers
- Wire cutter
- Scissors
- Safety pins
- Long-sleeved black top
- Large sheet of black card
- Chalk or pencil
- Cutting mat and craft knife (optional)
- Elastic band
- Glitter glue
How to make your bat costume:
1. Open up the umbrella and carefully remove the metal fittings in the centre of the umbrella with small pliers and a wire cutter. You should be left with the circular shape and the metal spokes, with a round hole in the middle.
2. Cut the umbrella in half.
3. Make the bat wings by securing each half of the umbrella onto the black top with safety pins. The long, cut side of each half should be attached along the underside of each sleeve and down the sides of the top so that when the arms are lifted the halves open like a fan on each side.
4. Draw the outline of your bat mask with chalk on the black card. Use a craft knife or strong scissors to cut out the straight sides of the mask and carefully cut out the eye holes.
5. Make a small hole on each side of the mask through which to insert the elastic band.
6. Decorate the front of the mask with glitter glue so it shimmers.
Halloween costumes: Scary pirate
It’s super easy to turn your little one into a pint-sized fearsome pirate, then yo-ho-ho, you’re ready to go!
You will need:
Stripy long sleeved t-shirt
Black leggings or old black or red pyjama bottoms
Bandana
Toy shop eye patch
Eyeliner pencil
Black pumps or plimsolls
How to make your Halloween pirate costume:
- Cut the sleeves and the bottom of the T-shirt into a jagged edge and do the same with the legs of the black leggings.
- Tie the bandana around your child’s head.
- Use the eyeliner to draw a scar on a cheek and dots of stubble or a beard on your child’s chin.
- Add the black pumps to complete the look and if it’s really chilly, use long red or white football socks to look like sailors’ stockings.
- To bring authenticity to your pirate outfit, buy an eye patch and raid the cuddlies box for a stuffed parrot.
Halloween costumes: Angel
If your little ones prefer to be good fairies on the big night, try this simple costume make.
You will need:
White long sleeved nightdress (if you don’t have one, pick one up cheaply at a charity or discount shop)
Gold or yellow coloured pipecleaners
Children’s hairband (plastic not fabric, preferably white, gold or yellow)
Cardboard box
White paper coffee filters
String
How to make your angel costume
- Twist the gold pipe cleaners together so they create a halo shape, with single twined length down at the back to act as the ‘stem’.
- Wrap the bottom of the long stem a couple of times around the hairband so that the halo will stand upright when the headband is put on your child’s head. The great thing about using pipecleaners is you can adjust them so the halo sits right, but fold in any spiky ends so they don’t catch in your child’s hair.
- Cut the cardboard into two wings and cover with the coffee filters. Fold each coffee filter in half and then stick these in rows starting at the top, with each filter positioned upside down to create a layered effect that looks like feathers.
- Attach string in loops to the wings to fit around your child’s shoulders.
Now you’re all dressed up, don’t miss our Halloween party food ideas so you can keep the theme going, and don’t forget the pumpkins!
Want more costume inspiration? Check out more best homemade Halloween costumes.
Share your scary costume ideas with us
What will your kids will be dressing up as this Halloween – or maybe you’ve got your own favourite costume for greeting trick-or-treaters at the door? Please share your spooky Halloween costume ideas in the comments below.