We take Halloween seriously. We don’t go all out when it comes to the scary aspects of Halloween. No haunted houses or blood and gore. However, when I was a kid, my extremely talented mother would always make her 4 kids’ costumes by hand. They were always so much better than anything that could be bought in a store that I’ve been spoiled for life. I knew I wanted my kids to have homemade costumes too.
The year I had my first child, I immediately started bugging my mom to make his costume. (I’m sort of a pain.) She did an amazing job, and he was the cutest little Yoda I’ve ever seen. She even crafted his toe nails out of clay. I wasn’t planning for my husband and I to dress up as well, but the day before Halloween I was reminiscing about the coordinating themes we’d done in my childhood and I decided to throw together some last minutes costumes for my husband and I. (His was mainly a karate uniform and Snuggly.)
The following year, my mom made my son an incredibly adorable Superman costume and I made my husband and I “sky” shirts so that we could be his background.
The next Halloween, we had 2 kids and my mom understandably bowed out of her costume-making duties. I thought for a minute I was going to have to buy them some costumes (honestly, I have no idea how my mom found time to make FOUR costumes for her own kids), but thankfully, my kind and talented sister came to my rescue. She made my son a fantastic Ken Block (gymkhana driver) costume as he requested and made my daughter into an adorable little ladybug. Admittedly, I was grasping at straws, but I made my husband into a “road” and myself into a flower, so that we could form this lovely family scene of a lady bug on a flower near a road that Ken Block was doing a gymkhana stunt on.
The next year my sister did a wonderful job granting each of my kids requests: spaceship and Tinkerbell. Once again, I had to be a little creative to tie their costumes together, but my husband and I are both sky. He is outer space and I am the bit of the sky that Tinkerbell lights her fireworks in. (A stretch, I know.)
FINALLY, last year, my kids agreed on a theme. We were all from the Lego Movie. Didn’t my sister do an awesome job on the kids’ costumes? I love that I am the most powerful super-weapon in the universe and my baby is the only thing that can disarm me.
This year, we haven’t made any final decision yet, but my son wants to do a superhero theme and my daughter wants to be a mermaid. It would be great if my daughter could agree on this totally adorable Wonder Woman costume by Melly Sews, but she seems pretty set on being a mermaid. I think I’ll end up needing to be extra imaginative to unify the family costumes this year.
The rest of this post shows more awesome ideas I’ve found around the internet for easy and amazing homemade costumes, in case you too are looking for inspiration.
This is a great Monarch butterfly wings tutorial from Buggy and Buddy. Not only would this make a great costume, but I know my daughter would love playing with these all year.
The Paper Bag Princess is one my kids’ favorite books, so I loved this Paper Bag Princess costume from Mama Papa Bubba. It would make a pretty great theme too, if I could convince one of my boys to be a dragon and the other to be Ronald.
This Rainbow Fish costume from Here Come the Girls, is another costume based on a popular picture book. This turned out super cute and also doesn’t look very hard.
Using a similar technique to the Rainbow Fish costume, this baby chicken costume from Fun at Home with Kids is too incredibly cute for words.
I love this Garden Gnome costume from Adventure in a Box. It’s so clever, unique, and easy.
I think royalty is in our family’s future. This is such a great king costume from Mama Smiles – Joyful Parenting, and there are so many costumes that could go along with it for a family theme: queen, prince, princess, knight, dragon, court jester…
When my husband was in college he lived with a group of boys in a big house that they called Robot House. It seems only appropriate that one day we have a robot-themed Halloween. This robot costume by Small + Friendly is fantastic. I love the dryer vent arms and legs.
I’m not sure if older boys could be talked into a Frozen-themed Halloween, but this would be such a fun family theme for families with only young boys. What a wonderful Kristoff costume by Mom Endeavors.
A scarecrow costume is a great all-purpose, adorable, easy Halloween costume. I was actually THE scarecrow in 7th grade during my family’s Wizard of Oz themed Halloween. This scarecrow costume from Happiness is Homemade turned out so cute, I’d probably have my kids wearing it all winter.
Michelle has a PhD in Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor's Degree from the California Institute of Technology. 
Wow, your family has had some amazing handmade costumes – so cute! Loved seeing all your photos from past years. Thanks for highlighting our king costume! You are reminding me that I need to start thinking about this too!
Thanks and you’re welcome. Your son makes a great king. :)
Oh, and for the giveaway, I think my favorite fall activity is looking at leaves and playing in leaves. They were particularly amazing when we lived in Massachusetts but sometimes we get pretty ones here in CA too.
We live near a forest of pine trees, so not quite as fun, but I remember visiting Vermont as a kid. It was beautiful.
Michelle, you’re so creative! I enjoyed seeing your family photos and seeing how your kiddos grew each year. Your ideas are so original!
Thank you so much, Mandy! I have my creative moments, but my mom and sister are the ones who are truly original.
The Lego Movie costumes are my favorite, I also love family costumes. The rocket ship looks also great. You are lucky to have a creative mom and sister who can take care of the costumes for you ;) I create 4 costumes each year (for the boys, my hubby and I) and it takes a lot of time…
As for the collection of costumes you put together, the robot and king are on top of my list.
Thanks, Stef! I can imagine it must take a lot of time. Your boys are very lucky! I know I’m grateful to my mom for having made my costumes when I was a kid.
Favorite fall activity: taking the kids to orchards!
Costumes are always difficult for me so I am bookmarking and saving. Thank you for sharing your talents.
I’m glad it’s helpful!