DIY Family Halloween Costumes

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Is it just me, or are holidays extra exciting once you have your own children? Halloween can be a great opportunity to get involved and just plain have fun with your kids (and be a kid again!) Visits to Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch and Boo at the Zoo are sure to be on your list, but have you considered family-themed Halloween costumes? Oh come on, you know you want to! Here are some easy ideas you still have time to throw together yourself.

With our obvious twin situation, we went with “Thing 1 and Thing 2” for my sons’ first Halloween. I’m not sure how the idea to dress up with them came about; it was more like I never considered NOT dressing up and joining in the fun, too! So the obvious companion costume was Cat in the Hat for me. After a little convincing that it was for the cause of creating family memories, my husband agreed to dress as Dr. Seuss. This was a super easy, inexpensive bunch of costumes to throw together. Even without twins, siblings would still make adorable Thing 1 and 2 (and 3, 4, 5…!)

Cat in the Hat: Black t-shirt and sweatpants; a piece of white felt cut into an oval and hot glued on the shirt (that’s right- no sewing, people!), and a Christmas bow (ya’ll know Hobby Lobby has Christmas supplies out nearly year-round); “Cat in the Hat” hat from a party store

Dr. Seuss: Store bought doctor costume, Dr. Seuss images printed off of a computer and glued on, and hat from party store

Things 1 and 2: blue feather boa from craft store hot glued onto hats, red shirt/onesie with a felt circle hot glued on, black acrylic paint writing. Leg warmers (purchased online) aren’t needed, but they sure are cute on babies!

The next year I was just obsessed with the idea of toddler Oompa Loompas after a friend pinned one on Pinterest. Even though it wasn’t twin themed, two Oompa Loompas are better than one, right? So I had to. My husband would be the obvious Willy Wonka. I went back and forth with the idea of being Violet Beauregard (blueberry girl), but a Wonka Bar costume seemed a little easier.

 Willy Wonka: Search ebay or Craigslist for purple jacket, top hat, and eccentric scarf. Pair with white shirt and khakis or pants your husband already owns.

Wonka Bar: It looks harder to make than it is! Red pillow case with arm and head holes cut out. Get brown, yellow, and white felt at the craft store. Print an enlarged image of a Wonka Bar and use that as a template to trace backwards on the back of your felt. Cut felt out and hot glue to pillow case.

Oompa Loompas: Brown shirts, white overalls, and some striped leg warmers found online. Green temporary hair-color spray from party store or Walmart, orange circles on the cheeks, and a lollipop as an accessory, of course!

This year we’re planning to be Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Alice in Wonderland, and the Mad Hatter! Other family costume ideas could include:

–S’mores: Parents as cardboard graham crackers, children as marshmallow and chocolate bar

-If you’re a Star Wars fan, there is plenty to choose from! Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, a storm trooper, Yoda…..

-How about the Flintstones? Fred and Wilma, Pebbles, and Bam-Bam!

–Wizard of Oz is another great family theme option: Dorothy, Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow. Bring your dog along to be Toto!

What are you all planning to be for Halloween this year? Is dressing up with your kids out of your comfort zone, or will you go for it this year? Try out one of these diy family halloween costumes this Halloween!