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Ree Drummond will be the first to tell you that finding Halloween costumes at the last minute is no easy task. "You dart into a costume shop on your way through the city one afternoon, and you have four minutes to grab something for your kids to wear on Halloween," she says. "One of your daughters wants to be a dead bride, the other wants to be a monster, and your only other choice is a French Maid or a Sparkly Red Devil with a Really Short Skirt. You choose the lesser of two evils."
But here's the thing—you don't have to frantically run to the store on October 30 only to find that all the good costumes have already been snapped up. This year, skip the Spirit Halloween crowds and try one of these easy last-minute Halloween costume ideas. We promise, it'll still be super cute and worthy of a costume contest prize, even though you haven't been toiling away on it for months. There are tons of simple yet creative costumes out there that you can put together, many with supplies you already have at home. There are costumes for teens and costumes for toddlers, along with costumes for couples and group costumes. So, let your DIY magic fly and transform your Amazon boxes into a cassette tape, or make fun family Halloween costumes out of clothes from your closet. Whatever you do, it should be low on stress and high on fun. It is Halloween, after all!
1
Mad Scientist Costume
We all go a little mad sometimes—but especially at Halloweentime! This mad scientist costume is a cinch to pull together with a wig, white lab coat, and yellow dish gloves. Even your teens will think it's a cool idea!
Get the tutorial at Polkadot Chair.
2
Edie Beale from 'Grey Gardens'
Calling all Grey Gardens fans! Grab your favorite head scarf and a faux fur coat and play Little Edie for the night. Don't forget to include your cat in the photo ops!
Get the tutorial at Keiko Lynn.
3
Lumberjack Costume
A lumberjack is one of the easiest last-minute costumes out there! Just pull a flannel and some jeans from your closet and accessorize with a beanie and toy ax.
Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed.
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4
No-Sew Dinosaur Costume
No time to sew? No problem. You can transform a simple hoodie into a dinosaur costume using nothing but scissors and colored duct tape.
Get the tutorial at The Craft Patch.
5
Mario and Luigi Costume
Mario time! Go on your own as Mario or grab a pal who can play your Luigi. Either way, both looks are easy to recreate with T-shirts, overalls, and the below set of accessories.
Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed.
6
Folk Singer Costume
Channel your inner Joni Mitchell and go as a folk singer this Halloween. Look to your own closet for a flowy dress and cardigan, plus boho accessories like a headband, sunglasses, and jewelry.
Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed.
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7
Mary Poppins Costume
You're already practically perfect in every way, so it'll be easy for you to transform into Mary Poppins for the night! To recreate this look, pair a white button-down with a black skirt and accessorize with an umbrella, hat, and oversized bag.
Get the tutorial at Keiko Lynn.
8
Mummy Costume
Wrap yourself up in strips of fabric to create this classic spooky costume. If you really want to go all out, you can dye the fabric with tea for added eeriness.
Get the tutorial at Polkadot Chair.
9
Strong Man Costume
Show off your strength this Halloween by dressing up as a circus strongman. You can pull the whole look from your closet and accessorize with a barbell made from a black plastic pipe and black balloons.
Get the tutorial at Fresh Mommy Blog.
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10
No-Sew Spiderweb Cape Costume
This spiderweb cape is a fun, no-sew project that would pair perfectly with a witch or spider costume. It's made from fleece fabric so it'll help keep you warm on Halloween night, too!
Get the tutorial at Delia Creates.
11
Moon Costume
We love this costume to the moon and back! To easily recreate this look, just cut out a crescent moon shape from a piece of cardboard and attach it to yourself with a glittery ribbon. Pair it with sparkly items from your closet to really make this costume shine.
Get the tutorial at Sarah Hearts.
12
Yarn and Knitting Needle Costume
This yarn and needle costume is perfect for anyone who loves to knit! Ironically, it's a no-sew costume so it's a cinch to throw together overnight. All you need is some jumbo yarn, plus two dowels and dowel caps to craft the needles.
Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.
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13
LEGO Block Costume
Transform a simple cardboard box into a cool LEGO costume using food storage containers for the studs. Then paint it any color you like! This costume will work well for kids and adults of all ages.
Get the tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
14
Dozen Donuts Costume
Did someone order a dozen donuts? This costume looks almost good enough to eat! The bad news is the donuts aren't edible, but the good news is they're easy to craft using felt and fabric paint.
Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.
15
Flower Pot Costume
Transform yourself into a gorgeous pot of flowers with a little help from this easy tutorial. A large plastic planter will serve as the base, and you can attach real or faux flowers using floral foam.
Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.
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16
Bank Robber Costume
Any costume that involves wearing black leggings all night is okay by us! Get this cute bandit look with a black and white striped shirt, a little black mask, and a laundry—er, we mean loot—bag.
Get the tutorial at Lia Griffith.
17
Cupcake Costume
This cheery yellow costume is a piece of (cup)cake to make! You'll use layers of tulle to create the frosting and a simple piece of yellow poster board for the cupcake liner. Don't forget the honeycomb cherry on top!
Get the tutorial at Club Crafted.
18
Sun-Maid Costume
Bring that cute girl from the Sun-Maid raisins box to life by following this simple tutorial. You can even hand out mini packs of raisins as a healthy Halloween snack!
Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.
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19
She Sells Seashells Costume
Ah, that classic tongue twister, "She sells seashells down by the seashore." You still might not be able to say it—but now you can be it! To recreate this clever look, wear a bathing suit or sundress and a raincoat lined with pretty shells.
Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.
20
Nintendo Switch Costume
This one is for all the gamers out there! Poster board and a few foam pieces are pretty much all you'll need to create this Nintendo Switch getup. Bring your sweetie or a friend to make it a tw0-person costume.
Get the tutorial at Club Crafted.
