Guest Author - Karen Blakeney

Halloween is just around the corner, so now is the time to start thinking about costumes. For the really busy families or families on a budget here are a few suggestions

Thrift stores are a great place to shop for costumes.

I don't think that I ever had a store bought costume in my life and nothing against, them we never could afford them and there were not many around. So it caused me to get creative. I just like to see kids as well as adults get creative. So here are some ideas to think about.

First I am not a big fan of masks for little ones because the eyes are usually not big enough so if you buy one or make one make sure that the eye holes are big enough that kids can walk around and see so they don't trip.

Ghost
The first costume I will talk about is the ghost and every one thinks of putting a sheet over the head cutting holes and going. Easy but why not try this instead of a sheet try some regular clothes paint the face and hands white with make up and spray some of the new glitters on the hair and clothes. The light would hit the glitter and reflect back making it easier to be seen and no mask to get in the way. And as we have all seen on Talk TV lately the ghost that haunt people seem to be like regular people just a little more transparent.

Hobo
You can guess how old I am by that one. Today's term might be homeless or baglady. This one is really easy, old raged out clothes and the shoes that you keep threatening to throw away. Mess up the hair and gather the plastic bags you have around the house. Stuff a couple of the bags with other bags so they are not heavy and add a few empty soda cans in and an old newspaper and instant costume.

Clown
Same as above just add face make up and some balloons for fun.

Pirates
Easy Get out an old pair of pants cut the bottoms off a little longer than you want them to be and cut short 1/2 in slits about every 2 inches around them. Then rip the slits up higher. This causes instant frayed edges on most fabrics add a T-shirt or flannel shirt and a bandanna around the head. Using an eyeliner pencil stubble the lower part the face with dots for beard stubble. Not all pirates lost an eye but if you want to make and eye patch. A piece of black fabric (felt is best) cut the size of a silver dollar sewn to black elastic makes a great eye patch.

Drama Queen
A trip to the local thrift store should have all the things you need if you don't already have them at home. High heel shoes, old purses, jewelry, tiaras, old bridesmaid and prom dresses. Some times you can find a shiny skirt and add a skinny tank top. Feather boas and even old furs. Cut the skirts off so that your child does not trip.

Monsters
Using school glue you can glue leaves and twigs on an old sweat suit to become the Tree Monster. Or old papers and pages from magazines along with a few scraps of cardboard and plastic soft drink bottle and tops to become the Litter Monster.

There are tons more ideas that you and your children can come up with just jump start their imagination. This is a great way to spend quality time with them and they can work and talk to you while you are fixing supper if you do this at the kitchen table. And let them have a fun creating the perfect costume.

No one will have the same costume that you or your child has. You will be truly unique. Send me picture, I would love to see what yall come up with