Quick, last-minute teen Halloween costumes using common household items

Why would you want to make a Halloween costume using household items? Because you don't have time to do anything else. Your teen's been invited to a Halloween party at the last minute. It's the party of the year. All the cool kids will be there. Your teen simply has to go. What to wear? Here are five quick costumes that use items you have on hand.

Fat chef

White pants, a white shirt, red tie and an apron can be found in most homes. Don't forget to stuff a pillow in their shirt for plumpness. Put an old beret (or a chef's hat if you have one) on their head. Glue a disposable serving tray (with disposable champagne glasses glued to it) to their shirt sleeve so that when they raise their arm, it'll be in carrying position but if they get tired, they won't lose it.

Guess who's for dinner?

It's your teen on a platter. This costume begins with a red checked plastic tablecloth glued to a cardboard square. The square is the table the tablecloth plays itself. Cut a hole in both for your teen's head. Make a platter out of cardboard, spray painted silver. Cut the same size head hole in the platter. Glue the platter to the center of the table, lining up the holes. Use make-up to turn your kid into the goriest dinner entree ever. Don't forget to accent the table with other glued on disposable dinnerware, salt, pepper and wine glasses.

UFO witness

Why is it they always find the craziest people to interview whenever there's a UFO sighted? Dress your teen up like a goofy Billy Bob or big haired Bobby Sue. Have them carry a UFO magazine in their pocket or open play purse. Make a tin foil hat to ward off the aliens. For an even better effect, dress a sibling or friend up as a reporter. Just give them a play microphone with the TV channel written on it. Have them wear a suit and interview your witness.

Old-school robot

All you need are some buttons, a lot of cardboard boxes with center holes cut in them and a can of silver spray paint. Paint all the boxes. Let dry. Kids wear the larger ones on their body, smaller ones on arms and legs. Glue buttons on to operate the robot. For a special touch, tie an old rabbit ear TV antenna to their head or have them carry an old remote.

Prevent Halloween tooth decay with these handy tips

Are you concerned about tooth decay caused by kids eating too much Halloween candy? Afraid the tooth fairy will pay an unexpected visit on Halloween? Wondering what you can do to prevent tooth decay from too many Halloween goodies? Keep your kids cavity free on Halloween with these smart tooth decay prevention tips.

Limit consumption

Just because kids bring home a full bag of candy, doesn't give them license to eat the whole thing right away. Keep Halloween candy in the freezer . Limit kids to just a few pieces a day, or even a few pieces a week. This makes sense not only for preventing tooth decay but for weight gain prevention too.

Toys not sugar

Are you truly concerned about tooth decay? Consider throwing your own Halloween party. Offer some small toys as treats, instead of sugary candy. Kids may rebel from a complete lack of candy. Try to keep it to a minimum to prevent tooth decay.

Sugar free treats

Make that minimal candy sugar free to prevent tooth decay. There are many tasty varieties of sugar free candy on the market today. Consider other options such as dried fruit, punch made with real fruit juice and other healthy snacks.

Concentrate on activities

Try to make the Halloween activities so much fun that kids aren't even thinking about candy. Plan a haunted house, carnival games and even a pinata with toy prizes instead of candy. Have kids help with decorations and entertainment too.

Avoid soda pop

Candy isn't the only tooth decay culprit on holidays like Halloween. Sugary drinks, especially carbonated ones can multiply tooth decay problems. The acid in soda pop wears down tooth enamel, causing a greater risk for cavities and other dental issues.

Drink water

Teach your kids to drink water between high sugar Halloween treats. Even fruit juice shouldn't linger on teeth. It may not be possible to brush teeth after every snack when away from home. Drinking plenty of water will rinse most of the sugar from teeth.

Brush and floss often

Kids should know to brush and floss between meals and snacks. Halloween is a great time to reinforce this tooth decay prevention technique. Consider buying kids a new fun electric toothbrush for Halloween. Electric toothbrushes can help kids with developing coordination do a better job of brushing. Kids love to use them too, which means they are more likely to brush.

No-sew Halloween costume - Thing One and Thing Two

Thing One and Thing Two Halloween costumes are the perfect choice for twins or siblings close in age. They make a great best friend or couples costume for adults too. Even teens love this idea. Plus, they're extremely simple to make. No sewing is required to bring these Dr. Seuss characters to life. You might even have the main body of the costume already. How easy is it to make these no-sew costumes? It's simple as one, two, three.

Thing One and Thing Two are red in color.

In fact, they're red all over. How do you accomplish this without sewing? Use footed red pajamas as the main part of the Halloween costume. Your kids may already have some. Are they getting a bit small? That's OK. Cut out the feet. Now kids can wear sturdy, comfortable shoes for trick or treating.

How do you make that famous blue hair?

If you're really ambitious, you can use knit hats and some blue yarn. Just poke each strand of yarn through the hats. Knot it on the inside so it doesn't pull back through. If this sounds like too much work, you can buy blue wigs. Justify your purchase when you make those troll doll costumes next year.

How will people recognize Thing One and Thing Two?

Cut circles from an old white t-shirt. Write on them with bold black marker, "Thing 1" and "Thing 2". Pretty easy, right? How do you attach the circle to the costume without sewing? Use fabric glue or iron on tape. Too complicated? Use safety pins. Pin from the inside of the red pj's so pins don't show.

Bonus ideas:

Glue fishbowls to the wigs of Thing One and Thing Two.

Use artificial (dries solid) water from the floral department of a craft store. Let it dry almost completely before adding your plastic fish. That way, he can appear to be jumping out of the water.

Bring Thing One and Thing Two to the party in a box.

An old shipping crate works great. They'll have to get to the party before everyone else and hide in the box. Still, the grand entrance will be worth it. It might even earn them first prize for best costume.

Grown ups can join in the fun by dressing as The Cat in the Hat.

After all, someone has to open the box. You'll need a red and white striped tall top hat, a black t-shirt and black pants. You'll also need white gloves for your hands and a big red bow to tie around your neck. Use Halloween make-up to draw yourself a cat face.

No-sew budget Halloween costumes kids can make

Store-bought Halloween costumes were not part of the equation back in the day. How did kids come up with creative, realistic costumes on their own? It wasn't as hard as you might think. In fact, many kids still make their own original costumes now. A wide variety of costumes that can be created with very little money and no sewing. Here's a few ideas kids can read through to get them started.

A pirate costume is one of the easiest.

Tuck stretchy pants into boots. Wear a white shirt that's miles too big. Cinch it around the waist with a wide belt. Tuck a fake knife or sword into the belt. Can't afford to buy a sword? Cut one out of cardboard. Cover the "blade" with aluminum foil. Button the cuffs of the shirt. Use scrunchy pony tail holders to cause a puffy shirt effect on the sleeves. Tie a colorful rag around your head. Wear gold hoop earrings. Toss some bulky chains around your neck. Tie a bag of fake coins to your belt.

Lady pirate? Simply add a layered skirt.

Be a bag of jelly beans for Halloween.

Take a body size clear plastic bag from the dry cleaner. Cut holes in the non-open side for your feet. Step into the bag, putting your feet through the holes. Fill with multicolored balloons. Tie at the top of your shoulders on each side. Wear a ribbon sash proclaiming Jelly Beans. Add a goofy, colorful hat with jelly beans glued on for fun.

Sherlock Holmes is on the case with this no-sew costume.

Wear a trench coat with a plaid scarf around the neck and tucked in at the front. Add a plaid beret type hat. Put a long curved smoking pipe between your teeth. Carry a magnifying glass. Talk about Dr. Watson and Scotland Yard a lot in a British accent.

Little girls love to be fairies on Halloween.

Dress in green tights and a long sleeved matching shirt. Tie a piece of elastic around your waist. Tie multicolored strips of tulle to the elastic. Tie a flower ribbon garland in your hair. Add wings from the dollar store. Spray them with spray glue and sprinkle them all over with fine glitter. Wear ballet shoes or jelly shoes sprayed with glue and glitter too. Flit off to your party.

Old school nerds make great Halloween characters

Wear plaid pants that are too short. Add dress shoes and non-matching socks. Wear a short sleeved dress shirt with a bow tie. Don't forget your pocket protector and pens. Wear goofy black glasses with a big nose attached. Pin a sign on your back written on notebook paper that says "kick me". Tape a piece of bathroom tissue (crepe paper) to the bottom of your shoe.

Be a cereal killer for Halloween.

No, I did not spell that wrong. Wear an old trench coat. Glue small snack size cereal boxes all over it. Spray paint plastic knives silver. Stick the knives into the cereal boxes. Drip craft paint blood splotches on each box. For an added touch, hold a bloody plastic knife in your hand too.

Want to be a three headed monster for Halloween?

Stuff 2 scary rubber whole head masks with tissue or newspaper. Glue on fake rubber eyes. Pin the bottom of each head securely to your shirt on each shoulder. Wear another creepy mask on your head. Cut three slits in a large, long black piece of fabric or sheet. (one slit for each head). Put the fabric over your heads. Put your heads through the slits.

It wouldn't be Halloween without a dead bride or two.

Wear an old wedding type dress and veil that has been dragged through the dirt and shredded. Paint your entire face, neck and hands with white Halloween make-up. Rub blue and black make-up circles around your eyes. Wear bright red lipstick. Paint your nails black. Have a friend sprinkle baby powder into your uncombed hair while you close your eyes. Tangle a giant fake spider into your hair. Put a fake noose around your neck.

Make cheap, green Halloween trick or treat bags using household items

Halloween comes every year. Why not make a cheap, green, reusable trick or treat bag? It seems wasteful to use plastic Halloween bags that end up in the trash. Make a cloth Halloween trick or treat bag that's ecofriendly, cheap, re-usable and unique. Kids will love their special handmade trick or treat bags, no matter how you make them.

Shopping bag

Most grocery stores sell cheap shopping bags for as little as a dollar. Use these as a base for your green trick or treat bags. Cover the store logo with Halloween fabric or some cute Halloween patches from a craft store. If you don't sew, use fabric glue or iron on tape to adhere the fabric and patches to the bag.

Pillowcase

An old plain colored pillowcase can be turned into a cheap green trick or treat bag. Purchase two small brass rings from the craft store. Fold each corner of the open end of the pillow case over one of the rings. Sew or glue the fabric in place. Tie colorful string through the rings for handles. Decorate as you did the shopping bag.

Discount fabric

Each year when Halloween is over, you'll find great clearance bargains on decorative Halloween fabric. You'll need about a yard to make a cheap green trick or treat bag. Turn the fabric inside out. Sew, glue or use iron on fabric tape to make the side seam. Turn the open side under and hem the same way. Turn right side out. Use the same handle method as with the pillowcase bag.

Old T-shirt

Turn an old short sleeved t-shirt inside out. Sew, hem tape or glue the bottom together. Turn it back right side out. Loop the sleeves over two 3 inch brass rings. Sew, fabric tape or glue sleeves to the body of the shirt. These hold the string handles. The open neck is where the candy goes in. Decorate this treat bag with Halloween patches, appliques and lettering.

Mesh laundry bag

This one is plain and simple but easy for toddlers. It holds itself open. Use a Halloween colored mesh laundry bag from the dollar store. Thread an embroidery hoop into the bag where the string is. Leave the string in the bag. A toddler can carry this trick or treat bag by the string or the hoop. It stays open for filling.

Little girls Halloween costumes from the dollar store

Many little girls love to play dress up. Halloween is the perfect excuse for them to dress in costumes. The dollar store offers so many dress up items. The potential for Halloween costumes is endless. Why buy expensive costumes when the dollar store has so many accessories for a dollar? Buy accessories that compliment what little girls already have in their closets for fabulous Halloween costumes.

Note: These days, we aren't so gender specific with our costumes. These costumes mostly appeal to little girls. However, there's no reason a boy couldn't wear them if he so chose. Plus, some could be adapted as masculine costumes.

Angel
Being a beautiful angel with wings is every little girls fantasy. Check your little girls closet for that fancy white special occasion dress she only wore once. No fancy dress? How about a plain white slip or cotton nightie? Add a set of wings and a halo from the dollar store. Sprinkle a little stardust (glitter) from head to toe and you have an angelic angel costume for pennies.

Ballerina
The dollar store has all kinds of little cheap tutus for dress up and play. Slip on a pretty pink one over a pink leotard and tights. Put hair up in a pretty bun and add a shiny dollar store tiara. Use white slip on socks with no cuff as ballet shoes. Get out the glitter again to make little girls sparkle from head to toe in their new ballerina Halloween costume.

Fairy
Little girls delight in dressing up as colorful fairies for Halloween. Dress your little girl in green or brown leotard and tights. Use several bright colored tutus from the dollar store to create a layered effect. To make fairy slippers use cuffed bright colored green socks with bells sewn around the cuffs and to each toe.

Pirate girl
Boys aren't the only ones who like dressing up as pirates for Halloween. Little girls can be pirates too. A fancy white blouse and dark ruffled skirt are the base for this Halloween costume. Use a large black belt at the waist. The dollar store provides you with a sword and holder. Tie a black cloth around your little girls head. Add hooped dollar store play earrings to complete the look.

Gypsy
Those dollar store hooped play earrings can be used for a gypsy costume too. Gypsy girls wear the same type of fancy white blouse sported by little girl pirates, Add a colorful ruffled skirt. The gaudier the the better. The dollar store also carries play tambourines for the gypsy Halloween costume. Add bright red lipstick and other colorful makeup for the perfect finishing touch.

Kids frightened of Halloween night activities? What to do?

The streets are seething with frightening creatures. Has something gone horribly wrong? Most kids delight in dressing up as ghouls and goblins. Others are frightened of Halloween. Maybe an older brother or sister told them about Bloody Mary. Maybe they're just too young to understand Daddy's in that monster costume. He hasn't become Swamp Thing, he's just pretending. Whatever the case, you can ease their fears. Halloween is supposed to be fun for kids, not a traumatic experience.

Have a preventative chat.

That ounce of prevention serves well for parents in many situations Halloween is one of them. If Halloween is a new experience for your kids, or if they were frightened last year, sit down and have a talk before Halloween night. Don't get into all the old legends and origins. Present Halloween as it is now. It's just a fun night for kids to dress up in funny or scary costumes, go to parties, carnivals or trick or treating.

Have a talk with those siblings, too.

Make it clear they're not to frighten little brother or sister with tales of scary Halloween creatures. Make sure kids know vampires, ghosts and demons are fictional as well. They may be passing on fears to younger siblings in order to deal with their own uncertainties. Now might be a good time to do a little research with older kids to take the mystery out of Halloween stories.

Too late for prevention?

Kids already frightened of Halloween? It's still not too late for that talk. Have older siblings join you. Kids frightened of Halloween by siblings might be more likely to believe the perpetrator of the rumors. Have siblings fess up to trying to scare the little ones to corroborate your reassurance.

Get them involved.

Take the scare out of Halloween costumes by making them too fun to be scary. Let little ones help plan the scariest outfits for Mom, Dad and siblings. Have them help you decorate the yard. When they know what goes into costumes and decor, they won't be so frightened by the final effect. Do have a talk about Halloween safety. Use fun catchy rhymes and songs to help them remember safety rules. Don't make it so scary they become even more frightened.

Avoid sheltering your child from Halloween fears.

Halloween comes every year. You can't shelter them for the rest of their lives. Eventually they will have to learn to face their fears. Experiencing life first hand is the best way to alleviate fear in any situation. Halloween is no exception to the rule. Show kids the fun side of Halloween. Soon, they'll be looking forward to it, rather than being frightened by it.