Some adorable costumes have come to light using little more than a cardboard box, some paint, and lots of imagination. Here are several ideas to choose from. Happy Halloween!

Robot
1 large box
1 small box
silver duct tape
gray hooded sweatsuit
silver spray paint
gray, white, or black gloves
silver face paint
markers
4 plastic milk jug lids

Seal one end of box with silver duct tape. Leave other end open. Do this with both boxes. Spray paint silver, let dry. When dry, cut circle out of small box so when placed on child's head, the hole will be there for his/her face. Cut open ends off or fold inside box. Follow above instructions for large box, then cut holes for arms. Glue lids on box in front, along bottom as control knobs. use markers to draw horizontal lines across the front of the box for effect. Paint face silver.

Race Car
large box
red spray paint
yarn
black spray paint
5 paper plates
black marker
4 yellow plastic milk jug lids (other colors will do as well)
1 red plastic milk jug lid for horn
red construction paper
white construction paper
craft glue

Fold sides of box in on both ends. Attach yarn to go from front of box to back of box and rest over child's shoulders. To attach, poke holes with a pen or screwdriver into the box, then run yarn through and tie off. Spray paint box red. Let dry. Spray paint the paper plates black. Let dry. Glue 4 of the 5 paper plates onto the box as wheels. Glue the plastic milk jug lids on to the plates as hub caps. Take last plate and cut out a steering wheel. Glue red plastic milk jug lid onto last plate as the horn. Glue plate to box. Cut tail lights from red construction paper, glue on. Cut headlights from white construction paper, glue on. Draw a grill on front with black marker.

Refrigerator
large box
marker
small trinket type toys
post it notes
empty box of cereal
white spray paint

Fold top of box closed, leave bottom open. Paint box white and allow to dry. Cut hole out of top for head and holes for arms out the sides. Use marker to draw a handle on fridge. Use different small trinket toys as magnets, glue on. Stick a couple of post it notes on with messages such as "Don't forget to walk the dog!" and "Pick up dry cleaning". Added effect, glue a box of cereal on the shoulder of the costume.

Christmas/Birthday Present
large box
wrapping paper
large bow
shiny ribbon

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Wrap box up in wrapping paper. Tape or glue ribbon around the box and adorn with a bow!

Jack in the box
large box
plastic headband
blue felt
red felt
green felt
orange felt
4 white pompoms
craft glue
red spray paint
gold craft paint
sponge
toilet paper roll
2 paper towel rolls

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Spray paint the box and the paper towel and toilet paper rolls with red spray paint. Let dry. Cut out tall triangles from the different colored felts. Roll into cones and glue closed. Glue pompoms on top of cones. Glue cones to headband. Hopefully, the cones will be tall enough to flop over like a jester's hat. Cut appropriate holes for head and arms. Glue paper towel and toilet paper rolls together to form the crank, glue to the side of the box. Decorate the box with gold craft paint by sponging paint on in various places or along the border.

Dice
large box
white spray paint
black craft paint or marker
OR
black construction paper

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Spray paint the box white. Let dry. Then, either cut big circles from black construction paper, or paint the black spots on your "dice".

Television
large box
small box (hair color size)
black spray paint
red craft paint
2 dowels from clothes hangers
aluminum foil
magazine picture of Barney (or football game, or whatever fits age)
2 plastic milk jug lids

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Cut holes for arms and head. Completely close the small box and spray paint completely black. When dry, use red paint to paint cable box channel number on small box. Glue small box to top of large box where shoulder will be. Wrap dowels in aluminum foil, poke holes in top of "TV" and insert dowels for antennas. Use a black marker to draw a picture tube on front. Glue magazine picture onto TV screen. Glue milk jug lids on as knobs.

X-Ray Machine
large box
white spray paint
paper skeleton decoration, torso only
craft glue
2 plastic milk jug lids

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Spray paint box white, let dry. Cut holes for arms and head. Paint a black rectangle on the front, and the words: "Caution: X-RAY IN USE". Use the torso of a life-size paper skeleton decoration as the image on the black rectangle (the screen). Glue the milk jug lids on the front as control knobs.

Lego
large box
spray paint in a bright primary color
6 empty margarine or butter tubs
shoe box
small plastic cups
face paint

Tape up one end of box, fold in sides of other end. Spray paint box and let dry. Cut holes for arms and head. Paint empty butter tubs same color as the box. Glue the six butter tubs to the front of the box, 2 vertical rows, 3 in each row, closed end out. To create a matching hat, take a shoe box and spray paint it to match your costume. Glue small plastic cups (also painted) upside down to the bottom of the shoe box. Place the shoe box on your head. Paint your face the same color as your costume.

 

Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children. She and her husband live in southeastern Wisconsin. She is also the owner of FamilyCorner.com Magazine. Subscribe to her free weekly kid's craft newsletter, Busy Little Hands, by sending any email message to kidscrafts-on@mail-list.com.