Easy Animal Costumes for Infants and Up (continued)

Cow

white hooded sweatsuit
black fabric marker or black fabric/felt circles
short piece of rope or 10-12 strands of black yarn, braided
dog collar or old belt cut to size
bell
2 pairs white socks

Draw black splotches onto sweatsuit with a fabric marker or cut and sew on black felt or fabric circles or spots. Add a tail by unraveling one end of the piece of rope and pinning the closed end to the back of the pants. If using yarn, be sure to leave a section unbraided toward the end of the tail. For the ears, cut two large triangles from felt. Either hand sew or hot glue onto the hood (or a headband). Keep in mind that hand sewing will make the ears easily removable so you can reuse the sweatsuit after Halloween! Use dog collar or an old belt and attach "cow bell" for the finishing touch. Have child wear one pair of black socks on his hands and one pair on his feet.

Pig

oversized pink hooded sweatsuit
cotton batting or receiving blankets
pink felt
hot glue
long pink chenille stick
2 pairs of pink or white socks
plastic pig nose (optional)

For the ears, cut two triangles from felt. Either hand sew or hot glue onto the hood. Keep in mind that hand sewing will make the ears easily removable so you can reuse the sweatsuit after Halloween! Twist chenille stick into a corkscrew tail and attach with a safety pin. After child is dressed, stuff sweatsuit with cotton batting or receiving blankets (anything soft that will not irritate skin). Have child wear one pair of socks on her hands and one pair on her feet.

Dinosaur/Dragon

green hooded sweatsuit
sheet of red felt
sheet of blue felt
sheet of purple felt
sheet of orange felt
two or three sheets of yellow felt
plastic grocery bags (for stuffing) or cotton batting
long piece of green felt or fabric to match suit
fabric glue

From the red, blue, purple and orange felt, cut triangular scales. Glue to the front of the sweat jacket in overlapping scale pattern. From the yellow sheets of felt, cut large triangles, roll into cone shapes, glue together to form the cone. Allow to dry. Stuff cone shapes with plastic bags or cotton batting and glue to the back of the suit for spikes. Make smaller versions of the yellow cones for the hood. Add a large pointy tail on the back hem made from long piece of felt or fabric. Hand sew on to back of pants or bottom of jacket.

Mouse

gray hooded sweatsuit
gray felt
double sided tape
2 pairs of gray or black socks

Cut two circles for ears from the felt and either hand sew or hot glue onto the hood. Use may alternatively use a headband. Keep in mind that hand sewing will make the ears easily removable so you can reuse the sweatsuit after Halloween! Cut a long tail from the second sheet of felt and attach to the back of the pants with a safety pin. Have child wear one pair of socks on her hands and one pair on her feet.

Ladybug

red hooded sweatsuit
2 pieces red poster board
scissors
black craft paint or black marker
hot glue
2 black chenille sticks
red or black plastic headband
2 pairs of red or black socks

Cut one piece of the poster board into a large oval. Draw or paint black circles onto oval. Cut two long, fairly thick strips (between one and two inches depending on the size of the child) from the second piece of posterboard the full length of the board. Using hot glue, attach these strips to the top of the back side of the shell, then run over child's shoulders as straps. Hot glue straps in place. Leave enough room for "give" so child can move his/her arms without tearing or breaking the straps. Wrap chenille sticks onto headband for antennas. Have child wear one pair of socks on her hands and one pair on her  feet.

Bear

brown hooded sweatsuit
brown felt
double sided tape
2 pairs of brown or black socks
oversized plastic margarine tub
blue construction paper or craft paint
black marker

Cut two circles for ears from the felt and either hand sew or hot glue onto the hood. You may alternatively use a headband. Keep in mind that hand sewing will make the ears easily removable so you can reuse the sweatsuit after Halloween! Have child wear one pair of socks on her hands and one pair on her feet. Paint or glue construction paper around margarine tub. using black market, write the word "HONEY" across the front.

Butterfly

black hooded sweatsuit
2 black chenille sticks
black plastic headband
poster board, any color except black
fluorescent craft paint, different colors
sequins
glitter
craft glue
pair of long boot laces
2 pairs of black socks

Cut posterboard in half, with scissors shape each half as a wing of butterfly. Being sure to leave enough room for a border around the wing, paint wings with fluorescent paints in different shapes and patterns. Paint a black border around edge of wings. Add sequins and glitter to the border. Poke a hole at the top inside seam of each wing, and at the bottom inside seam. Run boot laces through and criss- cross over child's body and tie. Wrap chenille sticks onto headband for antennas. Have child wear one pair of socks on her hands and one pair on her feet.

FOR MORE TERRIFIC COSTUME IDEAS,
GO TO PAGE ( 1  2  3 )

Related Articles:

Easy Pumpkin Costume
Make this adorable pumpkin costume for your little two to six year old!

Creative Costumes for Halloween
As the years have come and gone, parents and children have become more and more creative in selecting costumes, from the adorable to the unusual. Here are a few to choose from!

Cardboard Box Costumes
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!  All of the costumes listed here use a cardboard box.

Halloween Costumes - Traditional Favorites
As trick-or-treaters reach our doorsteps, we will view many fun and frightful  costumes. Over the years, several designs pop up over and over, year after year. If your kids are looking for a traditional costume, try one of these on for size!

Have a Costume Swap Party!
Save money and have fun by having a pre-Halloween costume making/costume swap party.