We will soon be to the time of year when we are all scrambling for costume ideas. Often, there is little time to put one together. The following costumes can be easy enough for the times your child asks, "Mommy, did I tell you we need to dress up for the party tonight."

Today's families have a wealth of ready-made costumes to choose from and some are very good. If your child is interested in being a character from a cartoon or other show, these will prove easiest to use, but when the challenge is of another type. Take a chance, the effort will be rewarding to you both.

With so many new, busy moms already used to purchasing a costume, making one may seem like a waste of time. Be assured you can make costumes and not be a seamstress. I'm living proof of that fact, as my former home economics teacher would attest to if she were around. You can cut, wrap, pin, staple, tie and do some basic stitches if necessary to keep your kids from being embarrassed by a costume that falls apart.
The easiest costumes are often those that tiny children ask for; so start there to learn the basics. Once you have made a few creations, your mind will begin to see costumes everywhere you go.

Witches and Dracula are still favorites of kids at all ages. Using basic clothing items first, search closets, chests, and ragbags for anything black. A witch can wear an adult dress altered to fit, or a long sweatshirt with sleeves cut shorter and fabric gathered for a smaller neckline and at the waist. Hats can be purchased or created from poster board, construction paper, covered with black fabric, or vinyl. You need a large circle with cut out for the head and a cone shape for the top. Depending on material used, you can hot glue it, staple it or sew it together. An old broom with handles wrapped with black or orange streamers could be added. Place a cat cut out or a stuffed one (a real cat might object to their role) on broom or witch's shoulder. She could carry a pot for witch's brew or use that as her candy container for Trick or Treat. Green eye shadow combined with foundation may be a good start for a scary face. Otherwise, every store costume display has make-up for sale. Older kids will get more dramatic with their makeup, adding a few warts, and possibly a crooked nose.

Dracula can start with black pants or sweat pants and a black turtleneck. The main items needed to make the costume work are the cape and the fangs. Fangs are available at the costume store, but could also be obtained in the gum ball and candy aisles. The cape should be long, wide and luxurious, deserving of a count. Any sheet, crib sheet, pleated drape (especially good for the collar) or old skirt. Writ dye can turn any item into the just right color. Add a shiny white or red lining to your cape for the ultimate look. A stuffed or paper bat might be the just right touch to attach to the wrist of such a person. Keep make up very white and only use red on the lips, dropping a spit or two of blood for older kids.

Every little girl asks at least one time to be a Princess, Angel, Fairy, or some other lovely character from nursery rhymes. Fabric is everything for this costume. Start with a child or adult nightgown or layer several. One can be the base of the dress and the second or third ones might be gathered at spots around the hem to add the overskirt. Tie gathers with ribbons, or place flowers or bows. Feel free to use ribbon, flowers, lace, ruffles, sequins and glitter lavishly for any of these costumes. Wings for angels and fairies can be anything from poster board creations pinned or sewn on to elaborate chicken wire, fabric covered items that seem capable of flying. Use gauze netting or any filmy fabric for the wings. Don't forget a princess may need a scepter and a fairy a wand. Adding a small Styrofoam ball to a dowel rod and covering it all with shiny ribbon or spray painting gold or silver can make a scepter. The painted dowel rod can also be used minus the ball with colored streamers to match the gown for a wand. Don't forget a tiara or crown for any of these costumes. Use a headband to form the tiara from fabric or cardboard. Be lavish with the shiny glitter.

For angels, or even Brides do the whole thing in white. Don't forget to use lace curtains to make a veil for the bride.

Boys love Pirate costumes and that can be the easiest thing to create. Joggers tied at the bottoms and a striped shirt can be the basis for the costume. Or use a ruffled shirt and a dark blazer. Older kids may like to wrap one leg in brown paper to look like a peg leg. All kids love the eye patch, the hat, and the hook for the hand. Cut a shape for the eye patch from black fabric. Lots of library books have simple directions for making paper hats including the pirate's. Almost anything can be produced with cardboard and spray pint including the hook. Tie it to their hand and pin their real hand inside the jacket.

Credits: Jo Ann Wentzel