Happy Friday: Frugal DIY Mom-Friendly Costume

By Bryn | Operations Manager

Oct 24, 2014 @ 6:00 PM MDT

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Sent from reader, Megan:

I like to dress up with my kids for Halloween but it can be hard finding costumes that are inexpensive and that aconlinemodate chasing kids. This year I made a Jessie cowgirl costume (from Toy Story).

From Hobby Lobby, I bought 2 pieces of yellow felt ($0.25 each) and 2 cow print bandanas ($0.99 each and used a 40% off coupon). I didn’t have an old white button down shirt so I got one at Goodwill for $3.49. I did have an old ripped pair of jeans so that was free.

I looked at pictures online and used the shirt and jeans as patterns for the felt and bandanas. I hand stitched it all together and used some red embroidery floss I had on hand for embellishments… but a red sharpie would also work just fine. I braided my hair like Jessie and wore some boots I already had.

Total cost for my DIY mom-friendly costume was $6.07.

HAPPY FRIDAY! 😀

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Join The Discussion

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Wendy R October 24, 2014 at 6:03 pm MST

Cute!

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Colleen October 24, 2014 at 6:06 pm MST

Nice!

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Yoli October 24, 2014 at 6:06 pm MST

Great Job Megan. Lovely idea and very creative 👍

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Debbie October 24, 2014 at 6:08 pm MST

How adorable. You are crafty!!!!

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jiya October 24, 2014 at 6:11 pm MST

Creative!!

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Robin October 24, 2014 at 6:12 pm MST

So cute! Great idea 😀

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donna October 24, 2014 at 6:17 pm MST

Great idea! That’s a very cute costume!

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mom October 24, 2014 at 6:18 pm MST

some people are just too very smart!

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Dja October 24, 2014 at 6:18 pm MST

Very creative! I’m impressed for sure!! 🙂

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Jessica October 24, 2014 at 6:19 pm MST

I did a homemade Jessie costume about 4 years ago when my oldest was in Pre-k or K. I ended up buying the hat and boots but she got so much use out of the homemade items and we still have them

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Erin October 24, 2014 at 6:40 pm MST

I did one for my daughter last year. It is awesome, but it wasn’t all that frugal, though I used coupons or discounts on everything! I painted the yellow parts of the shirt, glued red trim on, (which was harder than it sounds!), made the French cuffs and chaps, and bought a hat and adorable Durango boots. This year, my son’s going as Steve in a cardboard-and-printout costume.

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Sara October 24, 2014 at 6:20 pm MST

Adorable!

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kim October 24, 2014 at 6:20 pm MST

Love it!

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Melissa October 24, 2014 at 6:22 pm MST

How creative! As they say, “necessity is the mother of invention “.

Personally, I am not a good seamstress. But looking back through the years, my best work was always for my kids’ Halloween costumes when I had to get creative with very little money.

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kc October 24, 2014 at 6:36 pm MST

so cute, we are making our costumes (Mickey and Minnie) too. This would be a great happy friday idea for next week for everyone to post their DIY costumes and share. 🙂

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Tonya October 25, 2014 at 9:48 am MST

Yes please! That would be fun to see!

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VANESSA October 24, 2014 at 6:39 pm MST

Wow, you are quite creative.

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Akiko October 24, 2014 at 6:46 pm MST

Well done! Great job!!

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Heidi N. October 24, 2014 at 6:47 pm MST

Neat idea. Hey, Collin, you should have a post where we all share frugal costume ideas!

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colleen October 24, 2014 at 6:51 pm MST

Kid ideas: Box troll, just find a box and cut out arms, cost free. Ninja turtle wear green or brown sweat suit make two giant cardboard circles for the shell, add a bandanna across the head.

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Renee October 24, 2014 at 7:34 pm MST

For the ninja turtle you can also paint an oval disposable aluminum baking pan green to wear as a shell.

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Katrina October 24, 2014 at 8:07 pm MST

Cute idea!

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Jac October 24, 2014 at 6:55 pm MST

Awesome job, Megan! You did a great job of making a fantastic costume, AND you did it for an incredibly low price–double kudos to you! I’m sure your daughter will have a fun and memorable celebration. My reonlinemendation as mom to grown kiddos–be sure to take a few pics to document this fleeting time! 🙂

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Kristen October 24, 2014 at 6:55 pm MST

It’s hard to find appropriate costumes as well! Like, Minnie Mouse and an angel costume shouldn’t be inappropriate!! Lol

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Lisa October 24, 2014 at 7:05 pm MST

I did this last year almost exactly. FYI, dollar tree has red cowboy hats.

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Mia October 24, 2014 at 7:09 pm MST

My daughter is a zombie bride this year. Her first onlinemunion dress was stained, so we cut it up and with white makeup she was ready to go…my other daughter did the same theme with cut up footy pajamas – a doll without the head – and she was a hit 😃

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sarakershaw October 24, 2014 at 7:44 pm MST

I did this exact same thing last year! It was great. I think the entire thing – glitter and all, cost me under $5.

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Foster Mommy October 24, 2014 at 7:44 pm MST

We have twin boys who want to be friendly ghosts for Halloween. Quite as easy costume, as you can just cut eye holes in a white bed sheet.

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wendy October 24, 2014 at 7:53 pm MST

Omg thanks a bunch. I was looking for ideas for a DIY Jesse costume. My baby is going to be woody, so this onlinees at the perfect time for me. Also, at 99 cent store there is a red felt cowboy hat. Perfect!!

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Lisa October 24, 2014 at 8:09 pm MST

Great idea! I love it!

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C October 24, 2014 at 8:13 pm MST

That’s awesome 🙂

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joni October 24, 2014 at 8:38 pm MST

so talented I have the shopping smarts but not the creative talent good job!

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Elaine October 24, 2014 at 8:53 pm MST

Thanks for sharing. I chose to accessorize with whatever my daughter is. Last year she was a pirate princess so I got a tiara and pirate headband and put it together and this year she was hello kitty so I wore hello kitty hate, scarf and gloves I got at Claire s on clearance last year. $2!

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Cannielle October 24, 2014 at 10:11 pm MST

I made a sunny side up egg costume and bacon strip ( for her hair) for my 2 years old this year.

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Paige October 24, 2014 at 11:09 pm MST

I did the same thing for my daughter this year as Hello Kitty. Dress from Rue La La for $4.99, hair band from JCPenney for $0.35, tights from Wal Mart for $3 and Hello Kitty sneakers my mom bought her. In store, the cheapest costume in her size is like $25.

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denise October 25, 2014 at 4:52 am MST

very creative. that is awesome!

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Gail October 25, 2014 at 5:33 am MST

Very creative and cute!

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Bobbie watson October 25, 2014 at 5:35 am MST

Love the outfit. My daughter just made this outfit for her and the woody outfit did her boyfriend. It turned out wonderful, she’s 15, and I was proud she did it by herself. Too bad I can’t show her picture too.

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Libby October 25, 2014 at 5:45 am MST

One of cleverest and simple adult costumes I’ve seen was Flo from Progressive. White outfit, name tag, and headband are the main elements needed-oh, and lipstick!

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JA October 25, 2014 at 7:00 am MST

I was going to be her, but when I told my son’s friend’s mom, she was like,”Who is that? I don’t know who that is?” and I felt stupid, thinking maybe I just watch too much TV and I would have to explain myself all night long. I feel a little better now. Still have time to throw that together.

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Kristen October 25, 2014 at 8:40 am MST

No, everyone knows who flo is!!! 🙂

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Kristen October 25, 2014 at 9:22 am MST

I DVR everything and rarely watch onlinemercials and I definitely know who Flo is 😉

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Kim October 27, 2014 at 4:37 pm MST

Same here. DVR everything, still know to Flo is. Hahahaha

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Jennifer October 25, 2014 at 6:28 am MST

So cute!!!

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Christi October 25, 2014 at 7:16 am MST

Two years ago my then 3 year old daughter wanted to be a Dorito (I know, she’s crazy) so we cut out triangle shapes from a big piece of cardboard and painted it. She wore it like a sandwich board. It turned out adorable and was FREE! Haha!

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Erica October 25, 2014 at 8:02 am MST

Love it!

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Ashley57 October 25, 2014 at 8:04 am MST

Good job! I knew exactly who that was when I saw the photo!

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Iris Jarfree October 25, 2014 at 9:21 am MST

very cute. use on chick-fil-a cow appreciation day, too.

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Jess October 29, 2015 at 2:53 am MST

Hello, dying to find this for an outfit – where can I get this shirt?

Jess!
Thank you

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