The 6 Easiest DIY T-Shirt Costumes for Kids

I felt my first chill in the air this morning! And let me tell you, there’s nothing more refreshing after months of a hot Georgia summer. As soon as I slipped on my sweater, images of pumpkins and the scent of spice bread started swirling around my head like falling leaves, once again reminding me why autumn is my favorite season. But every year I get so caught up in the magic of it all, I almost forget about the most important part - THE COSTUMES! Like clockwork I’m out on All Hallow’s Eve scrambling to pull together something creative for my little monsters. 

I know myself well enough to know that this will inevitably be the scene again this year. But this time, I’m going to be ready! All you need to beat the October 31st scaries is a t-shirt and a little bit of paint (FolkArt Multi-Surface is our go-to for projects like these!). And aren’t those the best kinds of costumes, anyway? The ones that come right out of the ole noggin and not from some vacuum-sealed bag? I think so! 

Here are a few of my favorite ideas for darling last-minute disguises:

Throw an egg on it! My Poppet used needle and thread to make her sunny-side-up creation, but all you need is a white t-shirt and some yellow fabric paint. It’s the easiest breakfast (Halloween costume) ever!

This baby bear tee via Vendetta Uncinetta proves that sometimes simpler is better. Just paint on a face and go! Up the cute factor by attaching little felt ears with the help of a Mod Podge Mod Melter.

This one via Small Fry makes my design-loving heart sing! Pick your favorite typeface and use a stencil to make an alphabet tee for your tiny typographer. Idea: give it a scientific spin and try it out with elements of the periodic table!

No bones about it, this spooky skeleton via And We Play is about as easy as it gets. All you need is a black tee (long sleeve, short sleeve, no sleeve – they’d all be cute!) and white paint. You could also use white felt and your handy dandy Mod Podge Mod Melter to create a more 3D effect. Finish it off with a little red heart for a pop of color!

Between pool parties and beach trips, my family has amassed quite the collection of styrofoam noodles. Alpha Mom shows us how to take these summer toys into fall with a last-minute costume that will surely stick out in a sea of trick-or-treaters.