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Halloween is kind of like the Do-It-Yourself Olympics – a time to really go all out,  go for the gold!  But you don’t have to be a seamstress to make your own (or your kids’ own) costumes – in fact, the Star Wars costumes above were made using a hot glue gun, bits of random clothing from the Goodwill and re-purposed objects like skittles & pizza boxes(Darth Vader’s chestplate).

Here are some ideas of Halloween Costumes you can make at home – please leave comments with any costume ideas you have!

GIVEAWAY: We’ve extended our Time4Fall Creative Costume Giveaway Contest – GO HERE to enter!

Kid Costumes:

Playing Card: 2 pieces of card/posterboard tied over shoulders – decorate like a playing card

“Drama Queen” (or “Coupon Queen”): Buy a cheap prom dress at the thrift store, add a tiara and a sash with “Drama” written across it (Or Coupon).  Also could carry fake flower bouquet.

Handyman: Overalls, plaid shirt, toolbelt, toy tools.  Add a cap or nametag reading “Mr. Fix It”

Bag of Jelly Beans/Skittles: Wear white clothes with a big white or clear garbage bag on top – fill bag with small balloons

Dice (As many as you want, for single or group): Wear all black and cut a few circles out of posterboard to tape to yourself  *Or wear white and cut out black circles.

Lego: Cut holes in a rectangular piece of cardboard (or use a whole box) and paint it all red. Stuck red plastic cups through the holes (bottom side facing out)

Robot: Put on a long sleeve shirt and pants, (same color) like blue for instance. Take some tin foil and tape to some body parts, (arms, legs, chest). Afterwards, take a cardboard box for the helmet and cut out holes for eyes, then let your little cyborg help decorate it. *For extra detail, sharpie in some circuitry on the tin foil.

Raggedy Ann: Bright blue dress from thrift store, striped socks, DIY red yarn wig, facepaint triangles on cheeks

Indiana Jones: Fedora, Leather bomber jacket, khakis and homemade rope whip rolled up and attached to belt loop (thrift store finds)

Classics: Clown, Princess, Cowboy, Indian, Pirate, Ninja, Bum, Scarecrow, Ghost, Cat, Mummy, Hippie, Disco dancer, soldier….

Family or Group Theme Costumes:

Wizard of Oz
Snow White & Dwarves
Robin Hood
Incredibles Family
Indiana Jones
American Idol Judges
Super hero group
Bands (Beatles, Monkees, Village People, Kiss, etc)
Charlie Brown characters
Harry Potter characters
Red Riding Hood & characters
Mario Brothers & Princess
Lord of the Rings

Last-Minute Costumes:

Static Cling: Wear black clothes and attach socks, baby clothes, other small items of clothing with a few stitches.  Add “wow” factor by making crazy big hair with hairspray!

Bag of Leaves: Get a big black garbage bag and cut arm & head holes in it.  Stick arms and head through and staple/tape leaves straight out of the yard to the bag.  Hot glue a few leaves to a headband or hat.

MORE? We know you have lots of ideas too – so leave them in the comments!  You can also download a FREE eBook with lots of DIY Costume ideas HERE!  Plus – check out these Cute Halloween crafts HERE

(I updated the link – thanks for the heads up guys!) 

Are you hoping to head out to a nearby pumpkin patch this fall with the family?  Here’s a great resource I used to find local pumpkin patches when we moved to this town – it’s called PumpkinPatchFinderandMore.org - and it’s a free service.

For a great deal on pumpkin patch/corn maze admission, make sure to check Groupon and Living Social listings for your city – last year at this time there were several deals offered throughout the Fall!

Picture courtesy of Martha Stewart.com

Most of us haven’t started carving our pumpkins yet – but you might be looking ahead for the perfect pattern!  Here are some sites offering free pumpkin carving stencils/patterns.  Enjoy!

PumpkinMasters

Hershey’s Pumpkin Stencils

Martha Stewart Pumpkin Carving Stencils (Also Pumpkin Carving Tips)

Make your own Pumpkin-Stencils at BH&G

Send in your ideas to: time2saveworkshops@gmail.com!

Well, we’re officially into Fall now – and if you haven’t entered our “Perty Porch Contest” yet by submitting a picture of your Fall door/porch decor – GO HERE to enter!

If you haven’t started decorating yet, you aren’t alone…. I’ve so far only hung up our Family Monster Mash Wreath.

That’s why I went searching Pinterest for some cool ideas for a DIY Fall Wreath.  (Scroll to the bottom for the LAZY Girl’s Wreath)

Here are some of my faves to help get you going!

Those are all pretty – also I saw a couple that used paper/fake leaves to make a pretty pattern.  Then again – making a Fall wreath means you’ll also have to make a Christmas wreath – that’s why I like the idea of this Pinecone Wreath…

Hang it from an orange ribbon – VOILA!  Fall Wreath!  Hang it from a Green ribbon – VOILA!  Christmas Wreath!  Plus, you can make the kids go pick up all the pinecones.  See what I told you?  Lazy girl’s wreath

What’s your wreath-style?  Are you modern?  Traditional?  Funky?  Elementary-school chic?

Well listen up, all you who are creative, crafty or just generally awesome at making stuff!  Share your idea for a Fall wreath with us and be entered into our Frugal Fall Decor Giveaway!

CREDITS: Nutty Acorn Wreath (marthastewart), Apple Wreath (BHG) , Gourd Wreath( BHG), Pinecone Wreath Orange Ribbon (TipJunkie), Pinecone Wreath Green Ribbon (U-Create)

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Here’s Kasey’s porch, isn’t it perty?  She decorated with her family last week!

Perty porches – it’s a Southern thing.  Sure, you may have a pretty porch, or a really lovely porch – but around here, we like ‘em “perty”

Yesterday was the official 1st Day of Fall, and to kick off our favorite season, Team Time 2 Save would like to invite you to enter our 10-Day long “Perty Porch Contest”!

There are two ways to enter:

1.)  You can send us a picture.
(Show off your own Perty Porch, Perty Door Decor, or even your living room window covered in construction paper candy-corn)

2.)  Leave a comment.
(Tell us how you like to decorate, what you have to get EVERY year, or any frugal ways you spruce up your porch/doorway for Fall)

All pictures submitted will be put up for a community vote right here in 10 days (See?  You have plenty of time to decorate if you haven’t already!)  The decorating tips winner will be randomly chosen using random.org.

PRIZES!  PRIZES!  PRIZES!

We’re teaming up with some of our FAVORITE brands to give away some great prizes with each contest.  We have some fun things in the works – and though we can’t tell you yet what it is – we guarantee you’ll like it!