DIY Halloween: 9 Easy and Affordable Costumes to Try

If you follow @lauryncakes on Instagram, you’ll know that it’s no secret I love Spooky Season! The past few years I have worn DIY Halloween costumes for to celebrate the spooktacular holiday. Sometimes the costumes have used clothing from around my house, sometimes pieces were thrifted, and sometimes all I needed was a small purchase to complete the look! This blogpost is about nine of my do-it-yourself outfits from Halloween’s past that you can recreate this fall.

Do-It-Yourself Halloween Costume Ideas

Dalmatian or Dog Thrifted Halloween Costume

Firstly, this Dalmatian costume! This was one of the first Halloween outfits I put together for my blog. The pieces were entirely thrifted, and it would be easy to recreate the look using your local second-hand store. If not, below I linked some similar outfit pieces. All you need to complete the doggo is a drawn-on eyeliner nose.

Genie from ‘Aladdin’

Of course this Genie from Aladdin look was inspired by the movie that came out in 2019. The character (and movie in general) was so cute and funny, I had to create my own rendition. Now, if you’re also looking to DIY something cute for your kiddo, check out these Halloween wishes for kids to include in your Disney-inspired greeting cards. In full disclosure, this photo is photoshopped to give me blue hands and pants! However, below I linked all the items you would need to create the Halloween costume of your dreams– and still be able to wear each piece for any of your fall outfits. 

Miss Frizzle from ‘The Magic School Bus’

If you don’t know who Miss Frizzle is, did you even attend public school in the US?! I went with this famous cartoon teacher character when I was still teaching High School. The $25 dress was perfect for The Frizz and I paired it with my Katy Perry Skool Boy bus flats. The entire Halloween outfit was a huge success with my students!

Butterfly Queen DIY Halloween Costume

Indeed, I do love to stay true to my love for pink and blue! Using some butterfly magnets and some clothes I already had in my closet, I transformed into a butterfly queen. It’s a blast being able to create a costume using stuff already at my house. Below, you will find links to similar tulle skirts and jeweled bodysuits, as well as the magnet butterflies (that can go on your fridge after).

Classic Witch Do-It-Yourself Halloween Costume

I’m a Basic Witch… get it?! A Halloween classic, but using a LBD and boots you already have for autumn outfits. Just add a black hat, and maybe a black cat, to complete this costume.

Mermaid DIY Halloween Costume

Yes, another 2017 Halloween costume throwback! I took a corset (originally beige, but turned pink in the wash– oops!) and hot glue gunned seashells to the bralette to create a mermaid outfit! For my hair accessories, I glued shells to some bobby pins. I felt a bit like contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race that can’t sew 😉 but it was the easiest DIY I’ll ever complete.

Wednesday Addams from ‘The Addams Family’

Yet another costume you can make with a little black dress– Wednesday Addams!Add some tights, your fave black boots, and throw your hair into braids for the sassy, yet spooky, character. Don’t forget the dark lipstick!

Snake Makeup for a DIY Halloween Costume

Looking to feel ssssssexy and sssssleek this October 31st? Well, slither on over to your sock drawer and use your fishnet stockings to create scales for your snake makeup this Halloween! Just pull the tights over the skin you want scaled, and use eyeshadow to fill in the pattern. I wanted to achieve a slightly slippery aesthetic and decided to slick back my hair in the ‘wet hairstyle’ that’s oh so trendy and easy to pull off. If you’re going to go all out, be sure to give fierce Slytherin eyes all night!

Camilla from ‘A Bad Case of Stripes’

This last DIY Halloween look brought on a huge case of nostalgia for me… and A Bad Case of Stripes! Camilla is a character in one of my favorite childhood picture books. She ends up coming down with an illness that causes her to have rainbow stripes on her body… until she learns to love herself just the way she is. The book is a must-read, and the look is a must-try! All you’ll need is a rainbow top and some face paint and you’ll win all the costume contests.

Which one of the looks above is your favorite?!