Sunny: the recycle robot

Ahh, the robot. The perfect, inexpensive last-minute DIY costume. Mysterious discarded bolts left over from your last Ikea purchase, old CDs (dials), cardboard box bodies, soda-bottle jetpacks, coat hanger antennae, discarded aerosol spray can lids you can stick on each side of your helmet.. is there any costume that's so versatile and fun to build? Empty out the recycling while you're crafting :)

Sunny is a long, long-time fan of Daft Punk and also enjoys some early Kraftwerk, so he was keen on being a robot. Variations on the theme: the Tinman of Oz, Tron, C3PO ... find more inspiration on our Pinterest board.

Some DIYers like to use silver spray paint for their robots, but we'd like to put in a plug for another option: school glue with silver glitter and silver duck tape or aluminum foil on a few key areas. It's ok to keep some areas unpainted and it's easier on your lungs and the environment, too. At the end you can pull the costume apart and re-recycle it! Or go silver-free like this little pink-and-white robot (pictured).

If you're feeling up for a small challenge, check out this great Power Ranger cardboard helmet video tutorial!

Join the Cat Club!

We love the re-issued Jenny Linsky books from 1949 from the New York Review of Books. This Zara kids knit cap  with Windy's red scarf is a perfect Jenny Linsky costume!

Donut worry, Foggy

What is a good costume for a dog, especially one like Foggy who is so scared of Halloween? That's just what we ask at the beginning of our Halloween story "Foggy's Big Fright" ...

Well, this one's a bit of a cheat, because we cannot reveal which costume Foggy chose. But one option was the donut (pictured at left). He felt that a hot dog was a bit too obvious ...

Donut costume how-to from Studio DIY (pictured in the middle) via our Halloween pinterest board. 

Jean-Cloud: the enthusiastic tennis...racket

When Jean-Cloud said he was going to be a tennis racket for halloween, we thought he meant a tennis player, but sure enough, he dressed as a racket. If that's your bag, you'll need a large sheet of cardboard, and X-acto knife, some string, cloth duck tape for the handle and some fluorescent tempera paint. You might also want a co-operative dog willing to dress as a tennis ball to accompany you, but they're trickier to come by.

If you'd rather be a tennis player you just need some white clothing, a pair of sneakers and some terry bands. If you cannot find the right stripes for your whites, draw them yourself with a sharpie (on the socks, too). It's much easier than you would think. If it's chilly where you live, a white V-neck sweater is always appropriate on the courts. Pictured here: a little inspiration from Wes Anderson.

Pro tips: mind your footwork on dark streets, use a powerful forehand to extend your treat bag, and please, try not to make too much of a racket out there.

Mellow: a starry (and gentle) witch

We are beginning to make our Halloween costumes and we love to go shopping in our own homes and backyards when we can. The classic witch is Mellow's choice. With a homemade newspaper hat from Cardboard Collective, a broomstick made with a small branch and leaves or grass like this or try this easy lightweight broom made from a paper towel tube and re-usable dress and cape, this costume is very gentle on the environment.

For Mellow's dress, we used a star patterned canvas, but our dream fabric was the beautiful starry Adelajda print from Liberty of London. You can still find it on etsy and at some quilting and fabric shops, but may need to be sourced online. Other ideas: a lovely star patterned lightweight corduroy or a starry jersey fabric would be cozy and appealing to wear after halloween is over. It's often easiest to see what's in stock locally, isn't it? 

The super-simple Tip Top Pattern from Petit à Petit is a good pattern for whipping up a quick dress or tunic. Layer over warmer clothes, then all you need is a black cardigan, cape or poncho to complete the costume. We're seeing lots of ponchos and capes in the shops right now, it's a good time to be a witch!.

Happy sewing... and remember that our Halloween costume ideas can also be found on our Pinterest Halloween board.

Windy: A Rainy Day Bird

This is the second in our series of DIY costume ideas, inspired by our Halloween story!

With your socks of yellow, you won't mind the weather, especially if you happen to have some nice yellow or red gumboots. Since it usually dry in Windy's paper Orchard, she's wearing her usual buckle shoes, but if you live somewhere rainy (like we do) why not wear some bright yellow tights with your wellies. If you like, you can even wear the wings over your raincoat! You will stand out on a drizzly day with your beautiful bright wings (use light fabrics that won't soak up too much water). If you want to keep your wings dry, perhaps a sky blue umbrella will do the trick.

The wings are easy to make, see this great roundup by Handmade Charlotte and the original post with template by Llevo el invierno. 

All our costume ideas are on our Halloween pinboard, too.