Homemade Halloween costume ideasReaders share their favorite ‘do-it-yourself’ costumes

Costume advice from local shops

We asked a handful of Halloween stores across the area to share advice on finding the best costume deals.

Halloween Express and Halloween Express Kids

Description: Adult, children and pet costumes for sale

Location: 2830 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Miamisburg, Ohio 45459 (These two stores are located right next to each other in The Village at Dayton Mall, near Time Warner Cable, Bonefish Grill and Rusty Bucket.)

Open: Now through Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday

Best time to buy: "For the best selection, the sooner they (customers) come in the better. Popular costumes, we do run out of, and our suppliers run out of as well."

Specials: Coupons are available at halloweenexpress.com.

Why should people buy a Halloween costume from Halloween Express or Halloween Express Kids? "We are a locally owned franchise. We've been in the area for nine years now. We've built a very good customer base. All of our customers are pretty loyal to us. They come looking for us, either with our competitors around. We think we have the largest selection, both [for] kids and adults. We've got about 1,400 different costumes total, lots and lots of accessories for everything."

More information: www.halloweenexpress.com or (937) 428-2287

Source: Tim Tucker, managing partner, Halloween Express and Halloween Express Kids

Springfield Arts Council Costume Collection

Description: Adult costumes for rent

Location: 117 S. Fountain Ave., Springfield, Ohio 45502

Open: The shop is open year round, with special Halloween hours from Monday, Oct. 15, through Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Hours:

Normal hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, by appointment

Best time to buy: "The earlier the better. Because they (costumes) are 24-hour rentals, I already have some reserved."

Specials: A Halloween Costume Rental Special is available for $15, plus a $5 refundable deposit, on select costumes, from Monday, Oct. 15, through Wednesday, Oct. 31. Costumes must be returned by Thursday, Nov. 1. These are 24-hour rentals.

Why should people rent a Halloween costume from Springfield Arts Council Costume Collection? "The ones you buy are very flimsy. For $15, you can rent an actual garment, and it's just a much better quality."

More information: Go to www.springfieldartscouncil.org/costume_shop.htm. For appointments or information, contact Sonya Ryhal or Julia Sutherly at 937-324-2712 (or toll free at 866-324-2712). Email Ryhal at costumes@springfieldartscouncil.org, or Sutherly at reception@springfieldartscouncil.org.

Source: Sonya Ryhal, education and special services coordinator, Springfield Arts Council

Party City

Description: Adult, children and pet costumes for sale

Location: Bridgewater Falls Shopping Center, 3431 Princeton Road, Suite 105, Hamilton, Ohio 45011

Open: Open year-round, with extended hours in October

Hours:

Best time to buy: "Party City carries a variety of costumes in all shapes and sizes and for all budgets. We have costumes starting as little as $9.99. … Really, it's any time according to the store hours. They always restock constantly through the holiday season."

Specials:

Go to www.partycity.com and Party City’s Facebook page at

for information on frequent discounts and specials.

Why should people buy a Halloween costume from Party City? "Party City is different from all of the [seasonal] pop-up Halloween stores. Party City is a year-round retailer. … You can go into a Party City dressing room and try on any costume you like and make sure it's the right fit before you purchase. Additionally, Party City accepts returns up until Oct. 24."

More information: For more information and party and costume ideas, go to www.partycity.com. Call the store at (513) 887-8900.

Source: Haley Hogan, "spooksperson," Party City

Foy’s Costume Store

Description: Adults' costumes for sale and rent

Location: 10 W. Main St., Fairborn, Ohio, 45324

Open: Year-round, with special Halloween season hours

Hours:

More information: foyshalloweenstore.com or (937) 879-0672

Source: Mike Foy, owner, Foy's Costume Store

Foy's Kids Costume Store

Description: Children's costumes for sale and rent

Location: 15 E. Main St., Fairborn, Ohio 45324

Open: Year-round, with special Halloween season hours

Hours:

More information: foyshalloweenstore.com or (937) 879-FOYS

Source: Mike Foy, owner, Foy's Kids Costume Store

For Foy's Costume Store and Foy's Kids Costume Store

Best time to buy: "Come in soon. When I say soon, don't wait til the last minute. Then you limit yourself to what stores have in stock. We are open year round. We don't run out. … Come early and shop. Just look. Just get an idea of what you want to be, whether you're an adult or a child."

Specials: No discounts are available. Prices are the same year-round.

Why should people buy a Halloween costume from Foy's Costume Store or Foy's Kids Costume Store? "I think it's selection, and also, when you're dealing with the same place, come talk to me. Come talk to the owner. I'm the third generation. … I will special order in things for people. If someone wants something they can't find, I'll order it. … Any time you need a costume, we're here. … We're in the same location. … We constantly come up with new ideas. … Come down to experience Halloween. … You get in the Halloween mood."

Source: Mike Foy, owner, Foy's Costume Store and Foy's Kids Costume Store

The cost of Halloween can quickly add up.

The average person celebrating Halloween in 2011 indicated they planned to spend $72.31 on decorations, costumes and candy, and total Halloween spending was expected to reach $6.86 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey conducted by BIGresearch.

Between trick-or-treat candy, costumes that you’d pay at least $25 for per person and decorations, the cost adds up quickly.

There are plenty of ways to save, though. We asked our Facebook followers to share their best homemade Halloween costume ideas for adults or children. Here are some of their answers, which may inspire you to get creative and save big on your own costume.

Jill Westendorf: "My mother would always make our costumes when we were little. I carry on that tradition today. I never buy a store-made costume. My boys have been: a robot, a spider, a pumpkin, Steve Irwin, Super Mario, etc. They love helping me find item for their costumes @ local thrift stores & making them from scratch."

Mike S. Akemon: "My mother made me into a crayon with construction paper wrapped around me and the tip of the crayon on my head with construction paper folded into a cone. Used a marker to draw the designs on the crayon, crayola."

Melanie Baker: "I made my youngest a bag of jelly beans with a clear trashbag and balloons."

Nyci Farren-White: "Last year, I made my 1-year-old daughter a Wonder Woman costume with a tutu, complete with a Lasso of Truth. I rarely use store-bought costumes. My oldest was Jack Skellington one year. I used a black sweatsuit, a white fabric marker, and a bat I made from felt. I've also made Angry Birds, Pokemon & Kingdom Hearts characters as well."

Kim Morgan: "I made my son look like a Christmas present … wrapped garland and bow on his head. Half his face was red other half green with glitter going down middle and wrapped a box with Xmas paper an cut out arms and hole for the head. It was awesome and definitely unique."

Belinda Morrison: "One year I dyed a mop head refill red, wore bib overalls with a flannel shirt and boots. I was Raggedy Andy!!!!!!!"

Rick Shick: "Several years ago, my wife encased me in spider webbing. Then she put a giant spider on me and made it look like it was biting my neck. Fake blood oozed from the bite, my face was black, grey and green. After trick-or-treaters received their treats, they had to walk by me. As they did, I'd open my eyes and whisper, "Help me, help me." We could hear them tell other kids to come to our house because it was cool."

Joan Mayrer: "I made my nephew a werewolf costume. Grey fake fur, mittens with claws and a hood. It was so cute. …"

Andrea Siegel-Hall: "My mom made a Spock costume for me when I was in preschool or kindergarten complete with pointy ears on a headband :)"

Scott Gamble: "I was in kindergarten the year 'Jaws' came out and, although not allowed to see it, totally fascinated with Great White sharks. That Halloween my mom made me a shark costume, complete with fins on the arms and a dorsal fin on the back. It had a hood that went over my head, and she bought me a shark mask for the face. I didn't realize it at the time, but definitely the coolest Halloween costume I can remember."

Kimberly Ennis: "Mom made a washing machine costume for my brother out of a box of duct tape and paint… sooo cute and a big hit that year. Super cheap, too."

Lori Bond: "I have always wanted to dress up as Dorothy with a twist… a nice big gash on one side of the face where the door hit her during the tornado."

Donna Criswell Mollaun: "A Christmas tree and box of Cheerios. I made them. First-prize winners at Fairfield Central. … The best costume I've even seen was made by a young neighbor. She made herself into a dining table — complete with tablecloth, napkins, plates, cups and flatware. Her head emerged from a serving platter in the center of the table."

Amy Peck: "My twins at age 2 were Thing One and Thing Two :)"

Michelle Hall Faulkner: "My son is in a wheelchair, and we usually do up his chair for Halloween. I think the best one was the giant pirate ship, complete with mast, sail and Jolly Roger. :)"

Connie Burden: "Had a Halloween with about 5 friends & we went as chainsaw massacre victims! :-) We used fake blood, baggy t-shirts & carried plastic limbs behind us :-)"

Judith McQuinn: "We always had a contest where I used to work. I had a yellow suit, dressed up like a rooster, made a red comb and used yellow rubber gloves on my feet. I won!!!"

Amanda Moore Bruce: "I have two little boys, and last year I made one a Christmas gift and the other one was a box of Kleenex. They were so cute."

Nicki Slivinski: "I'm making princess and the frog for my girls. The 6 yr old is the princess and my 3 yr old is the frog."