Cut one piece of the poster board into a large oval shell. Draw large wobbly circles on shell. Go over outline with markers or paint to accentuate. Cut two long, fairly thick strips (between one and two inches depending on the size of the child) from the second piece of poster board the full length of the board. Using hot glue, attach these strips to the top of the backside of the shell, and then run over child's shoulders as straps. Hot glue straps in place. Leave enough room for "give" so child can move his/her arms without tearing or breaking the straps.

brown, tan, gray, black or white hooded sweat suit, Fabric circles in a contrasting color (i.e. white suit, brown spots, etc.), 2 sheets of felt in color matching sweat suit, scissors, double sided tape, 2 pairs of socks in color matching sweat suit, dog collar or belt cut to size (optional)

Using small pieces of double sided tape, attach fabric circles to sweat suit in various different areas. Cut two floppy ears from 1 sheet of the felt and either hand sew or hot glue onto the hood. Keep in mind that hand sewing will make the ears easily removable so you can reuse the sweat suit after Halloween! Cut a long tail from the second sheet of felt and attach to the back of the pants with a safety pin. Have child wear one pair of socks on her hands and one pair on her feet. Top off with a dog collar or a belt cut short to serve as a collar.

gold, brown, tan, black, gray or white hooded sweat suit, faux fur in color matching sweat suit, fabric glue, felt in color matching sweat suit, plastic headband, scissors, 2 pairs of socks in color matching sweat suit, dog collar or belt cut to size (optional)

If desired, use black marker to draw stripes on sweat suit. Cut two triangles for ears and hot glue to the headband. Cut a small oval shape from the faux fur for the tummy area and adhere that with fabric glue. Next make cuffs and a collar. Use the cuffs on the sweatshirt as a guide for how wide and long you need to cut the faux fur strips. Attach the strips to the sweatshirt using fabric glue. Cut a long tail from the remaining felt and attach to the back of the pants with a safety pin. Have child wear one pair of socks on her hands and one pair on her feet. Top off with a dog collar or a belt cut short to serve as a collar.

black hooded sweat suit, 2 pairs of black socks, 4 pair of black tube socks, nylon or polyester, cotton batting,

Stuff the tube socks with cotton batting to make the spider's legs. Sew or pin the eight legs to the sides of the black outfit. Have child wear one pair of black socks on his hands and one pair on his feet.

Note for infants: When your baby crawls, the legs flop up and down on the ground, making it look like a spider crawling across the floor. Adorable!

Variation: To make a bug costume, use a green or brown (or any color you like) sweat suit and coordinating socks.

green hooded sweat suit, sheet of red felt, sheet of blue felt, sheet of purple felt, sheet of orange felt, two or three sheets of yellow felt, plastic grocery bags (for stuffing) or cotton batting, long piece of green felt or fabric to match suit, fabric glue

From the red, blue, purple and orange felt, cut triangular scales. Glue to the front of the sweat jacket in overlapping scale pattern. From the yellow sheets of felt, cut large triangles, roll into cone shapes, glue together to form the cone. Allow to dry. Stuff cone shapes with plastic bags or cotton batting and glue to the back of the suit for spikes. Make smaller versions of the yellow cones for the hood. Add a large pointy tail on the back hem made from long piece of felt or fabric. Hand sew on to back of pants or bottom of jacket.

red hooded sweat suit, 2 pieces red poster board, scissors, black craft paint or black marker, hot glue, 2 black chenille sticks, red or black plastic headband, 2 pairs of red or black socks,

Cut one piece of the poster board into a large oval. Draw or paint black circles onto oval. Cut two long, fairly thick strips (between one and two inches depending on the size of the child) from the second piece of poster board the full length of the board. Using hot glue, attach these strips to the top of the backside of the shell, and then run over child's shoulders as straps. Hot glue straps in place. Leave enough room for "give" so child can move his/her arms without tearing or breaking the straps. Wrap chenille sticks onto headband for antennas. Have child wear one pair of socks on her hands and one pair on her feet.

The back of it is a huge oval shape-reaches from her sholders to the back of her knees. There are black circles stitched (could be hot glued) on to it. There is some type of batting in the middle and another layer of the red material. Then on the bottom, (side next to the child's back) there are 2 loops, so it can be worn like a backpack.

I got some paper bags from the market and put one inside the other and then supported it with cardboard. I saved empty cereal boxes, chip bags (stuffed with paper), and other empty food container that I had and glued them all inside the bag and up around his head and then I cut arm and leg holes for him. I used green felt on his head and made it look like lettuce.

Cardboard box with holes for arms and legs. Box for head. Pie plates glued to front for headlights. Light sticks for antennae. Use silver paint or aluminum foil to decorate.

Black leotard and tights. Three pairs of black panty hose stuffed with old nylons. Stick stuffed hose to waist of leotard. Stocking cap. Black pipe cleaners for antennae.

Cardboard box. Slinky toys for arms. Stocking cap. Box can be held in place with suspenders. Decorate as desired.

Jell hair and pull away from face. Use white makeup on face. Use strips of muslin wrapped around entire body.

Cardboard box. Gelatin paper to cover hole at front. Hold flashlight inside. Use light sticks for TV antennae.

Black leotard and tights. White tape or chalk for ribs and bones. White makeup on face with black eyes.

Green sweatsuit. Glue fake money (monopoly) to body.

Colorful wild shirt. Shorts. Several old cameras around neck. Sunglasses. Hat

Wet suit or grey track suit. Goggles. Swim flippers (cut off bottom and place over top of shoes). Bucket with plastic fish.

Green or purple leotard and tights. Green or purple balloons blown up and safety pinned to suit.

Silver bicycle helmet. White track suit. Draw on or glue on red mercury line using felt or felt tip marker.

Orange body suit. Green mousse in hair. Green face paint. Green pipecleaners attached to orange cap for top.

Hockey players, football players, baseball players are all easy to emulate this time of year.

Bone shaped dog biscuits, White spray paint, String, Coat hanger Spray paint dog biscuits white on both sides. Once dry tie together with string in a variety of patterns. Hang from coathangers or crossed dowels.

Visit a second hand store to locate black sweat pants and a black turtleneck shirt. Pin socks of all colors and sizes all over the shirt and pants. Wear a large sock as a hat.

Take an old sheet and tear into strips the length of the sheet. Wrap the strips (tightly) around the entire body leaving space for the eyes and mouth. (Or use the same sheet to make a ghost or a toga.)

Cover a large box with an old tablecloth (plastic or cloth) Glue one placesetting (paper plate, paper cup, plastic cutlery and napkin on the four sides of the box) Cut a hole in both the top and bottom of the large box. (One for the head and the other for the legs). Slip the box over the head.

Visit a second hand store to locate old Hawaiian type shorts and shirt. Find an old straw sun hat, sunglasses and old camera to place around the neck. Fill a straw bag (tourist bag) with maps, binoculars, books about places to travel to, passport, and airplane tickets, etc.

Visit a second hand store for old white paints, white shirt, and white cap. Make paint marks (with real paint and brush) of many colors on the clothing. Carry an empty paint bucket, paint color samples and a brush.

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