Basketball Star
⏱ 5 min + drying hands-on💲 $4-5Easy
You need: Basketball jersey or numbered tank top, 1 (own, or buy: sporting goods; Basketball shorts, 1 pair (own)
Jersey, shorts, eye-black stripes, and a ball that never leaves your hand.
Face Paint Costume Ideas
When the costume is mostly face paint, the outfit can be dead simple, black clothes plus a painted skeleton face beats a store-bought suit every time. Use proper face paint or makeup, not craft paint or markers, and do a small patch test on the jaw an hour before in case of sensitive skin. Paint the base first, let it set, then add details, and keep makeup wipes in your pocket because touch-ups are part of the deal. Every costume below leans on the paint job, lists the rest honestly, and links to a full build guide with real hands-on time and cost. The brush is the costume.
Ninja
⏱ 10 min + drying hands-on💲 $0Easy
You need: All-black outfit: t-shirt, pants, and a black beanie, 1 set; Black belt or sash, 1
All black with a belt sash and a slit headband.
Galaxy Knights
⏱ 10 min hands-on💲 $6-8Easy
You need: 1 brown or beige bathrobe or long coat per knight; 1 toy energy-blade prop per knight
Robes, belts, and toy energy blades for knights of a far-off galaxy.
Boxer
⏱ 10 min + drying hands-on💲 $11-15Easy
You need: Bathrobe, 1 (own); Toy boxing gloves, 1 pair
Bathrobe, toy gloves, bruise makeup, and entrance music.
Gloom & Bloom
⏱ 15 min + drying hands-on💲 $4-6Easy
You need: 1 set black clothes from the closet; 1 set colorful clothes from the closet
Braids and black for Gloom, color-pop and smiles for Bloom.
Mystery Crew
⏱ 15 min + drying hands-on💲 $4-8Easy
You need: Orange, purple, blue, and red t-shirts, 1 each; Dog ears headband or a brown dog costume piece, 1
Assign the leader, the style icon, the brains, the goofball, and one very good dog.
Deadpan Diva
⏱ 15 min + drying hands-on💲 $6-8Easy
You need: Black dress, 1 (own); Very pale foundation or white non-toxic face paint, 1
Black dress, two braids, pale makeup, and a stare that ends conversations.
Cat & Mouse
⏱ 15 min + drying hands-on💲 $6-8Easy
You need: 2 headbands; 1 sheet black craft felt, 9x12 inches
Cat ears versus mouse ears. Spend the night chasing each other.
Plumber Duo
⏱ 15 min + drying hands-on💲 $16-29Easy
You need: Blue overalls, 2; Red t-shirt and green t-shirt, 1 each
Overalls, red and green caps and shirts, drawn mustaches.
Little Witch
⏱ 15 min + drying hands-on💲 $18-22Easy
You need: Black cape or black bedsheet, 1; Pointy witch hat, 1
Black cape, pointy hat, striped tights, green face paint.
🔔 One email on Oct 27
Want one email on Oct 27 with costumes you can make that night? That’s it, one email, then you’re off the list.
Questions, answered
Can I use craft paint or markers on skin?
No. Use proper face paint or makeup, and do a small patch test on the jaw an hour before in case of sensitive skin. Craft paint can irritate and stain.
What order do I paint in?
Base first, let it set, then details. Details painted onto wet base bleed; details painted onto set base stay crisp.
How do I keep it from smearing all night?
Keep makeup wipes in your pocket because touch-ups are part of the deal, and set the finished paint with a light dusting of translucent powder.
Own the supplies already? Check the Pantry to see which of all 164 costumes you can make tonight from what is in your house. Or wander the costume galaxy.