14 Last Minute Halloween Costumes and Props

With just a few prep weeks to go, now is the time to start planning out your Halloween costume.

Some people spend countless hours making intricately detailed costumes. Maybe you don’t have time for that, but you’re not exactly willing to shill out $60 for a cheaply made, mass-produced costume, either.

So what’s a Maker to do? Check out these quick and easy costumes, props, and accessories for some spooky inspiration.

Super Easy Wizard Wands

Harry Potter universe or not, witches and wizards will want to whip up these wands as the final touch for their ensemble. The best part? These wands look legitimate in spite of the fact that they’re made of chopsticks and hot glue.

15-Minute Stilts

Made by Make: editor Caleb Kraft, these stilts might not immediately scream “costume” to you, but they will provide the foundation for any kind of towering antics your spooky heart desires.

Yarn Wig

Store bought costume wigs always look great. For about 5 minutes. If you want something more unique and tangle-free, try your hand at this yarn wig and rock those fibrous locks all Hallow’s Eve.

Jetpack

Straight from Make: Vol. 47, Howtoons shows you how to make your very own candy-filled jetpack. You could decorate, paint, or otherwise cover the clear plastic to make this jetpack look a bit more realistic, or you could toss together the basic version in about 10 minutes for yourself or the kiddos — or both, if you’re into family jetpack outings.

Ghostbusters-Inspired Proton Pack

Here’s another fun project to tote around on your back: a Ghostbusters-inspired proton pack. This one will be a little bit more involved than the jetpack, but at least you’ll be armed against all those spooky ghosts you’re sure to encounter.

Wind-Up Doll

This wind-up doll idea is a great last minute costume because all you need to do is construct the wind-up key and add it to a regular outfit and voila, you’re a doll.

Gumball Machine

A gumball machine costume is perfect for anyone who likes to get crazy with glue guns. If you’re a crafter, you’ll most likely already have all the supplies you need to patch together this sweet getup.

Foam Head Frankenstein

Unless you’re exceptionally tall (or walking on stilts!), it can be hard to convey the enormity of Frankenstein’s monster in a costume. To beef up your Frankenstein garb, get some foam and craft this easy foam-headed monster.

Zombie Cat Mask

Maybe you want to be spooky, but you also want to be soft and cute. This zombie cat mask is for you.

Pineapple Costume

This costume is great because again, you only need a few pieces to make it work. Cut some green construction paper into a leafy top hat, don all yellow, and boom, you could pass for a pineapple.

Robot Costume

This wouldn’t be a proper Make: Halloween costume list without a robot. Follow our instructions to build the BoogieBot 5000, or use the project as a jumping off point to design your own robotic persona.

Vintage Strongman

A barbell is a simple enough prop to cobble together quickly, but if you go as a vintage strongman for Halloween, you better be ready to give some theatrical performances, good form and grunting and all.

EL Fairy Wings

EL wire is great for projects all year round, but Halloween is an especially appropriate time to pull it out of your supplies and put it to use. Affix it to some wings for a fantastically luminescent fairy costume.

Space Face

If you’re feeling less spooky and more spacey, follow Becky Stern’s tutorial on how to wear space on your face for an electronic, constellation-inspired wearable costume.