red lip halloween costume

DIY BOOK CHARACTER COSTUMES

Looking for a fun costume idea to bring your child’s favorite storybook character to life? This list features over 20 easy, DIY book character costumes you can make at home! Some costumes are more elaborate than others, but I promise there are plenty of simple ideas that use items you likely already have, plus a few accessories (Amazon is a great resource). You can keep it easy or go all out with a full DIY approach—whatever works best for you!

‘CURIOUS GEORGE’ BY MARGRET REY AND H. A. REY

The Man with the Yellow Hat costume gets even better when paired with a friend or fellow teacher dressed up as Curious George!

DIY Librarian Costume

If your book-loving kiddo can’t pick just one character, why not have her dress up as a stylish librarian? A library card canvas tote makes the perfect on-theme bag for carrying treats!

DIY Tween Luna Lovegood Costume


This Luna Lovegood costume is perfect for tweens! Let her mix and match clothes from her own closet, and she can even help craft a felt scarf to complete the look.

DIY Anne: Anne of Green Gables

Let your child embody the lively, free-spirited Anne Shirley with this charming Halloween costume! Dress her in a cute green dress, add a straw hat, and style her hair in pigtails. Just be sure not to call her “Carrots”!

DIY Peter Pan: Peter and Wendy

This charming costume is the perfect reminder for your little adventurer to never grow up!

DIY Dorothy and Glinda Costumes: The Wizard of Oz

If you haven’t dived into The Wizard of Oz book series yet, now’s the perfect time! Dorothy and Glinda the Good Witch make enchanting costumes for best friends.

DIY Wocket in Pocket Costume: There’s a Wocket in My Pocket!

Dr. Seuss is a treasure trove of delightful Halloween costume ideas, and this one is no exception! Inspired by the whimsical creatures from There’s a Wocket in My Pocket!, your child can bring the book’s playful wordplay to life with this fun and easy costume.

DIY Willy Wonka Costume: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Are you a big kid who can’t resist candy (even while trying to eat more kale)? Embrace the sugary whimsy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by transforming yourself into Willy Wonka himself!

DIY Lorax Costume: The Lorax

Here’s a Halloween costume that’s ideal for your little planet protectors! If they can’t get enough of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, dress them in orange shirts, furry glasses, and give them signs that say, “Save the Truffula Trees!”

DIY Giving Tree Costume: The Giving Tree

This book may be a tear-jerker, but you can celebrate those heartwarming moments by teaming up with your little one for Halloween! Dress as the boy in a small pair of overalls, while you don an all-green outfit adorned with felt leaves to represent the tree.

DIY Luna Lovegood Costume: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

There’s no one sassier in the Harry Potter series than Luna Lovegood, and this costume perfectly captures her essence! With her copy of The Quibbler and oversized sunglasses, your girl will transform from a Muggle to a Hogwarts student in no time.

DIY Tin Man Costume: The Wizard of Oz


The Wizard of Oz was a beloved book long before it became a movie, and your child can pay homage to this timeless story with a Tin Man costume! A little silver spray paint and some cardboard can work wonders to create this iconic look.

DIY Mr. Fox Costume: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Download blogger Rachel Faucett’s printable mask template, grab your sewing machine, and get ready to craft this classic costume inspired by the beloved book!

DIY Hedwig Costume: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Whooooooo can create this seriously adorable Harry Potter Hedwig baby costume? The best part is, it’s a no-sew project, so the answer is everyone!

DIY Baby Max Costume: Where the Wild Things Are

Let the wild rumpus begin! With this DIY book character costume, your baby will look just like Max, adventuring among monsters and other fearsome creatures.

DIY Musketeer Costume: The Three Musketeers

Gather two more kids from the neighborhood and whip up three of these easy costumes together!

DIY Waldo Costume: Where’s Waldo?

If you’re an avid crocheter (or want to be one), this DIY Waldo hat is a simple project to tackle. Pair it with a red-and-white striped shirt and round black glasses for the complete look!

DIY Nancy Drew Costume

Channel your favorite teenage detective with this fun costume! Start with a yellow cardigan in the perfect shade, a white collared shirt, and a plaid yellow pleated skirt. Complete the look with a yellow headband, a vintage flashlight or binoculars, and a couple of classic Nancy Drew books as accessories.

‘Pinocchio’ by Carlo Collodi

You can make an adult or child version of this fairytale-inspired puppet costume, and it’s easier than you might think! Just remember, the long nose that grows when you lie is not included!

‘Cinderella’ by Charles Perrault


This time, when you (or your little one) dress up in a ball gown, you won’t have to worry about it turning into rags at the stroke of midnight!

SPIDER INFESTATION COSTUME

Looking for a truly terrifying costume that’ll send shivers down everyone’s spine? Consider transforming yourself into a spider infestation! This unique and unsettling costume is perfect for those who want to stand out from the crowd and leave a lasting impression at your next Halloween party.

Imagine this: you’re covered head-to-toe in realistic-looking spiders, their legs sprawling out in every direction. As you move, they seem to writhe and squirm, creating an illusion of a living, breathing spider infestation. It’s a guaranteed conversation starter that’s sure to elicit both fear and admiration.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to create your own spider infestation costume.

SUPPLIES 

  • Printable Tattoo Paper
  • Electronic Cutter
  • Cutting Mat
  • Cut File

TUTORIAL OVERVIEW

In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through cutting out designs using my Silhouette Cameo. However, this technique is also applicable if you’re using a Cricut—though I’m less familiar with the specifics of that machine! Rest assured, you can use Silhouette materials on a Cricut as well, and they offer a wide variety of cool options!

Silhouette all has -white, gold, and silver tattoo paper!

HOW TO USE TATTOO PAPER

The Silhouette tattoo paper can be a bit tricky, so let me guide you through the steps! We will be using the Print and Cut feature. Start by uploading the spider image and ensure that the Print and Cut option is selected in the page setup. This will display registration marks around the spiders.

Since the spider legs are so small, I added an offset outline to give the tattoo a thicker appearance!

To begin your tattoo project, start by pressing the star (offset) in your design software. This will allow you to create an outline of the spiders, which you can adjust as much as you like. Once you’ve applied the outline, carefully remove the black spider images, leaving only the outlines behind.

When you open your package of tattoo paper, you will find two white sheets and two blue sheets. The blue sheet serves as the top layer. Take one of the white sheets and load it into your printer with the shiny side facing up.

Finally, go to your Silhouette Studio and press print to send your design to the printer. This will prepare your tattoo outline for application. Enjoy your creative process!


If you need a good printer- check out this article.

The blue sheet is the clear protective layer that activates the tattoo.

It has a strip across the top. Peel off this strip and carefully align it with the top of your white sheet. Be cautious not to touch the sticky side.

Gently remove the backing and adhere the entire clear layer to the white tattoo paper, making sure to rub it down thoroughly.

The top piece acts as a clear protective layer, similar to those fake tattoos you may have used before. You need to peel off the clear layer, then flip the tattoo over to apply it to your skin.

Once prepared, place the sheet onto a Silhouette mat and load it into your Silhouette Cameo.

Cutting out the spiders

The spider legs are quite small, so I prefer to use an offset effect to make the spiders a bit thicker. This creates a subtle clear outline around each spider, enhancing their visibility. Make sure to select the Silhouette tattoo paper cut setting in your software. Once you’ve done that, proceed to cut out the spiders!

Apply your spider tattoos:

When you’re ready to apply the tattoo, start by peeling off the protective layer. The tattoo will be slightly sticky. Position the sticky side down on your skin where you want it to go. Press a damp cloth against the tattoo until it is saturated, then gently remove the backing. The backing should slide off easily, leaving behind a nice creepy spider!

How to Remove Temporary Tattoos:
If you’re concerned about removing temporary tattoos, especially from your face, don’t worry! A little baby oil works wonders, and the tattoos come off easily. This is a definite win! I’ve also heard that hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, and nail polish remover can be effective alternatives.

Troubleshooting Print and Cut:
If your print and cut isn’t cutting precisely around the spider, you may need to recalibrate your machine. If it’s not registering the print and cut registration marks, try using a brighter light near your Cameo. Often, lighting issues can affect the registration process!