Halloween doesn’t have to be expensive especially when your family works together on DIY costumes. With a little creativity, upcycling, and a few basic supplies, you can put together fun, memorable costumes without breaking the bank. Here’s a guide for Spokane families: ideas, instructions, and local craft-store tips to stretch your budget.
Why DIY Makes Sense
• Cost savings: Many store-bought costumes cost $30–$60 or more, but homemade versions often run $5–$15 per person (or even less if you reuse old clothing).
• Originality & fun: You control the style, size, and theme.
• Sustainability: Upcycling clothes or reused craft materials reduces waste.
• Local support: Buy locally or use creative reuse centers in Spokane to save on markup and support your community.
One local gem: Art Salvage, a creative reuse center at 610 E North Foothills Dr, Spokane (Tues–Sat) they accept donated materials and sell repurposed supplies at low cost. (Art Salvage)
Spokane Area Craft & Fabric Stores to Visit
Here are a few reliable stores and crafty resources in and around Spokane great for inventory, deals, or last-minute supplies:
• Michaels 7630 N Division St, Ste A, Spokane, WA 99208
• Basic crafting supplies: foam, felt, glue, paint, scissors, seasonal fabric, thread. Watch their weekly “50% off one item” coupons.
• Hobby Lobby 7706 N Division Street, Spokane 99208
• Seasonal props, craft foam, accessories, decorative items. Check their 40% off “one item” weekly coupon online or in Sunday ad.
• Spokane Art Supply 1303 N Monroe St, Spokane, WA 99201
• Paints, specialty papers, brushes, art tools. Great for finishing touches on costumes.
Budget tips while shopping:
• Use store coupons (Michaels, JOANN, Hobby Lobby all publish weekly deals).
• Buy multipacks (foam sheets, felt, ribbon) rather than single pieces.
• Check clearance bins or seasonal markdowns (late Sept–Oct many stores discount Halloween stock).
• Visit Art Salvage first you may find much of what you need at drastically reduced prices.
• Use what you already have old shirts, scrap fabric, cardboard, socks, etc.
Six Fun (and Easy) DIY Family Costumes & How to Make Them
Here are five coordinated family costume ideas. Each one balances simplicity and “wow factor,” with step-by-step tips to keep costs low.
1. Inside Out Emotions
Theme: Each family member picks an emotion (Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, Anger, etc.)
What you need: Solid-color T-shirts or sweatshirts (one per person), felt or craft foam, safety pins or glue, face paint
Instructions:
• Pick a base color for each emotion (e.g. yellow for Joy, blue for Sadness). Use clothes you already have or buy inexpensive plain tees.
• Cut shapes from felt or foam (e.g. Joy’s sunburst, Sadness’s raindrop, Anger’s flame) and attach with safety pins or fabric glue.
• Use face paint to accent e.g. Joy gets rosy cheeks, Sadness a blue tear, Anger red eyebrows.
• Optional: carry small props (e.g. Joy holds a “memory orb” made from a painted foam ball, Anger carries a “lava rock” painted red).
Budget tip: Felt sheets are cheap at craft stores. Often you can get 2–3 emotions’ accents from one sheet.
2. Despicable Me / Minions
Theme: The “banana yellow crew”
What you need: Yellow shirts or hoodies, denim overalls or jeans with suspenders, black gloves or socks, cardboard or plastic goggles
Instructions:
• Use any yellow top you already own (or find a cheap one).
• Overalls or jeans with suspenders you can also DIY suspenders from elastic and clip-on ends.
• For goggles: cut circles from cardboard, cover with aluminum foil or silver spray paint, attach elastic band for strap. Or repurpose toy goggles.
• Add gloves or black socks as gloves.
• Optionally paint a “G” (Gru logo) on the overalls using fabric paint.
Budget tip: If you already own overalls or jeans, that reduces cost to essentially the yellow shirt + goggle material.
3. Ghosts – But Make ’Em Colorful!
Theme: Traditional ghosts with a twist
What you need: White sheets or large white fabric, fabric markers or dye, string or ribbon
Instructions:
• Cut the sheet to drape over each person (face opening cut carefully).
• Use fabric markers or diluted dye to add colored patterns (stripes, polka dots, rainbow, glow-in-the-dark paint).
• Use ribbons or strings to cinch where needed (waist, wrists) so the ghost looks styled instead of shapeless.
• Add subtle makeup (white face paint, dark eye circles) or hats/accessories for character.
Budget tip: Use old white sheets or pillowcases instead of buying new fabric.
4. Campfire / S’mores Family
Theme: A fun, punny group, someone is the flame, someone is a marshmallow, another a graham cracker
What you need: Cardboard (for marshmallow “body”), tissue paper or cellophane (for flame), brown or tan clothing (for graham)
Instructions:
• Marshmallow: A large cylinder of white cardboard or poster board (cut and rolled) with straps.
• Flame: Dress in reds/oranges/yellows, attach long strips of cellophane or tissue to represent flickers.
• Graham cracker: Tan or brown base clothing; glue or draw “cracker dots.”
• Add small props: “fire pit” base (ring of logs or brown cloth around your feet)
This one is playful and great for multiple family members.
5. Wizard of Oz (Classic Crew)
Theme: Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion (and others)
What you need: Clothes you already own (blue gingham, flannel, gray tones), foam, cardboard, straw, fabric scraps
Instructions:
• Dorothy: Blue gingham dress or skirt + white blouse; add red shoes if possible, plaited hair or ribbons.
• Scarecrow: Plaid shirt, overalls or jeans; patch on clothes, straw or raffia coming out of sleeves, a floppy hat.
• Tin Man: Gray base layer, spray-painted silver foam or painted cardboard for chest plate, funnel or silver-painted hat.
• Cowardly Lion: Brown clothing, faux fur or fringe for mane, tail made from rope + fabric.
• Carry props (basket with “Toto,” stuffed puppy, “oil can,” etc.)
This is a classic and offers room for creativity. (
6. Pumpkin Head
Theme: Creative way to match with.your family
What you need: pumpkins and normal carving utensils
Instructions: have your normal pumpkin carving night, only cut out the bottom rather than the top big enough for your head to fit
Tip: get some cheap beanies to where under to keep your hair clean
This one is my favorite idea. I saw it on facebook, it is so cheap and easy to do and fun to create a family full of different faces. I think this is the one we will be doing this year!
Frugal Strategies for Maximum Savings
• Repurpose what you already have: Raid closets, old Halloween costumes, thrift stores, or yard sales for base items.
• Limit “specialty buys”: Only purchase items you truly need (e.g. glue, velcro, paint).
• Work in bulk: Buying one large sheet of felt or foam can serve multiple family members.
• Use coupons and promotions: Michaels and JOANN often offer “50% off one item” or BOGO deals.
• Visit Art Salvage first. Many materials (scrap wood, fabric bits, craft offcuts) are often donated and sold cheaply.
• Shop clearance: Late October many stores slash Halloween decor and items at 50–80% off.
• Share supplies among multiple kids or families: Pool resources with neighbors or siblings.
• Be smart with adhesives: Use hot glue sparingly, and prefer fabric glue or double-sided tape where appropriate (cheaper in bulk packs).
Timeline & Tips for Spokane Families
• Start early (late September / early October): Better availability and less panic.
• Plan a “costume night”: Make it a fun family project over a weekend.
• Weather check: Spokane nights can be chilly, layer underneath costumes (thermals, long sleeves) so kids stay warm.
• Test comfort: Let kids try on costumes and walk around before Halloween night to ensure nothing is too scratchy or unsafe.
• Lighting & visibility: Add reflective tape or glow sticks to any dark costumes to keep kids visible while trick-or-treating.
• Photo documentation: Snap pictures as you build for fun memories and helps you replicate elements next year.
Final Thoughts
With a little creativity and resourcefulness, your Spokane family can create standout Halloween costumes without overspending. Use your local craft stores and reuse centers wisely, choose DIY ideas that scale well for multiple people, and focus on turning this into a fun bonding experience. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s laughter, togetherness, and that proud “we made this!” moment when the family steps out on Halloween night.
