If the idea of pulling together a creative costume makes your skin crawl, have no fear. Creating a unique costume is like a dance and I'll show you the steps. Your hilarious Monster Mash-Up costume will be the talk of the town!
It's funny, back in the day, my Halloween costumes were intentionally puny. As in tight and tiny, showing my full midriff whenever possible...because I could. Now, my costumes are full coverage. Nobody wants to see my muffin top, not even if it's pumpkin spiced. So instead of puny, my costumes are now punny. It's just better that way.
So let's Monster Mash! Though, I can't guarantee I won't step on your toes with my hairy monster feet or get caught up in my zombie clown balloon pants...
I think the better question is why not?
Plus, puns. Life is better with puns. I stand by that even though you may persecute me like a witch in 1800s Salem. Please don't pun-ish me for my love of word play.
Costume Mash-Ups are funny and easier than stealing candy from a baby. Not that we'd EVER steal candies from our babies. Except, it's not healthy for them to eat all those mini chocolate bars so in actuality, we're doing our due diligence as parents by taking their candy. You're welcome, kids!
Step One: Shuffle step over to your local Value Village. Value Village is crawling with exclusive costumes and accessories that aren't available anywhere else! We've been getting our costumes (for Halloween and any themed parties) from Value Village for years. It's inexpensive and you can create frighteningly great costumes using their packaged costumes, new and second hand!
Step Two: Choose two costume themes. Anything that speaks to you will work. (Possessed costumes may actually speak to you, so brace yourself!) There are lots of ready-made costumes to choose from or you can create your own. Did you just groan? Putting together a costume is dead simple. Just pick out the main pieces and then add some pre-loved clothing items or toys to accessorize. Value Village has trained, knowledgeable costume consultants on hand to help you mix-and-match their thousands of new accessories with pre-loved items to create a costume that no-one else will be wearing.
Step Three: Mix the two costumes and accessories together. For example: a red one-piece skin suit (that covers your head/face), a black eye mask over top + swim trunks, water wings, carrying an inflatable pool toy = Deadpool
Look how easy this costume is! A police hat with "Grammar" painted on the brim + a plastic Billy Club. I wrote 'Yummy Mummy' on mine to transform it into a "Yummy Mummy Club." Get it? *runs from mob of torch carrying pun persecutors*
* You could use these Punctuation Police or Syntax SWAT Team bats instead. If you hear somebody say, "Hey yous guys!" or "I seen it," be sure to give them a good whack.
Here are a few more examples (FYI—my daughter LOVED doing this. My son agreed to participate with the understanding that he could choose a pile of books after we were done. He did—four used books for under $10!)
As we took these pictures in the store, shoppers actually gathered around and laughed out loud. See? Puns bring people together! Don't shun the pun.
So, what am I dressing up as this year, you ask? I considered simply going as my sleep-deprived self with bedhead, dark circles under my eyes (no spooky make-up required), in my PJs, calling myself a "Mombie." Or if Halloween should happen to fall during that frightening time called PMS hell, I could go as a Menstrosity or your basic scary Momster. I don't want to frighten the kiddies (and my husband), so I decided to go with something less spooky and more punny. Of course.
And we can't forget dad! There are lots of costumes for teens and men too! I nearly bought my husband a giant pickle costume...
Since my Halloweenie husband wasn't able to come pick out costumes with us this year...we chose something for him. I'm sure he'll be thrilled. :)
Fairy Princesses, Superheroes, Pirates, Animals, Day of the Dead, Clowns, Time Warp (1920s, 50s, 70s, 80s), Post Apocalypse, and Vampire/Goth. And of course, funny punny Monster Mash-Up costumes!
What are YOU dressing up as this year?
Happy Halloween!
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