“Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Hub Network through their partnership with Circle of Moms. While I was compensated to write a post about Hub Network’s First Annual Halloween Bash Costume Contest, all opinions are my own.”
I love homemade costumes and this DIY Octopus Costume is all kinds of fabulous! Did I mention it’s no sew, quick and affordable?
I’ll admit, I’m somewhat of a costume snob. So when the Hub Network asked me to share a DIY costume for kids I was thrilled. You see I have a really hard time buying those cheap’o polyester costumes at the big box costume stores and I am sure I have my super creative mother and even grandmother to thank for it. I remember having some of the coolest costumes as a kid, my mom would tell you we had homemade costume because she was frugal but I still remember that cute little pumpkin costume and who could forget the year I went as Pippi Longstocking! While brainstorming ideas with my mom she mentioned that one of her favorite Halloween costumes was the year she was an octopus. Bingo. I decided to recreate that costume idea for my ocean loving daughter.
This easy handmade costume took me less than hour to put together. Here is how I created this sassy sea creature:
Supplies:
- 4 pairs of tights in your daughter’s size
- Matching long sleeve shirt
- Matching hat
- Belt
- White and black felt
- Cotton Batting
**I purchased the tights, shirt and hat from Old Navy for $30 and once Halloween is over she’ll have a new outfit to wear!**
1. Begin stuffing 3 pairs of the tights with cotton batting. I learned that you want to stuff them to just above the crotch area of the tights, that will give the the fullest look and it won’t bunch in that area when you put them on the belt.
2. Next, lay your belt flat and begin wrapping the top part of the tights around the belt. Secure in place with a safety pin.
3. Cut out two large ovals and two small circles for the eyes. Use double stick tape or glue to attach them to the hat. **I used double stick tape since this is a hat my daughter will wear again and we didn’t want to ruin it.
4. Have your daughter put on the unstuffed pair of tights and the coordinating long sleeve shirt. Wrap the belt with the stuffed tights around her waist and fasten.
5. Put on the hat to complete the costume.
There you have it a super easy, sassy DIY Octopus Costume that is sure to be the talk of the “ocean!”
Now that you know how easy it is to make your own DIY costume show off your best handmade costume and you could BE A STAR! Enter the Hub Network’s First Annual Halloween Bash Costume Contest and for a chance to win $25,000! One winner from each state will be flow to Los Angeles where Halloween expert Martha Stewart and celebrity judges will crown a winner in the Hub Networks’s First Annual Halloween Bash Costume Contest. Contest registration is open until 9/29 and remember no pre-made or ‘out of the box’ costumes will be accepted – show off your UNIQUE creations! Visit hubworld.com/halloween for full contest details.
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Rebekah (A Blissful Nest) says
September 13, 2013 at 7:38 pmso cute!
Amys Party Ideas says
September 13, 2013 at 7:39 pmSO CUTE!!! Love how easy it is but looks like a real costume!
Digital Mom says
September 16, 2013 at 2:43 pmOMG that is amazing!!! <3 it!
Arena says
September 16, 2013 at 3:10 pmSuper cute. She looks adorable!
Carrie says
September 16, 2013 at 3:14 pmOh my goodness, are you kidding me?! SO cute and original.
Courtney Solstad says
September 16, 2013 at 3:15 pmSuper cute costume!
Mariah says
September 18, 2013 at 3:08 amThank you Courtney!
Autumn Gadbois says
September 16, 2013 at 4:12 pmI love this costume…what a great idea…you are so amazing!!!
Mariah says
September 18, 2013 at 3:05 amThank you Autumn, it really wasn’t hard to do but I’ll take it. 🙂
Betsy Mitchell says
September 16, 2013 at 4:23 pmOMG! I love it.
Allison @the House of Hendrix says
September 20, 2013 at 5:51 pmThis is the cutest costume I think I’ve ever seen. I just love it! 🙂
Scentsy Katie says
September 21, 2013 at 7:03 amWhat a cute idea! I must confess when I first saw this I thought there was no way I could put together something like this. But your easy insructions you may have me looking like the “cool” Mom at this years Halloween parade afterall. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Mariah says
September 23, 2013 at 4:20 amIt really is super easy, but you don’t have to tell everyone…you can just soak in the cool mom moment. 🙂
rachel says
September 23, 2013 at 10:11 pmO saw that and said “OH that’s SO CUTE” about 10 seconds later “HEY I know her!”
🙂
ADORABLE! You are so talented, girl!
Mariah says
September 24, 2013 at 3:24 amAwww you are too sweet, thank you Rachel!
Jackie says
September 23, 2013 at 11:50 pmSuper cute — my daughter wants me to make her one for this year. After last year’s peacock, I think this looks much simpler and far less time consuming! Do you recall how much cotton batting you had to purchase? Is it in bags or by the foot? And did you get it at Michael’s or JoAnn’s? Thanks!
Mariah says
September 24, 2013 at 3:23 amThanks! My other daughter loves peacocks, I bet that costume was adorable! I used 1 big bag of cotton batting and purchased it from Hobby Lobby. I would suggest finding it at JoAnn’s though since I know they sell it for sure. Good luck with the costume, and of course send us pictures if you do make it! 🙂
Jackie says
September 25, 2013 at 12:58 pmThanks for responding! I will post a pic if I can convince my daughter that she does NOT want to be a “sea monster” after all….wish me luck! I don’t even know what a sea monster looks like! Plus, I do NOT sew, so if I cannot glue-gun it, which typically results in 3rd degree burns and subsequent scarring, or Superglue it (resulting in fused fingers and/or adherence to whatever it is I’m making), then I cannot accomplish it!!!
Jackie says
October 30, 2013 at 1:17 pmTurns out that I am going to be the octopus! My one daughter is a jellyfish (super cute!) and the other is a dolphin. The dog is a sea monster, so it made sense that I be the octopus, since it’s so cute and I couldn’t talk one of them into it! Perhaps I’ll save it and one of them will want to use it next year?!
Mariah says
October 30, 2013 at 5:56 pmJackie, that sounds adorable! Send a picture or share it with on my FB page if you get a chance, I’d love to see it!
Hold the Office says
October 12, 2013 at 4:23 pmLove this costume. I am looking for ideas for me to take the kids trick or treating. I think something like this will be simple but cute for walking around.
Nicole @ HoldtheOffice.com
Amy @ Living Locurto says
October 17, 2013 at 2:44 pmAmazing and so creative!! I think I could actually make this too. ha! Thanks for sharing on Living Creative Thursday ~ featured you today! http://www.livinglocurto.com/2013/10/diy-halloween-costume-ideas/
Desiree @The36thAvenue says
August 24, 2014 at 2:28 amSuper cute… Sharing on FB!
Mariah says
August 24, 2014 at 8:03 pmThank you Desiree, it’s been one of our favorite Halloween costumes and so easy!
doro von Hand zu Hand says
January 12, 2015 at 8:08 amabsolutely cool!
thanks for sharing your tutorial! i set a link and hope you agree.
best wishes, doro von Hand zu Hand
E Palmer-Watts says
March 2, 2016 at 7:34 amThank you thank you! I have just used this to make a costume for my Octopus loving daughter.
Mariah says
March 3, 2016 at 10:29 pmAwesome, we would love to see how your costume turned out. Feel free to share a picture and tag @Giggles_Galore on IG and Twitter. 🙂
Cici says
May 28, 2018 at 12:27 pmIs there something missing from the directions? There is no 5. step
Mariah says
June 4, 2018 at 12:01 pmNo Cici, sorry about the confusion it was just a typo in the directions. It should have been a 5 instead of a 6, there really are only 5 steps.