Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, which means more parties, more trick-or-treating and, for a lot of us, more pressure to come up with a costume fast. The good news is that you don’t need a store-bought outfit in a plastic bag. Most great last-minute costumes start in your own closet, with a little help from cardboard, felt, safety pins and a marker.

Here are eight ideas that work for adults and kids, cost little or nothing, and can be pulled together in a single evening.

Before you start: build a costume kit

Gather these basics on the kitchen table first and every idea below gets easier:

  • Safety pins, a hot glue gun or fabric glue, and duct tape in a couple of colors
  • Felt sheets, cardboard from old shipping boxes and a pair of sharp scissors
  • Black and white face paint or eyeliner
  • A headband or two, which can hold ears, antennae or horns
  • Reflective tape for anyone heading outside after dark

1. The classic black cat

Wear all black, cut two triangles from black felt or cardboard and glue them to a headband. Draw a nose and whiskers with eyeliner. For a tail, stuff a pair of black tights with a plastic shopping bag and pin it at the back. It is the definition of a five-minute costume, and it still looks sharp in photos.

2. A walking bag of jelly beans

Fill a clear plastic bag (a large trash bag works for kids) with colorful balloons, cut leg and arm holes, and tie a ribbon loosely at the top under the arms. Add a paper label that says “Jelly Beans.” It is silly, instantly readable and easy to move in.

3. The lumberjack

Plaid flannel shirt, jeans, boots and a knit beanie are probably already in your closet this time of year. Cut an axe shape from cardboard, cover the blade in silver duct tape and the handle in brown. Kids can draw on a beard with eyeliner; adults can borrow one if they already grow it.

4. A cozy ghost that isn’t a bedsheet

Skip the sheet with eye holes, which can block vision. Instead, wear a white sweatshirt and white pants or leggings, then pin on loose strips of white fabric or cheesecloth so they flutter as you walk. A little gray eyeshadow under the eyes finishes the effect without anything covering the face.

5. Crayon

Pick a solid-colored top and pants in the same shade. Cut a cardboard cone for a hat and wrap it in matching paper or felt. Make a wide paper band with the color name in black letters and pin it across the chest. A group of friends in different colors makes a whole box.

6. Scarecrow

Grab an old flannel shirt, overalls or jeans, and a straw or felt hat. Glue raffia or strips of yellow construction paper so they peek from the sleeves, collar and hat brim. Sew or glue a few felt patches onto the knees. Add freckles and a stitched smile with face paint and you’re done.

7. Bumblebee or ladybug

For a bee, stripe a yellow T-shirt with black duct tape. For a ladybug, glue black felt circles onto a red top. Bend two pipe cleaners around a headband for antennae. Wings can be cut from cardboard, covered in tissue or cellophane, and attached with elastic loops like a backpack.

8. Your favorite emoji or app icon

Cut a large circle or rounded square from cardboard, paint it, and add the face or logo with felt. Punch two holes at the top and run ribbon through so it hangs like a sandwich board. It’s a good one for teens and office parties because there’s no makeup, no mess and no big shopping trip.

Keep it comfortable and visible

A homemade costume should be one you can actually wear for a few hours. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Halloween tips suggest a few simple habits worth building into any DIY outfit:

  • Make sure the costume fits and isn’t so long or baggy that it causes trips.
  • Keep loose, flowing fabric away from candles and other open flames.
  • If you use a mask, check that the eye and nose holes allow full visibility and comfortable breathing, or use makeup instead.
  • Add reflective tape to costumes and treat bags, and carry a flashlight or glow stick after dark.

Test face paint or makeup on a small patch of skin a day or two ahead, especially for kids, and dress in layers underneath in case the evening turns chilly.

Wrap-up

The best costumes are rarely the most expensive ones. With a quick closet raid, a few craft supplies and an evening at the kitchen table, you can put together something clever, comfortable and completely your own. When the night is over, the felt, cardboard and pins go back in the kit for next year.

Image: Jack-O-Lanterns by Alabama Extension via Flickr, CC0 1.0