Five Terrifyingly Easy and Affordable Halloween Costumes You Can Create at the MakerSpace

Written by the MakerSpace Team, Downtown Main Library

Halloween is getting scarily close, but creating your costume isn’t a nightmare if you have a library card! Visit a CHPL MakerSpace to make your own costume that is terrifyingly simple to create and won’t bite into your candy budget.

Here are five costumes created by our MakerSpace staff you can make by visiting one of CHPL’s MakerSpaces:

Scary Custom Headbands

With the MakerSpace’s 3D printers, turn an otherwise ordinary headband into a devilishly stylish accent sure to scare the living and undead alike!

Materials: A headband and some 3D printed horns

How to Make:

1. Reserve the MakerSpace’s 3D printers online.
2. Search to find horns, or any type of decor, on Thingiverse.com, opens a new window.
3. MakerSpace staff will assist you in prepare and 3D print the file.
4. When the 3D print is finished, glue the horns to the headband.

Cost: $3.00 of 3D printing costs

Ninja Turtle

Cowabunga! Use the MakerSpace’s sewing machines and transform into your inner lean, mean, green TMNT, complete with cape, mask and shirt.

Materials: Green, yellow, and either blue, red, purple, or orange fabric, depending on your favorite crimefighting turtle.

How to Make:

1. Cut the fabric using your own drawing or find sewing templates online. MakerSpace staff can give you a hand finding some.
2. Use one of the MakerSpace’s sewing machines, no reservation necessary.
3. Celebrate with a slice of pizza!

Cost: $5.00 of fabric

Cheshire Cat Mask

“We’re all mad here (at the MakerSpace). I’m mad. You’re mad.” Show an unforgettable grin with this simple mask with a Cheshire Cat (or any other) sticker. This is an easy way to customize your mask to complement or be a centerpiece for your costume!

Materials: A mask and a sticker

How to Make:

1. Reserve the MakerSpace’s vinyl printer online.
2. Search for a Cheshire Cat smile on the internet.
3. Ask MakerSpace staff to help you add cutlines to the photo and the vinyl printer will print and cut the sticker out for you.
4. When finished printing, peel the sticker off the sheet and stick it on your mask!

Cost: $2.00 of printing costs

Dinocorn

To Dinocorn, or not Dinocorn. That is the question! Recreate Hamlet and other Shakespearian quotations in a fantastically unique way with this 3D printed unicorn horn and two acrylic cat ears attached to a headband surrounded by paper flowers.

Materials: A headband, glue, a 3D printed unicorn horn and some acrylic to cut the cat ears.

How to Make:

1. Create the unicorn horn by reserving the MakerSpace’s 3D printers online.
2. Find a unicorn horn file on Thingiverse.com, opens a new window.
3. MakerSpace staff will assist you in prepare and 3D print the file.
4. Create acrylic cat ears by reserving the MakerSpace’s laser engraver online.
5. Find some cat ears you like on the internet.
6. MakerSpace staff can help you get the file prepared.
7. When finished printing, cut the ears out.
8. Assemble the Dinocorn by gluing the unicorn horn and the cat ears to the headband. Attach paper flowers or customize your Dinocorn how you see fit.

Cost: Acrylic cat ears: $6.00 for a sheet of acrylic (feel free to bring that and use it in the laser engraver for free.) Unicorn horn: $2.00 in PLA material.

Frankenstein Cut-Out Mask

Create a super simple mask in minutes. From Frankenstein to superheroes, this easily customizable costume is a breeze to make at the Library!

Materials: Photo paper (which can be purchased in the Makerspace), scissors, glue, a popsicle stick.

How to Make:

1. Reserve the MakerSpace's Computer Workstations online, opens a new window.
2. Find a mask file from the internet.
3. Print the mask file you’ve found.
4. Cut out the background, eyes, and mouth of the mask.
5. Glue the cut-out mask onto a popsicle stick.

Cost: $0.25 for photo paper

What do you plan to be for Halloween? Visit a CHPL MakerSpace to get creating!