HALLOWEEN is around the corner and it is time to get thinking about those all-important creepy costumes. But kitting out the little ones doesn’t have to mean spending a frightful amount.

With a few clever, crafty tricks, you will be able to turn household items into spooky outfits that are worth a treat. Here, Abby McHale gives you a step-by-step guide on how to make these ghoulish garments, modelled by Luca Barclay, from Cheshunt, Herts, and Sienna Knight, from Bedford – both aged five.

Day of the dead

You will need: Fake flowers, white paint, paintbrush, black headband, glue, skirt, plain black T-shirt, colourful tulle, face paint, black sandals.

1. Glue the fake flowers on to the headband and leave to dry.
2. Take the black T-shirt and paint a white skeleton outline onto the fabric.
3. Cut the tulle into vertical strips.
4. Tuck the tulle into the top of the skirt and let it hang down at the front.

Sienna said: “Pink, purple and blue are my favourite colours, so I feel like a creepy princess in this outfit.”

• Top, £7 from Marks & Spencer – 
• Skirt, £20 from River Island – 
• Shoes, £22 from River Island – 
• Headband, £3.50 from Claire’s Accessories – 
• Tulle, £3.50 from Hobbycraft – 

Beetlejuice

You will need: Black blazer and trousers, white top, white tape, black card, scissors, dry shampoo, face paint, trainers.

1. Using the black card, cut out the shape of a tie and stick to the top.
2. Take the white tape and cut strips the length of the suit.
3. Stick the strips to the suit, leaving gaps in-between each one to make the stripe pattern.
4. Repeat the sticking of the strips until the suit is completely covered.

Luca said: “This outfit is super cool, I love the stripes. I have such crazy hair.”

• Suit jacket, £34 from Marks & Spencer – 
• Trousers, £16 from Marks & Spencer – 
• White top, £2.50 from Marks & Spencer – 
• Trainers, £20 from River Island – 

Wednesday Addams

You will need: Black bin bag, white card, scissors, tape, pencil, black top, black shorts, black boots, white face paint.

1. Cut a hole at the bottom of the bin bag for the head to go through.
2. Cut holes at either side in order for the arms to go through.
3. Take the white card and cut two vertical strips, wrapping them around the wrists to make cuffs, secure in place with tape.
4. Draw a collar shape on to the white card and cut out, attach around the neck using tape.

Sienna said: “I’ve never worn a bin bag as a dress before – it’s really funny.”

• Top, £4, Primark – 
• Boots, £32, River Island –

Zombie

You will need: Old top and trousers, scissors, face paint, fake blood, dirty trainers

1. With the scissors cut the bottom of the trousers into jagged edges.
2. Rip the sleeves of the arms of the top.
3. Cut holes in the fabric of both the top and the bottoms to create a ripped effect.

Luca said: “I liked ripping my clothes up as I wouldn’t be allowed to do that normally and it was cool.”

• Shirt, £8 from Primark – 
• Jeans, £12 from Primark – 
• Trainers, £16 from River Island – 

Maleficent

You will need: Roll-neck top or dress, black headband, toilet roll, tinfoil, black masking tape, scissors, glue, purple fabric, purple feathers, safety pins, black boots.

1. Using the masking tape stick the two toilet roll tubes on the headband to make the horns.
2. Mould the tinfoil into horn-like shapes.
3. Stick the masking tape around the tinfoil.
4. Push feathers into the fabric of the roll-neck.
5. Wrap the purple fabric around the shoulders and secure with safety pins.

Sienna said: “I feel like Maleficent in this outfit. The horns are cool and I love the pretty feathers.”

• Dress, £10 from Primark – 
• Boots, £28 from River Island – 
• Fabric, £12.50 from Hobbycraft – 
• Feathers, £8.60 from Amazon – 
• Band, £3 from Claire’s Accessories – 

Mummy

You will need: White sheets, scissors, T-shirt, trousers, trainers, white face paint.

1. Take the sheet and cut a line at the edge of the fabric.
2. Begin to rip the sheet into vertical strips.
3. Once you have enough strips, begin to wrap the fabric around the body and secure by tying the fabric in place together.
4. Repeat this until the full body is covered.

Luca said: “I feel creepy and scary. It’s funny walking round with your arms out pretending to be a mummy.”

• T-shirt, £6 from Primark – 
• Jeans, £12 from Primark – 
• Bedsheets, £7 from Wilkinson’s –