How to make a monster's costume?

[toffeeapple]

Dd is 6 and in year 1. There's a monster's ball at school soon and we have been told we (kids and parents) have to make a costume.
I have no idea where to begin, and what kind of monster, any suggestions?

does she have any ideas herself to begin with?

She wants to be a vampire or a Zombie (I really don't like the zombie idea they freak me out). Other than that, what other types of monsters can you have?
Is a devil a monster for example?

i don't think i'd risk a devil

maybe a mummy type thing, easy to make just need lots of bandages

I had to do this a few yrs ago and sewed two green furry bathmats together (the ones shaped to go round a sink). They made a tunic shape then green tights and some sort of bug eyed head gear.

Sounds good! Both ideas. Thank you

Green alien/monster constume for 6 yr old dd

(it's cheaper and quicker to make than it looks - promise!!)

Material:
ice cream cones
green or pink cardboard or green or pink headband
hairgrips or hairclips(if using cardboard headband)
make up sponge or old sponge cut up
glue or sellotape
green paint
face paints including green and pink
make up brush (usually comes with face paint set)
hair gel (poss glittery or greenish)
green or pink long baggy t-shirt
pink or green felt
fabric glue or green or pink cotton thread

optional : green or pink leggings and cheap plimsolls sponged with green or pink paint

1. Choose your two colours. I made costume in light ("highlighter") green with pink spots but could be reverse or another set of colours entirely (orange and purple or navy blue and yellow perhaps for a boy)

1. Buy some ice cream cones. Paint two (or three) of them your chosen colour (I used bright green as base - darker green towards foot of cone, light green in middle, yellowish towards tips)

1. Glue or sellotape the cones to a strip of (green) cardboard or to a green headband, cone side down so child has two or three "antennae".

1. Apply glittery or greenish hair gel to child's hair to spike it up

1. Rub a damp sponge in face paint (green) and apply all over child's face leaving gaps for spots. Use a brush to draw the outlines of the spots in the gaps. Fill in the spots with a brush using pink paint (I used pink spots on green background and put one spot "around" one of dd's eyes if that makes sense), one on forehead, one on chin, a couple of random small spots on cheeks.)

1. Do the same painting on forearms and hands so child has green arms with pink spots. (Most effective if you paint over nails too)

1. Cut out pink felt spots/circles in (random) different sizes and stick or sew on to long bright green t-shirt)

Voila! You can wear ordinary jeans and shoes with this or go whole hog and buy cheap pink or green leggies and painted plimsolls etc.

This comes courtesy of Usborne's big book of things to make and do. There's a little note at the end saying "NB, remember you can't eat the cones once they are painted"

Have fun!

BackstreetsofNaples - green bath mat idea is inspired!! I am definitely going to steal that for next time ...