Fancy dress on a budget

[muminthecity]

The thought of fancy dress usually fills me with horror, I can't even remember the last fancy dress party I went to - I was probably about 6!

However, a really good friend who I love dearly is having an Alice in wonderland themed party in a couple of weeks to celebrate a big birthday. Everyone will be dressed up. I have a budget of £40 maximum, I can't be Alice but happy to go as any other character. I've had a look online but I really don't want to pay out for something cheap and nasty looking that looks like it could burst into flames at any moment. Nor do I want to look like a porn star, which limits my options in terms of ready made costumes!

I am hoping someone out there can offer me some inspiration. Thanks in advance for any thoughts/ideas

Oh I should've mentioned, I am a size 18 - which again, further limits my options!

I went as a playing card to an Alice party! Long white top with card numbers/ symbols on. Black trousers/ leggings. Job's a good 'un. There will probably be lots of hatters/ white rabbits, but a rabbit is easy to do...

One of my friends cut up a blue sleeping bag and came as the caterpillar, it was immense.

I was also going to suggest the playing card option. You could make it out of an old white sheet.

Thank you, I hadn't thought of the playing card option! How could I make it look like I've made an effort? I'm not very creative as you may have guessed!

Well you could cut the shapes out of coloured card/ paper and pin on, or fabric pens/ paint.

You'll need a bucket and paintbrush for "painting the roses red"

I've attached a full-on fancy dress image- I couldn't be bothered with going this far though! You could use the picture as an idea source, and copy the card part, but using a a sheet as Za says.

If you have a red or black dress (or can get one from a charity shop), it would be quite easy to be the Queen of Hearts. Just sew, glue or bondaweb some hearts to the dress. Get, borrow or make a crown, adding more hearts if necessary. Maybe some fabric as a cloak.

This website is great for costume inspiration. I expect there are also plenty of things on Pinterest.

(I have know people dress as hedgehogs and flamingos but that might be more effort than you want to go for!)

This is really simple and she hasn't even stuck hearts on her dress. You could possibly borrow one if you don't have one and save even more money.