Halloween DIY: Costumes to make your dog proud

What better time to show off your handicraft skills than Halloween? Get out your scissors, glue stick and old knick-knacks, and get ready to disguise your dog in style … and comfort. Have fun!

1. Did I see a ghost?

Let's start off easy, with the Halloween traditional.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• White fabric
• Black marker
• Scissors

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Find a piece of white fabric (a sheet, a table cloth, a large tea towel—anything goes!), which you're happy to give a second life to.
2. With a black marker, draw 3 circles (smaller ones for your dog's eyes and a large one for the nose).
3. With your scissors, cut out the circles to make holes in the fabric.

And that's really all there is to it. Slip the costume over your dog and remember: it's not a ghost, just your dog!

1. A canine caffeine fix

You can't go a day without your favourite latté. Why not dress your dog up as your favourite hot drink?

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• A piece of brown or white fabric
• Starbucks logo
• Glue stick
• Needle and thread
• Disposable coffee cup lid
• Elastic band

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Cut a piece of fabric that's big enough to fit around your dog.
2. Place the fabric horizontally and glue the Starbucks logo to it. Or, if you've got talent, draw on the logo! You can also write your dog's name (along with a spelling mistake or two … to give your costume an extra touch of realism).
3. When the time comes, wrap the material around your dog and sew together the ends.
4. Cut 2 small holes on each side of the disposable coffee cup lid.
5. Measure the elastic band so that it's big enough to fit comfortably around your dog's head.
6. Thread the ends of the elastic band through the cup and tie them.

Tada!

1. Shaken, not stirred

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• A transparent dog cone
• 2 polystyrene balls
• Green paint
• Red paint
• A wooden skewer
• Adhesive tape

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Paint the polystyrene balls green.
2. Once dried, paint a red circle at the centre of each green ball (like a stuffed olive!)
3. Skewer the balls with the wooden skewer, being careful to leave nothing that could injure your dog.
4. Attach your handicraft “brochette"to the cone with adhesive tape.

And that's all! This costume is a great way to put your dog's cone to good use and make your friends laugh!

1. Turn your dog into a stuffed toy

This is an ideal costume for any dog (or cat)—whatever his or her size and level of comfort with accessories. It's simple to wear and easy to make.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• Cardboard
• Colouring pencils
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• String

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Take the cardboard and cut out the shape of a heart.
2. Using a white sheet of paper, cut out the letters T and Y.
3. Using the glue stick, glue the letters to the heart. If you have a colour printer handy—and are less artistically inclined—simply print out the iconic Ty logo (the well-known makers of stuffed toys).
4. Make a hole in one of the corners of the heart and thread some string through it and then attach your handmade label to your animal's collar.

Easy, effective and attractive … what more can you ask for?

1. Aloha, Fido!

The time has come to reposition your tiki dress from last year's costume. You don't have one? Here's an easy-to-make substitute.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• Scissors
• String
• Tissue paper

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Cut strips of tissue paper.
2. Cut a piece of string large enough to fit comfortably around your dog's hips.
3. Cover the string with strips of tissue paper (see photo) to make a mini tiki dress. Tie the dress around your dog's hips.
4. Complete the look with a bikini top and flower necklace.

And now your dog's ready to sway her hips to the gentle sound of the ukulele. Aloha!

Credits:

Photo 1: chezkleps

Photo 2: cloud.the.puppy

Photo 3: ktmcgee

Photo 4: mochiandduke

Photo 5: dulcethefierce