Don't be Martha, just be awesome -Part IV: Costume MacGyver to the rescue

So, you have an hour until trick or treating time, and all of a sudden, your "too cool for school" kiddo decides he/she needs a costume. You're not the most craftsy mom, and needles generally end up in your finger or on the floor, not to be found until you're stalking around in bare feet some dark morning. What to do?

Enter Halloween costume MacGyver (you know, the show from the 80s/90s; ugh, I hate it when I date myself!).

Anyway, super mom that you are, you want your kiddo to leave the house in more than a sheet-turned-ghost, especially since the only one you're willing to cut up has pink daisies on it. Never fear, because other options do exist.

First step? Take a look around your own house. You have some boxes? Make a robot. Toilet paper? Put a mummy on tap. Have black pants and shirt? Tape some paper bones to them and you've got a skeleton. Scarf, striped shirt, and boots? Your a pirate, matey! Argh!

But there's more, my friends. Much, much more. Take a look below, and feast your eyes on some truly unique ten-minute concepts. (Insert evil laugh here...)

Bring Paul Bunyan back to life...
Check out the lumberjack idea from Etsy.com, which is easy and cool enough for even your most peer-pressured kiddo. All you need is a beanie, flannel shirt, boots, and, um, well, maybe a plastic ax. Or you could use a toilet paper roll attached to a stick. This is about improvising, folks. As for the beard, washable marker really isn't advisable, but that's totally up to you. Then again, how about a little chocolate syrup?

Wahoo! Kick butt by being one of the most popular video game characters...
Parentmap had some great Halloween costume ideas, but this Mario one is so gosh darn easy, it makes me feel like I could punch through some brick walls! A pair of overalls, red shirt, and a slightly altered red hat and buttons is just the ticket.

Take trick or treating to a whole new (big) level...as Jelly Bellies...  
I actually had a friend dress as this idea from the Childcare Network (number eight) a few years ago at a Halloween party. All you need is a somewhat see-through plastic bag and some balloons (okay, you may have to run to the store for this one.) And if you don't have the time (or patience) to blow up a cajillion balloons, what about using those balls from the ball pit (I have, like, a million)? This costume is sure to be a hit, but just remember one thing: sitting is difficult...

Because everybody likes tea, and it's easy to make...
And if you just happen to have a box of Lipton Tea (or something of that nature) and a white sheet lying around, this tea bag idea from ClevelandWomen.com (third one down) is always an easy one. However, I'm not sure it will be a big sell for kids, although parents are sure to get it right away... and maybe find themselves thirsty...

And when you just want to bring on the awesome...
Say it with me: "Last but not least..." We've got ourselves a creative genius winner from babble.com! Put your kiddo in rain gear and attach stuffed dogs and kitties to the umbrella! Voila!  It's "raining cats and dogs." And hey, it's okay if you don't tell someone you got the idea from the Internet. I won't say anything. But this clever little ensemble might just earn you the "mom who has it going on" title for your neighborhood.