Ok, so it’s the last couple of days before Halloween and you’ve hemmed and hawed about going to that party your friends are having, with no good costume ideas.

You can run up to Spirit Costumes by Trader Joe's, but if you don’t find what you want, or you’re a bit low on cash, don’t worry, I’ve been there and so I’ve assembled a few home made costume suggestions.

Most will start with a visit to Michael's Arts and Crafts on Pac Highway, but you may also find some items at the hardware store.

Iron Man: Pick up a sheet of two inch foam insulation board at Lowes and cut it in the triangular shape of a large clothing iron. Paint it with some silver paint, making dark ‘steam holes’ where they would be on a clothes iron, and cut holes for your arms and face. Wear a black sweat suit and boots.

Babe Magnet: Light colored clothing, pick up a bunch of inexpensive doll babies at Michaels and attach them with duct tape and safety pins.
Note: Baby chicks make you a ‘chick magnet’

Partly Sunny/Chance of Rain: Dress in sky blue, with a yellow hat, glue some cotton balls to your shirt, hat and pants, carry a squirt bottle.

God’s Gift: Cardboard Box, finished in wrapping paper with ribbons and bow on side, hole for your head, arms and legs. Tag reads: ‘God’s gift to ---------’ Fill in the blank

Dalmation Girl: Wear White sweatsuit or leotard, attach black felt ‘spots’ hot glued or safety pinned on. Make a hat with floppy black ears. Make a tail out of a coat hanger wrapped with felt. Don’t forget the white and black face makeup.

Dr. Pepper: Find a white lab-style coat, and pick up a fake stethoscope at Spirit Costumes, you can get latex gloves nearly anywhere, but Michaels will have some plastic peppers to pin to the coat. (Don’t use real ones…it could sting your eyes. Note: pin some stuffed animals to your coat, you’re a veterinarian.

Peter the Pumpkin Eater: Glue pumpkin seeds to a plain white t-shirt, attach a name tag that says, ‘Peter’ carry half eaten pumpkin.

For couples you could go as the Yip-Yips from "Sesame Street,” with some Muppet-like fabric at Michaels or Jo-Anne, the Yip-Yips' eyeballs are made from Styrofoam, and the antennae, from pipe cleaners. Inside the costume is a foam hat that makes the heads a bit pointy and the lips should be foam-filled and duct taped to a stick so you can move the mouths up and down.

I tried to think of a clever way to do a ‘Balloon Boy’ costume in order to commemorate the insanity of too much media coverage, but decided that, whatever I might fit inside would be (like the head Falcon’s Dad) far too big to go through any doorways. Ok, get busy, have a fun Halloween. Don’t stay out too late and if you drink alcohol, let someone who didn’t drink do the driving.