From a DJ booth for the big kids to butterfly wings for the littles, you can use your old cardboard boxes to create these unique Halloween costumes

It’s that time of year! The weather has that autumn chill, everything is pumpkin-flavored (just look at TJ’s latest pumpkin offerings!), and the kids are buzzing with family costume ideas. Instead of breaking your budget on a store-bought costume, why not reuse those Amazon boxes you have stashed away? They’re called “boxtumes,” and with just a little crafty inspiration and your child’s imagination, you can create any number of cardboard box costumes that will make for a happy Halloween. Looking for some more DIY inspiration? Check out these Halloween crafts for kids, super-cool pumpkin carving stencils (your neighbors will flip!), and haunted Halloween decorations.

Minecraft Creeper Heads Box Costumes

Your little builders will love painting these Minecraft heads for their Halloween costumes this year. What’s especially nice is that you’ll need a reasonably-sized box, not a huge one you’ll have to find.

Rockstar & a Mixed Tape Box Costume

We love this sibling costume idea—a mixed tape and a guitar made out of boxes. Bonus: Your kids can wear comfy clothes for the rest of the costume, which means you’ll win Halloween.

Zoltar

DIY Halloween costume Zoltar
Kate Loweth

Get ready to read some fortunes with this Zoltar costume you can create using a cardboard box. Suspenders help to hold it up and you’ll want to add some accessories like a genie lamp and colorful magic ball to channel the sorcery of it all.

Vending Machine

A girl has used a box to create a vending machine Halloween costume
Christy Palmer via Thrifty and Thriving

This is an easy and great idea for using up all those boxes from Amazon! Just be warned— this cool costume could have other trick-or-treaters trying to get the candy to dispense. A Slinky, paint, and a few other items are all you’ll need to make your version of this tasty get-up. Head over to Thrifty and Thriving to get the entire tutorial.

 

DJ

A boy dressed up like a DJ booth using an old box
Kate Loweth

Snag a shirt from your favorite band, some headphones, and some chains and you'll be on your way to building a fantastic DJ costume. Use your box to make the turntable and grab a record from Goodwill. Super easy! 

Related: 34 Incredible Homemade Halloween Costumes for Kids

A Macaron

A girl is dressed up in a box for Halloween to look like a pink macron
Studio DIY

Oui, oui, your child is a fabulously French macaron. This scrumptious costume looks good enough to eat. Sadly, you can't, but it’s fun to create and your child will get a kick out of being their favorite dessert. Check out the design from Studio DIY.

 

A Kid in a Box

A boy uses an Amazon box to create a Halloween costume
Kate Loweth

This illusion costume is super fun and easy to build. Just use a mask from last year and a hoodie to create the creature who is carrying you. Then you get to be carried in the box. Super fun! 

Paper Doll Costume

We love this creative option that would be super easy to cut out and decorate this Halloween! Find instructions for this box costume here.

X-Ray

A little girl is dressed up for Halloween in an X-Ray box costume
Rachael Burgess

How cute is this little X-ray costume? Not only is the skeleton totally on point for Halloween, but have a sibling or a parent dress up as a doctor, and boom—it's a family costume. Find out how to make one with your Amazon box by heading to Rachael Burgess

A Pair of Dice

Two girls are dressed in matching Halloween costumes made of cardboard that make them look like a pair of die
Mandy Beyeler via Sugar Bee Crafts

Try your luck at making a set of dice this Halloween. Perfect for twins or BFFs, one of the best things about this costume is that it doesn't take a ton of supplies to make. Get the tutorial over at Sugar Bee Crafts

A Daring Dino

A boy is dressed as a dragon for Halloween in a box costume
Liska Meyers via Adventure in a Box

Go Jurassic this Halloween with an adorable dinosaur cardboard box Halloween costume. Your kiddo can fit inside the box, making it easy to wear (in other words, no tight suits or itchy head coverings that your tot will surely refuse to even touch). And bonus, your kiddos can paint their dino any way they want. Get the full instructions from Adventure In a Box.

 

UFO & Alien Cardboard Box Costume

Get yourself some foil and craft a UFO out of those cardboard boxes for an out-of-this-world costume!

Related: 27 Family Halloween Costume Ideas to Copy This Year

An Envelope

A girl is dressed up like a letter using a cardboard box
Studio DIY

Someone has mail. No, not email—a real letter that’s made from paper. Okay, so the letter isn’t exactly all paper and pen marks. It’s cardboard! With a box and some creativity, you can build your child a cute airmail costume. Get the details from Studio DIY.

 

 

Thomas the Train

Your preschooler can’t stop going on and on about his favorite little blue engine. He’s totally into Thomas the Train and is begging (like every 30 seconds) for a costume that features his fave. Well, here’s where this costume from Sugar Bee Crafts comes in. It’s artsy, fun, and something you can DIY at home.

Airplane Box Costume

You’ve seen Disney’s Planes something like a trillion times. And now your child wants to play one of the roles. For Halloween, that is. Don’t worry about finding a ready-made L’il Dipper costume at the mall (or online). Check out this cardboard box version from Desert Chica.

Cardboard Wings

Fairy wings made from a cardboard box are worn by a little girl for Halloween
The Sweetest Occasion

Whether it’s princesses, fairies, or butterflies that interest your child, this cardboard costume is everything. It’s super simple but still artsy enough to get your creative kid into the crafty creation process. Learn how to turn your old boxes into a crown and beautiful butterfly wings over at The Sweetest Occasion.

 

Related: 23 Last-Minute Costumes You Can Totally Pull Off

Fire Truck

A cardboard box is painting red to look like a fire engine and is worn by a little boy for Halloween
Repeat Crafter Me

You don’t have to keep the cardboard for the costume itself. This sweet firefighter outfit is easy to make—you can probably pick plenty of items from the dress-up bin to use. Here’s where the cardboard comes in. Use it to create the cutest fire truck wagon ever! Get the details from Repeat Crafter Me.

 

 

 

The Season of Family Reunions has a nice ring to it! A new study from Travelocity showed most people who stayed home during the pandemic miss socializing with family above all and 69 percent of non-parent respondents plan to travel for leisure within the next nine months, compared to 80 percent among parent respondents

From April 20-24, Travelocity surveyed more than 1,000 participants who live in the U.S. to gain better insight on summer travel plans. As restrictions begin to loosen nationwide, respondents are overall eager to travel and 67 percent note that being vaccinated personally plays a key role in their decision. Forty-two percent of non-travelers said that the main barrier up to this point is that it did not feel safe.


Among parents, 71 percent said they’d travel whether or not their children had received the COVID-19 vaccine. They’re also quite in touch with changes in the travel industry, with 66 percent noting that they’re extremely or very familiar with safety developments.What will travel look like this summer? Respondents with upcoming vacations planned said they’ll visit family (24 percent), hit the beach (16 percent), take a road trip (13 percent) or travel internationally (9 percent). Almost two thirds will get there by car (60 percent) and the rest plan to fly (35 percent).To help make getaway dreams come true, Travelocity is partnering with Thrifty Car Rental to give away two deluxe road trips, valued at $25,000 each. Even if you don’t win, you’ll be in good company if you’ve booked upcoming travel. We foresee lots of hugs in near future!

––Sarah Shebek

Image courtesy of Travelocity
Featured image courtesy of Pixabay

 

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Be sure to check your hand sanitizer! Shane Erickson, Inc. is voluntarily recalling various lots of its wash-free hand sanitizer due to the potential presence of methanol. Exposure to methanol risks includes nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death. 

FDA

Recalled products include the following: lot 2020/05/11 and MFG: 2020/05/10 L/N: 20200510-3 of imc Wash-Free Hand Sanitizer 50 ml, 100 ml, 300 ml and Wash Free Hand Sanitizer 300 ml lot 2020/05/11 and Thrifty White Pharmacy Wash-Free Hand Sanitizer 300 ml lot 2020/05/11. Check this link to see more information including UPC codes and product labels. 

No adverse effects in regards to this recall have been reported yet. Consumers with questions can contact Shane Erickson, Inc. by phone at 952.252.1254 or email sales@imcsuccess.com Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time Zone.

—Gabby Cullen

 

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Photo: Personal photo

Within hours of the announcement that legions of parents would be homeschooling their children, my social media feeds were awash with photos of homeschooling schedules and links to online educational resources. (Turns out there are a million websites to educate your kids online.) It seemed like it was going to be a full-time job just to figure out which website to park my children in front of for the next few weeks. So along with many of our parent friends, we spent the weekend figuring out how we will fill the hours, balance screen time limits and still get our own work done. Instant homeschooling? Buckle up kiddos!  

After what seemed like a 100 hours of planning, I began to realize that what I want my kids to learn isn’t going to fit neatly into my 45 minute time blocks or available on any free trial educational websites. Beyond math worksheets and at-home science experiments, there are larger life lessons to learn.

I want them to learn to rely on facts and science. With fear swirling around us, I want my kids to learn that they must turn to facts and science to ground them in their actions and reactions. Do not stop eating at our favorite chinese food restaurant because this virus started in China. Do not run out and buy all the masks you can find. They will not provide you the protection you seek. Instead, seek out science and the experts who have spent their professional lives researching this type of virus and pandemics. Trust science, not hype.    

I want them to learn that small actions can have big impacts. It is hard to tell your kids that they cannot have play dates or go to the playground or see their grandparents. Try telling your preschooler that they can only wave to their best friend from across the street. Instant meltdown. But by taking small actions—just our family staying home—we have the potential to save a lot of lives. Our kids are little, but they can have a big impact on the course of this virus. Exponential growth is real.  

I want them to learn that there are hardworking people that are willing to risk their own lives to take care of others. Hopefully, for us this experience will be no more than a long and boring quarantine at home. But for many families, this experience means that Mom and/or Dad are away tending to the sick in hospitals, guarding and caring for the elderly in nursing homes, driving trucks of food to our grocery stores and disinfecting our schools. These people are risking their own personal safety and health to protect and keep the rest of us alive. When this is over, we must find a way to repay these people for their sacrifice, time and expertise. There is still good in the world.

I want them to learn that bad things happen but they are resilient. We work very hard to protect our children from the cruelties of the world. But I fear that the coming storm of illness and death may hit people we know and care about. We will not be able to protect our children from the heartbreak of losing a grandparent. This virus may leave a hole in their hearts but they are strong little people.

I want them to learn that good things can come from really bad experiences. If we are lucky, our kids will become experts at properly washing their hands. And perhaps we will learn that we have a pretty cool family that can act as a team and take care of each other in tough times. But I hope they also learn that we can come together as a world to fight a deadly virus. This too shall pass and when it does, our kids will know to look for the good among the bad. 

I want them to learn what kind of person they want to be and how they want to treat other people. Do they want to be like the man in Tennessee who traveled from store to store buying over 17,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to sell at an exorbitant profit? Or do they want to be the person on the neighborhood listserv offering to get groceries and medicine for elderly neighbors? You can choose who you want to be in life.  

I want them to learn that self-care is important. This is going to be a long haul. We cannot sustain our current level of stress and consumption of news. Dance parties. Yoga. Nature. Breath. Read. (And, honestly, lots of screen time.) It’s okay to take a break.

When this crisis is over and life resumes its normal rhythms, I hope that these are the lessons that stay with my kids. Like our thrifty grandparents whose childhood was marked by the Great Depression, our kids may carry a very different view of the world and how individuals and our society should act in times of crisis. So as we proceed with our homeschooling adventure over the next few weeks (or months, if I am being honest with myself), I am going to try to keep some perspective about what I really want to teach my kids.

This post originally appeared on personal Facebook page.

Sarah Beck is a former lawyer and now a stay-at-home mom to three super busy kids in the suburbs of Washington DC. Her family is committed to the idea of "live small, travel big" and has been working to minimize their daily life and travel the world.

Want an awesome family vacation without having to do any planning? Why not buy someone else’s? Transfer Travel is like eBay for vacations and it lets you buy someone else’s already booked travel tickets and accommodations they no longer need.

Simon Powell founded Transfer Travel after he was stuck with his own fully-booked trip to Dubai thanks to an unplanned split from his partner. It was the receptionist at Powell’s hotel that prompted the idea when she asked if he could find someone to take his hotel room and pay him back for it.

Just like eBay, sellers can list their tickets or hotel rooms at full cost (the Buy It Now price), but there’s also plenty of room to score a deal as buyers can make lower offers. Any additional fees, like the cost of changing names on a booking, falls on the seller. Transfer Travel confirms each listing to make sure it’s a genuine booking. To protect buyers, the site also waits to release the money to sellers until after the booking is used.

On the flip side, if you’ve ever had to give up that family trip because of sick kids, this service can ensure you won’t lose your vacation and your money. According to research from Transfer Travel, illness is the number one reason vacations get canceled and around 220,000 booked and paid hotel rooms go unused in the United States each year. Currently, you can find around 1,000 open listings at Transfer Travel.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured Photo: Free-Photos via Pixabay

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Where can you get a nearly-new costume? Consignment shops! Little trick-or-treaters grow like corn stalks each year, so buying a once-used costume will earn you spooky points (and save on cash, too.) From Disney to DIY we’ve found four thrifty ways to get your little pumpkin dressed-up and ready for a frightfully delightful Halloween night.

La Costa Kids

Bursting with costumes this year La Costa Kids is a ghoulishly good place to get a boo-tiful costume at a bargain price. Known to have not only high-end (gently worn) Wishcraft costumes by Chasing Fireflies, they also have superheroes, Disney princesses, ghosts, goblins, and Frankenstein (oh my!) Grab your little ghosts and dig up a cool costume for hallows eve.

Costume Sizes: Newborn-14 years
Cost: $5.99-$14.99
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

372 N. El Camino Real
Encinitas, Ca
760-940-9076
Online: lacostakids.net

photo: Nikki Walsh

Where do you shop locally for Halloween costumes? Write us a note in the comments below.

—Nikki Walsh

The Upper East Side just got a whole lot more fun — and affordable! The Danish design store Flying Tiger recently landed on Third Avenue and it’s stocked with a “quirky, ever-changing selection” of everyday items such as toys, party products, fashion accessories, housewares and more. Items are practical as well as incredibly fun, stylish and unique, and here’s the best part: you won’t break the bank shopping here. Over 75% of the items in the store are $10 or less! Click through for a peek inside, then head there yourself for a thrifty and fun spree!

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Originating in Copenhagen in 1995, Flying Tiger set up shop for the first time in the U.S. in NYC's Flatiron District. The newest location, which opened mid-April, is a welcome alternative to the many high-end stores on the Upper East Side.

photo: via Flying Tiger USA Facebook page

Flying Tiger Upper East Side
1282 3rd Ave. (at 74th St.)
Upper East Side
212-777-1239
Online: flyingtiger.com

Is your family a fan of Flying Tiger? Tell us what you love there in the comments below!

— Ilyssa Smith

Chicken pot pie takes cupcake form in this recipe from food blogger, Amy of Broke Ass Foodie.  Not only is this recipe simple (hello, 5 steps!), Amy also breaks down the cost of each ingredient for the budget-minded. The result? A dozen chicken pot pie cupcakes that cost less than $6.

Total time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients:
1.5 cups fully cooked shredded chicken $1.62
1 (15 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup $1.25
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables $0.25
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese $0.83
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce $0.02
½ teaspoon garlic powder $0.05
12 Pillsbury Grand Biscuits $1.88

Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

2. In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients with a large spoon until blended well.

3. In a muffin tin sprayed with cooking spray, form each canned biscuit to muffin cups.

4. Evenly spoon chicken mixture into each biscuit cup.

5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until biscuits are golden brown.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Brokeass Foodie. Check out brokeassfoodie.com for more thrifty recipes for skinny wallets.

It’s an airplane, it’s part of a maze … no, wait, it’s a tug toy. Actually, it’s all of these things — and more. The most amazing baby toy ever invented is a plain ol’ cardboard box! Our guess is that you’ve got one or two of these lying around, so we’ve picked our favorite ways to utilize this seriously awesome (and thrifty) crafting material.

Touch and Feel Board
If you’re looking for ways to use the box that just won’t cut it as a house/spaceship/boat anymore, check out this awesome idea from Happily Ever Mom. Grab a piece of the box, cut out some holes, and add textured stuff like carpet, beads and sandpaper. Then, in a flash, you have a sensory board. Get all the info from blogger mom Katie Joiner here.

photo: Katie Joiner via happilyevermom

DIY Tugging Box
You know a box of tissues plus a baby equals a major cleanup job? Instead, create a tugging box for your little one — take away the mess and leave all the fun. Select a favorite style and design of ribbon, add a pipe cleaner or two, poke some holes and watch your curious crawler tug away. Find out how to make your own by checking out a great tutorial by craftmaster Kate at Laughing Kids Learn.

photo: Kate via laughingkidslearn

The Mystery Box
It’s a surprise every time with the mystery box. Have a theme like music, farm animals or dinosaurs, or just fill it with favorite things. With no construction or other materials needed, this could be the easiest (and definitely one of the most rewarding) ways to play with a box. Need ideas on what to put in? Grab suggestions here from Deborah of Learn with Play at Home.

photo: Deborah via learnwithplayathome

Hole in a Box
It’s like a baby version of skeeball. Plugging balls into holes is so easy and it never gets old. This DIY version has upped the ante with an added ramp. Watch the balls roll down into the basket for hours (okay, maybe 20 minutes) of baby entertainment. Find out more about this awesome box play created by in-home daycare owner Amy Ahola at Child Central Station.

photo: Amy Ahola via childcentralstation

Fiber-Optic Box
Leave it to Anna of The Imagination Tree to come up with such a clever way to use a cardboard box in baby play. This fibre-optic sensory cave is so awesome, any older kids at home are going to want to have a go. She uses actual fibre-optic lights but the same effect could be created with a strand of holiday lights. Find out how the rest of the project is completed by clicking here.

photo: Anna via theimaginationtree

Cardboard Maze
A little Labyrinth action, anyone? The Goblin King probably won’t show up (sorry Bowie fans) but watching your crawler wind her way through a maze of boxes is a fabulous way to spend the day. Decide between buying clips or just use duct tape to connect the sides together. Start saving those Amazon delivery boxes now — it’s going to take quite a few to create a massive maze like the mom at Living Green With Baby.

photo: courtesy livinggreenwithbaby

Trains, Planes and Automobiles
Any type of transportation, your standard cardboard box has got you covered. Make it a train, plane, or even a spaceship, just depends on your kiddo’s preferred method of imaginary travel! Parents Brianne and Sean Walker did it all for their son Reid’s first birthday. Get the info on how to make your own. Tip: Having extra hands on deck is a big help!

photo: Sean Walker via seanwalkerphotography

Posting Box
In and out, in and out. Posting games are probably right up there with peekaboo, and this super simple DIY version is thrifty fun. Grab a tissue box, create a slot and let baby play! They’ll learn all kinds of cool stuff, and even get a motor skills workout. Get the how-to from Debs at Learn With Play at Home.

photo: Deborah via learnwithplayathome

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What’s your favorite way to use a cardboard box? Share with us in the comments.

— Gabby Cullen

Little piggies. Digits. Whatever you call em’, tiny fingers and toes are the most kissable parts on little ones. There are a ton of ways to create a darling keepsake, from classic footprint art to holiday decor. (If you find a way to keep those wiggly feet still, the job is halfway done!) Check out some of the coolest ideas we’ve found for making and displaying hand and footprints.

Family Hand Lineup
Everyone at home can get in on this clever keepsake. Snag a print from all the members of the fam; it’s a simple, chic way to display a moment in time. The thrifty mama at Creatively Living offers how-to tips to make this a real framer.

 photo: Creatively Living

Lovable Footprints
There’s no question you love everything about baby. Freeze time with adorable wall art incorporating a favorite saying or song about L-O-V-E. Click here for the down-low on how to make this cute craft. All you need is a willing pair of feet.

 photo: Christina Fiedler

Glitter Digits
“Hand” out adorable glittery prints for gifts this year. Be sure to provide a mini easel with each gift so grandparents, aunties and uncles can proudly display a cute canvas through all the seasons. Lily & Bliss provides the how-to for a very glitzy idea.

 photo: Lily & Bliss

Toes in the Sand
Keep the summer vibe alive with a sandy footprint keepsake. Set aside some plaster of Paris, select some shells and capture a magical moment to enjoy for years to come. Grab the full tutorial from Paging Fun Mums.

 photo: Paging Fun Moms

Holiday Hand Plate
Celebrate the holidays with DIY design! Cool doesn’t have to cost a ton, and a handprint plate will add style to the season. Grab a charger, some paint and a willing subject or two. Chic On A Shoestring has the easy instructions for a fabulous handmade craft.

 photo: Chic on a Shoestring

Construction Site Prints
Make way for some seriously cute “toe” trucks. A fun project for any age, kiddos will get a kick out of seeing their feet turn into an all-terrain vehicle. Be sure to grab some ribbon or adhesive backing to display more than just one of these beauties. For more details head over to The Keeper of the Cheerios.

photo: The Keeper of the Cheerios 

Month By Month
If you hope to capture every tiny growth spurt, be sure to check out this über-clever way of watching those toes grow! A great addition to the nursery, this keepsake is one for the ages. Amy, the crafty mama at A Nest For All Seasons has the DIY details.

photo: A Nest for All Seasons / Jill Barnes

Prints on a String
Want to wear your kiddo’s prints close to the heart? Create a super-sweet necklace with this fab tutorial from Sarah Ortega. Creating this precious gem is affordable and the finished product is just as awesome as any bought in a store. A quick trip to the craft store (or Target) and a little time and you’ll have a super awesome gift in less than two hours.

 photo: Sarah Ortega

Ornaments to Hang
Ahh, the baby footprint ornament … your house wouldn’t be complete without it. With cool colors and shiny ribbon, these tiny toes are delightful. Follow the steps of Ariel, blogging mama of Dreams To Do. Her take on the classic keepsake will have you wanting to display wee pad prints every day of the year.

 photo: Dreams To Do

Flower Child
A great treat for the green thumbs in the family and a super-duper easy craft, this butterfly footprint pot is way off the cuteness charts. Plant a seed or two and watch all your flowers grow! The challenge comes when attempting a perfect pair of wings but Mama Papa and Bubba, will show you the easiest way to get it done.

 photo: Mama Papa and Bubba

Got any great ideas for displaying baby toes? Share with us in the Comments!

— Gabby Cullen