Dog Halloween Costumes – Quick and Easy DIY

Twas The Night Before Halloween – The Dogs Are Howling For Costumes!

Wahoo!  Only 24 hours before Halloween and I have finally figured out what my tribe is going to wear this year.  They are so excited!  Can you just feel the sarcasm in that comment? 🙂  My pups put up with a lot from me and dressing up in Halloween costumes is tops on that list.  This year’s dog Halloween costumes are easy, fun, inexpensive and super cute!!

The first dog Halloween costume is an adorable ladybug.  After all, who doesn’t like ladybugs?  They are cute and cuddly, just like my miniature tribe. They don’t bite and they take care of the aphids in my garden. 🙂

I was able to purchase everything that I needed for my ladybug costume from my local Hobby Lobby.  My tribe is made up of three Chihuahuas so the measurements listed here are for little dogs.  You will need to adjust based on the size of your own furry friend.

• 1 sheet of red craft foam and 1 sheet of black craft foam.  I went with a glittery black because, well you know … glittery black!
• 1 package of red pipe cleaners.  I choose a fun spiral pipe cleaner over the regular fuzzy pipe cleaners.
• Craft glue for craft foam or a hot glue gun.
• Elastic for body bands.  I used a 1/2 inch elastic because of my pups size.
• Pencil
• Scissors

Step One:  Fold one sheet of the craft foam across the short axis.  Once that is done, measure 1 1/2 inches from the fold toward the edge.  From this point, use a pencil to draw a half circle or oval from the top to the bottom of your sheet.  Cut out the half circle with your scissors following along the pencil line.

Step Two: Open the half circle you cut out.  You should have a full circle or oval shape that has a straight edge about 3 inches long on the top.  This is your ladybug wings.  Starting at the bottom of your “wings” cut a slit up the fold, stopping about three to four inches from the top.

Step Three:  Now for the spots.  Take out your sheet of black craft foam.  If you are using the glitter craft foam flip it over to the none glittery side.  Using a small circular object and your pencil, draw 9 circles.  These are your lady bug’s spots.  I used a shot glass as a template, but a medicine bottle or a coin would work as well.  The template you use will determine the size of your ladybug’s spots.  Once you have marked all of your circles, cut out all of your spots.

Step Four: Determine what side of your wings will face outward.  Arrange your black spots on your red “wings” – like placing pepperonis on a pizza.  Once you have your spots where you want them, begin to glue them down.  Set your wings aside and let the glue dry.  If you are using a hot glue gun be very careful to not melt your foam.  A little glue goes a long way.

Step Five: From your black elastic, you will need to cut four strips.  Three will be used as loops to attach the ladybug “wings” on your dogs via their neck and front legs.  The fourth strip will be used for the ladybug’s antennas.  My Chihuahuas are little so I cut my first three elastic bands to be 10 1/2 inches long and the antenna band is 9 inches long.  These lengths may work for you or you may have to adjust based on the size of your dog.  Glue the ends of each strip together to make four elastic circles.  Set aside and let the glue dry.

Step Six: Once all of your glue is dry, place your “wings” spot side down.  The first loop that you will want to attach to your wings is the one for your pups neck.  This will go at the top of your “wings” along the straight edge.  Glue a section of your elastic loop along the 3 inch straight piece like a black border.  Along the left and right edge measure down approximately 3 1/2 inches.  From there, measure 1 1/2 inches towards the center.  Hopefully your points will be about the same height 🙂 .  Glue approximately 1 inch of elastic band on each one of these points.  These bands will be used as loops for your pups front legs.  When attaching all three loops you want to make sure that you glue down enough of the elastic that it will be secure but not so much that you don’t have room for your dog’s body part.  Let all glue dry.

Step Seven: To make your ladybug antennas you will need one red pip cleaner, your last elastic loop and two small circles cut out of the black craft foam.

Voila!!!  You have an adorable lady bug for your dog Halloween costume!!!!

Isn’t he just the cutest little cuddle bug?

Now that you have a great ladybug you just have to have a beautiful flower for the ladybug to hang out with!  Our second costume is super easy, super cute and again super inexpensive!  I was able to pick up all of these items at Hobby Lobby when I went shopping for my ladybug supplies.

• 1 bunch of artificial flowers.  I used small yellow daises.
• 1 green child size T-shirt.  You may need a larger size T-shirt depending on the size of your pup.
• 1/2 inch black elastic
• Hot glue gun

Step One:   Remove all of the flowers from their stems.  I was able to just pop the flowers off but you may have to cut them off depending on your flowers.

Step Two:  Cut a strip of the elastic 9 inches long.  This piece will be used as a head band for your pup so you may need to cut a longer strip if they are a larger dog.

Step Three: Using the hot glue gun, glue the loose flowers onto the center of the elastic band.  I used 10 flowers in all to form two back to back rows.  This was to hide the glue and stems and to make the head piece look finished.  Now take the two ends of your strip and glue them together to form a loop.

Step Four:  I wanted my flower to be extra festive so I snipped the back of my flowers so that they would lie flat and glue five of them around the neckline of  my T-shirt.

Ta Da!!!! A lovely, delicate flower bouquet!

Too cute! Hug me!!

Now we put them all together and they are ready for a night of Trick or Treating!

Well maybe just the Treating part 🙂

Happy Halloween from all of us at Rocket Dog Blog! Be Safe and have a great day!