7 Easy Ideas: How to Make Alien Costume for Kids on Budget?

How to make alien costume for kids-

• Find old clothes, metallic fabric, foil, and craft supplies like glue, scissors, and felt at home or a dollar store.

• Start with basic clothes in green, silver, or any bright color—use leggings and a T-shirt or a simple jumpsuit.

• Create large eyes using felt, foam, or paper plates, and attach them to a headband or cap with glue.

• Twist pipe cleaners or use wire and attach pom-poms or small balls at the ends. Attach them to a headband or hat.

• Wrap foil around cardboard to make a space belt, wristbands, or other accessories that give an otherworldly vibe.

• Use face paint in green, blue, or silver, or make a simple alien mask with cardboard, felt, and elastic string.

• Add creative touches like glitter, glow-in-the-dark stickers, or sequins to make the costume unique and fun.

Halloween is my most favorite time of the year. My children and I have so much fun together at Halloween by picking and making costumes together. Last Halloween, my kids were set on being aliens, so I took on the challenge of creating alien costumes on a budget. It was a fun and creative experience that I had with my kids. Today, I want to share what I learned so you can make your DIY alien costumes for your kids without breaking the bank.

If you’re wondering how to make alien costumes for kids that are easy, affordable, and unique, this guide is for you. I’ll walk you through 7 different ideas, from simple and cute designs to more exciting looks. Let’s get started!

7 Easy DIY Space Alien Costume Ideas

Here are some simple alien costume ideas you can make at home. These ideas use materials that are easy to find and won’t cost much. You can get creative with each costume.

1. Simple and Cute Alien Costume

This is perfect for younger kids. This look is simple and not so scary for babies. All you need is a green T-shirt, some felt, and pipe cleaners. I used a bright green shirt for my little daughter, which gave her that “classic alien” look.

Photo credit: Primary

Materials: 

• Green T-shirt 
• Green, light green, black, and white felt 
• Pipe cleaners
• Styrofoam balls
• Green pom pom 
• Glue gun

Instructions:

• Step 1- First, I cut out shapes from the felt to create alien spots and glue them onto the T-shirt.

• Step 2- Then, I added some fun touches to the look by making some eyes. I cut circles of felt in dark green, light green, black, and white and glued them to Styrofoam balls like in the picture. I attached the Styrofoam balls to the headband.

• Step 3- Then, I made a simple headband by wrapping pipe cleaners around a headband and gluing on green pom pom at the top.

• Step 4- I completed the look with green leggings or pants.

This easy costume took me about an hour to put together, and my daughter loved it. The cute alien was a hit during trick-or-treating.

2. Toy Story Alien Costume

This look is an adorable option if your child loves Toy Story. This alien costume idea is my personal favorite, as I enjoyed the movie several times with my little ones. It’s a little more detailed look but still easy to create at home. I made this costume for my elder daughter in 2021, and the best part was how simple it was to make.

Photo credit: Pinterest

Materials: 

• Blue frock
• Purple ribbon
• Green beanie
• Green, black and white felt
• Black felt 
• Styrofoam balls
• Pipe cleaner
• Green pom pom
• Googly eyes

Instructions:

• Step 1- Firstly, I decorated the blue frock with the iconic Pizza Planet logo and purple ribbon to mimic the Toy Story alien’s outfit. To make the Pizza Planet logo you can use acrylic paint. 

• Step 2- Then, I used green felt to make the alien’s ears and attached them to a green beanie.

• Step 3- Then, I made three eyes using Styrofoam balls, and black and white felt and attached them to the beanie. You can also use the googly eyes instead of Styrofoam balls.

• Step 4- Lastly, I made a spiral shape with the pipe cleaner and attached the pom pom ball to it. I glued it onto the beanie.   

This was my daughter’s favorite costume because it was a character she already loved. 

3. Alien in Spaceship Costume

I made this costume for my 10-year-old nephew, and he loves it! This one takes a little more work but has a big payoff in creativity. The spaceship costume added an extra element of fun and made my nephew feel like he was really flying through space.

Photo credit: Maisonette

Materials: 

• Large cardboard box 
• Clear bubble umbrella
• Spray paint (silver) 
• Green T-shirt and pants
• White felt
• Glue gun

Instructions:

• Step 1- First, I cut the cardboard box, spray-paint it silver to look like a UFO, and attached straps to a transparent umbrella like in the picture.

• Step 2- Then I cut the white felt and attached them to the cardboard like in the picture. 

• Step 3- To work out the whole look together, I helped my nephew to wear the green T-shirt and pants, and to hold the umbrella.

The UFO was lightweight and easy to carry around, and it made for some fantastic Halloween photos.

4. Alien Family Costume

If you’re looking to go all out, why not create an alien family costume? We did this at a costume party, and it was a blast. You can make it as simple or as intricate as you like.

Photo credit: Goldengluegun

Materials: 

• Matching silver bodysuit
• Green wigs
• Black headbands
• Silver pipe cleaners 
• Styrofoam balls
• Silver spray paint 
• Glue gun

Instructions:

• Step 1- Firstly, I created matching alien outfits for the whole family using silver bodysuits. You can easily find them on Amazon or near stores. 

• Step 2- Then, I made an alien’s eyes using Styrofoam balls, pipe cleaners, and headbands for everyone. I colored the Styrofoam balls with silver spray paint and stuck them to the pipe cleaners. And then, I attached them to the headbands. You can add any personal touches if you want. 

• Step 3- I finished the look with the green wigs and green face paint. 

Our look made for great family photos, and the kids loved that we all matched.

5. Alien UFO Abduction Costume

Another idea for a UFO costume that I once created was to make my son look like he was getting abducted by a UFO. With some cardboard and a plastic bowl, I made this outfit in a few hours.

Photo credit: Pinterest

Materials: 

• Cardboard 
• Transparent bowl
• Alien soft toy
• Silver spray paint
• Glue 
• String lights
• Transparent stamping foil
• PVC pipes
• School bag

Instructions:

• Step 1- First, I cut the cardboard and paint it with silver spray paint.

• Step 2-  Then, I added string lights or reflective tape to make it look like a flying saucer.

• Step 3- Next, I placed the alien soft toy on the top and attached it with hot glue to the cardboard. If you can’t manage the alien soft toy, then you can draw an alien on the cardboard, color it, cut it off, and attach it to the cardboard.

• Step 4- After that, I placed the transparent bowl and covered the toy alien like in the picture. 

• Step 5- Then, I cut the transparent stamping foil and attached them to my almost done UFO.

• Step 6- In the last step, I attached 2 PVC pipes to the UFO and the other ends of the pipes to a box. I put the box into a school bag, and my son wore it. It looked like he was getting abducted by the mischievous alien. 

I think this will be a great costume for kids who love to be something different at the Halloween party. I loved this costume on my son as it was shiny, fun, and a little different from the usual alien costumes.

6. Holographic Alien Costume

Holographic material is great for creating an alien look. I found some shiny, holographic fabric at a local craft store and used it to create a simple dress for my daughter. I added some star-shaped stickers and glitter on her face to give it an extra “outer space” vibe.

Materials: 

• Holographic fabric 
• Silver spray paint 
• Silver pipe cleaners
• Styrofoam balls
• Headband

Instructions:

• Step 1- First, I used holographic fabric to make a simple alien outfit. You can make simple dresses, T-shirts, and pants. If you don’t have time to sew, then you can buy the outfit from Amazon or other stores.

• Step 2- Then, I painted the Styrofoam balls with silver paint and attached them to silver pipe cleaners. I added the other ends of the pipe cleaners to the headband.

• Step 3- To make the look more interesting I used silver face paint, sticker, and glitter on my daughter’s face.

This costume was all about the shine, and my daughter loved how futuristic it looked. It’s perfect for kids who want to look a little more stylish.

7. Flying Saucer Costume

Finally, another fun idea is to make a flying saucer costume. This one is all about the design. For a flying saucer costume, I used an inner tube to create the saucer.

Photo credit: alpha mom

Materials: 

• Inner tube
• Silver spray paint  
• String lights 
• Glue
• Styrofoam Balls
• Headband
• Silver pipe cleaner

Instructions:

• Step 1- I started with painting the inner tube with silver spray paint. Don’t forget to blow them up before painting.

• Step 2- Then, I added the string light to the inner tube. You can also use reflective material instead of light if you don’t have the light.

• Step 3- Like other tutorials I have discussed before, I made the alien headband with Styrofoam balls, silver pipe cleaner, and headband. 

This costume is great for kids who love the idea of being an alien pilot. It’s creative and makes for a fun, unique Halloween look. You can also add the alien eyeglasses to add an extra oomph to the look.

How to Make an Alien Mask?

Materials: 

• Paper Mache 
• Paint
• Elastic 
• Scissors

Instructions:

• Step 1- Use paper mache to create the base of the mask, molding it into an alien shape.

• Step 2- Once dry, paint it green or any other alien color.

• Step 3- Add elastic to hold the mask in place.

If you don’t have paper mache then you can simply use green felt or green art paper.

How to Make an Alien Headband?

Materials:

• Headband 
• Pipe cleaners 
• Styrofoam balls or googly eyes
• Glue

Instructions:

• Step 1- Attach pipe cleaners to a headband to create antennae.

• Step 2- Glue foam balls to the top of the antennae for a more 3D effect. You can also use googly eyes instead of Styrofoam balls.

How to Store Costumes after Halloween?

1. Clean Before Storing: The first step I do is making sure the costumes are clean. I scan each outfit for any spot or stain. If the fabric is washable, I wash it carefully. For costumes with delicate fabrics, embellishments, or accessories, spot cleaning is usually sufficient. This helps prevent stains or odors from setting. Don’t forget to dry them properly, we don’t want any mold to grow!

2.  Organize Accessories: I gather all the accessories that go with each costume, such as masks, hats, wigs, belts, and props. To keep everything together, I keep the smaller items in Ziplock bags and label them. This way, nothing gets lost, and the costume remains complete.

3.  Use Breathable Garment Bags: I store the costumes themselves in breathable garment bags. Breathable garment bags protect costumes from dust and pests. If you don’t have garment bags, you can use old pillowcases to cover the costumes, which works well as an alternative.

4.  Hang Costumes: I hang the costumes in the closet that are made with more structured fabrics or ones that wrinkle easily. This prevents them from getting crumpled or damaged in a box.

5.  Label Storage Bins: For any costumes stored in bins or boxes, I label the outside with a description of what’s inside. This makes it easy to locate the costumes when needed.

6.  Tuck Silica Gel: Silica gel helps to suck up moisture and prevent mold. I keep silica gel in the garment bag while storing the costumes. 

7. Choose the Right Storage Location: The final step is finding a good spot to store everything. Costumes are best stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, as heat and light can damage the fabrics. I typically store them in a closet or under the bed where the environment is stable.

Pro Tips

If you don’t have any sewing kit around, you can simply attach the fabrics with a hot glue gun. This tip can also save you a big time. Before using any paint on the face (particularly on a kid’s face) have an allergy test using it on the neck or hand. Otherwise you and your kids might get an allergic reaction on the face. If you don’t have a green headband or silver pipe cleaner simply use the spray paints.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

Conclusion

Making alien costumes for my kids is always great fun. Every Halloween, we make costumes together for each member of my family. We not only have fun but also save some money by making costumes at home. Whether you choose to DIY or follow some of these step-by-step guides, the key is to have fun with your kids and family.

I hope my experience has given you some inspiration and practical tips on how to make alien costumes for your kids this Halloween.