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We love to make our own costumes for Halloween. Â I have some kids who have come up with some pretty creative costumes over the years. Â Â We usually are “last minute” costume designers, but this year I got a jump on things and I already finished a Halloween costume for my daughter. She is going as a vending machine! Â The whole family pitched in to get the costume made, my oldest helped me with the design of the costume and my youngest picked out all of the HERSHEY’s candy to put inside the vending machine. If you are interested in making your own vending machine costume, here is what you will need:
- 2 Boxes (one for the machine and one for inside)
- Slinky
- (6) HERSHEY’S brand candy bars
- Plexi-Glass (I used the plastic from an inexpensive poster frame I picked up at Walmart)
- Spray Paint (I used gray)
- Cardstock (for decorating the front)
- Utility Knife
- Glue Gun
- Packing Tape
I started with a box that was You can use any size of box that you have on hand or one that will be a good fit for the person you are making it for. My box was 20 x 26 x 19. I cut out a rectangle that was a little bit smaller than the box I had that was going to go inside the machine. (13 x 17) Once I was done, I spray painted the box gray. I was able to cover the entire box with one can of spray paint. Next, I worked on the inside of the vending machine. Â Â I made 2 shelves inside the smaller box that the candy will rest on. I took the Slinky and used wire cutters to cut it into 6 roughly equal parts. I stretched them out a bit and then taped each one to the back of the box, so the candy bars would be able to rest inside each one. Next, I added the HERSHEY’S candy bars. Â I used tape to make sure the candy bars didn’t move around. I added some white cardstock onto the front of each shelf and wrote the selection numbers for each candy bar. (examples: A1, A2, A3, etc) I decorated the front of the box by cutting slits on the bottom and adding the word “PUSH”, so there was a place for people to get their candy bar. I also added a place where you could deposit coins and I used some old keyboard buttons for the candy selection buttons. To put it all together, I added the plastic to the inside of the box with super glue, and then I used packing tape to attach the smaller box with the candy bars to the inside of the vending machine. I did use a smaller box to prop up the candy bar portion, so it would stay in place easier. Lastly, I cut the holes for the head, arms and cut out the bottom of the box so my daughter would be able to walk easier. For even more Halloween Inspiration, make sure you check out Celebrate with HERSHEY’S, and make sure you check out the Boo Blvd for fun crafts, food, decorating and costume ideas. Have you started thinking Halloween costumes yet?
Giveaway is now closed
GIVEAWAY: To get you in the Halloween mood HERSHEY’S is giving 20 Thrifty and Thriving readers (2) Classic Bags of HERSHEY’S KISSES. My favorite!
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post letting me know what you or your kids plan to be for Halloween. Giveaway will run through October 10, 2012. I am participating in the HERSHEY’S BOO BLVD. campaign via Mom Bloggers Club. This post was sponsored by HERSHEY’S. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.
Sarah Kisner says
I love the vending machine idea! My oldest (7) is going to be a zebra; my youngest (3) is going to be a hot dog vendor…hot dogs are her FAVORITE! Both costumes will be homemade!
Susan says
That is a really cute idea. My daughter will be a monkey this year. We tried to talk her into not wearing the same costume as last year but she likes it and doesn’t want anything else.
Desi says
Great costume!! My 1 year old is going to be tigger. His dad will be Pooh and I’ll be piglet. So much fun!!
Andrea says
A pumpkin and a watermelon for my kids!
Kim Fusco says
What a cute costume idea!! My oldest son (9) is going as a zombie, the 7 yr. old is going as a football player and the youngest (5) wants to be the red angry bird. We are going homemade of course!
Krisinda Lingenfelter says
Super cute costume! I’m not sure if my kids will “be” anything this year or not since Halloween falls on a Wed. night, and we have church. They might wear some costumes to church. If I had to guess right now…my 8 year old would probably surprise me (I have no idea what he’d pick), my 6 year old boy has already mentioned being a ninja (same as last year), my 3 year old daughter recently got a Cinderella costume/dress so thinking she’d wear that…and the 5 month old baby…maybe a sock monkey because I recently purchased a hoodie for him with a sock monkey on the hood!
Jen Lunde says
Love your creative idea! I am not sure what my kids will dress as yet; they like to change their minds a lot! My daughter had said she wanted to wear my son’s old racing driver outfit but it is too small so we will see what we figure out!
ashley says
My son will be a pro basketball player
Sara T says
Grandkids like to be zombies!
kellis says
My daughter is doing monster high. We got a witch costume at GW for 3.99 socks from Fred’s for $3 And the wig is optional. I was thrilled she will have an awesome costume for less then $10 and it is big enough we can revamp for next year. One day I will get creative and sew myself a primo Disney Princess Costume:)
Jenny R says
My daughter is going to be Eeore, and my son is going to be a minecraft charactor.
George K says
I’m planning on dressing up as a Robot. It’ll be made of cardboard and aluminum foil with led lights for eyes.
Stephanie A. says
This year, I will be taking Ninjas Kai and Jay, Clawdeen, and Tangled trick-or-treating.
Julia says
My son wants to be Spider Man and my daughter a princess though I don’t think she has decided which one yet
cher says
Same old costumes here too. They seem to get attached to one and won’t try something else. Superman and Princess.
Sarah Foster says
My three kiddos are going to be puffles from Club Penguin. I am going to do my best (haha) to make them myself. =)
Amy F. says
My daughter will be wearning her clearance costume I bought last year at Target and going as a Vampire! I will be wearing my (Target clearance) Halloween shirt, witches hat and orange sparkley mask. So excited!
Amy says
He’s going to be a Panamanian tree frog. I’ll bet he’s the only one we see too. I;m making his costume from a yellow sweat suit. Wish me luck!
Christy says
My oldest (in junior high) stays home to pass out candy and I think she is going to be a flapper girl. My youngest is always last minute and has not decided yet but I’m going to show her your vending machine! Love DIY and inexpensive!!
judyyy says
My grandsons are going to be monsters!
sue says
my son will be a punk rocker with a green faux-hawk!
Lisa says
I’m going to be a cheerleader!
Hollie says
My girls are planning to find their costumes in our dress-up box. I’m sure it will involve pink and sparkles!
Nanell says
My son is going as a ninja and my daughter as Rapunzel. Now to figure out my costume.
Erin M says
My 4 yo will be Cinderella. I got her costume on clearance last year and it will be a great addition to her dress up area. My 2 yo will be an alligator. It’s a hand-me-down costume. I love those!
Meri says
My 6 year old wants to be a mummy. She thinks we have enought toilet paper to wrap her up pretty good. If only my 10 year old thought like this…
Dawn H. says
What a super cute idea! Our 5 yr. old son is going to be an army guy “like dad” and our 3 yr. old son is going to be a doctor.
Tatyana says
I will wear “Boo” t-shirt, but my kids are still thinking about their costumes 😉
Thank you for sweet giveaway!
Shelly :) says
My son will be almost 2 months old and he is going to be a giraffe 🙂
Amanda says
My son will be a monkey!
Allie says
This is adorable!!! I have a major sweet tooth and love all things candy!
My 8 week old will be a cupcake, and my husband and I will be bakers. Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday!
Colleen Y says
I’m so excited to say that we’ll be in Disneyland for Halloween and my daughter is going to the Bippity Boppity Boutique. So she’s going to be Ariel as a bride. Our first trip there and all because of the money couponing has saved me!
Theresa N says
I always go as a witch every year even have the laugh.
Karen says
I have a Poodle Skirt costume. Love chocolate.
erica says
I love the vending machine!! WOW! My Girls will go as Princesses… but hopefully as they get older we can do something more original~ 🙂
Alicia Arkin says
My 4 year old twins are going to be Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.
Chelsea says
Each of us is dressing up as a Super Hero. . .Batman, Robin, Nanny McPhee, the Invisible Blob, and the Hulk. It will be SUPER!
Tina says
The daughter is doing a pirate this year. Fits well since we will be partying at Disneyland this Halloween and she has Pirate Princess ears. Also, I’ll be able to reuse it for the Pirate party on the Disney Cruise next summer. LOVE getting costumes with multiple uses! 😉 Hubby and I haven’t figured it out yet, we are lending out our “Jack and Sally” costumes, so we have to come up with something else.
Melanie Wiser says
Such a cute outfit- I think the homemade costumes are sooo much cuter than the ones just bought off the shelf. My eldest son is going to be the icebird angry bird from angry birds in space. We are geting a box and spray painting it and then accessorizing. Then my youngest is going to be Yoda. Hubby and I still aren’t sure….
Robin O says
My kids are planning to be Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy.
Your vending machine is impressive.
Thank you for the giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dee Wolters says
I have big kids- high school and older, so they plan their own costumes now. We will all be working at our church’s fall festival, so no costumes planned. Would love to have chocolate when we get home from festival, hint, hint.
Sandy S says
My son is going as a Lego Knight. Love the vending machine – great idea for my husband!
Kara O. says
We have a few “clearance” costumes on hand. Today the decision is that my 5 year old is going to be dracula and my 7 year olds are going to be a cheerleader and cleopatra. They change ideas almost daily 🙂
anne says
i don’t have kiddos myself, but my girlfriends and I are going as the Spice Girls. awww yeah!
Katherine says
My younger daughter will be going as a kitty cat. This is a handy down costume from her older sister and one I bought on the Target clearance rack! My older daughter wants to be a princess witch. I have not yet completed her costume, but am thinking of letting her wear a black dress and add sparkles to it. I will make a hair piece that sparkles too. Still looking for ideas to add to her costume!
Jamie says
I don’t have any kids…and I have to work on Halloween. But…my niece wants to be a firefighter (after me!) we already found a great costume for her at Goodwill. My nephew hasn’t decided yet but is leaning towards Spiderman.
Lori S says
My boys are gonna be spiderman and transformer.
Thanks!
Harmony B says
I have 3 boys 2 are gonna be pirates the little guy is gonna be a parrot
Barb K says
We are trying to choose between a Fairy Princesses or Snow White. Not sure which.
Mami2jcn says
My sons are going to be Super Mario Luigi and an Army soldier. I plan to buy my daughter a Dorothy Wizard of Oz costume, and maybe dress up our dog as Toto.