Planning ahead in preparing costumes can save frustration, dread or regret at the last minute if your family will be attending any upcoming Autumn/Halloween events and costume parties. This applies for stage productions of course in a much bigger way, and professionals often approach the challenge with gusto, but moms like me sometimes procrastinate--(imagine that!). Looking for ideas and creative solutions can be a fun search when the pressure's not on, but on the other hand--- that pressure causes us to squirm! The fun goes out the window when there isn't enough time to follow an idea through. Gathering good ideas and looking at resources can make a memorable masquerading of monsters, mummies, manequins.... or mosquitoes or marigolds or??

If funds are tight, as they commonly are, you may want to look at the library for idea books or September/October magazines. Some magazines don't require a subscription to access many of their offerings online, and you might just find a great discount on a new subscription, anyway. Check out ideas at the Family Fun Magazine website, (one of my favorites).

A recent newsletter from About.com has more ideas to help with costumes. When a network of family or friends feels comfortable enough to share brainstorming or hand-me-downs, skills and other resources, some outrageously funny creations, and possibly the most simple ones, can be produced. One year our teen-age son put on his Grandpa's old green "jumpsuit", (remember those?), took a large piece of green paper that he partially cut sloppy thin strips into before placing on his head, painted his face green, and became CELERY for the evening. I smile every time I think of a brother-in-law who taped a black shoelace over his upper lip for a droopy mustache when he was playing the part of a villain. a daughter pinned Smarties candies all over her pants one year. (Do people even say the term Smarty Pants anymore?) But it's been awhile since things have been very creative; we're going to need a bit of inspiration figuring out some fun entertaining costumes this year. Do you have any favorite suggestions to pass along?

Hopefully you can find good sources for your family to browse that will trigger their imaginations to take flight. Good luck!