Put her in a trench coat, fedora and sunglasses, then hang a sign around her neck that says "blessing".

She can be a blessing in disguise.

Oh I like this one .. a blessing  Wonderful ..

I just read Squakfox's update today and it was all about cheap Halloween costumes; when you get to the puns part it gets really funny.  Here's one for those who don't click the link: Babysitter -- tape a babydoll to your bum!

Q tip -- cotton batting or cotton balls on feet or heat, dress in pale blue (J&J) or beige/white, depending upon your brand preference. 

Garbage bag stuffed with newspaper and black tights, lots of dancing -- California raisin, but that costume is for cold weather as it gets very hot!

Love the Miss Congenieality idea!

I have seen someone go as a split personality. They took half a dress & cut it in half down the front & back. It was hand sewn down the front & back to a shirt of matching color. Her pant leg under the dress was cut to shorts length. Heavy makeup on one side of the face & her hair was pulled to one side in a pony tail. Really cute.

this blog I read had great frugal costume ideas under oct 11/08 http://justshootmenow.wordpress.com/  that she got from real simple magazine

some really cute ones

I like the e-mail one!   thought if you added a can of spam you can be  spam email!

pig nose and blanket!  pig in a blanket!

plus more!

Jolly Green Giant

Green shirt, old green tunic-cut out leaves from felt etc glue to tunic...

fast, easy, frugal

Thank you all for your suggestions!

DD eventually settled for Red Riding Hood. I bought an inexpensive piece of red fabric and a length of red satin ribbon from the fabric/ notions store and quickly made the cape, it took me 40 - 45 minutes max!   She's wearing it with a white tube dress from T-shirt material that she calls her Pool Party Dress - I had made it for her to wear as a swimsuit cover up!

I can re-purpose the cape, by putting the fabric to use for some of my craft projects for upcoming Christmas craft fairs and/ or make fabric gift bags!  

Alternatively, I might just keep the cape for my younger daughter's use!  My next door neighbor hosts a costume party/ contest at his riding school just before Christmas.  Last year, youngest DD went as Tinkerbell (I made a green tube dress for her, and added the wings I made for her about 5 years ago when she was an angel in the school's Christmas)

We had quite a bit of fun coming up with costume ideas out of what we had or could easily make.   My personal favourite was the Mob Boss (Black slacks, black blazer, black shirt, red tie, black fedora with a red feather, my nephew's toy gun, and a wad of Monopoly money sticking out of the breast pocket)  Unfortunately it was voted out in the interest of comfort - Barbados is too hot for an all-black, multi-layered outfit!)

I'm not into Halloween at all, but I love coming up with costume ideas.  It's the perfect marriage of craft and thrift, my two favorite activities!

 Sounds cute. Wish I was warm right now.

My 14 yo ds went to a trick or trunk event at my parent's church last night trick or treating from decorated cars in the parking lot- used a poster board and piece of string for his costume, was oldest dd's idea- lettered on the words "Nudist on Strike."  He got a few laughs and was happy. 12 yo used a prom dress of her sister, black, with a hot pink boa, had a lion, tiger, Magenta from Blue's Clues, and the baby had a mustache.