If you’ve ever balked at the price tag on the Halloween costume your child simply has to have, not to mention the flimsy material they are often constructed from, then have we got news for you. Goodwill and other thrift shops are treasure troves of fun pieces that can be combined to design a unique, affordable and adorable costume. Not only will your kiddo have a one-of-a-kind creation, he or she will also have an outfit for pretend play that is a lot more durable than the thinly-executed store-bought variety. Here are some of our favorite DIY ideas:

* If you have a Selena Gomez fan in your life, chances are she’d love to dress up at Hotel Transylvania 2’s Mavis, the character the singer/actress voices in the flick. To make a DYI Mavis Hotel Transylvania costume, scour Goodwill for a short-sleeved turtleneck and some black and red horizontal striped leggings. A pair of red high-top sneaks will complete the look. Finish with a dash of dark lipstick!

* Does your child have a need for speed? Try a DIY race car driver Halloween costume. Search the racks for a red track suit, or separate red hoodie and red jogging pants. Add a red baseball cap and a pair of black sneakers and you have the beginnings of a Mario Andretti. Look for an old trophy on the shelves and maybe make a black and white checked flag to accessorize the costume.

* Your sweetie will make the cutest DIY Halloween duck costume with the right clothes. A yellow long-sleeved T-shirt and yellow pants are the costume base. Add yellow feathers to the arms and the chest. Search for a yellow baseball cap and hot glue two eyes and some yellow feathers to create the duckling’s head. A pair of bright orange rain boots will make for the cutest ducky feet (and be helpful if it rains on Halloween).

* Find a DIY Halloween fairy costume for your child in a pinch. A white tank, tutu and tights are the foundation for this sweet costume while a pair of ballerina flats will give it a cute flair. Either construct or purchase a set of fairy wings on elastic that you can slip over your child’s shoulders. A fairy wand is easy to construct with a stick and some glittery pom-poms. Craft a matching headband out of a plain white one to act as a crown.

* Your infant will look irresistibly cute (and healthy, too!) as a DIY carrot costume for Halloween. All you need is an orange onesie (preferably long-sleeved as it will probably be chilly on Halloween) and a green beanie cap. Then either sew or hot glue some green tulle to the top of the cap to create leaves. Easiest costume ever!

* There will be a lot of “buzz” surrounding your child’s DIY bumble bee costume for Halloween, and you’ll be thrilled with how easy it was to make. Grab a plain yellow T-shirt, then find some black ruffled trim at a craft supply store. Sew or hot glue stripes of the trim horizontally across the front of the T-shirt. Pair it with black leggings. Construct a pair of bumble bee wings (or purchase if you’re in a bind) out of cardboard and tissue paper. A plain black headband adorned with two “antennas” (yellow glittery Styrofoam balls at the top of two sticks will suffice) completes the look.

* If you have an aspiring firefighter in your home – your DIY firefighter costume task is simple. Look for an over-sized child’s raincoat and a pair of black pants. Throw on a pair of tall black rain boots (you can decorate them with paint markers to create buckles and such). Top off the costume with a fireman’s hat (which your kiddo probably already has in a toy chest) and voila! You’ve got yourself a costume.

For Halloween costume ideas for siblings, click here.

For even more DIY costume ideas, click here.