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Smarty-Pants
Overalls are a fine base for a Halloween costume. Kids have them anyway, and it's easy to vary the wearer's occupation. Here are three ways to spin things, but feel free to take it one step further — send them off as Rosie the Riveter, or that dour guy with the pitchfork from the American Gothic painting, or a Grand Ole Opry backup fiddler, or maybe Flavor Flav. Lots of potential, overall.

The Constant Gardner

Basics:

  • Overalls
  • T-shirt
  • Garden clogs or gum boots

    • Extras:

  • Watering can (glue silver tinsel on the spout for a waterfall effect)
  • Real of faux dirt (brown eye shadow, face paint)
  • Gummy worms
  • A green thumb (use face paint)
  • Green raffia vines with pipe cleaner flowers
  • Painted-on flowers
  • Ladybug stickers
  • Straw hat

    • Next: The On-Time Builder and Jackson Pollock

    The On-Time Builder

    Basics:

  • Overalls
  • Plaid shirt
  • Brown shoes or boots

    • Extras:

  • Hard hat
  • Tape measure
  • Hammer
  • Tool belt or apron
  • Work gloves
  • Metal lunch box

    • Jackson Pollock

    Basics:

  • Overalls
  • White cap
  • Long sleeve T-shirt
  • Sneakers (J.P. painted in Chuck Taylors)
  • Paint, to splatter on clothes ahead of time
  • Paintbrushes

    • Extras:

  • Unused gallon paint can ($2.50, cansareus.com, or check a local paint store
  • Rag to stick in back pocket (also paint-splattered)
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    Wondertime