Remember how easy it was to do Halloween when you were a kid? Throw an old white sheet over your head, call yourself a ghost and head out trick-or-treating.

Those do-it-yourself days are creeping back as some parents say no to pricey specialty-store costumes and rely on their own ingenuity to outfit the kids.

``We're not going to buy a $50 costume, when it's basically a piece of cloth,'' says Arlana Kemplin, a manager at A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts in Pompano Beach. ``So we went into the closet and pulled out our old costumes.''

Adding new accessories or makeup can put a fresh spin on last year's outfit, saving money and adding to the fun.

``My husband says that's what makes Halloween fun, being creative and coming up with your own costume,'' says Kemplin, of Lighthouse Point, who's outfitting sons Val and Iban, both 9.

Robert Tabor, a Fort Lauderdale costume designer and artist who has worked for Nickelodeon and Mattel, advises parents to find inspiration -- and cheap materials -- in their surroundings.

``There is so much available in your house that can be turned into something else, without making you spend a cent,'' Tabor says.

Large appliance boxes, old pillowcases, Christmas decorations -- they all can be repurposed, he says. Turn your kids' old character sheets into a fun ghost or paste pages from an old picture book onto an inexpensive rain poncho to make a walking storybook.

``You can get 50 percent of what you need in your house,'' Tabor says. ``It's really kind of fun to look at things with a different eye, and it's all right there.''

COSTUME TIPS

• Out with the old: Get out last year's costumes to see what pieces can be refashioned into something new. Sweatsuits and leotards also make good foundations.

• Play with toys: Check the toy bin for light sabers, swords, plastic guns, fairy wands, crowns, butterfly wings and the like to use as accessories.

• Get inspired: Leave the credit card at home, and look at costume shops for inspiration. Kemplin says she got ideas for making her son's headless horseman costume from examining a headless butler outfit at a store.

• Use makeup for a new look: A little fake blood and makeup can go a long way. If you're after a scary look, a grotesquely made-up face is all you really need.

• Shop in your closet: Look for old bridesmaid dresses or outgrown suits. Use checked shirts for cowboys or scarecrows. Plaid shirts or shorts can create a nerd outfit.

• Hit the thrift store: Goodwill, Salvation Army and consignment shops can be a gold mine. Look for boots, hats and accessories as well old costumes and oversize clothes.

SHORTCUTS

Craft stores like Michael's, JoAnn's and A.C. Moore carry these time-saving products:

• Liquid Stitch, a clear-drying fabric glue, binds fabrics together like sewing. It's machine-washable, nontoxic and nonflammable.

• Stitch Witchery uses iron-on strips to adhere fabrics.

• Foam or felt sheets can be bent into shapes and glued to make hats, or cut up to make appliques for other costume pieces.

• Fabric paint, including a glow-in-the-dark variety, can dress up fabric or a sheet used as a costume base.

• Masquerade masks, feather boas, beads, feathers and ribbons can make inexpensive adornments for your own clothes.

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