One of the most eagerly anticipated nights of the year is October 31, also known as Halloween. Ah, yes. Trick-or-treating, bonfires, costume parties, haunted houses, jack-o-lanterns–Halloween is a day that brings out the kid in all of us.

While many of us have or will donned a costume in honor of All Hallows Eve, a majority of us work at jobs that frown on wearing them to the office. The naughty nurse outfit might not go over well with the parents of your preschool students. And if you’re a brain surgeon, pretty much every choice out there is impractical (unless, of course, you choose to dress up like a brain surgeon.) However, there’s no need to limit your devotion to Halloween with just a pair of skull earrings or a jack-o-lantern tie pin–why not create and wear your own custom T-shirt?

Designing a unique T-shirt isn’t hard at all. All you need to do is come up with a decent idea, make it eye-catching, have it screened onto the size, type and color of shirt of your choice, and you’re good to go.

Here are a few ideas to get your started:

Ghoul’s night out
Fright crew
Witchy woman
It’s all about the candy corn
Vampires suck
I don’t do costumes
Halloween bites (good one for dogs)
Trick or treat, smell my feet (with footprints)
Love a first fright
I want candy–or else!
Gone batty
I’ve put a spell on you
Angel in disguise

A myriad of fonts are available for you to use–it’s Halloween! Nothing is too tacky or over the top. You can make your text look like it’s dripping, like it’s smeared, or like it’s carved into stone. Click around to get ideas and inspiration.

Now that you know what you want to say, it’s time to find a picture or two to help you say it better. Stuck for ideas? Here are the basic Halloween icons to get draw inspiration from:

*Witches hats, brooms
*Ghosts
*Zombies
*Mummies
*Spiders, cobwebs
*Skeletons
*Jack-o-Lanterns
*Candy corn
*Vampires, stakes, bats
*Frankenstein, Wolfman
*Black cats

You should be able access all of these images somewhere online fairly easily. If you want to create something truly unique, however, it’s a good idea to have a conversation with the custom T-shirt manufacturer you plan on doing business with. Chances are they can help you, or can point you in the direction of someone who will.

Now that you have the text and design, it’s time to choose the shirt itself.

When it comes to the actual shirt, the obvious colors are black, white, or orange. Most online custom T-shirt dealers usually post a size chart on their websites–it’s important to read these–you don’t want to spend a lot of energy creating the perfect shirt, only to order the wrong size.

It’s a good idea to put your order in early–there’s probably plenty of people who are designing and ordering their custom T-shirt too, and you want to make sure your shirt is in hand before the first Halloween party of the season kicks off.

Want a quick and easy Halloween costume for you or your children? Try Halloween t-shirts. They are great for kids of all ages who are heading out to trick or treat. T-shirts are an easy costume for your child’s first Halloween when they are often too tiny for expensive and involved costumes. Try a pumpkin t-shirt. Your little one will be comfortable and adorable. It’s also easy for you when it comes to changing diapers and cleaning up. Personalize the costume with their name. “Ashley’s 1st Halloween!” And, don’t stop there. Mom and Dad can get T-shirts to match and customize them, as well. “I’m Ashley’s Dad.” You will be the most adorable family in the neighborhood!
Other ideas for little ones include a t-shirt that looks like Cinderella’s giant pumpkin with a magic wand and tiara. The shirt says, “Pumpkin Princess.”

T-shirts are a simple costume for older kids and grown-ups who don’t want to put a lot of effort into dressing up for trick or treating or a Halloween party. Try a shirt with a rib cage on it. Or one with the shadow of a man doing martial arts that says, “Cheap Ninja Costume.” And, for those smart alec’s in the group, how about “I left my other costume with your mom.”

Online you can find a variety of pre-designed t-shirts. Look for shirts that will quickly make you look like a pirate, pumpkin, a disco diva, magician, or your favorite scary face.

It’s easy to design your own shirt, too. Take your own design or add your own text to any of the thousands of designs found in online libraries. Put your picture with “Trick or Treat” over it and you won’t have to say a word when you head out for candy.

Online and at fabric and sewing shops you’ll find easy patterns to make your own Halloween t-shirts. They are much easier than complicated costumes. It’s easy to iron or sew bits and pieces onto a simple t-shirt to create the perfect pirate, flapper, princess, wizard, or superhero.

Typically, you’ll find kids t-shirts for between $12-$15 dollars. Halloween t-shirts for adults are closer to $20.

In a time, when so much of our focus in on our troops fighting in Iraq, Halloween is a great time to show your support. Try a shirt with an American flag. And, for kids, there’s a new trend. Put your soldier’s picture on the shirt. Then, add “My mom/dad is fighting in Iraq. I deserve a treat.”

If you want to order the perfect t-shirt for Halloween, start shopping now. Go online and search for “Halloween t-shirts.” Once you select a site to go with, decide if you want to create your own or go with a pre-fabbed design. Pick a size and shirt style. Then, you can typically customize it with names and colors. You can see a proof of the shirt before you actually confirm your order. Expect it to take about two weeks to arrive. Then, all you need is a pumpkin for trick or treating!