DIY: How to Make a Bodacious Bodega Costume for Halloween

Bored of the blasé polyester costumes being offered at your local big box store? Why not pay homage to the local businesses and mom and pop shops in your neighborhood by being a <a href="http://clossette.com/costume-idea-be-a-bodacious-bodega-for-halloween/">bodacious bodega </a>for Halloween? We first spotted this witty <a href="http://inhabitat.com/greenhalloweencontest/">home made costume</a> on <a href="http://www.refinery29.com/refinery29s-halloween-stars-li">Refinery29</a>, and tried our own hand making it using recycled and recyclable materials. Click through our gallery for our easy DIY instructions - all you really need is a pizza box and some junk food*!<small>* Inhabitat does not endorse eating junk food. </small>

<h3>Step 1:</h3> Using a marker or pen, draw an oval on top of the pizza box that is about the size of your head. If you aren't sure how big your head is, you can use one of your hats as a guide.

<h3>Step 2:</h3> Using a safety blade, cut along the oval and remove it. Then use the marker to draw another, slightly smaller oval on the opposite side of the box. Cut that out too. The resulting holes will serve as the space your head will go (basically like a hat).

<h3>Step 3:</h3> To adorn your bodega "hat," print out or draw signs that you would normally see on a bodega. Some of the signage will wrap around the perimeter of your pizza box (the "awning") and some will hang from the bottom (imagine how a real bodega looks). If you need help with this part, see instructions on how to get pre-made graphics <a href="http://clossette.com/costume-idea-be-a-bodacious-bodega-for-halloween/">here</a>.

<h3>Step 4:</h3> Cut out your signs and start adhering them to your "hat" with glue or tape.

<h3>Step 5:</h3> Next, print out or draw a large sign with the name of your bodega and cut it out. Attach it to a piece of extra cardboard (you could even use one of the pieces you cut out in Step 2) for support and then glue the whole thing to the top of your bodega.

What your bodega hat will look like when it's done.

<h3>Step 6:</h3> Now it's time to "stock" your bodega. Simply use the safety pins to secure your chips, gum, what have you right onto your black top and pants.

You can be pretty freeform with this part but please consider including a bodega cat because they are awesome (see below)!

And that's basically it! You may also want to carry around a six pack of beers (within the confines of the law) and a deli sandwich. Who knows, you might even make a few sales!