I've never entered any competitions myself - but when the kids were younger they won a few prizes with costumes i made myself - i have old printed pics but no scanner at the moment. I did son as the riddler the year that jim carrey played him - used an old green curtain - doubled it - son lay on floor & i drew the shape round him leaving space for sewing. so it was an all in one with a zip up the back. i cut out question marks out of felt & sewed them all over. then i spray painted his hair orange & he had a green sparkly bowler hat. daughter's name is Robyn & when she was at nursery (about 4) i made her as robin hood. she wore one of my green tshirts with a belt at the waist to look like a tunic, green tights, tied her hair back in a ponytail & drew a little beard & moustache on her. she had a little green felt hat with a feather & a green felt bag slung over carrying her arrows & of course carried a bow she looked so cute!

i dress up differently for the kids coming to the house every year & plan to be a grey lady ghost. i always put the costumes together myself - either from old clothes/charity shops or ebay - plus some sewing or distressing. this year i have a decent digital camera so will definately take pics!

just a note about son's costume - he may go as the riddler this year (he's 21 now so doesn't fit in the old suit!) - with the new batman film a few of his friends are talking about using that as a theme - and rumour has it the riddler will be back in the next film! so do it now before everyone does it next year!