It’s that time of year again. College Halloween parties are coming up, and you will want to come up with an original costume idea. Dressing up like an intoxicated Elvis (or Britney Spears, for that matter) isn’t funny anymore…if it ever was funny.

In order to be funny, costumes have to be original. Originality comes from putting a lot of thought into the costume. Sometimes, you can design your costume based on the people you will be attending parties with. For example, you can dress up as one of your coworkers or as one of your fellow students (in a respectful manner, of course), or as your boss or professor.

Also, some college parties ask you to wear costumes pertaining to a certain theme. If not, here are some examples of funny costumes I found on the Web that are original, and in my opinion, hysterical:

A 1 Night Stand: Fabricate a night stand out of cardboard, paint some drawers on, apply handles, build a lamp to cover your head, and then paint the number "1" on the night stand. Voila. You are a one night stand.

Fabricate a night stand out of cardboard, paint some drawers on, apply handles, build a lamp to cover your head, and then paint the number "1" on the night stand. Voila. You are a one night stand. Static Cling Costume: Dress in all black. Tease your hair and apply hair spray so you get that 80’s ratted look (like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket). Attach socks, underwear and other clothing to your body with pins so it looks like you have a really bad case of static cling.

Dress in all black. Tease your hair and apply hair spray so you get that 80’s ratted look (like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket). Attach socks, underwear and other clothing to your body with pins so it looks like you have a really bad case of static cling. Cereal Killer: Build a cereal box out of a large cardboard box that you can place over most of your torso. Then buy a large plastic knife, and paint some blood on your cereal box (if you want). This one will definitely make people think, but they’ll laugh when they get it!

Build a cereal box out of a large cardboard box that you can place over most of your torso. Then buy a large plastic knife, and paint some blood on your cereal box (if you want). This one will definitely make people think, but they’ll laugh when they get it! Piñata: This is a costume that is not only funny, but allows your friends to have a bit of fun at your expense. Dress up like a piñata by gluing or otherwise attaching colored strings, strips of colored paper and frilly fabrics to it. My advice is to wear a lot of padding underneath your colorful suit. Then, buy some foam bats and let your friends take a few swings. You can even let candy fall out of your hands.

This is a costume that is not only funny, but allows your friends to have a bit of fun at your expense. Dress up like a piñata by gluing or otherwise attaching colored strings, strips of colored paper and frilly fabrics to it. My advice is to wear a lot of padding underneath your colorful suit. Then, buy some foam bats and let your friends take a few swings. You can even let candy fall out of your hands. Construction Cone or Traffic Sign: A cone is probably easier to pull off. Just fashion some heavy duty cardboard into a cone around you, and spray paint it orange. Or, if you’re really ambitious, create one of those obnoxious blinking traffic signs with some boards, paint, and lights that blink using batteries. Paint "road closed" on the boards. Then, at the party, you can place yourself wherever you’d like in order to stop traffic! If you want, partner up with a friend who dresses as a construction traffic director with a sign that says "STOP" on one side and "SLOW" on the other.

A cone is probably easier to pull off. Just fashion some heavy duty cardboard into a cone around you, and spray paint it orange. Or, if you’re really ambitious, create one of those obnoxious blinking traffic signs with some boards, paint, and lights that blink using batteries. Paint "road closed" on the boards. Then, at the party, you can place yourself wherever you’d like in order to stop traffic! If you want, partner up with a friend who dresses as a construction traffic director with a sign that says "STOP" on one side and "SLOW" on the other. Gold Digger: This is a good costume for someone who wants to dress up but still be funny. Put on your slinkiest dress, paint your nails, overdo your makeup and hair, and wear really high heels. The more gold colors and jewelry you wear, the better. Then, carry a small shovel with a bucket of rocks (or pieces of foam) that you have spray painted gold.

This is a good costume for someone who wants to dress up but still be funny. Put on your slinkiest dress, paint your nails, overdo your makeup and hair, and wear really high heels. The more gold colors and jewelry you wear, the better. Then, carry a small shovel with a bucket of rocks (or pieces of foam) that you have spray painted gold. Gang Green: If there is a group of you going to the party together, here is a costume that is inexpensive and easy to do. Everyone should dress in green, from head to toe. Paint your faces green, and spray green color in your hair, if you want. There you go: gangrene.

If there is a group of you going to the party together, here is a costume that is inexpensive and easy to do. Everyone should dress in green, from head to toe. Paint your faces green, and spray green color in your hair, if you want. There you go: gangrene. Jack-in-the-Box: Use a large cardboard box that you can fit inside. Reinforce it with heavy-duty tape, and cut a hole in the top that is just big enough for you to jump out of. Cut a hole in the bottom so you can walk. On the top hole, place a piece of fabric that will cover you while you are inside the box. Paint it as if it is a children’s toy, and create a handle on the side that people can turn. Then, dress up in a joker’s costume. Paint your face.

Use a large cardboard box that you can fit inside. Reinforce it with heavy-duty tape, and cut a hole in the top that is just big enough for you to jump out of. Cut a hole in the bottom so you can walk. On the top hole, place a piece of fabric that will cover you while you are inside the box. Paint it as if it is a children’s toy, and create a handle on the side that people can turn. Then, dress up in a joker’s costume. Paint your face. Pin the Tail on the Donkey: Dress up all in brown, and if you can, design big hooves for shoes and gloves. Wear big donkey ears. Put a mane running from the top of your head down your back. You can even put a fake saddle and bridle on. Then, make a long tail out of yarn. Go around and ask people if they would like to "pin the tail on the donkey." Make sure you have a good sense of humor for this one…more than likely one of your friends will call you some different names for "donkey."

Dress up all in brown, and if you can, design big hooves for shoes and gloves. Wear big donkey ears. Put a mane running from the top of your head down your back. You can even put a fake saddle and bridle on. Then, make a long tail out of yarn. Go around and ask people if they would like to "pin the tail on the donkey." Make sure you have a good sense of humor for this one…more than likely one of your friends will call you some different names for "donkey." Dart Board: Use large pieces of foam or cardboard to hang on the front and back of your torso. Cover them with really strong Velcro. Then paint dartboard rings and scoring numbers on the boards. Hang them over you with some straps. Darts should not be sharp!!! Make darts using Velcro as well, so that when people throw them at you, the Velcro from the darts and the boards stick to each other.

I hope these ideas helped, or at least got your creative juices flowing. If you have any more ideas, please add them below! Good luck and happy Halloween!