Australian dad Steven is a sewer extraordinaire!

Partners Steven and Gavin have three kids through surrogacy. Audrina, the eldest is 8, and the twins, Byzantia and Rupert, are 5 years old. They live in Victoria, Australia.

For Steven, his creative clock started ticking from an early age...

"I didn't become interested in sewing until I was older but I was always interested in costume. When I was young, I would glue trash bags together to make a witch costume or go through my parents wardrobe to make very glamorous ensembles (especially as my mother had hoarded all her clothes through the 60s and 70s). When I was at university there were always costume parties and that's when I realized that the outfit that was inside my head could only be created with some knowledge of pattern making and sewing... that's when I became hooked."

What inspires him?

"I am always inspired by historical movies, especially gothic horrors. I need to know how these amazing creations are made. I'm currently working on an 18th century ensemble after watching Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. This period is just amazing for a sewer - too much is never enough."

Who picks the Halloween costume idea?

"I normally let the kids choose the theme of our Halloween costumes (apart from the time we dressed little Rupert up as Chucky from child's play). My favourite costume will always be when we dressed as Cruella DeVil and her henchmen. Audrina was quickly in character telling us off for not finding any dogs (ours were hiding behind the sofa for the entire afternoon). Also, we went to a party dressed as Scooby and the gang and I think the room fell silent when we walked in (probably because we were the only adults dressed up 😱😂)"

What's the plan for this year?

"This year they have chosen Haunted Mansion, the Haunted House from Walt Disney World. In a macabre way, they are most excited about making wedding dresses and then splattering them with fake blood, but that's the fun in making Halloween costumes, take something pretty and make it as ugly as possible 😂😂😂."

Arizona dad Tyler dazzles with his painting prowess!

Tyler and his husband Andrew have twins through surrogacy. They live in Phoenix, Arizona.

What inspires you to be creative?

"I have been creative my entire life and love making/crafting things. Both Andy and I prefer to make our own Halloween costumes every year instead of just buying one, and now having a family we are inspired to have a family theme and create our twin boys costumes, too!"

How do you create your family's costumes?

"I paint and last year's family costume involved me painting a toy Jeep to look just like the original Jurassic Park Jeep for the boys to ride around in. I started painting it about a week before Halloween."

How do you come up with the theme for your Halloween costume ensemble?

"For the past two years we both toss around a bunch of ideas until we finally decide on the perfect one for us that year. Last year we decided on the original Jurassic Park as it's one of my all time favorite movies and I wanted to do it before the boys get older and decide for themselves what they want to be, haha!"

The family of four is still tossing up between two ideas for this year's ensemble. We can't wait to see what they go as!

Californian dads Jay and Danny fly to new heights with their ideas!

Jay and Danny became dads through surrogacy with Same Love Surrogacy. They have twin 5-year-old boy, Kai and Jayden, and they live in Los Angeles, California.

What inspires you to be so creative?

"When I was growing up, it had always been a family event to create our own costume as it created a lot of laughter, imagination, and memories. It gets everyone to be involved, so everyone appreciate the end results."

How do you create your costumes? Any tips / store suggestions to other dads considering DIY-ing?

"Always try to start with a theme that is inclusive of everyone, then make sure you have enough time to execute the costume. Think simple and also make sure the costume will not impede your child's mobility."

What has been your favorite Halloween ensemble to date?

"Hard question since I put so much time into making them, but if I have to pick one, it would be the Minion costumes I made for the boys. Hope everyone will have a great time putting together their family Halloween costumes this year. No matter what it is, just have fun doing it with your family."

Although the dads know what this year's costume will be, they're excited to keep everyone guessing. We can't wait for the big reveal!

Floridian dad Manny masterfully creates magic!

Dad Manny describes doesn't describe his family as traditional, but "the new normal." He and his husband Paul are dads to Adelaide and Augustus who were born in 2014 via surrogacy. "They are the joy of our lives."

What inspires you to be creative?

"I am a Graphic Designer and creativity and the arts have been in my family since I was little. My uncle was a painter and I've always admired his paintings."

How do you create your costumes? Any tips / store suggestions to other dads considering DIY-ing?

"Once I get an idea for a costume, I pretty much run with it full speed. I only have basic sewing skills but I am very crafty. We go to a lot of craft and home improvement stores to pull together a costume. I also like to go on Etsy and support other artists when I can't do it myself or I don't have enough time."

How do you choose your Halloween costume ideas?

"Halloween is my favorite event of the year and the moment we found out we were having twins - a boy and a girl - I immediately started thinking of family costumes. I always want to make Adelaide the main character since she is the girl of the house so every year we make our theme around a strong female lead."

What has been your favorite Halloween ensemble to date?

"My favorite was last year's costumes - She-Ra and He-Man, Masters of the Universe - because the kids were very involved and so excited. They love the cartoons and they were so happy when we were doing the photoshoot since they knew the characters."

Texas dad Roel recreates classics with his glue gun and self-taught skills!

Dads Jorge and Roel have four children, and live in Texas. They have 2-year-old twins though surrogacy and who were born in 2017. Their eldest two, 5 and 11, were adopted through the foster care system. In the short timeframe of two years, their family grew from two to 6! "We truly are blessed and we thank every day the joy of our family."

Roel, what inspires you to be creative?

"Life in general is my main inspiration, also movies and animation of all kind. But most of all watching my kids learn and grow in a totally different world from the one I grew up in the 90s is amazing!"

Do you sew your own costumes, and if so, how / when did you get into sewing?

"Every halloween is a mix effort of glue gun, self-taught sewing skills and lots of patience and also some pieces are bought and customized too."

How do you chose your Halloween costume ideas?

"The choosing of a family halloween costume theme is literally the hardest part of it [for me]. It needs to be meaningful or fun, it needs to hold at least six different characters for us to dress up as, and if we can include our dogs Rosie and newcomer Olivia. And last but not least, the twins need to be comfortable at all times to avoid any tantrum or ugly pictures, haha.""

What has been your favorite Halloween ensemble to date?

"Every year is my favorite, our twins and Chris keep growing and that's makes it easier to create better costumes."

Do you know what you're planning on creating this year, and if so, are you able to share it with us?

"This year we will try to recreate The Universal Monsters for example the creature from the black lagoon, the werewolf and Dracula. Im planning on create them mostly DIY with stuff around the house."