Halloween is a time to get creative with costumes. While most costumes don't absolutely need props to make them convincing, incorporating interesting objects is a good way to make a costume stand out more than it ordinarily would. Depending on the kind of impression you want to make, a prop might make you look more elegant, funnier or scarier. They can come from anywhere, but a good first place to look is a costume shop. Do you want to look scary? If you are a ghost, vampire, witch or other ghoulish creature, you might want to get some props that make you look more intimidating. For instance, you might find some chains to rattle if you are dressing as a ghost. A witch could carry a mysterious-looking cauldron that could double as a candy bucket. Another good prop for a witch is a broom; while there's nothing inherently scary about a broomstick, it's fun to pretend that you could hop on it at any time and fly away. Maybe your costume is pretty or handsome rather than creepy. Many people choose to dress as characters from movies for Halloween. If you're going as a hero or heroine, why not find something suitable from that character's journey? For instance, if you decide to dress up as Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz," you might carry a little stuffed dog that looks like Toto. If you wanted to be Robin Hood, be sure to bring along a makeshift bow and arrow Some costumes are just intended to be silly. If you like to make people laugh, you might want to dress up as a clown, and then you can incorporate any goofy thing you can think of into your costume. Squirting flowers are classic additions, as are air horns, big red noses and undersized vehicles. If you have something already in your own house that makes you grin, why not try to think of a way to add it to your costume? With a little creativity, Halloween costumes can be top-notch. All you ned to do is scour your own house, costume shops and thrift stores and see what treasures you can find.