This is a guest post by Sara Crawford.
Halloween is this week, and there may be some procrastinators out there who need some quick ideas!
The best Halloween costumes are the ones that are creative and memorable. There are many ways to recycle materials into DIY costumes, which is not only a greener option but a way to save some money. Anyone can take an old pillow case and turn it into a spooky ghost, but here are a few ways you can think outside the box and get a little creative.
Cardboard Creations
There are a million costumes you can make with some cardboard and paint. You could easily fashion a robot or Transformer costume. Your child could be a box of crayons, his favorite cereal or a box of popcorn. These costumes are always memorable and unique, and there are many different things you can do with cardboard. Does your child have a favorite cartoon character or toy? Chances are, there’s a way to make that particular costume out of cardboard.
Photo: countryliving.com / Via wtfpinterest.com
Pinterest is full of photos of DIY recyclable costumes, and you can often find detailed instructions on how to make them. Check out this post for 34 costume ideas made from a cardboard box.
Recycling Old Clothes
Halloween is a great time to turn those old clothes into something new. Many of your child’s favorite characters may have simple costumes that you can easily make with old clothes with a few simple alterations. Tie-dye an old shirt, make some peace sign patches to sew on an old pair of jeans, and you have a hippie costume. Sew some fringe on an old curtain and turn it into a magic carpet costume. Or you can literally use old clothes as in this laundry basket costume!
Photo: costume-works.com
The possibilities are endless. Here are some more ideas for homemade Halloween costumes.
Make Your Own Fake Tattoos
Temporary tattoos are a lot of fun on Halloween. One way to make your own temporary tattoos is to grab high quality gel pens and draw the design that you want onto tracing paper. Then, wet a cloth with water. Apply the paper to the area of your child’s skin where you want the fake tattoo to show, and press the cloth to the design on the paper to press it onto your child’s skin. This is a quick and easy way to make your own temporary tattoos, which are great for rock stars, movie characters, or even just general Halloween spirit.
The great thing about making your own Halloween costume with your children is that it not only helps you to go green and save money, but it offers time together being creative as well as the opportunity for a great Halloween memory. And I’m sure your child will appreciate not having the same old costumes as every other kid on the block!
About the Author: Sara Crawford is a freelance writer from Atlanta, Georgia who is very passionate about creativity and style. Tattoo You is a collaborative, open source community for experiencing and sharing the fake tattoo and the sense of self-expression and creativity it inspires.
This post is featured on Tuned-In Tuesdays.
