Just in time for some spooky fun this October, Kelly Wilson has written a timely article brimming with DIY Halloween Costume ideas that are made using recycled and repurposed materials found in the home!

DIY Halloween Costumes Made From Recycled Materials

By Kelly Wilson

When I was about seven years old, I was a ghost for Halloween. This required a white bedsheet – arranged and trimmed so I wouldn’t trip over it – with holes strategically cut for my eyes and nose.

This kind of Do-It-Yourself costume fits well with my family’s desire to produce less waste and save more money. Plus, creating your own costume emphasizes the fun of Halloween!

Brainstorm Ideas

It was no problem for my kids to understand that our costumes would be created. However, it was more difficult to come up with ideas while sitting around the dining room table.

Start instead by presenting the idea, then holding a scavenger hunt for your family members to find materials that inspire their own costume ideas. Have them choose three to five different materials to bring back to the table to discuss their possible costumes.

Go through the ideas and materials with your family members, and have each person choose his/her favorite to pursue.

Gather More Materials

When the deciding is done, consider collecting the following materials to complete your family’s costumes.

Fabric and Clothing – Start by hunting through the different closets in your home and gathering clothes and fabrics of different sizes and textures. An old striped shirt and round glasses could be the start of your “Where’s Waldo?” character, while a yard of discarded velvet could make a lush cape.

Cardboard – Hunt for different sizes of cardboard in your recycle bin. Break down the boxes and flip them over to use the non-printed sides for your costume – these can be easily painted or otherwise decorated. Include bigger boxes that fit around you.

Paper – Need bulky filler for your costume? What about simple decorations that are easy to attach? Head to the recycled paper bin in your garage. Decorate the blank sides of paper for your costume – don’t forget to recycle it again when you’re done.

PVC – My husband loves PVC pipe and has used it for projects, so we have a ton of it around the garage. This material can be used for a variety of costumes, and provides a strong support.

Classic Costume Ideas

These classic costume ideas are great if you’re looking for a simple costume.

Ghost – mentioned above, a ghost is an easy and non-threatening costume, plus it can be easily seen when trick-or-treating in the dark!

Witch – the basics include a pointy hat, some unusual make-up, a fake wart or two, and a broom.

Soldier – put this costume together with camouflage pants and shirt, a headband, and boots.

Hippie – tie-dye, a couple of peace signs, long hair and a funky pair of glasses completes this classic.

Pirate – create and decorate a cardboard sword, fashion a fabric sash and make a simple eye-patch.

Robot – this classic can be easily made from cardboard, paint and a metal colander as a headpiece.

Princess or Knight – Skip the tutu and have your little girl dress up as a princess, or provide a cape, a cardboard sword and a garbage can lid as a shield for your dashing knight.

Cowboy or Cowgirl – Jeans, boots, a cowboy shirt and a faux-lasso make this costume quick and easy.

More Unusual and Easy-to-Create Costumes

It didn’t occur to me to get too creative with Halloween costumes until a co-worker dressed as a Chick Magnet one year for Halloween. He wore a simple t-shirt decorated with baby chicks and u-shaped magnets made from paper – all of it was easily recyclable or reusable.

Cell Phone – grab a black sweatshirt and some duct tape. Cut the tape into number keys and other decorations to put on the sweatshirt to make the front of the sweatshirt resemble a cell phone. You can also create an iPhone costume out of cardboard worn in two panels like a sandwich board.

Giant Lego – Legos are a favorite at my house, and it wouldn’t be too difficult to fashion one of my children into one this Halloween with some cardboard and paint!

Candy Bars – similar to the iPhone idea, decorate a panel of cardboard to look like your favorite candy bar. Don’t stop at candy – choose another favorite food and make a creative costume!

Poop and Toilet Paper – my husband was reluctant to join me in this costume idea, but finally agreed as long as he could be the toilet paper. With some PVC pipe, a sheet and a sewing machine, he fashioned a pretty convincing toilet paper costume. As poop, I simply dressed in all-brown and borrowed a friend’s foundation. It was fun, cheap and totally reusable.

There’s a really good chance that you already have much of what you need to create a fun and eco-friendly costume for every person in your family!

Kelly Wilson is a busy mom and editor for Teaching Resource Center, a Teacher Store providing families and classrooms with high-quality, low-cost Teacher Supplies.