My Little Green Ghost & Green Halloween Costume Ideas
October 4, 2008 by Jennifer
So here’s the conversation I had with my son Cedar yesterday:
Me: What were you thinking of being for Halloween?
Cedar: I don’t think I’m going trick-or-treating this year.
Me: Why not?
Cedar: Because I want to be a ghost.
Me: Um, you can be a ghost.
Cedar: Yeah, but we’d have to cut holes in a sheet!
Me: That’s fine. It’s no big.
Cedar: Mama! Why would you cut holes in a sheet? That is a BIG WASTE of resources!
Then he looks at me as if I’ve gone insane. Yeah… I’m the weird one. This just goes to show you that one, our kids are turning our way more thoughtful and green-minded than we adults are, and two, I guess recycled and reused costumes are best.
You don’t have to purchase a costume new; in fact, you shouldn’t.
In most cases your kid will only wear the outfit once or twice, and even if you give it away, most are made of non-organic fabrics and icky synthetics, and also break and rip easily. It’s a waste of resources and money. If you’re considering making your own costumes, instead of buying you can slack, or go hard core. I’m not big on the sewing, so I’d slack.
For slackers (Note that I do mean slacker in the nicest of ways): Raid the closets, use face paints instead, or buy a used costume at the thrift store.
For sewers and creative types with more free time: Visit the following links for ideas and instructions about making your own costume…
- The Best Recycled Halloween Costumes on the Web – this slide show is so awesome it hurts.
- Eco-fabrics for your Halloween costume
- 4 Ways to Green a Halloween Costume
- Green Halloween Costume Ideas for Busy Parents
- Spookiest, Wackiest, Most Original Homemade Costumes
Whatever you do, just don’t cut holes in a perfectly good sheet, or Cedar will get ya.
[images via stock.xchng]
What if you cut holes in a sheet you found at a second hand store or were going to get rid of because it was becoming worn and then reusing the sheet as a drop cloth or to go over your plants during early frost? Could you cut up a sheet then?
Sometimes kids get the idea better than you’re ready for!
My kids are at least partially reusing previous years’ costumes. Had to get a shirt and pants for my daughter’s butterfly costume, as she last wore it when she was 2, but those at least fit into her regular wardrobe.
The past few years my kids have dressed up and used (for the most part) items that we’ve recycled, found in their dresser, etc. This year they’re going as the Beatles. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! Our ultimate plan/goal is to have 4 girls dress as the Beatles, and 3-4 boys dress as screaming girls (aka adoring fans). Not sure how well the boys are going to take it though. hehe (I only have 2 kids, a boy and a girl btw. Not 7. hehe)
Absolutely hit the thrift store!!! Went there after a friend showed me the adorable costume she bought there. I bought the boys’ costumes there, and one was still brand new!! Only 3 bucks each or so. Also, a $2 witch hat for me.
For my daughter, we’re using her ballet costume from last year’s recital (have to reuse those, they’re not cheap), bought a piece of fabric on sale, and she’ll be Belle. Lots of plastic tiaras hanging around the house. 
Love the cheaper costumes!!! Jake was a ghost last year. I had a remnant of some muslin or something, and we cut the holes in it. Now we use it for a dropcloth, as recommended. The muslin already had a stain on it, so no biggie. Also, the stain made it more scary. 
This halloween costume thing…Don’t you think you’re taking going green to an extreme here?
What’s the difference in getting an old/cheap sheet and cutting holes in it, or wasting the same money at a thrift shop?
Honestly, going green is a joke.