How to Make an Eco Friendly Halloween Costume

Go Green

Most people know that making a Halloween costume instead of buying one will save money, but it also makes it easier to create an eco friendly version. Check out these five environmentally friendly, homemade Halloween costumes.

Things You'll Need

• Organic fabrics
• Cocoina's Almond Scented Paste
• Scissors
• Sewing kit
• Reusable pins

Instructions

1. Play the rol of Greek god or goddess. Other than throwing a sheet over your head and dressing as a ghost, this is probably the easiest costume to make. Head to the fabric store and find a white, organic cotton sheet for your toga. You'll also want to have a pair of old sandals available. If you need to buy new ones, opt for "green" footwear from Patagonia, Terra Plana, and Veja. Last but not least, you'll need a head wreath. Instead of buying one made from harmful plastics and synthetics, hit up your local florist for an all natural one.

2. Masquerade as Mother Nature. The best part about this option is that much of the costume is composed of natural materials. Start with a base of Fair Trade, organic cotton clothes (hippie-themed flowing tops and long skirts) and add a pair of sandals. Stick with blues and greens for an earthier look. From there, you can use your imagination. Pinning flowers from a local garden and/or cut-out animal shapes from recycled paper to the costume is a great way to add detail. And if you have any old stuffed animals lying around, carry them along for added effect.

3. Dress up as a mummy. This classic Halloween costume is easy to make and doesn't require purchasing any new materials. Grab an old pair of pants, long-sleeved t-shirt and some old white or light gray sheets. Start by cutting the sheets into long strips. Next, glue (only the eco friendly kind, of course) the strips onto the pants and shirt in a loose, circular wrapping pattern. Mix up natural ingredients like cornstarch or flour, cold cream, and water to create eco friendly white paint for your face and hands. Start smearing the paint, put on your mummy clothes, and party like the undead.

4. Embody global warming. This costume takes a little more effort to make, but you can use all recycled materials. Raid your closet or hit up the thrift store for dark blue and green clothing to wear as a base. Next, cut a piece of recycled cardboard into a large circular shape and then cut an old map to fit the cardboard. Attach a light chain or rope to the top of the cardboard and wear it like you would a large necklace. Finally, break out an old thermometer and old-fashioned ice bag for your "overheated" head, pile on the blush for a super-flushed look, and there you have it -- you're officially global warming.

5. Make a white trash costume. Don't let all those discarded plastic bags go to waste -- use them as a base for a Halloween costume. Find as many white plastic bags as you can, along with any white colored pieces of trash (paper, plastic, etc.) that might work. Next, find a base of white clothes to pin all of the plastic bags to. Cover as much of the clothing as you can with the plastic bags, and save a few to wear as a hat or headband. Feel free to dye your face white with all natural, homemade face paint (cornstarch or flour, cold cream, water) for extra whiteness, and then your transformation into white trash is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Invest in some eco-friendly glue. Cocoina's Almond Scented Paste ($8) is nontoxic, non-solvent and acid-free.

• The thrift store is your friend, so always try to buy something used instead of new to avoid wasting resources.

• There are varying percentages of organic clothing (anywhere from 3% to 100%), so make sure you know what level the product is before purchasing.

• Don't throw away any of the materials you used, or the costume itself, when you're finished. You never know when they could come in handy again, and there's no point wasting them.