With fall right around the corner, many parents are starting to think about Halloween. They are searching for inspiration amongst the memories of old costumes. Every year they ask themselves the same question, “What do we do with them when Halloween is over?” and every year they add another costume to the box. Check out these four ingenious ways to upcycle those old costumes.
Encourage Creativity
Instead of labeling them Halloween costumes, label them as dress up clothes. You can store them in an old trunk or toy box. Keep them readily accessible. Encourage your child to write a play or plan a skit using the costumes. You can turn it into a family affair and put on a skit or play for your friends and loved ones at the next gathering. When playing dress up, it’s okay if the costumes are a little too big. It can make for a great comedy. If you have the space in your home, you can even design a dress up corner. PVC pipe makes great curtain rods. You can put in a full length mirror for them to admire their creativity in. Complete the corner with a dressing table to leave them feeling like a star.
Design a New Costume
Old Halloween costumes can be made new again. Start by spreading out everything you have across the floor or other open space. Separate pieces that usually belong together. Allow your child to select pieces and build a costume. Have them explain to you how the pieces fit together. Make any adjustments by cutting or sewing the pieces to become the new costume. If you can’t sew there are some great fabric glues available. If all they ended up doing was putting last year’s spider man costume back together then why not just let them repeat it again. When it comes to selecting this year’s costume their happiness is the goal.
Turn Them into Decorations
What do you do with all the costumes your kids have already outgrown? Turn them into decorations. This is especially great for those costumes that are really scary. It is also a great excuse to hang onto that costume you really loved. The first step in turning an old costume into a decoration is to send your kids out to rake the leaves. Once they’ve collected all the leaves into a pile, stuff the costume until it is firm. You can then sit it in a chair or stand it up against the corner of your porch. Incorporate it into the rest of your Halloween decorations.
Make Memories
With Halloween comes cooler weather and snuggling under blankets. Why not turn your children’s old Halloween costumes into a quilt? They can snuggle up under the memories of countless childhood Halloweens. Before you begin you will need to wash all of the costumes, and it may be necessary to iron them to ensure even cuts and smooth lines. Cut your costumes into equal sized squares then sew them together. You will also need to purchase fabric for the backing. Sew on the backing. If you are not familiar with quilting, basic instructions can be found at Fiskars.com, and more detailed instructions are easily found on the web. Once the blanket is together you can also have it professionally quilted.
Upcycling is a great way to turn the old into new again. It promotes creativity and personal style. If upcycling isn’t for you, you can also consider donating your old costumes to the local thrift store. Before you throw out those old Halloween costumes consider giving them a new life.