Garlic-Ribboned Wreaths, Egg Carton Bats, and Candy-Wrapper Costumes—Hey, It’s Cool To Be Green on Halloween!!!

Having Spooky Fun on Halloween doesn’t need to be expensive. Indeed according to the National Retail Federation, Americans this year are expected to pay $6.9 billion on costumes, candy, and decorations averaging out to about $72.31 per person. Now to cut down on all the waste that will be generated and save yourself some money, the only limitation on your budget will be your imagination – your green imagination – and there are plenty of sources out there to help you along the way when it comes to making your own Halloween decorations, costumes, and accessories out of reusable, secondhand, and eco-friendly biodegradable materials! A great reference guide to begin looking can be found on www.greenhalloween.org/. Below are some crafty examples of how you can save some money whilst saving the planet:

Green Costume Ideas:

1-Swap or Borrow Costumes – Find a Costume Swap near you. Check out www.Facebook.com/costumeswapday.
2- Reuse Old Costumes – Check out Goodwill stores near you or Goodwill’s online auction site. See www.shopgoodwill.com or www.locator.goodwill.org
3- Make Your Own Costume – There are many online sites that offer easy ideas for great costumes. Check out www.instructables.com – the Halloween Section.
4- Upcycle Your Recycling Bin – Look into your recycling bin for old cardboard boxes and make your own unique cardboard costumes – i.e. a monster truck, a cardboard box robot, a walking aquarium or a rubik’s cube. Check out www.costumeideazone.com.

Green Treat Ideas:

1- Make your own reusable trick-or-treating bag using old pillowcases or sewn up T-shirts or even an old lunchbox.
2- Give out greener goodies like organic granola bars and honey sticks. Check out Yummy Earth’s brand of organic lollipops and Bug Bites’ brand of organic milk chocolates as well.
3- Instead of candy – give out little trinkets to kids – stickers, 3-D cards, recycled whistles and spinning tops, seashells, polished rocks or crystals, beads, mini cookie cutters, mini toothpastes, seed packets, soy-based crayons, and yarn bracelets to name just a few.
4-Planning a Green Halloween Party? Check out Creepy Cuisine at Disney’s www.familyfun.go.com-Halloween Recipes or www.allrecipes.com-Halloween Treats.

Green Decoration Ideas:

1- Scary Brains made of dried cockscomb flowers. See www.marthastewart.com – Monster Bash Party Ideas.
2- A Halloween Banner made of leftover scraps of fabric – See www.theribbonretreat.com – Fabric Halloween Banner.
3- Jack-o’-Lantern Luminaries made of old metal coffee cans and soup cans. See Martha Stewart Holidays.
4- Do-It-Yourself Spider Webs made of old boat nets, cheesecloth, screen nettings or pipe cleaners crafts. See www.pepperdesignblog.com.

Are you ready now for a green blast of activities this Halloween? Don’t forget to check out your local pumpkin farm, zoo, or aquarium for special spooktacular eco-friendly events!