Making Halloween costumes out of excess materials, like the abundance of trash bags, is a good way to get children, tweens, teens and adults thinking about living greener, helping the environment and even making an eco-statement.
Upcycling garbage bags, trash bags and shopping bags into Halloween costumes is an easy way to reduce the need to purchase a new costume and even create some quick eco-friendly costumes.
Caution on Making Plastic Bag Costumes
Be cautious when using plastic bags to create plastic bag costumes and dresses. Remember the warnings that are printed on many plastic bags:
- Warning: Keep this bag away from babies and children. Do not use in cribs, beds, carriages or playpens. The thin film may cling to nose and mouth and prevent breathing.
When creating a bag costume, be sure that the bags do not cover the face in any way.
Halloween Costumes from a Black Garbage Bag
When using a black garbage bag, it is probably better to use one that is still new and hasn't been already used for holding garbage. Some ideas for black garbage bag costumes include:.
- A giant arachnid (spider) – Use a large black bag for the body, others for the arms. Stuff with packing materials or used newspapers.
- A caped crusader – Cut a large black bag so it opens up like a cape. Add a mask and wear the cape over clothes.
- A giant bumble bee – Create yellow stripes on a large black bag with yellow duct tape. Stuff with packing materials or newspaper.
- A licorice wheel – Cover several large plastic noodles (pool toys) in black plastic. Coil 1-2 wrapped noodles into a wheel and join tape together with duct tape on the back side. Make two if desired and wear over dark pants and top.
- A Magic 8 Ball – Use a large black bag to create a pool ball. Add the number "8." Stuff with packing materials or newspaper. Be ready to provide answers to questions.
Halloween Costumes from a White Garbage Bag
As with the black bag when using a white garbage bag, use one that has not been used for garbage. In addition to using white bags for dresses, white bags can also be turned into:
- A snowman – Use several white bags to create a snowman. Stuff with packing materials or used newspapers.
- A giant marshmallow – Use a large white bag for the marshmallow. Stuff with packing materials or used newspapers.
- An angel – Use several white bags to create an angel costume. Bend wire hangers into wing shapes and cover with white bags.
- The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man or Woman from Ghostbusters – Use a large white bag for the marshmallow others for the arms and legs. Stuff. Add an old Navy hat with Stay Puft on the brim.
- A white avenger – Cut a large white bag so it opens up like a cape. Add a mask and wear the cape over clothes.
- Decorate Your Own Bag – Cut a hole in the bottom of the bag and the sides, so it can fit over the head and arms. Add embellishments to create a variety of one of a kind costumes.
- Mr. Clean – Wear white top, white pants. Carry a white bag filled with cleaning supplies or sponges.
Halloween Costumes from Shopping Bags
That collection of plastic shopping bags, with a bit of imagination, can be turned into unique, recycled Halloween Costumes.
- Become the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – Cover yourself with garbage and other colored plastic bags and other trash to raise awareness about the great Pacific garbage patch.
- A great trash bag monster – Cover yourself just with plastic bags to raise awareness about the reduce plastic use.
Once done with the shopping bag costume, be sure to put the costume into bag recycling at a local market or store that accepts recyclable plastic bags.
Upcycle Plastic Bags into Dresses and Gowns
One unique way of using black garbage bags, white trash bags or plastic shopping bags is to upcycle them into a head-turning dresses or gowns. There are photographs of many of the trash bag dresses that have been created online, like the black plastic bag down featured below.
To get started on upcycling bags into a designer dress:
- Decide on the types of bags to use – larger black garbage, white trash bags or smaller shopping bags.
- Collect your bags.
- Find or design a pattern that you would like to use.
- Google or search Flickr for Trash Bag Dress, Black Plastic Bag Dress or White Trash Bag Dressfor ideas and inspiration.
- View the Black Plastic Bag Gown and the Shopping Bag Dress in the images for this article.
- Cut out or begin to assemble your bag pieces.
- Use duct tape to put the bags or seams together.
- Add embellishments as desired.
With just a bit of imagination garbage bags, trash bags and shopping bags can be recycled into some very unique Halloween costumes or eco-friendly attire for other uses. Consider encouraging schools to host a make a Halloween costume from materials around the house.
For even more ideas for costumes Easy Halloween Costumes from Recycled Items has ideas for making Halloween attire from boxes, packing materials and newspapers. Easy Halloween Costumes from Sheets and Clothes has ideas for making Halloween attire from sheet and old clothes.
Kirsti A. Dyer - Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, health educator, professor, author and lecturer.
