Make your Halloween memorable this year by taking one or two steps to Green it up a bit. I figured out a couple of ways that I could not only tread a little more lightly, but that I could also find a way to have a lot more fun. Going to a big box store and filling my cart with Halloween junk, which will inevitably wind up in the landfill, (as my daughter will not get a second use out of a badly-made/store-bought costume,) is a bit soul-less. So I decided to not only have a go at making, and by making, I mean sewing a costume for her, but also one for Phoebe the dog. Since they both want to be Vampires or Vampiresses – this proved a little challenging – especially for the dog, who after a few fittings, began to bare her teeth at me! I’m proud to say, that mission is accomplished and I will photograph the fruits of my labor (up till 2am last night,) and post it next week. Both costumes were made from old remnants of fabric that I found in a box in the back of a drapery store. I’ve actually started sewing quite a bit in the last few weeks, mainly due to a fantastic sewing machine that I purchased. It’s a Brother cS6000i and is the perfect machine for a beginner (you can literally take it out of the box and get going with no prior experience). It’s the ultimate tool for recycling all those dresses, towels and bits of fabric that cannot go in the recycling bin.
So what else am I doing to make this Halloween Greener? I have made a bunch of homemade fudge for my daughter and her friends, and all the candy that I bought this year is Fair-Trade. Granted, I had to pay a little more – but I vote with my dollars, so that felt good. My daughter will be collecting her candy in a Gorgeoulsy Green Chico Bag instead of a plastic bucket, so the only thing that we won’t be able to recycle are the candy wrappers – hmmmmmm, I feel a crafty project coming on with those next week!
The important thing with any holiday is to not think you have to go crazy and “Green” the whole thing. It’s just not doable for most people, but what you can do is take a few little steps to show your children that you are doing your part and doing it Gorgeously.
I haven’t made my kids costumes, but I am happy to say that this is the 3rd year that my kids are both wearing the same costume.
I also just received a new sewing machine as a birthday gift and, I LOVE IT! I made both of my kids costumes, including a mask for my son. We made it out of paper mache and had a great time doing so. My daughter also loved the fact that she didn’t look like any other Tinkerbell. I enjoyed making them rather than just going buy something and I had a blast! I can’t wait to try making things for around the house.
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