Inhabitots Green Halloween Costume Contest

Homemade R2D2 Halloween Costume

Jimmy Fendors — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:34:50 +0000

This R2D2 costume Jimmy made for his son is entirely homemade. He tried to make it as comfortable and practical for trick or treating as possible while staying as realistic and true to the original R2D2 design. The dome is a helmet that his son wears so he can see when walking, but can fit on top of the body to go into full disguise mode. The legs have wheels for assisted movement. There are lights and sound effects to complete the costume. Almost all materials were reused from things around their home!

HOW TO MAKE THIS COSTUME

Step 1:

Use papier-mâché on a hopper ball to make the dome. Tape off the design and paint. Create lighted elements from cardboard, cellophane, old LED book light, etc.

Step 2:

Cut out bottom of collapsible laundry hamper for body frame. Draw/paint design on white fabric and then sew/attach to hamper.

Step 3:

Cut out cardboard pieces to build legs. Hot glue together, paint, and attach wheels to bottom. Use thin plywood on bottom to hold wheels.

Step 4:

Glue old bicycle helmet to inside of dome. Use zip-ties to attach legs to body. Mount portable MP3 player inside. Add kid to wear it.

Candy Vending Machine Halloween Costume

Jodi Palm — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:34:50 +0000

Jodi Palm’s son is 8 years old and he wanted to be a vending machine for Halloween. With this unique idea, mom’s creativity and 13 hours later, they had quite a costume. The costume lights up and he can put his trick-or-treat candy in the return slot!

HOW TO MAKE THIS COSTUME

Step 1:

Get a large chimney box

Step 2:

Start cutting shadow boxes into it and taping inside. Cut a return hole for candy to be placed in while trick or treating

Step 3:

Wrap the box in 3 rolls of red duct tape then hot glued craft LED lights to the inside of the boxhot and candy and label them

Step 4:

Cover the front with plexiglass.

Sustainable iPhone Halloween Costume

Rishi Kabra — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:34:49 +0000

Rishi made the most sustainable produced iPhone for Halloween Costume. Rishi had been reading about the unfair conditions of the workers at Foxcon who are manufacturing Apple’s iPhone so thought of sending a message by producing the same phone sustainably. I used all the left over and waste material to make it. My son was super excited to see this!

HOW TO MAKE THIS COSTUME

Step 1:

Use an old carton box

Step 2:

Tape it to make the iPhone like case and then apply black paper

Step 3:

Glue all the iPhone icons that were printed on a recycled paper

Step 4:

Cut the holes on the sides

Cranky the Crane and Diesel 10 Halloween Costumes

Emma Assin — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:17:32 +0000

Emma’s husband created these two characters from “Thomas the Tank Engine’” for him and their almost-3-year-old son, Egon, to wear for Halloween. All home-made, from cardboard boxes, sculpted into crane arms, wheels and even moving mechanisms! They did an amazing job, and they all had an awesome Halloween in our poor hurricane-swept Brooklyn neighborhood!

HOW TO MAKE THIS COSTUME

Step 1:

Shape cardboard into a wearable train shape, with hole in the middle for standing in, and a crane shape to fit over a baseball cap.

Step 2:

Create moving parts from cardboard, chopsticks and nuts and bolts – a working crane arm and opening and closing ‘Pinchy’ the claw on Diesel 10.

Step 3:

Paint the bodies of the costumes.

Step 4:

Hand-draw the faces of the characters and stick them on as a finishing touch!

Charlie Chaplin and the Flapper Halloween Costumes

Allison Jaquier — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:13:35 +0000

Allison wanted something unique for her twin girls, and somehow that ended up being Charlie Chaplin and a flapper. Everything they used for their costumes was something we already had! The girls looked adorable, and they got a ton of laughs.

HOW TO MAKE THIS COSTUME

Step 1:

Reuse a baby tuxedo for Charlie Chaplin

Step 2:

Make a felted wool hat

Step 3:

Reuse a dress and headband for the flapper

Step 4:

Find some costume pearls for accessories

Mouse Trap Halloween Costume

Cindy Noriega — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 22:35:02 +0000

This was Cindy’s daughter’s first Halloween costume and it was a big hit! Using all recycled materials, this mousetrap is not only green, but keeps her daughter comfortable and safe for her first foray into Halloween. What an incredible idea and fabulous execution for a baby’s first Halloween costume!

HOW TO MAKE THIS COSTUME

Step 1:

Using A Radio Flyer Wagon covered with MDF board, make a hole for child to fit. Add a wooden edge. Then paint the mousetrap design.

Step 2:

Attach a large spring and a aluminum tubing bent into a u shape. For the Swiss cheese, cut a 4×4 landscaping lumber which was cut into a triangle, drilled holes and painted yellow.

Step 3:

The mouse’s body was made with felt fabric. Attached to the wagons seat belt with two ribbon loops.

Step 4:

The child’s outfit is a simple gray hooded sweatshirt with two grey and pink ears sewn on.

Robot Halloween Costume

Kristen Jeffers — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:22:23 +0000

Kristen and her husband managed a robot costume that their 3 year old would be happy in. It can also be worn multiple times!

HOW TO MAKE THIS COSTUME

Step 1:

Cut holes in plastic box for head, arms, legs, and in the bucket for his face.

Step 2:

Then lin all openings in foam, and slip dryer vent hoses in arm holes.

Step 3:

Then spray paint the box (for body) and bucket (for head) silver.

Step 4:

Then attach motherboard, run LED lights, and glued in the heart. Attach plexiglass door with hinges and magnetic closure.

Walrus Halloween Costume

Rose Tavelli — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:04:52 +0000

Rose’s 11-year-old son, Jarrah is passionate about walruses. He even wants to write the definitive book on them once he becomes a marine biologist!

HOW TO MAKE THIS COSTUME

Step 1:

Research design from National Geographic pics for inspiration

Step 2:

Measure and cut remnant faux suede and duvet stuffing

Step 3:

Sew it all together on using a sewing machine.

Step 4:

Sew on strings for whiskers

Thomas & Friends Train Halloween Costume

Jacinda Krieger — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:53:52 +0000

Who would think that a diaper box and wipes box could come together and make a perfect train costume!? All it needed was a little paint and magic! You will need a large diaper box, large wipes box, suspenders, red electrical tape, craft paint, craft foam, various plastic containers (yogurt, water bottle, pen lid, etc.), suspenders and patience!

HOW TO MAKE THIS COSTUME

Step 1:

Cut the boxes into the right shape and tape down edges. Paint them and let dry. Print out a train face from the computer (tons on the Internet).

Step 2:

Use red electrical tape to mark lines/stripes. Paint windows. Paint plastic containers for the dome and chimney. Let dry. Cut out the wheels and bars from craft foam.

Step 3:

Hot glue the train and “tender” (wipes box) together.

Step 4:

Add some black coal into the tender (black tissue paper) and suspenders to wear!

Super Frugal DIY Super Hero Halloween Costume

Krystal Henson — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:44:57 +0000

Krystal’s daughter’s nickname is Super Fi and for months she had been talking about dressing up as a superhero. They didn’t want to buy a costume this year so Krystal was happy to try and come up with something using stuff they already had. They ended up with a fun costume made from leftover felt, embroidery thread, tulle and ribbon from past projects; an old sweatshirt and pants; Starbucks coffee sleeves; and temporarily altering her winter boots. The result was Super Frugal and super fun!

HOW TO MAKE THIS COSTUME

Step 1:

Cut cape from leftover felt. Create logo design and cut pieces from felt. Glue and embroider on design.

Step 2:

Glue and stitch logos to old sweatshirt and cape. Tack logo onto winter boots with embroidery

Step 3:

Make skirt from leftover tulle and ribbon — slip-knot 6″ wide x 18″ long pieces to long piece of ribbon.

Step 4:

Paint Starbucks coffee sleeves yellow and glue logo. Voila! Super Fun, Super Frugal!