3 Halloween Costumes You Can Make From Trash

In a pinch? Make adorable costumes from items you would normally toss in the trash.

October 07, 2019

SCUBA DIVER

DIY Halloween Costume

DIY Upcycled Scuba Diver Costume

Make this adorable costume in a pinch from items you would normally toss in the trash.

Photo by: Sarah Busby

Sarah Busby

Supplies Needed

  • (2) 2-liter bottles
  • silver spray paint
  • electrical tape
  • duct tape
  • decorative washi tape
  • aluminum tape
  • 4 ft. of vinyl tubing
  • laundry detergent cap
  • thrift store suspenders
  • hot glue gun + sticks
  • decorative felt sheets
  • scissors

Start by removing the labels from the plastic bottles. Next, spray paint them a metallic silver shade. After the spray paint is dry, wrap two rings of electrical tape around each bottle. Wrap the two bottles together with colored duct tape — pink in our case. For a little pizzazz and sparkle, add decorative washi tape to the middle of the duct tape (Image 1). Place the ends of the vinyl tubing inside the bottles and secure with aluminum tape and duct tape (Image 2). Cut the tubing in half and attach both ends to either side of the detergent cap using hot glue (Image 3). This will be the mouthpiece. Next, slide the suspenders in between the two bottles (Image 4). Finally, create flippers out felt sheets by cutting out the shape, including holes for the feet (Image 5).

FRANKENSTEIN HEAD

Halloween Costume

DIY Upcycled Frankenstein Costume

Make this adorable costume in a pinch from items you would normally toss in the trash.

Photo by: Cassidy Garcia

Cassidy Garcia

Supplies Needed

  • cardboard box
  • box cutter
  • permanent marker
  • black paint pen
  • green craft paint
  • paint brush
  • fabric softener caps
  • silver spray paint
  • black faux fur
  • black felt
  • hot glue gun + sticks
  • scissors

Start with a cardboard box that is big enough for your head. Draw the outline of the face on the box using a marker then cut out using a box cutter (Image 1). Cut out the side flaps of the box to frame your face. Next, paint the entire box using green craft paint and spray paint the fabric softener caps silver. After the paint is dry, glue the flaps of the box together (Image 2). To create the neck bolts, glue the caps to both sides of the boxes (Image 3). Hot glue faux fur to the top of the box for the hair and felt strips to the front for eyebrows. Give the faux fur a haircut to make it even on all sides (Image 4). Finally, use a black paint pen to draw stitches and scars on the front and sides of the box (Image 5).

CANDY DOTS

Halloween Costume

DIY Upcycled Candy Dot Costumes

Make this adorable costume in a pinch from items you would normally toss in the trash.

Photo by: Cassidy Garcia

Cassidy Garcia

Supplies Needed

  • white apron
  • pink, yellow and blue spray paint
  • apple sauce containers
  • permanent fabric glue

Begin by spray painting the apple sauce cups pink, yellow and blue (Image 1). Paint enough cups to cover the apron — 6 in each color for our costume. Let the paint dry completely. Next, arrange the cups on the apron into the candy dot pattern. Attach the cups to the apron with permanent fabric glue (Image 2).

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