No Polyester Capes Here: DIY Halloween Inspiration Inside
I was born and raised in a small town in Minnesota. When you see memes about wearing a jacket over a Halloween costume, that was me (though mine were under). In the great Halloween blizzard of 1991, I was a chunky angel — not chunky by choice, but by the fact that my mom wouldn’t let me trick-or-treat unless I layered three of her knit white sweaters under my costume. I looked like the Michelin Man wearing a pipe-cleaner halo.
That was when store bought costumes, while always kind of cheap and thin, weren't the particular brand of flimsy we find today. You know, that plasticky “fabric” you’d never see anywhere else in the world hanging in its crinkly bag at Spirit Halloween (probably formerly a Joann).
As upcyclers, we can do better. No one-night only polyester capes here. We see possibility where others see the clearance rack. So this week I share a few ideas for upcycled Halloween costumes, the handmade, reimagined, and gloriously imperfect kind.
Don't forget, those who contribute a Fall themed project (including Halloween projects!) get entered into a drawing to win supplies.
👉 Share your project here
Let's get into it →
🎃 Up-cycled Costume Ideas for 2025
This year’s Halloween is your chance to shine, and salvage. With so many memorable pop-culture moments from 2025, it’s the perfect time to skip the one-night polyester store costume and craft something that lasts, looks fabulous under jackets, and lives on in your story.
🧸Idea #1: Labubu
This one is dedicated to my friend Park, who showed up to the LABC breakfast with me yesterday as a Labubu. His clever homemade costume which included mask, ears, hook and tag, had people talking. Me, I used some donation bin goodies to turn a basic set of overalls and a flannel into a scarecrow. Was it kind of boring? Yes. Did people appreciate that I came in costume anyway? Also yes.
🕯️Idea #2: Witch of West Elm
A minimalist witch who manifests in neutrals only.
What you’ll need: thrifted cream linens, candle jars, beige throw blanket.
How to up-cycle it: Wrap yourself in cozy monochrome and carry a soy candle labeled “Intention.” Speak softly but charge $85/hour.
🕯️Idea #3: Becky Ann Leeman
A costume that an upcycler is uniquely suited to bring to life, Becky Ann Leeman from Drop Dead Gorgeous. Bust out those paper mache skills and get to work on your own mount Rushmore headpiece. Props to this dedicated costume-wearer from our breakfast who not only rocked this all morning, but won the costume competition.
❄️Doilies, But Make Them Reuse.
They’ve been waiting patiently in the linen drawer for their comeback — and upcyclers everywhere are answering the call. Whether you’re sewing, crafting, or decorating for the season, these delicate textiles add instant charm. Use them as stencils, appliqués, or use these snowy shapes for a no-waste spin on snowflake garland.
👉 Browse the entire collection on craftremnants.com
Caught our👀
🌶️ Upcycled art but make it spicy.
👖 Denim fabric stickers.
🍕 Needle felted spooky pizza.
🪡 A mending technique that could have saved us many threads.
📝 New in the Blog
Antique War Poems from 1918 as Craft Ephemera
I was browsing through a modest little estate-sale lot when I found them: a stack of brittle newspaper clippings, apparently dated 1918, each one a short poem about war. The listing described them simply as“War Poems 1918.”
Whether you go full witch, blizzard-proof angel, or beige minimalist with a candle and a dream, I hope you make something that lasts longer than a single night.
👻 Until next time,
Molly
We're mission-driven to gather a community of upcyclers dedicated to reducing waste, sharing resources, sparking ideas, and bringing reuse to the forefront of our daily lives. But we can’t do it alone.