I came across this website today: ThreadBanger.com. It’s to DIY for.

They’ve got wonderfully creative ideas (with an emphasis on “green” materials) with easy-to-follow pictures, too.

Now I’m all for letting our kids make their own costumes – when they can – but helping them with the process can be a cherished experience – one that will likely be remembered even more than the costume itself. So if you’re looking for some ideas and direction for what to make and how to make it, I’d say ThreadBanger is a great place to start.

Here are a few of my other favorites:

• Knitty.com’s knitted wig
• About.com’s DIY fashion
• Budget101.com (“frightening ideas that won’t hurt your wallet”)
• AllFreeCrafts.com

Of course, our new book, Celebrate Green! also has great DIY ideas, including a recipe for making your own face paints!

At a Green Halloween event today (hosted by EcoHausin Seattle) – thanks, Susanna! -our photographer, Holli Dunn, had a craft booth for kids – making green ghosts.

You all know the craft – take a piece of fabric, fill it, and tie it with string – but this wasn’t your ordinary stuffed apparition. This one was made entirely from eco-wise materials.

Even better? The kids LOVED making it and taking it home.

Here is what Holli used:

• Stuffing: denim insulation (you wouldn’t believe how SOFT it is!)
• To secure it: thin jute twine (wool would have been nice too)
• For the eyes: circles cut from old fabric swatch book

Don’t mess with parents going green!

That was the message – heard loud and clear, I’m sure! – to a Seattle PI blogger who challenged Green Halloween’s motives, worth and efficacy.

I can only say, “thank you” to those of you who took the time and energy to write a reply to the blogger. I was so touched and inspired by your show of support for our initiative. Your responses were wonderful – all positively and eloquently illuminating the facts without bashing the poor guy, who obviously never expected such an en mass retort (as evidenced by his own reply later on).

While I certainly didn’t agree with what the blogger had to say, I do agree with him on this: “messing” with tradition may ruffle some feathers, but a good debate brings to the forefront important issues of our time.

I’m thrilled to be a part of the conversation and grateful that you have been too.

For the 2.2 million kids (and growing) who have food allergies, Halloween traditionally presents a cauldron of concerns.

Exposure and ingestion of foods that trigger allergic reactions may cause severe physiological reactions – even death – so many parents of food allergic (and food-sensitive) children work hard to create non-food based Halloween traditions for their kids.

With the epidemic of food allergic and food sensitive children in America, it may be time to lean heavily towards handing out goodies that are “treasures.” Shiny stones, (recycled) spining tops and handmade friendship bracelets are treats all children can enjoy – whether they suffer from food allergies (or other health issues such as diabetes and obesity) or not.

Another idea is to hand out candy that is less likely to be allergenic, such as the confections from www.divvies.com or www.amandasown.com, which are not made in facilities processing wheat, peanuts, milk or eggs.

And yet another option is to allow trick-or-treating, but afterwards have a “swap.” (Health-conscious parents may want to do the same.)

Swapping is simple: allow your child to trade some candy for a few pre-purchased or made treat or treasure items that won’t cause a problem. If you’d like, you can then invite the Halloween Fairy/Sugar Sprite/Great Pumpkin/ or Candy Witch to your home to take the rest of the loot – leaving another treasure behind (see previous posts here and here for more on this tradition).

How do you handle Halloween and other food-focused occasions?

Did you know that October is Fair Trade month, a time to celebrate fair wages and healthy, safe working conditions for artisans and farmers?

Fair Trade Certification encourages environmentally sustainable business practices and prohibits the abuse of child slave labor, and since the cocoa industry is swarming with accusations of child slavery and other human rights abuses, choosing Fair Trade Certified chocolate is really important. So in honor of Fair Trade month (and Green Halloween!),we’re sending one lucky reader a FREE Fair Trade Trick or Treat Action Kit.

The Fair Trade Trick or Treat Kit has everything you need to make Halloween something special. It includes Fair Trade Trick-or-Treat chocolate to hand out, a ghostly Papel Picado Halloween decoration, a Fair Trade is Boo-tiful poster to hang in your window, festive spooky postcards and an eco-friendly “green” bag for Trick or Treating.

To win this free kit, simply post a comment to this blog by Oct. 22nd (That’s THIS Wednesday!) with your thoughts about the Fair Trade Action Kit, along with your email address so we can let you know if you’ve won, and you’re automatically entered for a chance to win your free kit!

We look forward to hearing from you.