Category: Halloween

Have you ever tried one of those Pinterest projects only to have it fail miserably?  We sure have.  But, every once in a while, an idea comes through, the craftiness works and it’s an instant success!  Check out this great Captain America costume made from thrifty finds and a few items laying around your home.

From America’s Thrift Store:

Blue leggings

Red scarf (used as a belt)

Black Boots

Kid’s top

cape

shield

From the home:

Toilet paper rolls wrapped in aluminum foil (used as the arm cuffs)

Are you looking for a great Halloween costume?  Check out how you can Be Original with one-of-a-kind items from America’s Thrift!  Once your creation is made, enter our costume contest for a chance to win one of three prizes!

Special shout out to our Riverdale, Georgia location for putting together this look!

What defines a hero?  Is it someone with super natural powers?  Is it someone who sacrifices for others?  Is it someone who wears a cape?   Whatever your definition of a hero, you can easily and inexpensively create a one-of-a-kind costume with thrift store finds!

1. Superhero – We challenged our Pell City location to come up with a superhero costume.  They showed us their inner Hulk with this one!  One of our employees took a pair of purple pants and a green shirt and ripped the bottom of each.  He then covered his body with green paint and for under $5 total – he had an amazing costume!  As you can tell, he definitely got into it!.

2. Military – Our troops are our heroes!  This is why we offer a discount to all active and retired military personal and their families every Wednesday.  How better to show your appreciation than to dress up as a military personal for Halloween.  From hats and helmets to uniforms and suits, we can outfit you as any branch of the military you prefer.  Check out this example from our thrifty treasure contest we had this past year.  Jasmine created this look from items found in our Tuscaloosa location.  She writes, “We bought a like-new painters outfit from the men’s section, a belt for $0 .99, a pair of black shoes for $3.99, a black watch for under $5, a bag of headbands for less than a dollar and a metal thing to shape into a headphone type thing so she’d look the part. We even found a pack of bridal shower balloons to help us make a paper mache astronaut helmet. Then we bought some iron-on patches from another store to put the finishing touches on her astronaut outfit.”  Find out more about this outfit here. 

3. Professionals – We have people in our lives each and every day who look out for us and keep us healthy.  That’s right, we’re talking about doctors and nurses.  It’s easy to become your favorite health professional.  We have a great stock of scrubs and even a lab coat or two.  Check out our Halloween section for accessories like a stethoscope or large inflatable syringe.

Have you ever created a hero costume, or any costume, from thrift store finds?  Enter our Be Original Costume Contest for a chance to win a shopping spree from America’s Thrift! 

Need some inspiration?  Check out other great ideas here.

We had the pleasure of hosting thrift style blogger Wendy from JustJewels4U and challenged her to create a Halloween look with items from our racks.  When we caught up with her, she was already in the racks going through the dresses, her go to section of our Marietta location.  She had also picked up a Halloween cape, but not for a costume.  We’ll let her clue you in on that later.  She had fun sifting through each of our Halloween Hubs which you can find by following the skeleton feet.  So, what costumes did Wendy pick?  We don’t want to spoil it.  Stay tuned to her blog to find out!

Remember the episode where Lucy got into some hi jinks and then tried to figure a way out?  Oh, wait.  That’s every episode!  Well, you don’t need hi jinks to become your favorite TV character.  You can become your favorite comedienne with just a few items from one of our locations.

Next time you’re shopping with us, check out the ladies dress section and see if you can find a polk-a-dot dress.  If none are available in your size, see if you can find a plain navy dress (all it takes is a little white fabric paint and a circle sponge brush to turn it into a costume!).  Also, scope out the ladies’s shirt section and find a white button down shirt you can wear under the dress.  Then, skip to the shoes and housewares to find some Mary Jane’s and a white apron.  Don’t forget the accessories: peal necklace, pearl earnings, and a bangle or two. Finally, visit one of our Halloween Hubs for a great wig.  Put it together and you have a great I Love Lucy costume for under $15!

Need more creative costumes?  Check out our other Be Original inspirations!

That’s right.  The 80s will never die.  Who could forget about Care Bears, Ghostbusters and of course, our favorite time traveler, Marty McFly!  Thanks to the thrift store, creating this look has never been easier.  Next time your in one of our locations, grab a red t-shirt, button down shirt, jean jacket, orange puff vest and pair of acid-wash jeans from our guys section.  Then, head on over to our shoe department and see if you can find some converse.  Layer the look like it in the photo and just like that, you’re ready to go Back to the Future!

Find out more ways you can Be Original this Halloween!

How are you feeling this Halloween?  Are you filled with JOY?  Maybe you have a little ANGER.  Or perhaps you have a little SADNESS in your heart.  You could even be DISGUSTed or FEARful of all the expensive Halloween costumes out now.  Well, whatever your emotion, you can easily represent your favorite character form Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out with just a few items from your favorite thrift store.   Here’s a quick checklist of items you’ll need:

JOY:

• Green dress
• Yellow ballet flats
• Blue pixie wig

DISGUST:

• Teal dress
• Green leggings
• Purple flats
• Short purple scarf
• Green wig
• Green eyelashes

SADNESS:

• White turtleneck sweater
• Skinny jeans
• Blue flats
• Blue wig
• Glasses

FEAR

• Purple long-sleeve button-down shirt
• Black and white vest (hounds tooth or diamond checked)
• Jeans
• Loafers
• Red bow tie
• Thick eyebrows

ANGER:

• White button-down shirt
• Red-striped tie
• Khakis
• Belt
• Optional – flame wig

So, go ahead and show them how you feel.  Everyone knows you should wear your emotions AS your Halloween costume!

Make sure you’re original this Halloween!  Check out these costume ideas.

They’re everywhere – little yellow ovals in overalls. You can’t understand them.  With the exception of the occasional “banana,”  they speak their own language.  But you don’t have to speak their language to become them for Halloween! A quick trip to one of our locations and you’ll be “minionized” in no time!

1. Gather the following items in one of our stores:
   • Overalls
   • Long sleeve yellow shirt and yellow toboggan – OR-
   • Yellow hoodie
   • black shoes
   • Goggles (if you can’t find “Minion” goggles, look for safety or swim goggles)
2. From the craft store you’ll need:
   • Black pipe cleaners
   • Black felt
   • Hot glue or sewing kit
   • Silver permanent marker

This costume just takes a few seconds to craft:

• Take the pipe cleaners and poke them through the toboggan or top of the hoodie, making sure you curl the ends up on the inside of the cap to prevent the pipe cleaners from poking into the head.
• Print out the Gru symbol by searching on Google and trace it onto the black felt.  Cut it out and either hot glue or sew it onto the front middle of the overalls.
• Finally, if needed, outline your goggles with the silver marker to make it look like a frame.

That’s it!  You just went from normal everyday human to cute yellow minion in no time!

Need some more inspiration?  Check out these great costume ideas you can make in just one visit to a thrift store!