Fantastically Fun Reuse Costume and Art Ideas at the Calgary Comic Expo!

I had a blast last week when I went out of town to attend the 10^th anniversary Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo with a few of my friends, my second-ever Expo experience. For anyone unfamiliar with this type of event, it’s about the oddest, geekiest, most unique way to spend a weekend. Thousands of people converge on the Expo grounds over four days to mingle, shop, and interact with some of today’s hottest TV and film actors, industry leaders, and local artisans. It’s also the perfect place to show your love for your favourite characters through cosplay.

Phoenix Scroll Saw Art

Reused and repurposed items may not immediately come to mind when you think of science fiction and comic books, but there are two major ways that I saw reused items represented at this Expo. First, through the art and jewellery crafted by several of the artists. Steampunk aficionados crafted their items from things like old gears, clock hands, aviator goggles and pocket watches, to name a few.

I found art prints of animals made from twigs and leaves, mismatched strips of leather made into cool bracelets and bookmarks, and even Dungeons & Dragons dice upcycled into pendants and bracelets. My best discovery this year was an artist who transforms mundane bits of wood into jaw-dropping works of art with his two hands and a scroll saw. I almost brought home his incredibly detailed "Star Wars X-Wing v. TIE Fighter" vignette, but this elegant wolf’s head stole my heart (as shown in photo).

There was somebody in here!

The second way that items were visibly repurposed or reused at this event was through the cosplayers. At my first Expo, I had a vague notion that some might attend in costume, but I underestimated how passionate people can be. Some cosplayers come in professionally tailored costumes, but I’d say the majority of them seemed to be fashioned from everyday items that inspired individuals imagined as something more. Some of the best things I saw this year were: a Nerf gun painted bronze to be the perfect steampunk accessory; layered strings of pop can tabs made into a surprisingly convincing chainmail; corrugated plastic sheeting shaped just right to become Interstellar’s TARS robot; Queen of Hearts playing cards perfectly embellishing the collar of a Queen of Hearts gown; and a lady Captain America with the iconic shield painted onto her parasol.

I think what I enjoyed most about the Comic Expo was that there was evidence everywhere of what you can create from using your imagination. Just as the sci-fi and fantasy entertainment we celebrate wouldn't exist if someone hadn't dreamed it up, these types of repurposed works of art and cosplay would never be there for us to admire if someone didn't first study an everyday object and think, I wonder what I can do with that!

- Nichole (Volunteer)

June Reuse-It Item - Packing Peanuts

Getting something, especially a package in the mail is a lot of fun! And if you have a big enough box, you might be able to do this with the packing peanuts. If not, our June Reuse-It post gives quite a few ideas on how to reuse them, especially around the house.

Sarah

I have to admit, I hadn't thought much about using packing peanuts for much other than packing, before this item came up on our list. I like practical reuse ideas, so I was really happy to find this list of ten uses for foam packing peanuts, by This Old House. Number 3 was my favourite: keep pointy ends safe! Jab the sharp ends of tools, scissors, and even stray pins into a packing peanut to create a handy little sheath. Next time you're rummaging in your toolbox or junk drawer, you needn't worry about hurting yourself on stray sharps. This is a great tip for households with kids.

Nichole

When I was little, my mom made me a pumpkin costume for Halloween that I vaguely remember as being cute, but uncomfortably warm and heavy. I suppose that might have been due to the world's supply of cotton batting required to give my costume shape. I've recently learned that there's a better way to fill costumes without weighing them down: packing peanuts! Their bulk means that a little goes a long way, but their weight makes them perfect for achieving different effects, like adding six-pack abs to a superhero outfit or putting convincing "rice" on a sushi roll.

Lana

Staring at my latest container gardening project, I cringed when I realized how hard it would be to move once filled with soil and plants. Packing peanuts to the rescue! Light weight and space filling, they are a great, cost-effective substitute for the bottom-lining gravel (added for drainage) and some of the soil.

How to:

1. Place packing peanuts in a mesh bag (such as an old onion bag or nylon stockings). 
2. Arrange bag(s) of peanuts in empty container to cover the entire bottom. Layer with more bags up to ¼ of container height.
3. Lay a piece of gardening fabric over the bags.
4. Add soil and plants as normal.

This method removes the major thorn on gardening forums about using peanuts - the hassle of removing them from the dirt when the container needs to be emptied. But because there is less weight and soil, you'll need to consider the following:

1. Take care not to overload the container with tall plants (making it too top heavy)
2. Make sure there is enough soil, according to the plants' minimum root depth
3. Monitor moisture levels frequently

Michelle

A packing peanut decorative curtain is quite simple to create. Using a needle, push through each peanut. After making many strands, hang them like a curtain. I would also suggest draping this around the Christmas tree or a chandelier.

- Reuse Centre Volunteers