The air is getting cooler and the leaves on central campus are slowly turning from green to orange. Both of these hint that fall is just around the corner. They also provide resources for getting creative in a sustainable fashion.

The chill in the air means it is time to take inventory of your scarves and sweaters from last year. However, sometimes a change in style accompanies the change in weather. If you find that your old sweaters are outdated or simply do not fit the way you remember, and you are ready to throw them out — don’t. Instead, find some scissors and reuse your old sweater as an accessory to your fall wardrobe.

First, use the bottom part of the sweater to create a homemade infinity scarf. Cut across the chest just below the sleeves; it will form a tube, which can be wrapped around as a scarf. Second, use the same old sweater to make long gloves that will match the infinity scarf. Remove the sleeves from the sweater and pull them over your arms. Next, decide how long you wish the gloves to be and cut both sleeves to fit your preference, making sure both are the same length. Using gloves that you already have, or a cheap pair that matches the sweater, stitch one end of the sweater to the wrist of the glove. Now you have a set of inexpensive and unique accessories to start of the new season.

The falling leaves provide a natural stencil for a fun and sustainable craft. Pick up leaves of different shapes and sizes and place them under a sheet of old newspaper. Next, use fall colors like brown, dark green, orange and yellow to color over the leaves. The background you have created can be used for a variety of purposes.

One idea is to cut out the leaf shapes and hang them around your dorm room as a fall decoration. Bookmarks can also be made using the print and a thin, sturdy material, such as the box of a frozen pizza or microwave dinner. It is important the material is thin so a book can close easily over it. Cut the colored paper into the bookmark shape and glue it to the sturdy material, then cut around the shape. These bookmarks make great, affordable gifts for friends as well, as many can be produced quickly without using a lot of material.