Boxes upon boxes of costumes. This is what Karen Alton’s business, Saints and Sinners Costumes, offers year-round, but her collection takes on a special life during the Halloween season. Three decades of experience Alton is no stranger to the costume world — she has been making them for about 30 years now. Her friend in Manitou first had the idea. “She said, ‘You know, people are looking for costumes. Why don't we do something about it?’ So I started making them, and we were renting them out of her front porch,” Alton recalled. The costume-maker said that homemade ensembles tend to stand out because “they’re usually made with love.” A costume fitting for the moment Although Alton has been in the game for a while, her creations have kept up with the trends over the years. One series she remembers fondly is the Doctor Strange costumes she made when the first movie was released. The costume of the titular character was complete with a handmade cape. “I had just the right lining for the cape, but ... some of the print wasn't right, so I had to paint that out,” she said. “I think it was red splotches instead of a print in spots, so I did that, and that cape is very heavy.” Related stories: No tricks, just treats: How to provide an accessible Halloween experience for everyone Think you’re a trivia champ? Test your knowledge at the South Central Regional Library quiz night Alton said that she also made a costume for The Ancient One, another character in the film. Some of the other trendy and timeless character costumes Alton offers in her broad collection include The Mad Hatter, Puss in Boots, the Flintstones, characters from The Wizard of Oz, Deadpool, Maleficent, and Dolly Parton. Almost anything you can imagine For those who don’t find their desired character in one of Alton’s costume boxes, she also creates custom designs. She said she’ll take on any project that she’s confident she can bring to life — and with her attention to detail and skill set, there are endless possibilities. “I might even recommend a quick fix that they can do for nothing for themselves,” she said. “It's amazing what you can do with some sheets and pillowcases and things.” Alton’s current custom project is a character from Metal Gear Solid 2, for which she is repurposing a morph suit and thrifted items. For the project, she said she is incorporating a number of eyelets and constructing criss-crossed lacing. To learn more about Alton’s costume collection or about ordering a custom costume, visit the Saints and Sinners Costumes page on Facebook. With files from Ty Hildebrand and Jayme Giesbrecht