October is finally upon, which translates to counting down the days to Halloween. We dug up some an archive of a kids’ crafts to get you thinking of ways to into the spirit of the grim and gore of Halloween yet preserve the cuteness factor.
There Will be Blood
It’s just not Halloween without goo and gore! Bloodthirsty ghouls and their moms can make lots of icky, realistic-looking blood from common household items by following the instructions provided by Nina Griffee and her team below. This sticky ooze is sweet, chocolaty, non-toxic, and edible, so it’s safe to smear and dribble all over one’s face. When it’s time to go back to the day job, wash it out with soap and water. Special thanks to Makeup Artist Meghan Evely.
Ingredients:
- 250ml of any kind of sweet syrup, such as corn or maple syrup
- 2tbsp cocoa or drinking chocolate powder
- Red food coloring
- Peppermint flavoring (optional)
1. Pour syrup into a bowl.
2. Stir cocoa or drinking chocolate powder into the syrup, mixing thoroughly to combine
3. Gradually blend in seven or eight drops of red food coloring. (Use more to achieve a darker shade).
4. For a minty fresh flavor, add a few drops of peppermint essence (to taste).
TIPS
- Always keep fake blood away from eyes.
- Food coloring and fake blood may stain clothes.
Mom’s Lil’ Zombie
You don’t need voodoo or a virus, or even face paints; you already have everything you need to raise the dead in your own home. Whip up a zombie in a jiffy using everyday household or kitchen items and your own makeup kit.
You will need :
- Flour or talcum powder
- Homemade blood
- Lipstick (red or pink)
- Dark brown or black eye shadow
- Paintbrush, makeup brush or Q-tips
- Lotion (optional)
- Hair gel (optional)
- Empty bottle (optional)
1. Apply lipstick bruises with a makeup brush. Smudge lipstick around facial features; into the nostrils, as eyeliner, in the corners of the eyes, around the corners of the mouth, around the ears, and around the hairline. Blend until there are no harsh lines.
2. Ask your proto-zombie to shut their eyes for this next part. Using a brush or your fingers, dab on a light dusting
of flour or talcum powder all over the face to simulate the unearthly pallor of the living dead. If you want to intensify the paleness and dustiness, rub a few blobs of lotion on the face to help the flour or powder stick better to the skin.
3. Mix some flour or talcum powder into a paste with a bit of water, rubbing into the hair and neck to create a grimy grayish tone. If you want to make the hair extra messy and disheveled, use hair gel instead of water along with the powder or flour.
4. Re-animated cadavers tend to look a little gaunt, so using a dark eye shadow, lightly add some shadow or contour under the cheekbones, jawline, and at the temples. Blend well.
5. Using a brush or fingers, apply fake blood to the mouth and ears liberally, letting it trickle down the face and neck. Rather than use fake blood, add a little extra lipstick to the eyes.
If your zombie has been bitten or otherwise injured, you can add more blood to the neck, hands, or around rips and tears in their costume. Et voila! It’s aliiiiiive!
TIPS
- Have your zombie put on their costume before doing their makeup.
- Zombies are just ordinary resurrected people, so any threadbare, tattered, or torn clothes will make a good costume.
- Fill a bottle with any surplus fake blood so your zombie can refresh their wounds on-the-go or drizzle a little in their mouth if they want to look extra-menacing for photos.
This post first appeared here on October 4, 2013.
Photos: Sui
