And so it begins, the question is asked and not always answered.
“What are you going to be this Halloween?”
Whether four or forty, it can be a dilemma. Particularly when you take into account the skyrocketing cost of Halloween costumes. A while ago, I decided that it would be a lot more economical, and fun, to create my own costumes for myself and my family. Having had some film and theatrical costume and makeup experience, I thought I would share some of my ideas.
Who doesn’t love zombies? Whether eating brains or canapés, this quick and easy costume should be all you need!
Materials:
Be aware! All clothing will be unusable for everyday wear after this!
1 old t-shirt – the bigger the better, also a lighter color is preferred
1 old pair of pants or jeans
1 old pair shoes
Red, blue, yellow and green food coloring
2 cups light corn syrup, separated
Dishwashing liquid
Dirt (any dirt will do, from outside or potting soil, so long as it’s dirty!)
Rocks (at least the size of a river rock, but you will be picking them all up in the bag)
Trash bag
Scissors
Cotton swabs
Cotton balls
Large bath towel
Black lipstick (generally available at any party supply store or seasonal section of a grocery store at Halloween time)
Liquid makeup foundation (you can pick up el cheapo foundation at any grocery store and some dollar stores)
Optional:
1/2 cup Flour
2/3 cup Water
Strawberry jelly
Latex gloves
To begin:
With the t-shirt and pants, cut slices and holes in them with the scissors. You can be as creative as you like, just be messy. Remember, you’re supposed to have come from the grave!
Take the t-shirt, pants or jeans, and the shoes and put them in the trash bag with the rocks and the dirt. Now shake them all violently together. Check on them periodically and dirty up to taste. If you like, you can add some water to it to create mud stains as well.
Okay, the clothing is done. Not too hard, was it? Now you need the finishing touches.
In one cup of corn syrup, mix in a few drops of the red food coloring and of the dishwashing liquid. Instant blood! The dishwashing liquid helps to rinse it off afterwards, but if you’re planning on using the blood in your mouth, just omit it. Just using the red food coloring will give you a vibrant, bright red. You can use miniscule amounts of the blue to darken it. The darker the blood, the more arterial it looks, just be careful you don’t end up with purple, unless you’re an alien zombie. For gloppy, gut-churning gore, mix in a few tablespoons of the strawberry jelly.
The regular mixture will last in an airtight container for about two weeks if stored in a cool, dry place. The mixture with the strawberry jelly will last for around a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
In the other cup of corn syrup, mix in a few drops of the green food coloring and of the dishwashing liquid. This is for the general zombie ichor and ooze. Adding yellow to the mixture will give you a lighter, more pustulent color. Adding blue will give you a darker green. Adding red will give you a muddy brown. If you want to be a bit thicker and lumpier, you can mix in some of the dirt you used earlier.
This mixture will last in an airtight container for about two weeks if stored in a cool, dry place.
The next bit is very messy, and can stain your hands, so now is the time to don the latex gloves if you like.
Get on your shirt and drape your shoulders with the bath towel. Pour some of the liquid makeup foundation into a small bowl, enough to cover your face and neck. Mix in just a drop or two of the green food coloring. For easier cleanup, you can mix in some of the dishwashing liquid as well. Using your fingers or a cotton ball, apply the colored makeup foundation all over your face, being sure to get under your eyes and your eyelids. Don’t worry about lines or uneven application, it doesn’t really matter!
Next, get the black lipstick and apply it under your eyes and on your lids up to the brow bone. You basically want to encircle your eyes with it. Using your fingertips, rub it in a circular pattern around your eyes. You don’t want it IN your eyes, though, so be careful! If you like, you can also lightly apply the lipstick to the laugh lines around your mouth (those parentheses looking things that bracket your lips) and also smudge it into the hollows of your cheeks and on your temples. The cotton balls are great for smudging and removing excess.
You can either put the lipstick onto your lips or use the makeup, personal choice.
Using the cotton swabs, cotton balls, and your fingers, apply the green and the red corn syrup mixtures to your face and neck to simulate running blood and other nasty undead bodily fluids. If you’re not using the optional open sores, you can run them from your hairlines, ears, nostrils, and eyes (just start where the black lipstick application ends) to create a “start point” for the leaking pus or blood.
Optional: Open sores
If you want a scabbier appearance, put the flour into a bowl and slowly stir in the water until a creamy paste forms. Be sure to stir out any lumps. Stir in some of your leftover green makeup or just a drop or two of green and red food coloring. Using your fingers and the cotton swabs, strategically dab the mixture onto your face. You don’t want to apply it too thickly or it will take a while to dry. Also, be careful using it on places on your skin that move a lot. The middle of your forehead or right next to your mouth are not good ideas, but your temple, chin, and your nose are pretty cool.
Allow the sores to dry thoroughly (can take up to a couple of minutes, depends on how thickly it’s applied) and then use the cotton swabs to add the green and the red corn syrup mixtures to make them look like open festering sores or bloody oozing lacerations.
Put on the rest of your costume, mess up your hair, and practice your groaning skills. If no brains are available, party snacks will do just fine.
This costume is great for anyone interested in being the undead. My nine year old is helping with her zombie costume this year and we’re having a blast. I like this costume because with the exception of a few ingredients, everything is pretty much already on hand. It’s come in very useful for a few last minute costume parties!
Now get out there and scare some folks!
