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Arts & Entertainment

Creating Costumes on a Dime

Great Halloween looks don't have to break the bank.

With Halloween fast approaching, it's probably a good time to start thinking about costumes for you and your loved ones.

However, with so many of us feeling the budget crunch a bit early this holiday season, purchasing the needed supplies can be a costly affair.

Thankfully, for those who don't want to spend an arm and a leg, Halloween costumes and makeup can be created with objects and ingredients readily available in most households—all that's needed is a little artistic flair and creativity.

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Here are a few helpful recipes and tips from my kitchen to yours.

To create homemade Halloween makeup, all you will need is:

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  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • half teaspoon cold cream
  • half teaspoon cold water
  • food coloring

Mix the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl, and paint away! Create your desired color by incorporating some food coloring. (Remember, the more you add the richer the pigment of your makeup will be.)

If you make a mistake applying your paint, don't despair. This makeup is removed easily with lotion or cold cream.

To create gory looks, you can easily make realistic-looking fake blood using just a few simple ingredients.

  • 1 cup karo syrup
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 tablespoon red food coloring
  • 1 teaspoon yellow food coloring

Stir the Karo syrup, water, and food coloring together until all three are thoroughly mixed. If you'd like to change the color of your blood, simply add a few drops of blue food coloring until you produce the desired result.

For an interesting fake skin effect, follow this easy recipe.

  • 8 tablespoon flour
  • 5 tablespoon warm water
  • Halloween face paint (see recipe above)

Add the flour and water together in a large mixing bowl, and stir until you achieve your desired consistency. Pour in some face paint and then apply the mixture to your own skin in dabs. (Keep in mind it will take some time to dry.) When the fake skin has dried, make it come alive with the application of fake blood.

Now that you have some creative, money-saving ideas for the makeup, all that's left is to construct your costume. Look through your closet for old or unwanted clothing. With a few simple rips and tears, some dirt and fake blood, you can easily transform yourself into a zombie or ghoul of fantastic proportions.

If you're still  having difficulty piecing together your costume, you can try looking around in local thrift stores.  for example, offers a wide selection of used clothing at bargain prices.

To fabricate accessories, places such as Michael's Arts & Crafts, located at 12339 Poway Rd., offers a terrific selection of materials to help make your Halloween dreams a reality. 

Now that I've supplied you with a few helpful hints and ideas, I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween! Remember, with a little creativity, anything is possible.

Need more Halloween stories? Check out these:

Halloween Weekend Events in Poway

How to Have Big Halloween Fun in a Small Town

Yearly Halloween Festival Returns to Old Poway Park

Trick-or-Treating as a Second Job

Pumpkin Carving for Dummies

We Want Photos of Your Jack-O-Lanterns

 

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