Making Masks for Halloween

The perfect and scariest Halloween costume would not be enough without the mask. Since the face is first thing that people gaze on to when he or she meets somebody, a Halloween mask worn during a party would definitely determine how scary can you get.

Today, there are so many Halloween masks being sold in various bookshops and specialty stores out there. You can choose from your favorite characters from horror, thriller, or sci-fi movies. You can even find masks which as truly Halloween inspired such as ghosts, ghouls, and monsters.

In most specialty stores, the most popular Halloween masks include gaping wraith mask, glow in dark hockey mask, meateater mask, Batman the dark knight Joker mask, deep sea mask, devil's rejects Captain Spaulding mask, whispers hooded mask, Harry Potter dementor mask, elegant devil mask, leatherface deluxe mask, Batman the dark knight grumpy clown mask, that's not funny clown mask, got your goat mask, red skull mask beanie, white skull mask beanie, skull mask blue beanie and so much more. If you are into departed celebrities, you can even find some which are created in their memory.

But, if you are the type who gives so much emphasis on creativity, uniqueness, and resourcefulness, then you should try making your own mask. The following are just some of your options in making your very own Halloween mask:

1. Improvised latex Halloween masks. Many people would agree that latex or hard plastic masks could be quite uncomfortable once worn. And why not? These are made from synthetic plastic materials and can even be harmful when not used properly. So if are not into wearing latex masks sold in specialty shops, you can create your very own latex inspired mask.

Here, you'll be needing poster board or light weight cardboard, elastic or tongue depressor, and various embellishments to make the mask stand out. The instructions are quite simple, you need to cut the board with the shape of your face, cut it out, punch holes in each side of the mask and decorate it using various embellishments such as poster paints, feathers, glitter, and everything you wish to put in. The  good thing about this is you can make your mask as scary and as ghoulish as you want it to be.

2. Simple paper and cloth masks. This is quite popular and easy to do because all you will be needing is a used cloth which can come from a used pillowcase or shirts, permanent markers, a pair of scissors, and lots of duck tape. Doing a paper and face mask is easy because all you have to do is lay the cloth flat and cut a hole in the center of the cloth. Afterwards, you need to take a piece of paper and draw the mask that you like. Then, turn the cloth inside out and lay the mask face down.

Using the duct tape, tape the sides of the mask down to the cloth and cut the eye holes. Let the duct tape grip the cloth and paper well then you can now decorate your Halloween mask using markers and other crafts and embellishments that you want to include.

3. Your very own printed mask. If you are not the type who is into work stuff such as cutting, pasting, and drawing, you can still make your very own Halloween mask through the use of computer. Today, there are so many sites, which offer Halloween mask patterns, which are ready for printing.

You can choose from a wide array of styles and characters depending on what or who would you want to portray. If you are knowledgeable on various computer programs and software such as Photoshop, you can design your very own mask and print it out.

Making Your Own Halloween Costume

You don’t need to buy a costume for Halloween when you can make one yourself. What is even better is the fact that you don’t have to be a tailor or seamstress to sew it together. You just have to be creative and use whatever you have in your closet or get a few of these items from the thrift shop.

Using your imagination and putting different items together is much better than tossing a sheet over your head and saying you’re a ghost.  Since Halloween doesn’t always have to be scary, think of other characters you can play like perhaps a clown, tin man, a pirate or a gorilla.

For a clown outfit, you should start by looking for a  colorful pair of sweats pants. If you don’t have any, see if there is some other baggy clothing lying around. Since clowns have big buttons on their coveralls, use colorful mesh dish scrubbers which can be found in your kitchen or the grocery.

For your hair, get a wig because it will take more than a day to get off the color on your hair. Get some white makeup for your face and then find a pair of goofy shoes to complete the outfit.

We all know tin man from the wizard of Oz. To dress up just like him, you will see cardboard which will be most of your costume. To make yourself look like him, you can spray the cardboard with silver spray paint or attach aluminum foil all around it.

For your hat, see if there is an old funnel in the garage. You will need black shoes for your feet and silver eye shadow for your face. Another option will be to make your own make up using silver face makeup with cold cream and food coloring. Don’t forget to put black eyeliner to draw lines from the corners of your mouth to your chin.

Making a pirate costume is probably the simplest of them all. For this you will need a pair of black or brown hospital scrubs. You then cut the top portion as well as the sleeves to create a vest. To make it look good, sketch and skill and crossbones onto white felt then paste this on the back of vest.

Now put on a white shirt and just wear a pair of jeans. Since not all pirates have wear a hat, you can wear a bandana instead just like some of the characters in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Lastly, to be a gorilla, you will need a lot of black fur and then sew this up to your top and bottom. Since the mask is hard to make, it is best to just get the costume from the store.

Once you have finished planning what you are going to wear, it is time now to look at what accessories there are available. If there are none, then you have to buy it at a thrift shop or consignment store.

Making your costume for Halloween will surely save you a lot of money since most costumes cost more than $20 a set. The best pat is that you don’t have to feel guilty when you decide to throw it away since you can probably make a new one the following year.

Origin of Halloween Costumes

Remember when were kids that we had a great time donning those Halloween costumes we made or our parents have bought or rented for us? We gang up with the rest of the neighborhood kids and go around screaming “trick-or-treat!” like there’s no tomorrow, leaving our voices hoarse the next day. Well, we basically have experienced it, we let our kids practice it, but do we really know the origin of putting on Halloween costumes in the first place. Some of us may already know but for the benefit of those who don’t, here’s the story.

The origin of the celebration can be traced back to ancient Celtics. The have this feast called Samhain which is a festival held during the end of the harvest season and which is also the Celtic New Year.

According to Celts beliefs, during this time of the year, the spirits of the dead will go up to the surface world and try to posses living bodies for the year to come. To prevent there bodies from being possessed, Celts would light bonfires and dress up in all sorts of morbid costumes just to discourage the spirits of the dead from entering their bodies.

However, the practice of placing costumes in America can be traced to only as recent as the 1900s. It was only in the 1930s that Halloween costumes began to be mass produced. The usual costumes that people rent or make are those of different monsters including but not limited to vampires, ghosts, ghouls, demons, witches, and skeletons.

Even if it is the night that evil is supposed to surface, “good” costumes are also a common choice among children and adults alike. In fact, princess, fairy and angel costumes often times make it to the top ten list of top Halloween costumes.

Also popular are pop culture costumes which mimicked famous personalities, fictional characters, celebrities, and even politicians have an equal share in exposures during Halloween. Women, no thanks to commercial advertising, have also found this a good time to wear sexy outfits to show off their bodies and sexual prowess. But that is another story.

Other costumes that seem to have a following are clowns, nurses, cats, and that lowly Halloween symbol, the pumpkin. Superhero characters are also fast becoming popular costumes no thanks to the comics to movie fever that have hit the silver screen in recent years. The demand for new and modern costumes have put costume makers busy and costume rentals fully booked.

The fact that costumes for Halloween celebration have become so varied that the modern tradition have overshadowed the earlier tradition which makes wearing costumes during Halloween different from other dressing up feasts there is. And that is the concept of dressing up during Halloween is to mimic the supernatural, the ghoulish being, or basically the scary stuff.

Nevertheless, who are we to keep traditions from adapting to the modern times? Things will always evolve, that’s just how things naturally work. We can’t simply insist on wearing only scary stuff during Halloween. Creativity will play a role in this aspect and people will always crave for new things.

So not withstanding the darker origins of wearing Halloween costumes, we and our children and their children will continue to celebrate this day for as long as there are candies to share and creativity to spare.

Sewing Halloween Costumes for Kids

Wearing a Halloween costume is one of the most precious memories any child could ever have. This is because she or he will be able to attend a Halloween party, join other kids in trick or treats, and boast to other kids that his or her parents sew a Halloween especially for this occasion.

Sewing basics for Halloween costumes

Many sewers spent so much time on their craft. Because of the amount of time they have spent on this activity, they were able to discover on their own the secrets, tips and techniques behind any successful needlework. But since you cannot spend the rest of your life just to learn sewing, it is best to enroll in a simple sewing class that can teach you the basics of sewing, the tools you will be needing, and just about everything you want and need to know about the craft. Or since you will just be sewing a simple Halloween costume for your child, you can just do some research on how to go about in sewing.

For beginners, one of the most important things to consider is the type of sewing that he or she wishes to do. Usually, sewing is done using the hand alone because this gives personal touch and displays the sewer's talent in sewing. But, since the sewing machine is now available to make the work easier, faster, accurate, and convenient, more and more people prefer using it. For hand or machine sewing, you need tools such as different types of needles and threads.

Once you have decided whether you will be sewing by hand or by machine, the next step is to determine what type of costume you will be sewing for your child.  For boys, the most common Halloween costumes are the "Old West Sheriff" which is macho, easy, and comfortable; the "Captain Jack Sparrow" which is the perfect pirate costume for little boys because of the comfort it brings; "Zorro" which can come in many variations depending on the size, age, and height of the boy;  the "Harry Potter" costume which come with cool reading glass, cape and etc which are popularized by the Harry Potter movies; and the "Batman Begins Scarecrow" which is the safest yet scariest costume for little lads.

For little girls, the most popular Halloween costumes would be the "Grecian Princess" which make the little girls look like pretty Grecian goddesses; the "Pretty Princess Witch" which involves a friendly yet colorful witch Halloween outfit; the "Pirate Lass" which can be a little edgy but comfortable and cool to look at; the "Woodland Fairy" which is a safe yet amazing fantasy costume; and the "Can Can Dancer" which is fun and pretty to look at once worn by little girls.

For deciding what will you be sewing and the costume design, you can now proceed to looking for fabrics that will fit it. Since it will be clothing for kids, the most common fabrics used are made of cotton because this is hypoallergenic, strong, and easy to work on compared to other types of fabrics. But, you may also opt for other synthetic fabric types for curtains and mates such as wool, silk, satin, and others depending on the type of clothes or items you will be sewing.

The next step in sewing Halloween costumes for kids would be choosing patterns for your sewing project. Sewing patterns usually are composed of simple sheets papers that are marked with specific measurements to achieve the proper size and fit for the one who will be using it. After getting everything mentioned, you can now start sewing the Halloween costume for your beloved little one.

Halloween Adult Style

Who says wearing costumes during Halloween are just for kids. Modern celebration of Halloween includes Halloween parties that cater to the adult group. These parties are wild to say the least and definitely are not for children. The commercial market has jumped on this bandwagon (or was it they that created it?) and came up with Halloween costume for adults which is being patronized during this time of the year.

If we traced back the origin of Halloween, we will see that it has its roots on the practice of ancient Celtic culture of villagers donning masks and wearing macabre costumes during the 31st of October to scare the spirits of the dead which they believe are searching for people so posses.

Then when we became more civilized, wearing masks became a practice in masquerade balls held in the kings’ and queens’ courts. Hiding their appearances with often intricate, feather masks seem to be a noble tradition back then.

Then we move towards the modern times. Determining when exactly the practice of adults wearing Halloween costumes began may not be possible at this point but it has become an accepted practice and in fact has become a tradition in itself.

With regards to adult costumes, the level needs to be increased a little from children costumes. Imagine yourself with a white bed sheet draped over you head. Although, that can be quite funny among your group of friends but in parties that may not be such a great idea. Unless of course, you want to remain hidden and unnoticed during parties. But the point of the party is to socialize so if you’re going like a big ghost then better not go at all.

Be creative. If you’re going to make your own costumes there are a number of websites on the internet that gives suggestions and even guide you in how to make your own. If you can afford it, which you should since I assume you’re employed and making some money, you can rent a good costume. Buying one can be truly unnecessary unless you intend to use it the years to come.

A sexy Halloween costume is another story. There are a number of shops that sell these. Online stores also have these on their catalogues. You an actually see a whole catalogue dedicated for this kind of fashion wear.

Whether we like it or not, for some adults, Halloween costumes have become more of a fashion statement rather than a celebration of the event. I can’t say I agree with their philosophy but its best to let them be as long as they don’t bother me, I’m okay with it.

Adult Halloween parties often involve dancing, drinking and socializing. With this in mind, you might want to consider a costume that will not hinder your movements. A robot costume can be a sight to see but if you’re going to wear one, be prepared to ask someone to pour you a drink or even put the drink in your mouth.

Modern Halloween has become a fun event for kids and adults alike. Wearing costumes is now an accepted practice among adults and Halloween parties catering to the above 18 age group have become quite popular. Halloween costumes, adult-style is already an accepted norm and in a way have become tradition in itself.  Today, adults have something to look forward to during Halloween and I mean not trick-or-treating.

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Plus, the kids have also got a massive range of cheap Halloween costumes to choose from. Most of the adult costumes are available as kids' editions, and more besides! Kids might love Power Rangters costumes or G.I,. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra Halloween costumes as well as the usual fairies, ghouls and goblins! So check out what's available right now at Buycostumes and take advantage of the same day shipping offer!

How To Make Fake Blood

Come on, what's a great Halloween outfit without some great fake blood? We've all seen endless horror films filled with blood spraying in all directions, but when you're not on a picture shoot, how can you make great looking, cheap fake blood for your own use at Halloween parties? Here are some strategies on making practical looking fake blood that's safe for use by all ages. Just be warned- fake blood can stain!

The fake blood recipe here is excellent for using as a part of a Halloween costume or make-up effect, but due to its viscous and sloppy nature, great care must be brought to ensure that everything in the house doesn't get covered in fake blood! Before you make any fake blood, first you have to set up a well-covered work space on a level surface. Lay down some old newspaper or similar covering to make sure you catch any splashes while making your gore.

The most simple method of going about making fake blood for Halloween outfits is by combining corn syrup along with red food colouring. When gently mixed together, putting in more of the colouring as you go along, this makes for a particularly believable fake blood without a great amount of fuss. Add in a bit of black food colouring, or even blue, to add an extra hue of fact to the batch of fake blood you are creating.

A somewhat more sophisticated version of this particular fake blood recipe is to put in a thickener, eg a quantity of flour or a similar safe substance. Keep stirring until the required consistency is achieved. Beware, this may cause some blobs to be made, but these lumps are simply taken out.

A higher level of fake blood and gore can be achieved by including wadded up kitchen paper towels or toilet roll to the mix. Simply add a couple, and while you mix the softened paper matter into your fake blood mixture, it will then make all manner of gory looking globs and lengths of nastiness that are sure to look wonderful as part of your Halloween outfit. Just remember when making your fake blood- keep safe and clean, and ensure that you take relevant steps to keep your home clean and tidy while you make your fake blood and gore for the ultimate in Halloween horror!

Five Great Family Halloween Movies

There are countless films out there that would make perfect Halloween entertainment for you and your friends at a Halloween party, but what should you choose from all of those titles for a family Halloween party? Here are five suggestions for a fun Halloween party that all the family can enjoy.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The classic animated feature film from the dream team of Tim Burton and Henry Selick is a work of genius that has become a cult phenomenon with fans young and old. With just the right amount of fun and scares, it is a musical delight and one of the most memorable animated films of all time. Jack Skellington, Sally and all of the other characters will enchant you and your family over and over again.

Coraline

From Henry Selick, the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, comes this fantastic adaptation of Neil Gaiman's famous children's novel. Following the young heroine Coraline Jones as she discovers the delights and horrors of an alternate dimension where everyday things can become terrifying, this is a perfect family Halloween movie, but may be a little scary for smaller children (and some adults!)

James And The Giant Peach

Henry Selick also directed this animated masterpiece, which was adapted from a book by the legendary Roald Dahl. While not particularly Halloween themed, the eerie visuals and the magical storytelling and characterization make it ideal for the family to enjoy together. Family Halloween movies don't all have to be about spooks!

Corpse Bride

Tim Burton and Mike Johnson brought the world this dark and twisted fairy tale which enchanted fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Much darker and more creepy than that previous film, this one follows a young man named Victor as he accidentally falls into the nether world and is courted by a dead bride who wants his hand in marriage! Stylish and fun, this would make great Halloween a great family Halloween movie.

Harry Potter movies

The Harry Potter films, adapted from the mega-selling novels by JK Rowling, are a big favourrite with kids the whole year round, but they also give the whole family something to enjoy. For the perfect Halloween experience with the Harry Potter films, try out the third film, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, or the fourth film, Harry Potter And The Goblet If Fire, for excitement and laughs that will really make the Halloween fun go well.

These are just five of the great family Halloween movies that are out there to enjoy. We hope these tips help you have the best Halloween yet!

Great Halloween Costumes For Couples

Are you heading to a Halloween party this year with your significant other? haven't decided on your costumes yet? Fear not. Have you considered going along in costumes that complement each other? Great Halloween costumes for couples are available at all good Halloween retailers, and if you can;t find the ones you;re after, you could always make your own!

The first idea for great Halloween costumes for couples would be, naturally, vampires. A couple would make a superb impact on arriving at a Halloween party both dressed as sexy vampires. I'm not talking about Buffy and Twilight style vampires- I'm talking about full on Dracula style vamps of the old-school variety. These iconic creatures of the night are perfect Halloween characters to dress up as. There are great male and female vampire costumes available, including the outfit, fangs and makeup, or you can use dark, sexy clothes and add an easily made cape. The fangs and pale, deathly makeup are an essential though.

Another idea for great Halloween costumes for couples would be looking to favourite spooky movies for inspiration. Think about it. There are some iconic pairings in horror films and thrillers that would make superb Halloween costumes. How about Herman and Lily Munster? The Addams family? Jack and Sally from A Nightmare Before Christmas? Victor and the Corpse Bride from Tim Burton's other masterpiece, Corpse Bride?

One of you could go as Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th movies or Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street or even Micheal Myers from the Halloween series. Then, your partner could go as a victim of those characters, with tell-tale 'wounds' applied and torn clothing, all of which can be achieved cheaply with second hand clothes and stage blood along with a little makeup latex.

The important thing to think about when considering great Halloween costumes for couples is that the two of you should have as much fun as possible. remember, you could also go in other themed outfits such as Navy uniforms, Military uniforms and any number of other ideas. Have a blast!

Halloween Party Supplies

Now that the Halloween season is upon us, everyone dressing in their own funny Halloween costume ideas, it’s time to bring out those Halloween party supplies to make your haunted house come alive. With costumed little children rounding the corner, you want to make sure that your house stands out in their minds for years to come. Any one can put up some lights and a few fake spider webs, but you want that special quality, the one that the children see in the early evening light and think of scary stories. However, you don’t want to give them bad dreams.  With the older kids and adults coming around late at night, or your party guests arriving after nightfall, you want the chill and thrills of a true haunted house. So, you will need to find the balance between these.

You need to get your Halloween party supplies together to fit in with your special party theme and funny Halloween costumes. You need more than just the everyday ones. You want those special ones. The ones that show you put a lot of thought into your party and into the decorations of your haunted house. One thing you should have a lot of is dry ice. This is easy to get if you can contact a grocery store, or ice plant, a week or two in advance. Set up a time to pick it up, and get quite a lot of it. It melts fast at room temperature, and even faster in water. You want it to last a decent amount of time.

Another one of the traditional Halloween party supplies you should get ahead of time is fake webbing. This can be found at most stores that have Halloween decorations on display. They are reasonably cheap, and you need quite a lot to make it feel like an old abandoned house. You should also think about getting a fog machine and some fogger liquid, if you can't find any dry ice. Or get it along with the dry ice, and only put the dry ice in the punch bowl for added affect.

Food and treats should also be on your list of Halloween party supplies. Things like skinless grapes are always fun if you put them in a bowl with a cover and make your guests reach through this to get to them. This feels like reaching into a bowl of eyeballs. You can make what ever kind of punch you want. Color it with food coloring to make it green, and add some ice cream to give it a thicker consistency. Serve it as witches brew to your guests.

If you have a long list give yourself plenty of time to get it all set up and ready. You can also enlist the help of other members of the family and friends to make sure you don't end up doing all the work. Once your Halloween party supplies are set up the way you want it is sure your Halloween costume party all that more memorable.