Make Your Own Costumes, Masks and Face Paint
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Fancy Dress Fun for Halloween, Mardi Gras, Playtime, Carnival or Costume Parties
It's easy and inexpensive to make your own costumes and home made face paint makeup. Make Halloween and dress up costumes for kids or costumes for adults using materials you probably have on hand in your cupboards and closets, or even stuff from the recycle bin.
Kids (and adults) love costume play, fancy dress, masks and face painting, especially during Halloween or Mardi Gras.Sandwich board costumes are crafty and inexpensive. Using clean cardboard boxes, poster paints, string and fabric scraps you can make quick and easy costumes that are "green," fun to create and definitely unique.
Twilight books and movies have vampire and bat costumes flying from the costume stores. You can create your own Vampire costume with exotiic costume accessories like dripping blood fangs, purple vampire eyeglasses, or long black capes and gloves.
Last Minute Costumes - dozens of ideas for low-cost creative costumes you can make in little or no time (last minute costumes for kids AND adults).
Tiger face paint graphic based on a photo by jade at morguefile.com
Groovy Goggles Party Masks for Kids
Fun Funky Eyeglasses Face Masks
Funny and lots of fun to make Groovy Goggles holiday party masks with eyeglasses in cool funky shapes - heart shaped glasses, star shaped eyeglasses, shamrock eyeglasses and lots more! Print, cut and assemble party paper crafts.
Cardboard Costumes - Easy, Green, Crafty
Cardboard Panels with Shoulder Straps Make a Fast Crafty Costume
"Sandwich" board costumes are simple to make and easy to wear. You make 2 panels, a front and a back, and then attach them at the top to make shoulder straps. Add another set of strap ties at the waistline to hold together, and you're good to go.One year my older daughter was a Jack O Lantern. We made the front and back from cardboard box panels, painted them orange and added the face features. She wore a green hat, jacket and pants.
Another Halloween my younger daughter wanted to be a rainbow. We drew and painted the rainbow front and back, then made a tie-on headband mask to frame her face with the sun's rays. She wore sky blue clothing for the rest of her costume.
More Prize Winning Costume Ideas for DIY Masquerade Costumes
Pac Man Costume Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tourist_on_earth/ / CC BY 2.0
Mr Cheerful Paper Costume Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tourist_on_earth/ / CC BY 2.0
Fire Engine and Fire Fighter Costume - Home made cardboard box fire truck with lights!
How to Make a Simple Cardboard Costume
Made with recycled cardboard from large boxes or craft foam sheets
Here are the basic instructions for making a simple cardboard costumes at home:
Materials
* Large, clean corrugated boxes or craft foam sheets
Use old moving or furniture shipping boxes, or buy new flat boxes from department stores or moving storage companies.
* Permanent Broad Tip Marker
* Poster Paints
* Sturdy Twine, 1-inch Ribbon, or Braided Cord
Directions
1. Cut boxes apart to make 2 large flat panels.
2. Draw a basic design shape on the front panel and cut out using a craft knife or heavy duty scissors.
3. Trace the front onto another cardboard panel to make the back and cut out the back panel. (I like to mark FRONT and BACK on the inside of each panel with pencil to avoid confusion.)
4. On the outside of each panel, outline main design areas with the marker, then paint inside the lines as desired. If you cover the lines, just paint them in with black later if you need them.
5. Allow paint to dry thoroughly, then make a pencil mark at the top center of each panel on the back side.
Making the Shoulder Straps
1. Using the center pencil mark and side edges as guides, mark a small hole for each shoulder strap at the top edge of the front panel. Position the marks about 1 inch down, midway between the center mark and each side edge.
2. Check that the marks are roughly in the middle of wearer's shoulders. Adjust position if necessary, then punch or cut out 2 small holes on the front panel.
3. Lay the back panel underneath the front panel with painted sides facing out. Make a pencil mark through the hole in the front panel to the back panel.
4. Using guide marks, cut or punch the 2 holes in the back panel.
5. Cut 2 pieces of twine 24 inches long. Lay the front and back together with painted sides out, unpainted sides together. Starting at the front left edge, thread 1 piece of twine through the front and back and knot ends loosely together. Repeat for the right side.
6. Try costume on wearer; adjust strap lengths and fasten; conceal loose tie ends inside panels in the back.
Making the Waist Band Ties
Have child put on the sandwich with shoulder ties in wearing position. Repeat the shoulder strap steps to mark, cut and tie a pair of waistline ties. Trim excess lengths from ties.
Popular Halloween Costumes for Children
This Year's Most Popular Fancy Dress Costumes for Kids
The huge popularity of the Twilight books and films has vampire costumes for all ages flying off the shelves. Take a look at some of these fabulous vampire costumes and vampire costume accessories we found! Hurry before the supply runs out - most costume stores ship overnight, so you can order right up until the day before Halloween to get your vampire costumes.
Paper Costume Patterns - Vintage!
How to Make Paper Costumes -- Instructions and Illustrations for Over 60 Vintage Costumes
Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 02/13/2012)
Face Painting How-tos and Makeup Tips
- Face Painting Patterns
- Face Painting - how tos and patterns for more than a dozen characters and creatures.
- Face Painting Designs on Squidoo
- Anyone can learn face painting designs with a step by step guide, some easy examples to follow and some time to practice. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can improve your technique.
- How to Face Paint
- Learn how to face paint with our face painting designs blog. Discover face paint designs, video tutorials, face painting ideas, face paints tips, product reviews and articles!
- Caricature Express: Face Paint Pictures
- Interesting Carnival Face Paint Designs, on children and Adults. Very creative, good examples/ideas!
- Simple Skull Face Paint -- Ideal for Kids | Face Paint Heaven
- This easy skeleton face painting design will give you a fun Halloween look. Create it in 6 simple steps, using just 2 colors of face paint.
Face Painting Designs and Instructions
Snazaroo Zoo: Great Faces and Easy Costumes to Bring Out the Animal in You
Amazon Price: $6.50 (as of 02/13/2012)
Kids and adults love the effects you can achieve with face paint, and there's no cumbersome mask over your eyes and nose.
Face Paint and Masquerade Makeup
Home Made Halloween Makeup Recipes
Monster Mash Goop and Other Cool Things-Home Made Make Up
Face makeup for children may irritate skin. You can concoct your own Halloween makeup from simple non-toxic household ingredients.Try these recipes for home made Halloween Makeup and Face Paint.
Aged Grey Hair, White Skin
Apply a bit of hair gel or slick conditioner where you want to make grey hair, then dust on some baby powder. To make a ghostly pale complexion, apply cold cream to skin then carefully dust on pale face powder or baby powder. Be sure to avoid inhaling powder during application - use a small amount of powder and a cotton ball to dab on gently.
Face Paint
1 tsp corn starch
1/2 tsp water
1/2 tsp cold cream
2 drops food coloring as desired
Mix all ingredients together well and apply.
Clown Make-up Base2 tsp white shortening
5 tsp corn starch
1 tsp white all purpose flour
glycerin
Food coloring
Mix shortening, corn starch and flour until well blended. Add a few (3 or 4) drops of glycerin to make creamier texture. Apply to face and neck.
Bloody Mess Goop
16 ounces corn syrup
1 ounce red food coloring
1 or 2 drops blue food coloring
1 ounce water
Evaporated milk (optional)
Mix the water, food coloring and corn syrup together to a sticky syrup. Add the milk, a few drops at a time until you get a "blood" consistency. This makeup will stain clothing and skin, so be sure to use cold cream on skin before applying and don't get it on any clothing you don't want ruined.
Another Bloody Mess
Easy as 1-2-3
Mix chocolate syrup with red food coloring until you get the color you desire. Looks real, tastes great, stains clothing.
Home Made Body Glitter
This recipe for glitter gel is easy and fun for creating glamorous sparkle effects for drama queens, fairy princesses, Tinkerbells, stage drama or just for fun.
Quick Disguises
If you just need a quick mask, you can print and cut out an instant mask, or find one in the Mask and Costume Links.
Professional Monster Makeup Tips for Halloween
Special FX Masters Share Their Secrets
Theatrical FX Makeup
Amazon Price: $27.68 (as of 02/13/2012)
List Price: $35.95
" ...practical, hands-on guide to the art and craft of using makeup to create visual effects worthy of professional theater, film, or television productions. ... adding fifty years to an actor's age to simulating horrific diseases to disguising gender to creating ghastly visages of the undead"
Tattoo Designs and Body Painting
- Henna Patterns - Mehendi - Henna Tattoo Designs
- Professional henna artist designs for hands, feet - wonderful designs to copy and color!
- Pirate Captain Makeup and Accessories - How to
- Pirate Captain - Face Pack Art Craft - Pirate makeup instrucitons.
Make a Costume Without Sewing
The Halloween Handbook: 447 Costumes
Amazon Price: $0.98 (as of 02/13/2012)
This great DIY costume book offers how to instructions for a wide variety of masks, head gear, and costumes, plus includes explanations for making and combining accessories. Step-by-step instructions presented in words and photographs help you make your own costumes, masks and hats from ordinary household tools from materials that are easy to find, collect, or buy.
Costume Safety Tips
Use safe costume materials for dress up and fancy dress
Costumes for outdoors in cool weather should fit around the body loosely over a jacket or sweats.
For the very young, forget the mask and apply a bit of non-toxic makeup or use face paint. (Use the home made face makeup recipes below!)
Use snaps, ties or hook and loop strips to make dressing and undressing easier.
Penguin Face Mask
Printable penguin mask for Halloween or play time dress up
Print and cut Penguin Mask
Masks and Costumes to Make
Masks to print, masks to color, masks to sculpt - costumes from simple to extreme!
- Robot Costume - Free Halloween Costume Pattern and Instructions
- Find out how to make this simple yet creative Halloween costume. Follow these directions submitted by Aline Toussaint and you can dress up as a robot.
- Sew Your Own Baby Costumes
- Free Halloween costume patterns for babies and toddlers. Find step by step tutorials and patterns for baby costumes that you can make yourself!
Felt and Fabric Masks
Soft Masks, Great for Children and Adults
- Twig and Toadstool: Mardi Gras Masks!
- Fabulous fancy felt and feather Mardi Gras masks to make.
- Felt Masks and Disguises | My Disguises - We Love Costumes
- Felt Masks and Disguises for masquerade and cosplay
- Hazelnuts: Child's Felt Mask Pattern and Tutorial
- Easy to make felt masks for kids. Includes resources for patterns and mask templates.
Adult Costumes and Party Supplies
No time to make your own costume? You can buy a cool costume, mask, wig or accessories!
Visit HalloweenMart for Accessories, Kid's Costumes, and even Adult Costumes for Adult Eyes Only! plus they've got a great selection of Couple's Costumes and hard to find items like plus size ladies costumes as well as CDs, Books & Videos for your Halloween party adventure.
Halloween Party Resources
- Print and Play Halloween Party Games
- Games to customize, print and play at your Halloween party.
- Halloween Party Decorations
- Unique Halloween party decorations, favors, props and complete party kits.
- Halloween Party Invites
- Printable party invititations from HP.
- Pumpkin Carving Templates
- Print and carve patterns to make the coolest creepy gourds for your Halloween party.
- Make your own Halloween mask
- Learn how to create a photographic mask - faces, animals - your Dad, or perhaps the cat?
- SCARY Masks - Haunted Paper Toys
- 3-dimensional frightful paper masks to print and assemble.
- Monstrous Books Party Favors
- The fabled Necronomicon, a mysterious book only glimpsed in the darkest of legends. Use for party invites or favors - eeeeek!
- Make a Face Pattern
- Use this Make A Face bag pattern to create a mask instead of a treat bag. Just follow the instructions for making eyes, noses and mouths using paper scraps, then attach them to a sturdy paper plate. Fasten the plate to a wooden craft stick to use as a mask - add eye holes if you wish. You can also use these wacky faces as decorations!
- Printable Halloween Bingo Game for Party or Classroom
- A free printable Halloween bingo game for your Halloween party or classroom.
- HALLOWEEN - Large printable skeleton
- Halloween Party Decoration - large printable skeleton craft to print, cut and paste.
- Dracula and Frankenstein Halloween Shelf Sitters
- Paper Halloween Bobblehead Shelf Sitters Simple to make and only one page to print!
- How to Make a Spooky Skull Pinata
- This quick-drying skeleton head pinata can be made in an afternoon.
- Pirate Party Printables - Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate
- Printable pirate eye patches and pirate party game activity sheets for Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate.
Instant Masks Blog
Masquerade Masks for Adults and Children
The Masquerade Instant Masks blog features easy to make masks for Halloween, Mardi Gras, Carnivale or cosplay, and updates every week all year long.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byMake a Frog Face Mask
Print, cut out, add eye holes and tie straps or elastic strings.
Big Green Bull Frog Printable Full Color or Coloring In Frog Mask
Costume Masks That Kids Can Make
Making Masks (Kids Can Do It)
Amazon Price: $2.81 (as of 02/13/2012)
Home made masks are always better than those plastic and rubber monstrosity masks you find in the stores.
Extreme Home Made Costumes and Ideas for DIY Masquerade
Pushing Masquerade Creativity to the Max
SquidBOO! Masquerade Costume and Masks - face makeup, party props, masquerade party themes, very cool DIY costumes and masksIf you like to sew, you can find patterns by all the big sewing publishers: Simplicity Costumes
Need Ideas?- Here's a List of Suggestions for Making Your Own Halloween Costume
TV Set Costume - made from recycled cartons, of course!
Halloween Costume Ideas
Coolest Home Made Costumes - thousands of photos from folks just like you!
Transformers - watch the video!
Super Easy Squid Costume - whip this squid costume up from paper, folders and a couple cds.
10 Adorable Handmade Pixar Costumes for Kids - incredibly cute and creative Pixar character costumes made by hand for children. Lots of soft fleece in these, so they're comfy and warm if it's chilly for Trick or Treat.
DIY Halloween at MAKEzine - ***warning: some really gross but highly creative costume pix at this link***
Costume and Mask Deals on eBay
Owl Face Mask
Whooo are You?
Owls are classic Halloween symbols. So many people think owls are frightening, while others think of owls as wise and friendly If you or your child want to dress up as an owl, here's an easy print and cut mask to wear with your home made costume.
Mask copyright Lee Hansen/ClipArtandCrafts.com, used with permission
I Love to Make Costumes and Masks
Make a Papier Mache Mardi Gras Mask
Shape, mold, paint - it's easy to make a plaster mask
Last Minute Costumes
Instant Masks, Fast Masquerade Ideas
- Prize Winning Original Costume Ideas
- Ideas for prizewinning and cool DIY Halloween costumes to help you win best Halloween costume awards at your masquerade costume party.
- Last-Minute Halloween Costumes
- See what you can make with stuff you have around the house - creative, last minute and frugal costumes.
- Costume Ideas
- Quick and easy costume ideas - Q-tip, bulk email, running nose ... 16 pages of ideas for adult costumes and children's last minute Halloween costumes.
- Last Minute Kids Halloween Costumes
- Find Last Minute Costumes Ideas and other Halloween Costumes your kids will enjoy during the spooky holiday season on FamilyFun.com
- 9 Awesome Last Minute Halloween Costumes You Can Make From Junk
- In celebration of Halloween I have found some innovative last minute fashionable Halloween costumes for those of you still in need of a costume. The best part about it is that you can make these yourself with regular household items.
- Last Minute Halloween Costumes at Squidoo
- It's Halloween night. You're sitting in your recliner, hiding in the shadows from trick-or-treaters. Suddenly, the phone rings. It's your friend, begging you to come out to the bar. Finally, you agree. But what will you wear?If you've found yourself suddenly in need of a Halloween costume, never fea
- craftzine.com: Last Minute Halloween Costumes for Kids
- Get out the craft tools, sewing machine and stuff from around the house to make the kids a last minute prizewinning Halloween costume. Full instructions for making these creative kid costumes: lego block, bee, pirate, money and ... sushi!
- Easy Last-Minute Costume Ideas
- Instead of rushing to the store, try these last-minute costume ideas using old clothes from the closet.
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DIY Halloween Costume Lenses
Tips, Instructions and Patterns for Making Costumes
DIY Costume Videos
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Yoo Hoo, Hey You, Behind the Mask - Say Hello!
Sign the Masks and Costumes Guestbook !
You're invited to leave a comment about Make Your Own Costumes and Masks, suggest a good link to add or just say hello (I know that 's you behind the masquerade mask).
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Close2Art
Nov 11, 2011 @ 9:14 am | delete
- looks like so much fun, great page, blessed!!!...:)rob
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JoshK47
Nov 10, 2011 @ 5:44 pm | delete
- Gotta love doing things yourself - after all, then you get the fun of creating AND wearing it. :)
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LisaAuch
Oct 27, 2011 @ 10:36 am | delete
- You have probably just saved me from hours of pain! last minute halloween costume alert! Here!!!
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Lisa-Marie-Mary
Oct 24, 2011 @ 5:23 pm | delete
- Awesome lens! That frog face mask is totally creepy! LOL!!!
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halloweenprops
Oct 21, 2011 @ 3:24 pm | delete
- Must admit, it would be nice to sit down and actually make a costume. The idea is in my head now!
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JoyfulReviewer
Oct 18, 2011 @ 10:09 am | delete
- Great ideas and information. Thanks for the fun lens!
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JodiFromFlorida
Oct 16, 2011 @ 11:14 pm | delete
- Love your lens!
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Graceonline
Oct 14, 2011 @ 3:20 pm | delete
- I love the idea of making your own face paint. Members of my family are allergic to ingredients in many of the commercial face paints. Thanks for the tips! Love the masks too.
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cashstudent101
Oct 10, 2011 @ 1:27 am | delete
- We used to make paper mache masks when i was a kid using flour, newspapers cut into strips and flour mixed with water as glue. We used a balloon to keep the shape while it was drying. I taught my kids how to make a mask this way. They enjoyed it. good for a creative kid but some kids will get frustrated at how their masks turn out.
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scarlettohairy
Oct 9, 2011 @ 11:46 am | delete
- Great ideas for original costumes.
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mamabush
Oct 1, 2011 @ 10:19 am | delete
- Lots of great ideas...nice lens!
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cffutah
Sep 30, 2011 @ 4:10 pm | delete
- sweet lens!
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333ideas
Sep 30, 2011 @ 3:11 pm | delete
- This is just too cool! I love face painting and making masks with kids! Thanks for sharing this. From 333ideas @ www.squidoo.com.anything-to-save-a-buck
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bakerwoman
Sep 14, 2011 @ 3:54 pm | delete
- Just wondering how you make the printable mask and add to the modules. I have been meaning to try to do this but was not sure how. For example, the penguin mask you have.
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ClaudiaRuiz
Sep 12, 2011 @ 7:00 pm | delete
- I love your lense full of cool ideas
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plrsource
Sep 2, 2011 @ 8:49 am | delete
- nice lens....
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LadyJasmine
Aug 26, 2011 @ 3:14 pm | delete
- Just so you know I enjoyed your lens, so I blessed it and featured it here: http://www.squidoo.com/back-to-school-blessings
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plrsource
Aug 20, 2011 @ 8:55 am | delete
- Love the lens.I have 1 question though.How did you get the Halloween squidboo Header?
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tigrldy20
Aug 16, 2011 @ 8:12 pm | delete
- This is a great site to talk about making your own costume and saving money in these times we are in. Keep up the good work.
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rangiiria
Aug 14, 2011 @ 7:06 pm | delete
- Nice :)
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Quick and Easy No-Sew Costumes
Home Made Last Minute Costumes for Children and Adults
When you suddenly discover you need a costume within a few hours and you have no time or money to shop, you can pull off a creative masterpiece and possibly even devise an award winning costume with one of these home made last minute costumes.
- Last Minute No-Sew Halloween Costumes for Kids
- Last minute costume ideas for kids
- No Shopping Required: Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas
- 8 Killer DIY Last Minute Costumes
- Quick and easy costumes for anyone to create at the last minute
- Quick Halloween Costume Ideas
- Top 10 Totally Lame Last Minute Costumes
- Quick and Easy Kids Masquerade Costumes
- Creative Last Minute Halloween Costumes
Find It Fast-Costume and Mask Topics
Click a link to jump to that section on this page
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- Groovy Goggles Party Masks for Kids
- Cardboard Costumes - Easy, Green, Crafty
- iPod or iPad Costume You Can Make
- How to Make a Simple Cardboard Costume
- Popular Halloween Costumes for Children
- Paper Costume Patterns - Vintage!
- Face Painting How-tos and Makeup Tips
- Face Painting Designs and Instructions
- Face Paint and Masquerade Makeup
- Home Made Halloween Makeup Recipes
- Professional Monster Makeup Tips for Halloween
- Tattoo Designs and Body Painting
- Make a Costume Without Sewing
- Costume Safety Tips
- Penguin Face Mask
- Masks and Costumes to Make
- Felt and Fabric Masks
- Adult Costumes and Party Supplies
- Halloween Party Resources
- Masquerade Costumes & Masks
- Instant Masks Blog
- Make a Frog Face Mask
- Costume Masks That Kids Can Make
- Extreme Home Made Costumes and Ideas for DIY Masquerade
- Costume and Mask Deals on eBay
- Owl Face Mask
- I Love to Make Costumes and Masks
- Make a Papier Mache Mardi Gras Mask
- Last Minute Costumes
- Like This Halloween Costumes Lens?
- Costumes & Dress Up Featured Lenses
- DIY Halloween Costume Lenses
- DIY Costume Videos
- Like What You Found Here?
- Yoo Hoo, Hey You, Behind the Mask - Say Hello!
- Follow Pastiche on Facebook
- Quick and Easy No-Sew Costumes
252-092711
by Pastiche
I'm a mom, grandmother, artist and fan of costumes, masks and sewing. Making costumes is creative fun for me.
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