So, you’re planning a Mardi Gras costume and mask party. If you haven’t decided on a theme it’s okay. Mardi Gras is theme enough.

Invitations? Check. Creole and Cajun inspired food stuffs? Check. King cake? Check. Affordable rum for the traditional French Quarter Hurricane? Check. Zydeco compilation CDs? Check. Cheap beads and all the purple, green, and gold decorations you could ever want? Check. That’s people, food, drink, music, and decor ready to get the good times rolling. There’s only one thing left to worry about: masks. (more…)

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In honor of season two of Being Human, I found a fantastic werewolf tutorial for you. I’ve previously mentioned how much I love George. No one can play a wolf like Russell Tovey can. Perfect. But I digress!

Miss Monster has outdone herself. Check out her how-to build a werewolf costume on Instructables.com. She’s a talented artist. Wow. Just wow.

I encourage you to bookmark instructables.com.

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It’s a tradition for many of my generation to gather round the television and watch A Christmas Story. We were young and not yet stuck on Gizmo when it debuted. The movie gave us the Leg Lamp, frozen tongues, and soapy mouths. We would wake up every Christmas morning and be glad when Ralphie’s fate was not our own. As adults, we kinda sorta want the snuggly, warm, bunny pajamas. We’re not proud anymore, no dignity to preserve….give us a giant pink onesie with a tail!

Our Christmas wishes have been granted. Over at Instructables, Seamster has written a great how-to for adult bunny sleepwear. Thank you, Seamster.

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I whipped up a Turkey costume to wear this year to Thanksgiving dinner. No sewing, of course. I used craft items on hand like duct tape, craft sticks, glue, and remnant fabric. I used pinking shear to camouflage any mis-cuts or wobbly lines. From start to finish was less than four hours of work. The next problem was figuring out what my turkey costume would look like. I decided on a tail, little wings, and a beak. With this combo, I can wear the turkey with any clothing I like and it can fit anyone becasue I attach each piece using ribbon or string.

First I made a the tail frame. I arranged the craft sticks in a fan pattern. The height is around two feet give or take a few inches ( I didn’t measure one bit.) Once I was happy with the pattern I used duct tape to connect the sticks. Flip the tail and cover with another layer of duct tape.

Next, I spent some time cutting the fabric scraps into shapes. I made some large feathers out of orange. Cut double the feathers so you can have feathers extend above the tail and cover any sticks you use. I cut one big piece of brown material. Remember to make a front and back for the brown base to cover the frame. I cut one smaller black piece and one sorta beige stripe. I also added some reddish color just because I thought the orange and brown were too boring.

Next I just glued everything in place. You can use hot glue, fabric glue, or even white glue. It all depends on how quickly you’d like to put on your costume. Lay out the brown, place the frame, next piece of brown, and then arrange all the other feather bits. I used some leftover brown for wings. Simply fold the brown over your arm to create a sleeve-like covering. Once each piece is ready, use a hole punch to attach your ribbon or string. My tail ties on like a belt.

Lastly, you need a beak. I found some old yellow fun foam and cut it into a triangle. Then I glued a long wiggly red piece across it’s bridge. When I tie it on my face i looks like that gobbler thingymajig.

I hope you got some ideas from this costume. You can make a duct frame for all sorts of costumes. Have fun!

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I asked around at work for ideas. I received two good suggestions from my coworkers. The first up is zombie.

This one is almost overdone, but it’s still soooo good when anyone puts in the effort. Luckily, the effort can be cheap! Gather your old clothes, perhaps the ones you use when you clean or work in the garage. Old nice clothes are better—you did just rise from the grave after all. But any will do.

This is important: damage the clothes. Really. Tear them, cut them, cover them in mud, whatever you like. Put them on. Mess up your hair. And prepare to zombify yourself. Shazam!

That’s me over there looking oh so nasty in the picture. I didn’t use a single bit of professional or stage makeup to achieve this look. No prostheses. First I attach puffs of cotton to my face for the wounds**. Next I applied purple and blue eyeshadow around the eyes, sores, and mouth. I added some blue pencil around the eyes for fun. You can’t really tell, but there is some very pale foundation and orange eyeshadow dabbed around the face to even out the blues. The seeping blood is good ol’ gooey red lipgloss.

I added the floppy skin at the last second just to see if I could. It’s foundation covered toilet paper. Glued it in place with the spirit gum**. Cool, huh? You don’t have to buy anything new…unless your a bachelor who doesn’t cross dress….which may be a few of you. *wink* Don’t fuss too much. Quick and dirty as they say.

You can pick up some stage blood at the costume store for your clothes and face. Or you can make your own blood at home.

Blurgh!

**I used spirit gum. Do not use spirit gum if you have sensitive skin. I suggest purchasing remover when you buy the spirit gum. Failing that, use rubbing alcohol, baby oil, or cold cream. Spirit gum sticks well and all day through sweat. Or you can opt to use eyelash adhesive or even standard white glue (school glue that is non-toxic like Elmer’s).

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This spring I fell for Whedon’s latest show Dollhouse. It started a little shaky but strengthened considerably by the end of the season. Several of my online/convention buddies are planning to dress as dolls and ManWithPez will be a handler. What shall I do?

I picked one of my favorite characters, Dr. Saunders. She is played by the magnificent Amy Acker. Dr. Saunders was attacked left with facial scars. Here is my attempt at recreating the scars. You’ll see a few differences in some of them but that’s because I was testing different techniques.

I used spirit gum, wax, maroon eyeshadow, black eyeliner, lip liner, red lipstick, and base makeup. I used the lip line to pencil in where the scars should go. Next I dabbed on the spirit gum on one line. As it was getting tacky, I rolled the wax into a worm shape and then pressed it onto the gummy line (the wax might stick to your fingers, that’s okay). I did this one scar at a time. Stipple on the eyeshadow. Draw the eyeliner down the middle of the scars and dab off excess. Repeat this step with the lipstick. Dab some more. Blend a little with your base color. Set with powder to lessen the tacky feeling. Voila.

I need a lab coat and a new wig. So, what do you think?

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