Blood is an important part of a gruesome Halloween costume. Some opt for simple lipstick makeup, or they just smear ketchup all over their clothes. While these are good choices, they can be unrealistic. Since you want to go all-out on your costume, why not make realistic-looking fake blood instead? Here’s an easy fake blood recipe you can try.

You’ll need:

• 1/3 cup of water
• 2/3 cup of corn syrup
• Five tablespoons of cornstarch
• Two to three drops of green food coloring
• Three to five teaspoons of red food coloring
• A drop of peppermint extract

Here’s what to do:

1. Mix the water and the cornstarch thoroughly.
2. Add the corn syrup and mix well again.
3. Add three teaspoons of red food coloring first, then add two drops of green food coloring. This will take the “pink” edge from the red coloring.
4. If you think the mixture is two light, add one or two teaspoons of red food coloring again. If it becomes too pink, add a drop of green coloring.
5. Add the peppermint extract to make the blood mixture minty.

You can use this fake blood as a makeup. It’s edible, so don’t worry about swallowing it.

It’s great if you want to include your pet during a costume party. It’ll make your guests coo in delight. Even so, you need to think about your pet’s safety. Dogs and cats easily become irritated while wearing costumes and no matter how cute they look, they can become violent if they can’t stand it anymore.

Remember these guidelines when dressing up your pet in a costume:

• Get a costume that’s very minimal. It’s safer and it costs less.
• Keep the costume on the pet for just a short time, like a few hours or so.
• See to it that the costume isn’t too tight or too long. It shouldn’t constrict the pet’s movement.
• As much as possible, find a costume that doesn’t have to be slipped over the pet’s head. If it has to be, make sure the costume’s neck is large enough to slip comfortably.
• The costume shouldn’t hinder the pet’s hearing, vision or breathing.
• Remove costume parts your pet can chew off. He or she might choke on it.

Your pet should not only be cute, but also comfy while wearing his or her costume, so make sure you follow these tips, so he or she will be happy throughout the celebration.

They’re the students who always recite during calculus class, enters Science Fairs, and carries loads of books and notes everyday. They never miss an algebra lesson, and they join the chess club. After school, they run home to their PCs, surf the web, and read up on UFO and Alien updates. People label them as geeks or nerds, sometimes even laughed at because of their weird attitude and beliefs. Even so, who says geeks are no fun? Many people even imitate how they dress during costume parties!

Dressing up as a nerd is a popular fad nowadays. It’s a strange but fun costume choice, because it’s simple, but easily distinguishable.

The simplest geek costume idea consists of high-waist pants, a tucked in polo shirt, white socks, black shoes, a bowtie or necktie, and large black framed glasses. Add some fake braces, and you’re all set.

There are other fun geek costume ideas you can turn to, such as:

• Search Engine Costume: Get some pants and a crochet top, and wear a type of netting cloth over them. Then, attach many bits and pieces of paper on the netting, with popular keywords or URL and website addresses on them. You can also attach logos and signs of famous websites.
• Computer Costume: Geeks love anything computer-related, so why not make a computer costume? Get a large cardboard box and then paint a computer screen on it. Then, take another cardboard, paint a keyboard on it and then attach it to your waist. Carry a large cardboard mouse in one hand.
• Sexy Geek: This is for girls who want to look nerdy, but seductive. Get a short pleated skirt, and a button down shirt. Open the shirt so you can show enough cleavage. Pair it off with black shoes, knee-high white socks and large black framed glasses.

Experience being a nerd with these simple costume ideas. Being geeky has never been this fun before!

Who’s the most famous detective of all time? Elementary, dear Watson! He’s none other than Sherlock Holmes. One of the most widely portrayed fictional character, he was created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle during the late 19th century. With his knowledge and fantastic deduction skills, this English detective solves difficult cases, one after the other.

Many people adore Sherlock Holmes, children and adults alike. It’s no wonder his trademark outfit has become one of the most popular costumes today. If boys want to dress “smartly” during costume parties, they’ll often pick Sherlock Holmes’ getup. It’s a simple, but very recognizable costume.

If you don’t want the hassle of putting together the Sherlock Holmes look, you can easily buy or rent one at a costume store. If you want don’t want to spend any money, then you should opt for a homemade costume.

• Sherlock’s upper garment consists of a brown long-sleeved button down coat. If you can’t sew and imitate his exact coat, you can just find an old trenchcoat and dye it brown.
• Pair off the coat with brown slacks, black socks and leather shoes.
• Sherlock’s hat is unique—it’s a deerstalker cap, used for hunting and worn by rural folks. It looks like a typical hat, but with two flexible side flaps and fore and aft brims. Sherlock’s has a checkered pattern or just a plain brown color.
• To complete the look, get a tobacco pipe and a large magnifying glass. Sherlock always has these in his hands while solving cases.

Once you’ve got all these, you’re all set to play detective during the costume party. Impress others with this Sherlock Holmes ensemble. Who knows, maybe you might even solve a few cases along the way!

Many people are very particular and fussy when they’re dressing up for a costume party. For them, it’s not only a time of fun, but also an opportunity to “show off” the costumes they prepared. They really dress to impress.

Even their “costume eyes” are all set for the party. What they do is wear costume contact lenses.

The great thing about costume contact is they come in different varieties to suit numerous kinds of costume. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that the werewolf costume you’ve prepared has contact lenses to match it, or that there are yellow contacts to complement your Cat costume. Whether it’s gruesome and horrific or sweet and adorable, there’s a pair of costume contact lenses that’ll go well with your getup.

Don’t worry about contact lenses hurting your eye or blurring your vision. Most of them don’t come with any prescription, so your eyesight won’t be affected.

It’s best to pick out costume contacts from reliable manufacturers. Here are two popular brands you can opt for:

• Wild Eyes by Ciba vision – You can get contact kinds such as Red hot, Ice fire, hypnotica, alien and many more.
• Crazy Lenses by Cooper Vision – popular lenses include Bloodshot, Whiteout, and the black, red and spiral kind.

Compared to custom-painted contacts, these brands are more affordable, costing as low as 40 dollars for a pair. Custom-painted ones could cost you several hundred dollars and they should be ordered a few weeks in advance.

If you really want to enhance your costume, go and get a pair of costume contact lenses. Other people will be impress and astounded by your getup—just by looking in your eyes!

People love wearing costumes during parties, or on holidays such as Halloween, but don’t you think it’ll be great if your furry little friend were to join in the fun? Just imagine—your little chihuahua or your tubby cat dressed up as a superhero or an angel! It’ll not only impress and make other people coo in delight, but it’ll also let your pet “feel” as if he or she is part of the celebration.

The wonderful thing about dressing up your pet in a costume is you’ll have tons of resources. In fact, there are costume stores and pet shops that sell ensembles that’ll suit your pet well. Whether you’re looking for the usual angel or devil costume, cutesy cartoon characters or futuristic and superhero getups, you’re sure to find something to suit your furry friend.

The only drawback of getting these ready-made pet costumes is they can be costly. You might find that even the simplest outfits can cost you a bundle. If you’re worried about going out of your budget for these pet clothings, you can just improvise.

For example, if you’re planning a cowboy outfit for your dog, just find a bandanna and wrap it around his neck. Then, find an old kiddie cowboy hat or just make one from cardboard and some felt paper. Add a makeshift holster and a toy gun to complete his look.

It just takes a bit of imagination to put together a costume for your pet! So go ahead and dress him or her up in a fun and adorable ensemble!

If your daughter loves watching kiddie shows, then she must be a fan of the smart and adorable Dora the Explorer. With her trusty backpack and monkey best friend Boots, she bravely ventures out to “travel and learn fascinating things about her environment. Dora is so cute, which is why it’s not surprising that your daughter wants to dress up as her during the next costume party she goes to.

The great thing about Dora’s costume is it’s not hard to put together. You don’t need to rush off to any costume store to buy one. Here are tips on how you can easily make a Dora the Explorer costume for your tot.

• Dora’s shirt is a simple pink one. Find a pink plan one with a rounded collar and short sleeves. You can easily get this at any children’s store.
• The pants she wears are orange, with tiny frills at the edges. Simply get an orange sweat pants and cut them off up to the child’s knee. For the frills, cut a wavy design around the edges of the pants.
• Dora’s shoes are plain white. Actually, any pair will do, but if you want to be very detail-specific, you can buy new ones or borrow from your daughter’s friends. Get yellow frilly socks to match the shoes.
• Another distinguishing thing about Dora is her wide, brown bob-cut hair. If your daughter already sports this hairstyle, you don’t have any worries, but if you want to “exaggerate” her Dora look, buy her a wig. If it’s too costly for you, buy a mop top, then dye it a dark brown color. Use clips and hair pins to keep the hair in place.
• Dora’s bracelet is beaded, with a yellow flower in the center. Replicate it the fun way, by using candy bracelets. After the costume party, your child can eat up this yummy and sweet jewelry!
• Dora’s getup will not be complete without her trusty backpack! Get one, and glue eyes and mouth made from construction paper on it. Then fill up the bag with games, toys, and things your little Dora will use for her adventure.
• Lastly, get a stuffed toy monkey that your child can carry around as her trusty friend, Boots.

Dora the Explorer is a fun character your child can dress up in. Use these easy ideas, and prepare a costume your girl will definitely enjoy!

Don’t you just love fairytales? They were stories you listened to as a little girl, and you probably have your own female fairytale idol back then. Most girls would want to be princesses like Cinderellas, Sleeping Beauty or Snow White. When you think about these, it can be a nostalgic feeling. Well, if you really like them, why don’t you dress up as a pretty fairytale character during your next costume party? It’s a great idea!

Of course, the usual princessy fairy tale you grew up with would look cheesy and out of place if you’re all grown up already. The best you can do is find sexy fairytale costumes. Not only will you get to feel nostalgic about your childhood days, but you also get to allure the men!

Here are some sexy fairytale costume ideas you can put together. See which one fits your taste.

• Tinkerbell – Who can forget Peter Pan’s tiny sidekick? Tink’s sexy and adorable costume will certainly entice and impress other people! Just find a short, green or yellow-green tube dress, with the edges cut in pointed shapes. Then, get a pair of fairy wings. Complete the ensemble with a fairy wand and some glittery stockings. Add some glittery makeup, and you’re all set!

• Jasmine – Aladdin’s sweetheart always looks alluring and seductive in her Arabic belly dancer-like outfit. It’s easy to make this costume. First, find a light blue or green blouse that hangs only up to the midriff and with sleeves that fall down over the shoulders. Pair it off with billowy pants, made from a soft fabric. You can add beads and sequins to the outfit. Then, tie your hair back. Complete the outfit with a pair of closed, pointed-toe shoes.

• Ariel, The Little Mermaid – She’s probably the most enchanting underwater creature in all the seven seas. With her strong spirit and her love for Prince Eric, Ariel has captivated the hearts of young girls around the world. You can also wear her costume. A purple bikini would suffice for the top. If you can find shell-shaped ones, then that will be lovely. Pair it off with a green tail. You can find one at a costume store, or you can make one yourself by using a pencil cut, ankle-length skirt. Then, let your hair freely flow down your shoulders.

• Pocahontas – Pocahontas’ costume is simple. All you need is a short light brown dress with a Venus-cut neckline. Add hanging trimmings on the edges of the dress. There’s no need for footwear, since Pocahontas walks around barefoot, but if you don’t want your feet to get dirty, just wear flat brown shoes. Another additional accessory you can get is Pocahontas’ blue necklace, the “heirloom” from her mother.

• Alice In Wonderland – Yes, Alice is a pretty conservative fairytale character, but you can add a sexy twist to her outfit. Get a short, light blue dress with puffed sleeves, a low neckline and a billowy skirt. Then, add a mini-apron to it. Wear a black ribboned headband, hnee-high socks and a pair of high-heeled Mary Janes.

Fairytale characters have never been this seductive and daring! Try out these sexy costume ideas, and you’ll certainly catch everyone’s eye!

Movie villains. They’re cruel, lethal, and they beat the hell out of the good guys—but no matter what horrible antics they do, we still like them! There’s something unforgettable and enticing about these fictional characters. Some people even like them over the protagonists! Well, since you’re crazy about these villains, why not dress up as one of them for a costume party? It’ll be a fun deviation from the usual cutesy and hilarious costumes you wear.

The good thing about movie villains is there are lots of options to choose from. You can decide whether you want to get an extravagant one or just stick to a plain and simple attire. If you don’t have much budget, you can find materials from around the home, and create a costume from them. There are also some villain costumes which you can buy ready-made, so you won’t have a difficult time putting one together.

Here are some easy, but great villain costume ideas. Check them out, and see which one would suit you best!

• Emperor Palpatine- Aside from Darth Vader, he’s the other cunning villain in the Star Wars movie series, known to start numerous conflicts and battles in the galaxy. Get a hooded, long-sleeved black robe that trials on the ground and some dark shoes. Then, get some white makeup, and paint it all over your face, including your lips. Then, use an eyeliner and draw creases all over your face. Always keep your hood on to cover your face.
• The Joker- Who doesn’t know this sinister character? Known as the archenemy of Batman, the Joker is one evil character with lots of nasty tricks up his sleeve. Throw together his ensemble by getting a purple overcoat or suit, plain black pants and white gloves. Then, paint your face white and put on some black eyeliner and lipstick. Don’t forget the evil laugh!
• Agent Smith- One of the nastiest villains in science flicks. With his cunning mind and “never day die” attitude, he surely caught the attention of Matrix fans everywhere. Get a black suit, complete with a dark-colored tie, and black shoes. Then slick your hair back with some hair gel, and wear a dark pair of shades. Carry around a fake gun.
• Jason Voorhees- Get the girls screaming (with fright, that is) with this party costume! The main serial killer in the Friday The 13th movies, he’s one of the creepiest, most lethal (but fictional) serial killers we all know. Just get a pair of dark trousers, a worn out brown jacket, and a hockey mask. Carry around a fake knife for extra effect.

Villains are evil and annoying all right, but dressing up as them is still fun! Try these simple villain ideas, and have a great time at any costume party!

Parties are absolutely wonderful, but you sometimes find yourself getting tired of going all by yourself, preparing (and spending) for your costume with no one to share it with. Well, instead of dressing up in a typical individual costume, why not grab a buddy and go to party as a couple? Whether it’s your significant other, your best friend or sibling, you can make any costume party twice the fun!

Of course, if you’re going with someone to a costume party, you need to come up with getups that will impress and catch everyone’s attention. No, the costumes don’t have to look alike. All that’s important is they go together.

You certainly won’t run out of costume for couples ideas. There are tons of fun options you can turn to. For example, you can go classy and dress up as the star crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, or Leonardo the Vinci and his Mona Lisa. You can also be wacky, and be Peanut Butter and Jelly or Shrek and Fiona.

Other examples of fun and popular choices would be:

• Jack Skellington and Sally- Relive the nightmare before Christmas with this creepy but cute couple’s costume idea.
• Police and convict- For a more “action-packed” twosome, this’ll be a great choice. Don’t forget the handcuffs!
• Aladdin and Jasmine- Get ready to embark on a magic carpet ride with this fun and sexy Arabian couple costume!
• Vampire and victim- This will remind you of all those Dracula movies you used to watch. Make sure you have the “fangs” and the “blood”!
• Adam and Eve- A sexy costume idea! Just make sure you both feel comfortable having twigs and leaves covering your body, though.
• Bee and flower- A couple costume that’s more appropriate for kiddies. It’s a very adorable and colorful idea they’ll love!

Whatever the costume you pick, make sure on two aspects: First, that the costume is easily recognizable and people would know it at a glance. If you two dress up in Egyptian attires, would everyone know you’re supposed to be Ramses and Nefertari? If they don’t recognize you, maybe you should add accessories that’ll make you more recognizable. Second, both of you should agree with the costumes. For example, what’s the point of dressing up as King Kong and Ann Darrow, if your partner doesn’t want to be in a stuffy King Kong costume?

Don’t be “singled out” during a fun costume party. Go with someone and be a twosome! You’ll get to wear a fabulous outfit, have fun, while having someone by your side all the time!