ROBBER: Wear a Black turtleneck sweater, black pants, and a Black mask.
for added effect, stick a flashlight into your belt, and or a small stuffed, white cloth
bag with a large dollar sign painted on it.

BUNCH OF GRAPES: Wear purple sweatshirt and sweat pants, and pin
purple balloons all over the  sweatshirt! A headband with some twigs attached
for the stem complete the look.

Another Idea for this Submitted by SOOPASTAR19
BAG OF GRAPES:  First make two holes at the bottom of the bag
(these are for your legs). Then two holes on the sides. Don't make
these too close to the bottom, because they are for your arms.
Then turn the bag inside out and glue purple, or green, balloons to the bag.
When you're done  turn it back the way it was. If you do not have enough room,
pop a balloon where  it's too small. Tie a ribbon around your neck like a twist tie.
Put a clear garbage bag around the balloons...Thank You Soopastar for this
neat idea.

BUM: Wear old, ragged clothes, with a robe for a belt. Smear makeup on your
face so that it looks like dirt ( or a three-day growth of beard).

MUMMY: Wrap your arms, legs, body and head in gauze bandages or
long strips of white cloth

GARBAGE: Take a giant garbage bag (black) and step into it,
tying it around your neck.  Put on a bald  cap and super glue a
huge mound of garbage on it (milk jugs, wrappers, macaroni boxes, etc.).
 

GYPSY:  Wear your most peasant like clothes.  Accessorize heavily with
scarves and jewelry.  Wear a handkerchief, beret, or bowler hat. MEN:
Makeup could include mustache, sideburns, heavy eyebrows.  WOMAN:
Makeup should be very Florid and exotic.
 

         PIRATE: Wear a ruffle looking shirt, or steal the ruffles off something and add them to one of
          your shirts. Or, just use a white or bright colored T-shirt - you can cut "V's" into the
          sleeves to give a ragged look. Add a vest (an old button-down shirt can be cut into a
          vest pretty easily). Wear  a big wide belt or tie a bright sash around your
          waist. If you don't have pants that'll work, consider making some out of a striped or
          bright colored sheet  For added effects,add eye patch and hoop earring.  Cover
          regular boots or shoes with loose black fabric, folded over at top, to make pirate
          boots.  Tie a sash around your head or wear a bandana.
 

SKELETON: Wear all white clothes and then put on  electrical tape
to form the bones.  Make yourself a Negative by wearing all black clothes
with white cloth  medical tape.
 
 

STATIC CLING: Wear any kind of mismatched clothes, pin one pant leg up,
pin dryer sheets on you as  well as socks, small towels, etc., and then use
hair gel to make your hair look like it has static.
 

T-SHIRT MINIMALISM: Have a T-shirt printed with a provocative statement.
For example:
"How dare you assume I'm not wearing a costume".
" I wore a Costume at the Office".
"The Dog ate my Costume"
" I'm disguised to look like ( your name)."
"Generic Costume"

DR. PEPPER: Get a white lab coat or some surgical scrubs, and pin some chili
          peppers all over yourself.

PIECE OF GUM under a TABLE: Dress in a pink jumpsuit. Prepare a small board with
      a checkered table cloth, and glue plastic dishes on top (plate, knife, fork, cup). Strap
      the board to your head.

DIRTY  LAUNDRY:  Cut out the bottom of a plastic laundry basket, step into it, and use
     suspenders to hold it in place.  Fill with dirty clothes.  Wear a shower cap with more clothes
     attached.

WASHING MACHINE:  Turn a box upside down and cut holes for your head and arms.  Attach
     some knobs from old washing machines, or draw them on the box.  Pin or glue clothes all over
     the box, add a laundry detergent box, fabric softener, etc.  For added effect, add an old
     electrical cord to the back of the box.

WISDOM TOOTH: Wear an over-sized white sweatsuit, pull the ankle cuffs over your feet and stuff
     your shoulders with padding or small balloons to make yourself look like a large tooth.  Then
     wear a graduation cap on your head and carry a diploma.

BABY TOOTH: Wear an over-sized white sweatsuit, pull the ankle cuffs over your feet and stuff
     your shoulders with padding or small balloons to make yourself look like a large tooth.  Then
     wear a diaper and carry a rattle, pacifier, etc.

TOOTHPASTE: Wrap your body in felt or white cloth.  Use markers and copy the design from an actual
    toothpaste tube.  Use a lampshade for the cap.

SUNFLOWER: Wear a dark green sweat suit and green or brown shoes. Buy a styrofoam ring
     (from a craft store) to fit around your head, and wrap with brown felt.  Shape pieces of wire like
     petals and wrap with yellow felt for petals.  Paint your
     face brown and dot it yellow or white.

FISH TANK: Take a box large enough to fit around your body (from shoulders to waist). Cut holes for
    your head and arms. Cover it with fish-printed fabric, or paint/stencil a fish motif. Take black
    electrical tape and cover the edges. Wear over black shirt and pants. For more fun, wear a blue wig
    and pin fake fish in it. You can also carry a fish scooper.

A CLOUD: Get a piece of chicken wire and attach white butcher paper to it. Glue cotton balls all over
    it. Then, shape it into a cylinder and step into it. Attach some ribbon to the top of it for "straps" so
    it'll stay up. Paint your face and hair silver or white.

SHOOTING STAR: Fashion a large star out of cardboard and wear it over your body.  Carry fake water
pistol(s) and shoot at people

IN LIKE A LION OUT LIKE A LAMB: Use the front half of a lion costume together with the back
     half of a a lamb costume.

PUNCH THE CLOCK: Fashion a clock mask out of cardboard, wear boxing gloves.

WESTERN OMLET: Dress in yellow sweats and attach colored squares of red and green
     (peppers) to yourself. Throw on a cowboy hat and some cowboy boots. For an added effect,
     carry a lasso.

PIECE OF PIZZA:  Use two pieces of yellow tagboard cut into the shape of a piece of pizza.
     Connect the pieces with string or straps and drape over your shoulders.  Use red marker to
     color in some sauce, and decorate with felt:  sausages (brown), olives (black), pepperoni (red),
     pepper (green).  Top off with white and yellow yarn for the cheese. Wear a pizza box on your
     head as a hat.

GUMBALL MACHINE: Take a large clear garbage bag, with the opening facing down,
cut a whole at the  bottom seam for your head and tape around it so that it doesn't rip through.
Then cut out the arms and do the same with tape. Fill it with different colors of blown up small
balloons. Tape the opening of the bag on the inside of a belt and wrap the belt around
                          your waste. Wear a red cap on your head for the top. Cut out gray
construction paper  for the slot, and paste it on the left side of your chest.
Take black poster board, cut  and round out the edges and tie under your waste
for the gumball exit. Make sure you
                          wear a Red Sweatsuit underneath or a pair of red stretch pants with
a red turtle neck,  and there you have it !! You'll be the talk of the town !
(credits go to SunshineL3 from ClubMOM for this one.
Thank You Liz what a Great Idea!)

PENNY: For the penny, we took cardboard from a refrigerator box, cut 2
 round pieces, painted both with copper spray paint.  My friend drew a penny,
 (front and back), poked a hole on top and hung it around his neck with heavy
 twine.  The front on his chest and the back on his back.. Talk about really
 cute and Unique, it SURE  is Sunshine  !

credits go to SunshineL3 from ClubMOM for this one.
Thank You Liz what a Great Idea!
 

NEXT 5 ALL USE WHITE SHEETS.

GHOST: Put a sheet over your head and mark holes for your
eyes, nose, and mouth.  Cut out the holes and border them in Black.
For added effect, drape chains and locks around your body, over
the sheet.

BABY: Diaper yourself with the sheet ( or part of a sheet) and wear a rattle
around your neck. MEN: go Barechested. WOMAN: Wear a plain T-shirt ontop
that looks like an infants shirt. For added effect, wear a baby-like cap, or a
banner that says " Baby of the Yr.".

YOGI: Swaddle your loins in the style of an (Eastern) Insian Yogi.
It may take several practice attempts and, ultimately, some cutting of the sheet:
First, wrap a folded sheet around your hips
Then cross the ends of the sheet in front of you.
Holding the " underneath" end up against your chest,
work the other end through your legs and tuck it into the waist
at the back. Adjust so that the lioncloth fits snugly.

Release the end you're holding against your chest and let it
hang down in front slightly below the crotch.
Discreetly safety -pin the two ends in place.
Wear another length of sheet as a turban.

TOGA: Wear the sheet draped around your body and over one shoulder.
Discreetly safety pin the sheet so it stays in place. Wear with a head-wreath of green leaves.

BEDOUIN: Cut a hole in the middle of a sheet for your head. Slip the sheet
over your head and cinch it at the waist with yarn or an appropriate cord belt. Wear
part of another sheet ( or pillowcase) as a hood, held in place by a "halo" of
braided cord or cloth.

HOMEMADE MAKEUP: Homemade makeup is generally not as
durable or as vivid as greasepaint or cosmetics but it does have its advantages.
Provided you stick to food ingredents, homemade makeup is SAFER, less EXPENSIVE,
EASIER to apply, and easier to remove.
WARTS & OTHER FACIAL DISTORTIONS: These can be made by
applying layers of tissue paper soaked in KARO syrup to your skin as if you were making
papier-mache.  ALlow time for the syrup to dry before moving the affected area.
FOR SMOOTH & THIN MAKEUP CREAM: Blend one part
cornstarch and two parts shortening with enough drops of food coloring to
produce appropriate shade.  To make colors that are not already prepared
as food coloring, try the following:
PURPLE: use 2 drops of red for every drop of Blue
BROWN: use two drops of green for every drop of red.
BLACK: use equal amounts of red, blue and green food coloring.

Apply the food-coloring cream to your skin with your fingers as you would greasepaint
or makeup foundation.

BLACK SHADING: try using burnt cork.  Before applying the cork to your skin,
let the cork cool and lightly rub off any dangling cork flecks.
WHITENING HAIR & SKIN: Use bleached flour.  Carefully
apply a thin layer of flour with a puff, a soft brush, or a dry sponge.  Avoid getting flour
in your lungs or your eyes.
TO MAKE BLOOD: In large amount for a prop, use 1 pint corn syrup, 90-
100 drops red food coloring, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup flour and 8 drops of blue food
coloring.
 Step1. Remove approx. 1/4 cup of the corn syrup from bottle and replace it with 1/4c. water
add red food coloring and shake gently. Pour it into a Large medical (IV BAG, available in drugstores).
Slowly add the flour & mix again. If flour lumps let the bag sit for a few minutes , they
will float to the top and you can remove them.
This formula may stain the skin and WILL stain clothes permanently. This blood
does not have a long shelf life so refrigerate it until ready to use.

WRINKLES, SCARS AND SORES: Combine pink or green face tissue and corn syrup to
create a look only a  mother could love.

     BEARDS AND MUSTACHES: Use false eyelash adhesive, non-toxic glue stick or
double-faced tape to attach
     cotton puffs or fur from a "recycled" stuffed toy.

If you want to make a one-of-a-KIND costume, why not make a CLEVER
paper bag mask? Below You will find 3 different kinds as examples, but do not
LET that LIMIT you.  Let your imagination GO WILD!
 

BIRD MASK:
You will need
1 BAG large enough to fit over head
scissors
construction paper
paint & paintbrush (same color paint as construction paper)
Clear Tape & Glue
Cut feather shaped fringe around the bottom of the bag and cutout round holes
for mouth, eyes and nose.
Out of yellow construction paper, make a cone BIG enough to fit through the nose hole
for a beak and tape it from the inside of the bag to attach.  Make another, BIGGER cone
that fits over the top of the bag and fasten it securely with clear tape.
Cover the mask--except the beak---with feather shaped strips of construction paper.
If necessary, paint any exposed parts of the bag. Wear a long sleeve shirt or sweater,
and pants or leotards that match the mask. You can also attach feather-shaped strips to your clothing.

KING OR QUEEN OF HEARTS MASK:
You will need
White Paper Bag that fits securely & snugly over your head
and is several inches longer then the distance from the top
of your head to your shoulders
scissors
a piece of 8 1/2" white construction paper
RED paint  & paintbrush
Clear Tape or Glue
For a KING mask, trim the bottom front of the bag to look like a beard. Cut out
holes for your eyes and a slit for your mouth.
For HAIR on the other 3 sides, cut inch -wide vertical strips that stop two or
three inches from the top. Curl the ends of these strips by rolling them on a stick or a
pencil.
Make a CROWN out of White construction paper by cutting it in 1/2 lengthwise in a
ZIGZAG pattern and attaching these two pieces. Decorate it with hearts and glue or tape
to the top of hair. Paint the front of the mask like the face on a deck of cards.

Wear regal clothes, and a cape. You can also cutout the front area of the mask to
show your whole face, and wear fancy makeup to look like a Queen or King.

DINOSAUR MASK:
Bag Big enough to fit over your head
Stapler
Paints and Brushes
Scissors
Fold the bottom of the bag flat and cut a deep "V" notch into the center of the
folded bottom. Staple the two corners to make ears.
Cut out round holes for your eyes. Draw a  rectangle as big as your nose and mouth,
and make it wider then it is high. Draw giant, dagger shaped teeth inside the rectangle.
Cut out the spaces between the teeth.
Make a strip of green construction paper four inches wide and long enough to go from
forehead through "V" notch, down the back of the mask, and down your back to your
waist. Cut zigzag notches into this strip, leaving an inch of paper to attach the mask.
Attach the strip or the bag with tape or glue, so that it stands up.
Paint the mask so it looks scary or funny.
Wear it with a long-sleeved shirt and paint or leotards to match mask color.

If you LOVE crafts and are fairly adventurous, try creating your own
lightweight and durable mask. Make sure you protect your work area
with an old sheet or newspaper.

You Will Need the Following:
Newspaper or Paper Towels
Flour or Cornstarch
Water
Salt
Balloon
Paints & Paintbrushes
String or Yarn

Tear up newspaper and or paper towels until you have a good supply of small strips
(approx. 1" X 5"). Then make a bowl of paste by mixing flour or cornstarch, water and
a little bit of salt; it should be the consistency of a thin batter. Finally Construct your mask.
Blow up a Balloon until it is BIGGER then your head.  Cover the surface of the inflated balloon
with three or more layers of paste saturated strips.  Crisscrossing the strips will make the mask
sturdier. Let it dry for 24 hours.
Pop the Balloon by inserting a pin through the bottom of the shell, and cut out enough
of the bottom so that your head will fit inside.
Cut out holes for your eyes, nose and mouth, and paint and decorate the shell as
desired.
 

This Procedure can be used to make MASK that will give you a NEW, Humanlike Face.

Mold a piece of heavy ALUMINUM foil around your face. Pat and Press the foil
into the shape you want the finished mask to be, exaggerating or adding certain
features if desired.  The outside edge of the aluminum foil shell should form a fairly
even line across the top of your head and down the sides of your face, just in front
of either ear (it can be trimmed later).  Leave room for your chin to move, and incorporate
space for the eyes, nose and mouth holes.

You will probably have to take the foil shell on and off several times until you have it just
the way you like it. You may want someone to help you with the molding process.

Fill the inside of the shell with wadded paper or rags to support it, and lay it faceup on a
flat surface.

Cover the outside of the shell with formfitting plastic wrap (Saran Wrap), then three
or four more layers of layers of papier-mache and paper. Let it dry for 24 hrs.
Remove the foil and plastic wrap. Cut eyes, nose and mouth holes, and paint & decorate
the mask as desired.

Poke small holes just above ears on both sides and tie a string or yarn to each side.
Use this to secure the mask.

Nettie's Place