Gypsy: If there’s a long flowing skirt hanging around the back of the closet, throw it on with a peasant shirt and a few beaded necklaces. If there’s more than one flowing skirt in there, layer two or three for an even better look. Tie a scarf, rag, or strip of fabric around your head, and put on a pair of hoops or dangly earrings.
Ninja: Black pants, black long-sleeved shirt, and, if possible, black shoes. Now find an extra black shirt (a black t-shirt with print or an image on the front can be turned inside out) and wrap it around your head, placing the neck opening over your face to allow visibility. (See this “How to be a Ninja” site for detailed instructions.) Soccer shinpads (silver, if possible) over the forearms add an armoured look, which is key for a good ninja image. If shinpads aren’t available, try wrapping strips of tinfoil or silver duct tape over your arms.
MIB or Security Guard: This one is pretty simple, as long as you’ve got a black suit. Wear the suit, and, for the security guard look, fashion an earpiece that runs from the inner ear into the collar of the suit. One half of a set of earbuds will work perfectly. Now put on a pair of dark shades and keep a very straight face.
Lab Coat Possibilities: Anyone with a lab coat kicking around (all you science students!) has a number of possible costumes. Lab coat + goggles + splatters of fake blood = mad scientist. Add a crazy wig for extra effect. Lab coat + black or white rubber gloves + goggles = Dr. Horrible. Lab coat + splatters of paint + paintbrush + beret = great artist.
Masks: You can make any kind of mask you like with paper, scissors, crayons or markers and a length of ribbon, cloth, or elastic. Simply cut out the shape of the mask and place it over your face, marking (gently!) where your eyes are. Then cut out eyeholes. Poke holes at either end of the mask and tie a length of string, ribbon etc. through each hole. These will tie in back of the head to keep the mask in place. Decorate the mask appropriately. For a cat mask you might glue on black pipe cleaners for whiskers. For a butterfly, add some sequins or glitter.
Ears/Antennae: Headgear like animal ears or antennae is also simple: all you need is paper or pipe cleaners and a headband. Cut the appropriate ear shapes from paper (leave an extra bit of paper at the base of the ears -- this will be used to attach them to the headband) and colour them. Then wrap the extra paper at the base of the ears around the headband and use glue or tape to keep the ears in place. For antennae made from pipe cleaners, simply wrap one end of the pipe cleaner around the headband to secure it in place. You may wish to curl the tips of the pipe cleaners, or string a bead onto them.
Fake Blood: The simplest method of making fake blood is to add red food colouring or red Kool-ade mix to corn starch, mixing and adding more colour until it’s the right shade of red. You can also add in some cocoa to darken the mix to a more realistic colour. Spatter, smear and slather with reckless abandon.
