HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER COSTUME

The classic image of the Frankenstein monster was defined by Boris Karloff's appearance in the 1931 movie "Frankenstein." Here's a way to make Dr. Frankenstein's monster in your own image that won't have you working in the lab late at night, but will be a graveyard smash. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Digging Up Clothes

1.Cut the cuffs off a pair of pants and fringe the pant legs.

2.Take a pair of old tennis shoes, remove the laces, and cut off the tongues and toes. If using platform shoes or work boots for footwear, leave them as is, except to scuff them as needed.

3.Find a pair of green socks and stuff them with cotton batting.

Nuts and Bolts--Child

1.Remove the spout and handle off a one-gallon plastic jug.

2.Paint the outside of the jug green and wait for the paint to dry.

3.Poke holes in the side of the jug near the cut, then thread silver pipe cleaners through the holes, bending and flattening them to look like stitches. Fold the ends flat against the inside and cover with tape so they don't scratch.

4.Gouge holes near the top of the jug and thread bolts through holes so that the bolt heads are on the inside. Secure bolts with washers and nuts.

5.Make two pinholes near the top of the jug and run an elastic cord through them to make a chin strap.

Nuts and Bolts--Adult

1.Measure the circumference of your neck.

2.Cut a two-inch strip of foam rubber equal to the diameter of your neck. Cut a two-inch strip of green cardboard equal to the diameter of your neck plus several inches for overlap and several additional inches to allow for the thickness of the foam rubber.

3.Poke holes in the cardboard to accommodate the bolt threads. Ideally, one of the holes should go through the overlapping ends, so that attaching the nuts and washers will hold the appliance in place.

4.Thread the bolts through the holes, with the threads pointing outward.

5.Glue the foam rubber to the inside of the cardboard, covering the bolt heads.

6.Screw on the washers and nuts.

It's Alive! It's Alive!

1.Don the costume described under "Digging up Clothes."

2.Put on either of the appliances described in the "Nuts and Bolts" sections.

3.Apply green paint to the face and hands (or put on green gloves in lieu of painting the hands).

4.Accent the makeup with brown eye shadow on the eyelids and under the eyes for contrast. If wearing the adult neck appliance, use charcoal gray eyeliner to draw stitches on your forehead.

5.Cover your head (or the headgear, for a child) with a black fright wig. (For a child, attach the wig to the headgear with double-sided tape.)

6.Hold your hands in front of you and walk forward by keeping your legs stiff and rocking from side to side while taking tiny steps and groaning.

Article : Ehow

HOW TO MAKE COSPLAY WIGS | Helen Jain

Cosplay, the performance art of costumed role playing, often requires a wig for complete accuracy, especially for the costumes that have very odd or very complex hairstyles or hair colors that are difficult to reproduce with real hair. The use of a wig can make it easier for the wearer of the cosplay costume to dress up without spending hours on their hair every time they want to wear a costume or to change hairstyles to their character's costumes without changing their personal hair style preferences.

Instructions

1.Purchase a wig that has longer hair than the cosplay costume requires, but is the appropriate color. The excess hair will allow for style changes. Place the wig on the mannequin head before starting the style process.

2.Look at the reference picture for the hair design. Cosplay hair designs, especially those based on manga and anime characters, can be very complex, with individual strands standing out at odd angles. Pay close attention to the reference picture so you can plan the entire wig styling process.

3.Pin back most of the hair. It is easiest to style a wig in sections, especially when spikes or other oddities are needed, than to try cutting and styling with all the hair in the way. Starting from the bottom layers of hair or the front is ideal.

4.Cut the hair in the appropriate lengths according to your reference picture. Keep in mind that some cosplay hairstyles will have very differing lengths, such as long in the front and short in the back, with random long strands in the short sections. Pay attention to the picture and cut to the appropriate lengths, using the mannequin head as a guide. If the style requires some side strands cut to chin length, use the mannequin head as your guide.

5.Spray the wig with hairspray while you're working. If it needs large spikes, form each spike while cutting and spray it liberally with hairspray until it stays exactly as formed. You may have to use a great deal of hairspray for the most complex styles.

6.Work from the bottom up or from the front backward until you've completed the entire wig in a style that resembles your reference picture. Keep in mind that oddities like weird stiff strands of hair that look like antennae or odd curls that stick out should be executed last to shape them properly and combine them with the rest of the hairstyle.

With some patience, attention to detail and a lot of hairspray, you can make cosplay wigs to enhance any characters you choose to enact.

Article : Ehow