Cool autumn air and Halloween create a festive atmosphere that children love. Candy, costumes, and trick-or-treating are essential staples for a perfect holiday. Throw in the décor and spooky party snacks and you’ve got yourself a darn good time for adults and kids alike, especially when you love your costume.
Costumes always take center stage and, of course, the outfit’s theme seems to come from a person’s interest in a certain “something.” Horror, fantasy, and everyday life always figure into who or what we want to portray. Our children are extremely particular about costumes. I’ve made most of my daughters’ Halloween costumes to fit their unique personality and interest.
My youngest daughter is an extreme fan of the television show, “The Walking Dead.” Not only does she have every action figure based on the characters in the show and every detail memorized from each episode, but she is obsessed with zombies in general. Far be it from me to deny her an easy but fun Halloween costume that satisfies her zombie addiction.
- · Zombies don’t care what they wear: I chose a simple outfit that was lying around my home and age-based for an 11 year old: a cheer uniform. Using scissors, I grabbed a pinch of the fabric and cut small but noticeable areas that resembled tears. Creating only a few jagged holes in the fabric is key. Don’t go overboard with the holes. Realism is important.
- Zombies do care about makeup: The most important thing about costume makeup is concerns about skin problems. Hypo-allergenic products are important when applying to delicate skin. It must be easy to apply and easy to wash off. For Avery’s look, I used a simple Halloween makeup kit that was intended for vampires. Using a makeup sponge, I created hollowed eyes, pale face and arms, as well as added red to accent bloodied areas in the holes of her costume. Blending and stippling makes or breaks a believable look. Follow up by lightly brushing hypo-allergenic face powder onto the makeup to set it.
- Zombies love blood: The vampire makeup kit came with vials of “blood” that I used to create drips on Avery’s face, costume and body. It’s easy to make your own fake blood if you are feeling crafty. Create a 3-D effect for a bite wound using scar putty, which is easily found with other Halloween makeup accessories. Don’t forget to accentuate the “wound” with additional makeup for a realistic appearance.
Halloween means more than we know to our little ones. The costume doesn’t have to be expensive but the time spent creating a perfect memory is worth more than gold. While I watched my little zombie “drag” herself to each house for candy last year, I knew that she was happy with the creation and that is a Halloween memory never to be forgotten.