What Shall We Make Today?

In honor of Halloween later this month, today’s recipe is from Reader’s Digest and it’s for FAKE BLOOD & GUTS, lol.  I am only presenting the fake blood part of the article because the rest is too out there even for me.  But there are many, MANY videos on how to make your own intestines if you really want to know how.

From the article:

Many years ago, I worked as a celebrity makeup artist. And for a while there, I trained in special effects makeup—you know, the gooey, gross, and oozing stuff that makes you gasp or peek through your hands as you’re watching a scary movie. If you’re opting for an easy Halloween costume this year and trying to figure out how to make fake blood to accent your creation, we’ve got you covered. Literally.

Making fake blood is both creative and easy, depending on your needs. The king of modern splatter makeup, Greg Nicotero, who’s best known for his work on The Walking Dead, once told CBS News that creating fake blood was “kind of—oddly—a weird art form.” He’s not wrong. And Nicotero’s creative zombie art has inspired countless Halloween costume ideas and Halloween makeup ideas.

So why should you whip up your own fake blood? Well, what is Halloween without a little gore? Plus, it’s easy, inexpensive, and really fun to make. And let’s not forget about bragging rights. You can reference it in your Halloween Instagram captions, or share a TikTok of yourself scrolling through Halloween face paint ideas and scary Halloween costumes and then pan out to an image of you stirring up a batch of fake blood.

These fake blood recipes are total no-brainers, but keep in mind that a lot of these ingredients will stain your skin and property. And remember: Don’t sacrifice safety for fun. Fake blood that comes in contact with your skin or mouth needs to be edible.

So, what should you expect from this creepy crafts experiment? The DIY fake blood should be slightly runny, like the fake blood in movies. Think Dexter and his blood spatter, and you’ll have an idea of what the texture should look like. Ready to create your own (make-believe) blood? Here’s how:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup corn syrup (if you’re trying for the look of old blood, consider using a few drops of maple syrup as well)

1/4 cup water

1/2 teaspoon red food coloring

5 drops blue food coloring

2 drops green food coloring

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Step 1: Combine the water and corn syrup. You’re trying for runny, but not so runny that it drips off your face or body and just leaves stains.

Step 2: Slowly add the food coloring until you reach your ideal color.

Step 3: Slowly mix in the cornstarch. You can add a drop of water to the cornstarch first to keep it from clumping.

Step 4: Let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before use.

Note: This is going to stain your skin and clothing.

The food coloring proportions are optional; only you know the exact color you’re trying to create. That said, using green and blue makes the color more realistic. Bear in mind that red and blue create purple, and green will give your fake blood the sickening look you’re trying for.

How to make fake blood for clothes

If you’re hoping to make your clothes look bloody, you’ll need to create blood that is thicker and darker. The fake blood recipe below is nontoxic and made with edible ingredients. Ideally, you’ll make a bigger batch of this fake blood so you can thoroughly soak your costume.

This fake blood recipe uses a ratio of corn syrup to water, versus exact measurements, so you can make as little or as much as you like. If you and your friends are batting around group Halloween costume ideas, consider making a single batch of blood for everyone to use.

Ingredients:

Corn syrup

Water

Red food coloring

Cocoa powder

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine three parts corn syrup with one part water. Mix thoroughly.

Step 2: Add a couple drops of red food coloring into the mixture while stirring continuously. Keep adding more drops of food coloring until the blood is your desired color. Stir for at least five minutes to distribute the food coloring evenly.

Step 3: Add 3 tablespoons cocoa powder to the mixture and stir. This thickens the blood. Keep adding cocoa powder, a tablespoon at a time, until the blood reaches your desired consistency. The blood will be thick but not lumpy, so it can sit on your clothing and absorb without running.

You can also try using old red paint and water, blending in blue and green paint until you have the right color and texture of dried blood.

SOURCE: READER’S DIGEST