HOW DID WE GET HERE?

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

How’s this for a trick? The top hat is actually a fabriccovered laundry basket.

THE COSTUME: MAGICIAN’S RABBIT

THE ITEM: LAUNDRY BASKET

1. USE a box cutter to remove the bottom of a circular plastic laundry basket. Next, cut the bottom off a black nylon laundry bag so it’s open at both ends. 2. WRAP the basket in the laundry bag, securing the bag’s top and bottom to the interior of the basket with duct tape. Tape a pink ribbon around the outer rim of the basket. 3. CUT 2 oblong pieces of white felt and 2 smaller oblong pieces of pink felt for the bunny ears. Glue a pipe cleaner in the center of a white oblong; glue a pink oblong on top of that. Repeat for the other ear. Safety-pin each ear to the top of a white hoodie. For the tummy, tape a pink felt oval to the front of the hoodie. 4. MAKE suspenders by tying 2 equal-length strips of white elastic to the basket. 5. DRESS your child in black pants and shoes.

With a few accents (oldschool handset, a bit of “‘Ello, luv!”), a red yoga mat is a dead ringer for a telephone kiosk.

THE COSTUME: RAINBOW

THE ITEM: POOL NOODLES

1. STACK 2 large pieces of cardboard and sketch a rainbow arc (at least a foot wider than your child) on them. Cut out the shapes. 2. SLICE 5 pool noodles (in red, yellow, green, purple, and blue) in half lengthwise using scissors. Layer one set of the halves in rainbow sequence and bind one end of the layered noodles together with clear packing tape. Glue that end to the end

THE COSTUME: BRITISH TELEPHONE BOOTH

THE ITEM: YOGA MAT

1. FOLD a red yoga mat in half and cut out an opening for the head in the center. Then cut out 6 rectangles (5 by 7 inches) down the front. Tape cellophane inside each square for a windowpane effect. 2. TAPE a telephone cord attached to a phone receiver to the inside of the yoga mat. Then tape a gallon-size plastic bag on the inside of the mat to hold the phone whenever your kid wants to “hang up.” 3. MAKE a telephone sign cut from construction paper using stenciled letters. Tape to the front of the yoga mat above the window panes. 4. DRESS your child in regular clothes and red boots.

of one of the cardboard arcs. Bend the noodles into an arc and trim the other end to line up with the cardboard. Bind with tape and glue that end to the cardboard. Repeat to make the back piece. 3. GLUE cotton batting to all 4 ends of the rainbow to create clouds. 4. MAKE suspenders using ribbon or duct tape and attach them to the boards. 5. DRESS your child in a light blue shirt and pants to replicate the sky.

BEAUTY SOS

Makeup-bag masquerade

Adults want in on the Halloween fun, too. Lijha Stewart, the director of artistry for Make Up For Ever, created these four looks using everyday cosmetics—on the same model.

FUTURISTIC CYBORG

DARK FAIRY

1. APPLY liquid foundation all over your face. Make sure to choose the shade you use in the winter, when you’re paler, for an icy effect. 2. HIGHLIGHT the tops of your cheekbones, the center of your nose, and your Cupid’s bow with white shimmer. Light eye shadow works, too. 3. DRAW a circle around each eye with black pencil, starting at the lower eyelid and moving up to the brow. Fill in the circle, then go over it with black shadow. 4. TRACE white liner along your waterline (the part of your lower lid that sits between your lashes and your eye). 5. BRUSH on lots of black mascara. For more drama, apply false eyelashes (sold at drugstores). Extra credit: An hour before applying, coat the tips of the falsies with white water-based airbrush paint. (Try Createx Colors Opaque White, $5, coastairbrush.com.) 6. SWIPE on clear lip gloss.

Written by

Heather Muir

Photographs by

Ryan Pfluger

QUEEN OF THE NILE

WILD CAT DARK FAIRY

GET EASY HOW-TO VIDEOS OF THESE LOOKS—PLUS A BONUS LOOK! Go to realsimple. com/halloween makeup.