Halloween Party Tricks

Peeled grape eyeballs and brain-shaped Jell-O molds are just the beginning. Use black olives to shape spiders on deviled eggs. Cut jicama sticks into bone shapes for a vegetable platter. Make pretzel "fingers" with blanched almond fingernails.

Make a pirate's hoard of spiderweb cupcakes, graveyard cakes and pumpkin cookies.

Learn how to make bubbling, steaming cauldrons of witches' brew in our Spooky Sipping article.

Before you head to a costume shop to buy a makeup kit, raid the pantry and try these recipes for foundation colors and special effects.

Basic Foundation

10 teaspoons (3 Tablespoons + 1 tsp.) cornstarch
2 teaspoons white flour
5 teaspoons vegetable shortening
1/8 teaspoon food coloring or fresh juices
1/4 teaspoon glycerin (available at cake decorating and craft stores)

1. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and flour. Stir in vegetable shortening. Add any food coloring you would like. Stir in the glycerin; mixing until well combined.

2. Use your fingers or a makeup sponge to apply face paint. Use small brushes or your fingertips for detailed designs.

Basic Goop Recipe

1 ounce gelatin (plain or flavored, depending on desired color)
2 tablespoons boiling water
Mix-ins as needed: couscous, paprika, colored sugar
4 tablespoons corn syrup

In a small bowl or cup combine gelatin and water. Mix and let set 3 minutes. It's now time to begin experimenting with the gelatin. There are a variety of techniques that can be used to create special makeup effects.

• Warts, blisters, and general skin growths

Before the gelatin sets completely, make moles or blisters by dripping the liquid gelatin onto a ceramic plate and letting it set completely. When set, carefully peel the formations off of the plate. Stick them onto your child's body and face by using a drop of corn syrup as adhesive.

• Apply color to growths, make additional growths and make convincing-looking blood

Use a spoon, popsicle stick, or other makeup applicators (including your hands) to apply the partially-set gelatin to your child's body and face. The gelatin will drip or clot depending on the degree of set it has reached. If the gelatin sets before you're ready, reheat it briefly in the top of a double-boiler or in a microwave for approximately 10 seconds on high until it thins out and the process begins again. Use a spoon to drip semi-liquid red gelatin over scars, scabs or out of wounds. After 3 to 5 minutes, the gelatin will set in very realistic-looking drips. If the gelatin doesn't set, let it sit another minute and try again.

• Other gooey, slimy, stretchy effects

Let the gelatin set about 5 minutes. Stretch or grab gobs of the almost-set gelatin and string it or glop it as you desire. Attach to skin with corn syrup.

• Add texture to the makeup

Stirring in mix-ins adds texture to the effects. Sprinkling colored sugar into the unset gelatin will make grainy textured effects, while sprinkling couscous or paprika on top of the globs once they've begun to set will make some wounds look scabbed over.

Get more ideas for frightful fun in our downloadable cookbook.