With Halloween fast approaching I thought this would be a good time to share some recipe's for blood...
The brand that I have been using is Grimas, they make two different shades, film blood ‘A’ and film blood ‘B’. 'B' is the darker of the two and is the most popular and sells out before the big night.
Most professional-quality fake blood uses toxic compounds like antifreeze. Since you're likely to use your blood at parties or haunted houses, and such gatherings are often magnets for children (and children + antifreeze = bad). So, we'll start with the non-toxic variety of fake blood. It may not be the choice of indie horror film directors, but it'll get the job done for Halloween.
Here's the recipes.
Recipe One: Corn Syrup Blood
Now that you have a base, it's time to add the dye. Start with the red and add a few drops at a time, mixing thoroughly until you have a nice red color. But of course, real blood isn't bright red. That's where the blue and green dye comes in. Add a couple of drops of either colour until it looks more like actual blood.
Once it looks like blood, set your mixture aside and let it thicken a bit before applying it to your costume. If you're looking for something a bit more edible, add a few drops of peppermint extract. Mmmm -- minty blood!
CAUTION: This mixture will stain your clothes and might temporarily discolour your skin as well.
It won't leach lead into your skin or do anything else truly frightening, but you definitely don't want to let this fake blood near your mouth, eyes, nose or any other orifices.
Recipe Two: Blood Of Hair Gel
Now it's time to colour the mixture. As with the non-toxic version, start with red dye and then add blue or green to shift the color to something more bloodlike. Chocolate syrup can also be used to create a bit more maroon color.
The advantage of this blood is that it's not sticky and, if you experiment a little bit, you'll find that flinging it around creates very realistic splatters.
But, as with the other variety, use caution since this mixture will stain just about everything it touches.
Recipe Three: Kitchen Cupboard Blood
Mix 5ml of flower and 20ml syrup in mixing bowl
Add one cap of red food colouring
Dab (very small amount) of blue food coloring and mix in
Put in container for use on set
RUMOUR: add washing up liquid/powder makes the fake blood wash out of clothes (not tested, only use on old clothes first)
Try different colours by varying amount of blue food colouring
Thick blood by adding chocolate sauce
Thinner blood by adding water
Recipe Four: Homemade Fake Blood
Recipe Five: Chocolate Fake Blood
Recipe Six: Simple Fake Blood
Recipe Seven: Realistic Recipe
Recipe Eight: Gravy Blood
This is fairly new and I haven't had chance to test it properly but its looks GREAT!
Recipe Nine: Cheap 'N' Easy Blood
This is good for spidering:
You will notice that it's a ghastly, bright red colour but don't worry this is why we add the coffee. It is important that when you add the coffee to make sure the mixture is hot, otherwise it wont dissolve, but up until adding the coffee can be done in a ordinary mixing jug or pan.
The brand that I have been using is Grimas, they make two different shades, film blood ‘A’ and film blood ‘B’. 'B' is the darker of the two and is the most popular and sells out before the big night.
The most frequently ask question I get asked are;
Q.
Which one looks more realistic blood.
A.
And that would be film blood 'B' as it is black red, while film blood A is bright red, (or as we call it hammer horror film blood)
Most professional-quality fake blood uses toxic compounds like antifreeze. Since you're likely to use your blood at parties or haunted houses, and such gatherings are often magnets for children (and children + antifreeze = bad). So, we'll start with the non-toxic variety of fake blood. It may not be the choice of indie horror film directors, but it'll get the job done for Halloween.
Here's the recipes.
Recipe One: Corn Syrup Blood
- White corn syrup
- Red food colouring
- Water
- Blue or green food colouring
- Arrowroot powder or Corn Starch
Now that you have a base, it's time to add the dye. Start with the red and add a few drops at a time, mixing thoroughly until you have a nice red color. But of course, real blood isn't bright red. That's where the blue and green dye comes in. Add a couple of drops of either colour until it looks more like actual blood.
Once it looks like blood, set your mixture aside and let it thicken a bit before applying it to your costume. If you're looking for something a bit more edible, add a few drops of peppermint extract. Mmmm -- minty blood!
CAUTION: This mixture will stain your clothes and might temporarily discolour your skin as well.
It won't leach lead into your skin or do anything else truly frightening, but you definitely don't want to let this fake blood near your mouth, eyes, nose or any other orifices.
Recipe Two: Blood Of Hair Gel
- Water-soluble hair gel. (alcohol-free)
- Water-soluble personal lubricant
- Red food colouring or liquid dye
- Blue or green food colouring or liquid dye
Now it's time to colour the mixture. As with the non-toxic version, start with red dye and then add blue or green to shift the color to something more bloodlike. Chocolate syrup can also be used to create a bit more maroon color.
The advantage of this blood is that it's not sticky and, if you experiment a little bit, you'll find that flinging it around creates very realistic splatters.
But, as with the other variety, use caution since this mixture will stain just about everything it touches.
Recipe Three: Kitchen Cupboard Blood
- Flower
- Syrup
- Red food colouring
- Blue food colouring
Mix 5ml of flower and 20ml syrup in mixing bowl
Add one cap of red food colouring
Dab (very small amount) of blue food coloring and mix in
Put in container for use on set
RUMOUR: add washing up liquid/powder makes the fake blood wash out of clothes (not tested, only use on old clothes first)
Try different colours by varying amount of blue food colouring
Thick blood by adding chocolate sauce
Thinner blood by adding water
Recipe Four: Homemade Fake Blood
- 1 c. Karo Syrup
- 1 Tbsp Water
- 2 Tbsp Red Food Coloring
- 1 tsp Yellow Food Coloring
Recipe Five: Chocolate Fake Blood
- 1/2 c. Warm Water
- 4 Tbsp Corn Syrup
- 1 Tbsp Powdered Cocoa
- 1 tsp Red Food Colouring
Recipe Six: Simple Fake Blood
- Clear Corn Syrup
- Red Food Colouring
- Milk - Optional
Recipe Seven: Realistic Recipe
- 2/3 c. Corn Syrup
- 1/3 c. Warm Water
- 5 Tbsp Corn Starch
- 4 tsp red food colouring
- 1 Tbsp Powdered Cocoa
- 2 drops of green or yellow food colouring
Recipe Eight: Gravy Blood
This is fairly new and I haven't had chance to test it properly but its looks GREAT!
- Gravy Granules
- Red Food Colouring
- HOT Water
Recipe Nine: Cheap 'N' Easy Blood
This is good for spidering:
- Plain Flour
- Water
- Red Food Colouring
- 1 tsp. of Coffee
You will notice that it's a ghastly, bright red colour but don't worry this is why we add the coffee. It is important that when you add the coffee to make sure the mixture is hot, otherwise it wont dissolve, but up until adding the coffee can be done in a ordinary mixing jug or pan.