At least some of you already know how these effects are created, but for the rest of you, they're rather simple with a bit of practice after reading the instructions and seeing how someone does this. Each of the companies mentioned all have links, both here and on the main page.

The first two costumes used the werewolf/lycanthus foam latex prosthetic made by the Scream Team. You don't get just the prosthetic, rather, you also get an instruction manual detailing how you can put it on, what makeup to use, colors, removal methods, that sort of thing. It's a very well-written manual, about 10 pages loaded with good info. Even if you're a rank beginner, a first timer, this will put you at ease. I had some experience when I was involved in the deaf theatre in Rochester, NY, with NTID.

These foam latex pieces are far more comfortable than the slush-cast full-head masks, which don't breathe, keep in your body heat, and can be way too large for you. You can't even drive in them, since much of your vision and hearing are affected. A sure-fire police stop. The nice thing about these pieces is that you can talk, eat, and drink without having to take it off.

The crepe hair can easily be found at your local costume/theatrical shops. They can be found in tightly braided one foot lengths, which unbraid into three foot lengths. The craft stores also have them in the doll hair section. One other place to look would be Walmart, during the Halloween sales, for the Theatrical Hair, created by Fun Tyme. I'm not sure if they sell directly to the public, but I'm looking into this.

The hairy hands you see in the wolf2 pics, which were worn at the zoo, were created using a pair of black cotton gloves, liquid latex, and crepe hair. I'm sure you get the idea of the rest. Use a dark color liquid latex. Start on the fingers, brushing the latex on the fingers, then letting that dry. After that's dry, put a second coat of latex, in small spots, and putting crepe hair on that, and go from there, layering it, as you do in making the beards and mustaches. Total time for this is around 5-7 hours each glove. Using the latex is more flexible than regular glues. The little 1 ounce bottles of liquid latex are nice, but it gets expensive, around $3 a bottle. These are great for the little jobs.

There's also the polyester gloves sold by Fun Tyme, which just don't do the job you want. It soaks it up, all the way down to the skin. The thicker nylon, cotton, or nylon/cotton blend gloves will do you quite well. The ones I used for the gloves were from the Paper Magic Group, and you can easily find these under other names in your local beauty supply and costume shops. Just don't get them so thick, that your tactile fingertip sensations are dulled.

If your town has those adult shops, look there for the 16 and 32 ounce containers of various colors of liquid latex, for around $10-15 for a 16 ounce container. Other makeup shops should have what you're looking for as well. Don't just go for the tiny bottles, as they go out quickly, but get a supply that will last you awhile for this.

Want to make an all-over fursuit, rather than buying the fur by the yard, making something that fits you well? Simply cover a leotard, tights, etc., with the crepe hair or wool yarn. Sure, it takes more time, but can be worth it. You have more control over how it'll look, with subtle designs from careful placement of the hairs. That can't easily be done with regular fur.

Bruce and Valerie's Cyberkinky website contains information on using liquid latex with this sort of thing, including spandex items. However, you may have a different way of putting it on, instead of splashing it on into the cloth. You may want to try just covering the surface without allowing the latex to wick down all the way into the cloth.

You may wish to alternate hair colors, for better look, since not all of nature is all one pure color...

For the pants, merely use your own torn ones. You can use duct tape to hold the crepe hair in place. Even better, I'll use cloth with the crepe hair put on with the latex. I could have used werewolf feet, but I never went that far. Maybe next time? Use your own shoes?

The ears were Cinema Secrets' Extra Large Werewolf Ears, W0098. They were made up with Mehron's light beige latex mask makeup, depending on your skin color, and powdered to set the makeup. Some of the brown underneath will show, but that should not concern you too much, if you put it on right.

The cougar prosthetic was picked up from LyonShel Studios. These particular prosthetics come already colored. However, if your fingers are sticky, they can take the paint off with it. The nice thing is that you can use castor oil-based makeup to cover and blend.

Use Ben Nye's #WK-21 Vampire color wheel, which contains black, steel gray, white, and maroon, perfect for around the eyes and neck. Blend in the neck to get a light grayish white, as I did. This same wheel did the trick for my Rudolph costume.

For the blinking nose, I used a jumbo red LED from Radio Shack with a 3v watch battery. Then the battery was wrapped in electrical tape with the LED, together with nose putty, onto my nose. I couldn't get it to stay lit, but whenever I wrinkled my nose downwards, it lit up. Unfortunately, I've not been able to do this again. [sigh]

For that wig, it was a cheap curly item, that was reddish, and used dark hairspray on it.

The Mardi Gras costume used the Scream Team's beast prosthetic, together with the red crepe hair beard. For the whiskers, they came with the Lyonshel prosthetic, and you just press them into the prosthetic. For the hair, I let it grow some more, foregoing my usual haircut for this. Then I used hairspray to make it stick up into that wild look. You have to start at the top, then move downwards, allowing the spray to take hold, as you brush it up. Don't spray large areas, rather, small areas. The colored spray came next. It shampoos out quite easily.

Finally, says who you can't use your imagination in this area? Email me!