Have you ever wondered how to fake blood with acrylic paints? Look no further. You can make your own fake blood right at home with just a handful of supplies, taking your Halloween or cosplay costume, decorations or theater props to a whole new level. From bright red to warm red, dark red to cool red or muted red to blood red, every red hue on the color chart can be created with a little color mixing magic at home.
All you really need for this DIY tutorial are some common kitchen staples, acrylic paints and mineral oil. Even beginners can experiment in the kitchen and mix red tints on the color wheel until they find just the right one to create a grisly effect.
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This fake blood recipe is so versatile because you're in control, so you determine the exact red color. By making little adjustments to the amount of acrylic paint you add, you can create different shades of red, from muted shades to warm colors and anything in between.
Things You'll Need
Saucepan
Mixing bowl
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
White corn syrup
Creamy peanut butter
Red acrylic paint
Blue acrylic paint
Green acrylic paint
Mineral oil
Droppers
Paintbrushes
Glass jar
Lid
Permanent marker
K-Y jelly (optional)
Oatmeal
Liquid soap or baby shampoo (optional)
Alcohol (optional)
Heat up corn syrup
Pour 2 cups of white corn syrup into a small saucepan on the stove top. Turn the dial to medium to medium-high heat but do not allow the corn syrup to boil. Once the corn syrup is warmed up evenly, pour it into a glass mixing bowl.
Warning
Use caution when handling corn syrup. Overheated corn syrup can cause serious burns to both your skin and eyes.
Mix in acrylic paint
Add 2 tablespoons of red acrylic paint to the glass mixing bowl and stir well. For darker red saturation, add a little more red paint at a time until you find the right hue.
Tip
To make your fake blood edible, substitute red, blue and green food coloring for all of the acrylic paints used in this recipe.
Add blue paint
Add 1 drop of blue acrylic paint to the mixing bowl and stir well. This will bring out the undertones of the red paint you've already added. You can add slightly more blue paint a little at a time if you prefer a magenta color.
Tip
To obtain an even darker pigment like you’d see with old, dried blood, add 1 or more drops of green paint to the fake blood mixture.
Fold in peanut butter
Fold in 1/4 cup of smooth peanut butter. Stir well until you have a nice consistency.
Tip
If you are fresh out of peanut butter, consider adding cocoa powder, cornstarch or flour as a thickening agent instead.
Stir in mineral oil
Add 1 teaspoon of mineral oil and stir it into your blood mixture. This makes the blood look extra shiny.
Apply the fake blood
There are many ways to apply fake blood to your body or create a blood dripping effect on your clothing. Use items like droppers and paintbrushes to see which method you like best.
Store the fake blood
To store the fake blood for later use, pour it into a glass jar, seal it with a lid and store it in the refrigerator. You can also label the jar with a permanent marker.
Warning
This fake blood recipe will stain clothing and other objects, so take care while using it. It is also best to keep fake blood away from your eyes, mouth and nose and to complete a patch test before applying it directly onto your skin, which may irritate it.
Fake blood upgrades
Learning how to fake blood with acrylic paints is just plain fun. Plus, there are several things you can do to make your fake blood look even more realistic. First, you can add K-Y jelly to the mix to give it a coagulated blood look. Second, you can mix in oatmeal to give it added texture. Third, liquid soap or baby shampoo can make the fake blood glisten. Lastly, you can also add alcohol to make the blood appear runny. Have fun and start experimenting. You can even do blood-spatter nail art to complete the look.