Spooky, Not Scary Watch-List

Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 by Grae

Do you love all matter of spooky ephemera, including (but not limited to) asymmetrical gourds, a crunchy walk through leaf-litter at dusk, black cats, swooping bats, a chilly breeze, the moonlit hoot-hooting of an owl, flickering shadows, the curling crackle of a bonfire with friends, your favorite elder’s throaty cackle? ๐Ÿ ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿˆ๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿฆ‡๐ŸŒฌ๏ธ๐ŸŒ•๐Ÿ”ฅ

Are you into that *swirls hands in the air over imaginary cauldron/crystal ball* distinctly witchy vibe? ๐Ÿ”ฎ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ

Are you a young ghoul at heart? ๐Ÿ‘ป

Does your bedroom feature skulls, spiderwebs, and tombstones as year-round decor? ๐Ÿ•ธ๏ธ๐Ÿ’€

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you’re among friends (or fiends ๐Ÿ˜ˆ)! Halloween and all its haunted trappings gives my heart, in the words of young vampire Vlad the Rad, “bat wings” and “sugar-frosted lightning bolts,” but I have a confession: while I love all manner of the occult, I am just too tender-hearted for the harrowing thrills, over-the-top gore, scritchy-scratchy musical panic, and heart-pounding jump-scares that are present in many scary movies (and the horror genre more generally). Which means I have to be extra selective when it comes to figuring out how to best usher and revel in the ghastly glory of spooky season. So this year I’ve come up with a curated Spooky, Not Scaryโ„ข Watch-List perfect for anyone who wants to experience a spectre-tacular atmosphere without sacrificing their delicate nerves. Each tv show, movie or video is rated on a scale of 0-5 smashed pumpkins. The more smashed pumpkins (which I’ve metaphorically dropped out of terror), the closer the tv show/movie/video is to being truly frightening. Note: no gourds were harmed in the making of this list. ๐ŸŽƒ

You can access the full list here; what follows are my Top 6 with minimal spoilers! Happy Hauntings! Continue reading “Spooky, Not Scary Watch-List”

Cosplay Tutorial: Woodland Creature Transformation

Posted on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 by Megan

Do you daydream about escaping into the woods and wonder what it would be like to be a woodland creature? Or do you want to know how to give up a boss life for a moss life? We recently hosted a program where we did all that and more! In our ongoing how-to cosplay series, we transformed ourselves and our patrons into fantastic woodland animals. Donโ€™t worry if you missed our program, weโ€™ve got tips below to help you become a majestic creature! And be on the lookout for more cosplay fun in December! Continue reading “Cosplay Tutorial: Woodland Creature Transformation”

Merperson Makeup Tutorial

Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 by Megan

Person with long blue hair and blue scales on face and shoulders

Summer Reading is upon us!ย  With a theme like “Oceans of Possibilities,” how could we not think of merpeople?

We are so lucky to have our very own siren, Dana! She loves cosplay and makeup effects, so we wanted to share her talent with you in this video tutorial so you can play along at home.

Here is what youโ€™ll need to get started.

  • Eyeshadow pallet. Any colors or brand you want to use, but the higher the pigmentation, the better.
  • Brush or sponge. Dana used a makeup sponge in the tutorial, but a large makeup brush would work, too!
  • Wig cap or fishnets. The wig cap is what gives you the scale pattern effect.

If you feel like going all out, combine a costume and a watery location!ย 

We would love to see your finished look! Snap a pic and send it to us at teen@dbrl.org.

May the Fourth Be With You!

Posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 by Megan

Two people dueling with lightsabers.

Happy May the Fourth! I love just about everything Star Wars has to offer — from the amazingly independent Princess Leia to the fierce, but cuddly Chewbacca, to the adorable Porgs, and donโ€™t get me started on my obsession with Grogu (aka The Child or Baby Yoda)! Here are some fun things you can do at home to celebrate May the Fourth and the Revenge of the Fifth.

Weโ€™d love to see what you make, so send us pictures or videos to teen@dbrl.org.

Woman holding many Baby Yoda items.
How many Baby Yoda’s do you see in this picture? The correct answer is not enough.

Continue reading “May the Fourth Be With You!”