Creating A Gory Look With A Plain White T-Shirt

Whether it's for a costume or a craft project, there are several ways to make a white T-shirt look bloody without ruining it. You can buy fake blood online or from a costume store, or make your own using corn syrup, chocolate milk, and red food colouring. If you want to be able to wash the blood off your shirt, use red dish soap as the base instead of food colouring. When you're ready to start, lay your shirt out on a flat surface and cover the surrounding area with newspaper or a drop cloth to avoid making a mess. Then, you can pour or toss the fake blood onto your shirt using a cup, smear it on with your fingers, or flick it on with a toothbrush or paintbrush for a more scattered effect.

Using fake blood

Before you start, set up your workspace by putting down a drop cloth or some garbage bags to protect your floor or table. If it's a nice day, you could also work outside. It's also a good idea to wear rubber gloves to protect your skin from staining.

Now you're ready to start applying the fake blood! If you want to create drips, hang your T-shirt vertically from a hanger or clothesline. Then, pour the fake blood from a cup onto the neckline and shoulders, or start lower down for a chest or back wound. You can also toss a small amount of fake blood from a cup at different angles to create splatters. For smaller droplets, hold a cup with a spout filled with fake blood above the T-shirt and slowly tilt it until the blood falls in small drops.

For a more hands-on approach, lay your T-shirt flat and use a sponge, soft cloth, or your fingers to smear the fake blood directly onto the fabric. This method gives you more control over the placement and texture of the blood. Dip a cotton swab in fake blood for even finer details, such as small marks or writing.

To create a spray effect, fill an empty spray bottle with fake blood and mist the T-shirt from a distance of 8-24 inches, depending on how dark you want the blood to appear. Alternatively, dip a paintbrush or toothbrush in fake blood and flick it onto the T-shirt for smaller, more controlled splatters.

Pouring blood on the shirt

To make a white t-shirt look bloody, you can use fake blood, which you can either buy or make yourself. If you want to make it yourself, you can mix corn syrup, chocolate milk, and red food colouring. Washable fake blood is easier to work with as you can wash it off your skin and clothes. However, permanent fake blood tends to more accurately resemble real blood.

If you want to pour the fake blood onto the shirt, you should hang the shirt vertically. Put the shirt on a hanger and hold it over a drop cloth or hang it from a hook or curtain rod. You can also use clothespins to hang the shirt from a clothesline if you're working outdoors.

When you're ready to pour the blood, grab a small cup with a spout and fill it with fake blood. Hold the spout of the cup over the top of your shirt and slowly pour. You can start at the neckline and shoulders for drips from the top of the shirt, or start lower down for blood on the chest or back.

You can also try tossing a small amount of blood out of a cup at an angle for more of a splatter effect. This will create a messier, more violent look. The more blood you use, the bigger the splash will be.

If you want to add smaller droplets, lay your shirt out flat and add a small amount of blood to a cup with a spout. Hold the cup above the shirt and tilt it until the fake blood is barely under the lip of the cup. Then, tilt the cup slightly forward and let a small drop fall before tilting the cup back up. Move the cup as needed to apply droplets across the shirt.

Applying blood by hand

Lay your shirt out flat on your drop cloth or work surface. Before you apply blood directly to your shirt, lay it out flat on your work surface. Pull the corners of the shirt away from the centre and smooth any wrinkles out with your palm. Keep the shirt taut to avoid getting wrinkles in the fabric while you work.

Blot your shirt with a sponge or soft cloth to add texture. To apply blood by hand, grab a soft washcloth or dry sponge. Pour a little fake blood into a bowl. Then, dip the cloth or sponge into the bowl. Apply the sponge or cloth directly to your shirt. Either dab the sponge or cloth to add texture, or drag it across the shirt to smear the blood.

Use your fingers to smear the blood by hand for a creepier look. Put on some rubber gloves to protect your hands if you're using permanent fake blood. Fill a small bowl with your fake blood. Dip your fingertips into the blood and spread them over your shirt. Drag your fingers to add smear marks, like someone was trying to grab onto your shirt. Alternatively, you can dip your entire palm into the blood and press it into the shirt for a more ominous touch.

Dip a cotton swab in the fake blood and use it to add small details. For really small marks and controlled writing, grab a cotton swab. Dip the head of the cotton swab in your fake blood and hold it like a pencil. Then, use the head of the cotton swab to make small marks or lines. Reload the head of the cotton swab as needed once the cotton dries out.

Using a toothbrush for small splatters

To create small splatters of fake blood on a white t-shirt using a toothbrush, you'll need to prepare your workspace to avoid making a mess. It's recommended to work outdoors or place a drop cloth under the shirt to protect the surrounding area. If you're using store-bought fake blood, check the label to see if it will wash out, and if not, use a shirt you don't mind throwing away. You can also create your own fake blood by mixing corn syrup, chocolate milk, and red food colouring.

Now, let's get to the fun part—creating the small splatters! Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands from the fake blood. Lay your t-shirt flat on your work surface, and if it's still wet from other layers of blood, be careful not to touch the wet areas. Prepare your toothbrush by dipping it into a small bowl filled with fake blood. Hold the toothbrush 1–4 inches (2.5–10.2 cm) above the shirt, with the bristles pointing downwards. Then, use your finger to gently rub the bristles, sending tiny droplets of fake blood onto the shirt.

The toothbrush technique is perfect for creating fine splatters and adding realism to your creation. You can vary the intensity of the splatters by adjusting the amount of blood on the toothbrush and the force with which you rub the bristles. Remember to work from different angles and distances to create a natural, non-uniform effect. You can also combine this technique with others, such as pouring or flicking blood, to create a dynamic and layered look.

If you're happy with your small splatters, you can enhance the overall effect by smearing the blood with your gloved fingers or a sponge to create streaks or handprints. You can also use a cotton swab for finer details, such as small marks or lines. Remember, the key to a convincing bloody t-shirt is to avoid overthinking it and to vary your patterns and techniques. Don't cover the entire shirt, as you want it to look natural and not intentionally placed.

Creating fake blood with corn syrup, chocolate milk and red food colouring

To make fake blood with corn syrup, chocolate milk, and red food colouring, you will need corn syrup, chocolate syrup or cocoa powder, red food colouring, and water. You can also add in a few drops of green and blue food colouring to make the blood a more realistic colour.

First, whisk together the corn syrup and water. Then, add in the red, green, and blue food colouring and whisk until well combined. Finally, whisk in the cocoa powder or chocolate syrup and let the liquid sit for 10 minutes to thicken.

If you want to make a bigger batch, you can use the following measurements: 1/2 cup (120 ml) of red fruit punch, 1 cup (240 ml) of corn syrup, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of red food colouring, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of chocolate syrup, 2 tablespoons (18 g) of cornstarch, and 1 tablespoon (7 g) of cocoa powder. Put all the ingredients in a blender and blitz for about 30 seconds, or until smooth. If you don't have a blender, you can use a large food processor.

If you want to make the fake blood thicker, simply add in an extra scoop of corn syrup. For super thick fake blood, you can double the amount of corn syrup in the recipe. Just be aware that adding extra corn syrup will dilute the colour, so you may need to add in some extra red food colouring.

You can store your fake blood in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Frequently asked questions