Make Temporary Tattoos

If you don’t want to pay high prices for a real tattoo or just need something for a short time, then an alternative is to make temporary tattoos yourself.

Several Kinds of Temporary Tattoos

Temporary tattoos can be a lot of fun and make interesting conversation pieces. The most popular temporary tattoos are bought in a store. Once the skin is wet, you apply and remove a backing sheet. These tattoos are easy to apply but also easy to mess up. There are more temporary methods available including:

• Airbrushing
• Pencil transfers
• Permanent markers
• Eyeliner
• Henna

These are just a few of the things you can use to make temporary tattoos. What follows are easy and inexpensive methods.

Why Use Temporary Tattoos

There are several uses for temporary tattoos including:

• Film: Many actors, including Bruce Willis, Wesley Snipes, Vin Diesel and Robert Deniro have all worn temporary tattoos in films.
• Party favors: If you have a birthday party for a child coming up and you're looking for a cheap party favor, consider temporary tattoos.
• Try before you buy: You may want a tattoo for real but aren’t sure where you want it or how it will look. Wearing the design you want as a temporary tattoo is a great way to try it on for size.
• Fashion statement: Sometimes you just want to look cool or up with the times and a temporary tattoo is a lot safer, easier and less painful than the real deal.

Make Temporary Tattoos Yourself

Regardless of your reasons, you can make temporary tattoos at home for very little money.

Nail Polish Temporary Tattoos

It seems a little out of the ordinary but nail polish does make an impressive temporary tattoo. You can use it to get the same look and feel as a tribal tattoo because shading and highlighting is difficult to do with nail polish. You also can’t do anything really artistic.

• Decide on what sort of tattoo you want and make a stencil out of it by:

1. Draw your design on a piece of paper
2. Cut out only the parts that you want to color

Note:If you are using more than one color, you'll make two identical copies, removing the second color and leaving the first. Repeat this process for any additional colors

1. Choose your nail polish colors
2. Put your stencil on the part of the body where you want it
3. Paint the nail polish from the outside in to avoid getting nail polish under the stencil
4. Wait for the first color to dry before adding any other colors

In order to remove the tattoo, use regular nail polish remover. Keep in mind that nail polish is not meant for the skin so do a test on the back of your hand. If it itches or burns, then do not use this as a method of making a fake tattoo.

Permanent Marker Temporary Tattoos

Take great care in using permanent markers because, like nail polish, they aren’t meant to be applied to the skin. In order to make temporary tattoos with a permanent marker you will need the following:

1. Fine tipped permanent markers (a series of colors or just black if you prefer.)
2. A stencil of your design (see above)
3. Rubbing Alcohol (90% is preferred but 70% will also work)
4. Deodorant (clear stick, not roll-on)
5. Q-tip
6. Baby powder

The first thing you need to do is cut out your design as you did above. Arrange your markers and make sure everything is set up in advance. In order to use permanent markers to make a fake tattoo, follow the steps below:

1. Apply the deodorant in a very thin layer where you want your tattoo to be placed
2. Trace your stencil onto a piece of paper making sure you have enough black outline ink
3. Place the stencil over the area with the ink side down, then apply firm pressure so it adheres in place
4. Remove the paper and examine the area to make sure the transfer took to the skin and if not remove with alcohol and try again
5. Trace your stencil outline with a fine tip permanent marker to darken it
6. To add color, draw a line or two of your desired colors and dip your Q-tip into the alcohol and with short, circular motions begin to blend the colors
7. Add colors as needed line by line in order to get the shading you like
8. Use your fine tip marker to go over the outline again

If you want to remove this tattoo, apply an alcohol soaked cotton ball and lightly scrub the skin until it’s completely gone.

Eyeliner Temporary Tattoo

If you need a temporary tattoo for a very short time, an eyeliner tattoo is the way to go. These are very suitable if you need a tattoo for a Halloween party, play or just to make your family and friends wonder what you’ve done to yourself.

You will need:

• Eyeliner pencils (make sure one is black)
• Stencil
• Q-tip
• Hairspray

Begin by placing your design where you would like it to go, then trace it out with the black eyeliner. Add your detail lines as needed. Begin coloring in the design and using the Q-tip to blend in the colors. Once you are satisfied with your finished product lightly coat it with hairspray. The hairspray acts like a sealant to prevent the finished product from smudging. Make sure you wash it off at night before bed or you will wind up seeing your design rubbed off all over your bed.

Samples

The following graphics are good examples of work that a non-professional can do quite easily.

Celtic Knots
Shading Fake Tats	Zodiac Signs

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