Two small books are on the shelves in time to ignite the imagination creating Halloween outfits. Making Masks (Kids Can Press; $5.95) by Renee Schwarz has step-by-step instructions to make more than a dozen elaborate-looking (but easy to make) masks, from a crazy cat made of painted cardboard to a moon-and-sun mask from paper plates and a falcon from a baseball cap.
Ideas are original and materials are simple - paper plates, scissors, glue, Styrofoam, papier mache, poster paints. Not too difficult for the kids to make with a little direction and supervision.
The Midnight Fairy & Craft Book (Sterling Publishing; $14.95) by Tracy Marsh is a more elaborate guide to creating magical crafts and throwing a fairy-theme party, from making invitations and party favors to costumes, games, decorations and refreshments, including a star-shaped cake and blue dream nectar drinks. Definitely for the those into glitter and wands.
Halloween makeup: More than 15 Halloween faces - Batgirl to Miss Meiow, Dollface, Red Hot Mamma, Nefertiti and Tiger Lily - have been created by makeup experts at MAC cosmetics. The "how-tos" and a list of products to create the looks are available at MAC counters Oct. 29-31 and at www.maccosmetics.com. through Nov. 4. At the Web site, customers can view the faces, print out the look they want, order products or bring the printout to a MAC counter in department stores.
Shopping for a cause: Clothes Encounters, in Tower Hill Plaza in Fort Wright, will be donating a percentage of sales to the American Cancer Society from a special pink-ribboned Michael Simon sweater, sweatshirts and jackets with the tiny ribbon embroidery and other items earmarked for the cause today through Saturday. Store hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Information: (859) 578-0900.
Crabtree & Evelyn (Kenwood Towne Centre) is donating $1 from the sale of each 100 ml. tube of Hand Therapy and 60 Second Fix Kit to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer through Oct. 31.
Trunk show: The spring Geiger collection for women will be previewed 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today at Mike & Carol Trotta, 406 Walnut St., downtown. Information: 621-2930.
Hair weaving: A hair weaving demo by Jeff Weimer will be held at the historic Hauck House, 812 Dayton St., downtown, 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $3 adults, $2 seniors, $1 students, includes tour of the historic late 1800s home and the demonstration. Information: 563-9484.
Student designer competition: More than 40 young designers from 18 schools (six from the University of Cincinnati) will put their creative hats on Oct. 31 for the United States' finals at UC of the International Competition of Young Fashion Designers. Their creations will be judged by the pros, and one finalist will win a graduate scholarship for study in Paris at the Institut Francais de la Mode. The runway run-off will be 10 a.m.-noon in the auditorium of UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. Free.
UC students competing are: Julie Chudnovsky, 23, of Ukraine; Laura Dawson, 23, of West Chester; Jennifer Dusold, 20, of Western Hills; Maren Hartman, 22, of Montgomery; Akarasum Seanglai, 21, of Thailand and Liz Swartzel, 23, of Burlington.
Fall pampering: A time-out day of pampering for busy women will be 6 p.m. Nov. 1-3 at Grailville Conference Center in Loveland. The retreat is based on the book Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Cost: $219-$269, includes meals, back massage, foot and hand treatments, yoga, relaxation and seminars on stress-and-worry reduction. Information: www.retreats.tv or 932-9439.
Wyoming fashion event: Sport and evening wear from Bella Donna in Glendale will be in the spotlight at the annual Wyoming Junior Woman's Club Fall Event 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Phoenix, downtown. Money from the show benefits the Wyoming schools' Bullying Prevention program. Lunch and a raffle with prizes from toys to clothes, restaurant certificates and $500 cash will be held. Tickets: $25 at 761-7263.
New at Northgate: Charlotte Russe, the hot stop for young trend-setters, has added a store - at Northgate Mall - to its Greater Cincinnati operations. The store, targeted to 15-to-35-year-olds, joins other Northgate additions, including Aeropostale, Body Central and Nu Image.
ETCETERA showing: Fans of the mix-and-match separates from ETCETERA for women (size 0-14) can see the holiday line 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 2 and noon-5 p.m. Nov. 3 at 11030 Grandstone Lane, Montgomery at the home of the northeast Cincinnati ETCETRA representative. Information: 469-6908.
Domestic violence T: The Elizabeth Store in Kenwood Towne Centre is selling a limited-edition T-shirt to mark National Domestic Violence Awareness Month to benefit the YWCA-Alice Paul House. The front of the long-sleeved pink cotton shirt carries a cherry red brush-stroked heart with the message "Love is not abuse." The back reads "Reject relationship violence." Cost: $12. It's also being sold at (800) 449-786-7867. Phone sales will benefit the Family Violence Prevention Fund. The store also has a series of handbooks on domestic violence.
Free canoes: Outdoor outfitter L.L. Bean is celebrating its 90th anniversary of keeping toes toasty and folks well-dressed by giving away 90 special-edition Old Town canoes with paddles and personal flotation devices, of course. No purchase is needed, but those who buy through Dec. 24 will be automatically entered. Enter online at www.llbean.com/90canoes or by ordering at (800) 809-7057.
Down with neck tags: So Hanes, the nation's leading manufacturer of men's underwear, is introducing its own tagless T-shirt. The new Ts will have all the label, fabric and care information required by law heat-transferred on the inside of the shirt's back. Retailers will start rolling out the new shirts soon.
Designer award: Debra Moreland scooped up her second Bridal Designer Accessory of the Year Award in a row recently at the Couture Bridal Awards in New York. Also toting awards were Amsala for Classic Designer and Reem Acra as Bridal Dress Designer of the Year. Ms. Moreland is known for her delicate veils and headpiece designs and the foot jewelry so popular with beach brides. Her shop is at 305 W. Benson St., Reading.
Three-day mascara: A mascara that lasts three whole days and doesn't require make-up remover? Too good to be true? We heard about the Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lash Tint, so we slapped down our $7.50 and brushed it on. Lighter than traditional mascara and true to its name, it's a tint, rather than a solid color and "feels softer." Itching and rubbing didn't remove it, and we even tried smudging without success. It stays in place and gently fades away. But it's not for the Tammy Faye and Liza Minnelli eyes out there. "Understated" is the right word here.
Gannett News Service contributed.
Contact Joy Kraft by phone: 768-8467; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: jkraft@enquirer.com.
