Take costume shell and spray with Hi-Gloss Red Spray paint. Spray a second coat. Notice with dismay that the paint is not covering the text on the margarine cups and is soaking into the cardboard. Spray a third coat. No change. Spray the entire object with white Kilz primer. Go back to Lowe’s again for more red spray paint. Wait for the wind and rain to stop. Recoat with red paint, two coats. Bask in the glow of the nearly free (except for the spray paint fiasco) costume you’ve created. Wait for it to dry.