Nothing quite says intense fan craziness for a team like people with their body painted in team colors screaming their heads off at the big game. As the Super Bowl gets closer, there will be some folks in Indianapolis and New Orleans pulling the black, gold, blue and white paint out of the closet to prepare themselves for the biggest game of the year. Here are some steps for turning up the volume on your fandom to the next level.

Find the right paint

One of the biggest mistakes an enthusiastic fan can make is to pick the wrong kind of paint. You want paint that isn't going to stain your skin or make you sick. The best choice can be found at costume or theatrical shops and is the same used at Halloween. It is non-toxic and made to come off easily with hot water. There are other non-allergenic paints at hobby and craft stores. Liquid latex is also an option, as is homemade paint. You can make homemade paint with a combination of cornstarch, cold cream, water and appropriate food coloring: 1 tbsp. of cold cream, 2 tbsp. cornstarch and 1 tbsp. water for a small container. Scale up, based on how much you need. Make sure you have enough, whatever you buy, because you don't want to get halfway through spelling Peyton Manning's name and run out of paint. Also, guys should be ready to lose some hair when the paint comes off.

Have a buddy paint you

Painting your body can involve some hard-to-reach places, and words and letters only add to the trickiness. So it's best to employ the buddy system. You paint your friend and he can paint you. That way, you will get even coverage on your arms, back, neck, face and other parts that may be difficult to reach on your own. When painting words or letters, your friend will ensure they are going in the right direction and everything is spelled correctly. If you are going as a large group, you may want to spell out words in the right order, so you don't get to the end and realize you forgot a letter.

Keep it safe

You might like being close to your friends before the game, but make sure you keep it safe and don't get too close. Don't share brushes with the other people in your group, and wash your brushes often. When you are finished, make sure you clean your body thoroughly. It's a good idea to invest in some facial cleaner and body soap just for this painting adventure. You will want your skin clean before and after the game.

Source:

About.com: Face/Body painting tips

Howcast: How to be a rabid NFL fan

More Information:

World Body Painting Association

Face Painting and Body Art Association