Orhime hairpins photo tutorial and more....

how to make one of the most simplest props and save yourself about £4 in the process, as they cost about £6 to buy onlineor anywhere else come to that. so first of all gather up your materials what you need:

Blue foam, Scissors, pencil or pen, a gold marker, some super glue, glitter (optional).

Rght start off by drawing or tracing your flower pattern, some people prefer to print off an image but i think drawing it yourself means getting it the right size. Then cut it out and draw around it like a stencil on the foam!

Once you done that cut them out, dont worry about black marks, take your super glue and glue your hairpins to the side of the flowers that have the black marks on! b ecarful not to glue yourself to the clips!

next step (optional) if you want it to look like they're active and powerful i put a light dusting/smear of glitter on them just to give them that extra shine! Then go around the edges in gold marker pen including down the sides. and voila! (picture below is incomplete not all gold marker is drawn on).

Now i was going to write here about how i made my fire wand for my elementalist, i've lost a lot of the photos so it will now be mostly text baised. Basically what i done was i got a broom handle, chicken wire, pliers, masking tape PVA paper mache paint, electric tape cardboard and some plastic tubing. I first molded my chicken wire to resemble the top end of the fire wand using the pliers and my bare hands, and to temporarily stick it to the broom handle i used maskingtape, i made some carboard rings ready to make part of the handle 3D. on the other end of the handle i added 2 cardboard shapes which i then maskingtapped together around the broom handle. heres one of the pics i've found...

then i paper mache'd all over each end NOT THE HANDLE! and then painted. the handle i then cut in half so it was easier to transport and carry, but how did i put it together again? the plastic tubing of course! i pushed one end inside the tubing securely and used the electric tape to cover and blend it in up the broom handle until the end, and i covered the other half the same apart from the section which would be pushed inside the tubing at the event, this means you can keep it on you at all times and not have to worry about prop rules if you want a prop to be longer/taller.

the finnished end. Well i hope these two mini tutorials helped you or gave you some ideas. leave comments if you wish. Luna x

I can't believe it!

Sorry it's been so long, i've not done any cosplay work or anything really related to it all week! i cant believe i kept away from it for so long. However i am going to be posting my own tutorial during the week, well 2 actually. One on how to amke a Fimo bone necklace like i did for my necromancer, and how to make your own Orihime hairpins as i am going to be making some for a friend for her cosplay (different to those you see about on the net atm)

I would also like to tke this time in mensioning a friend of mine has just got her own cosplay blog aswell and you can find it here: kimi's blog she will also be posting tutorials, she does a lot of fursuit and mascot work ^_^

Next week i shall hopefully be putting up a lot of updates progress and possibly tutorials i have a week freedom! and im going to spend it doing cosplay work ^_^ and you know what i cant wait! so keep you're eyes peeled and be prepared for some cosplay blog spam.

luna
xx

Blast from my past

Well both of my blogs were going to have the theame "blast form my past" but i think ill do this one today and theother tomorrow when i can find the stuff for it. Anyway..

When i talk about cosplay i always get "well what got you into it?!" well in my case it ust.. kinda happened? i dont think there was really any much of a push, my mother is very good with a sewing machine and used to make her own clothes too she was even part of the medieval society and made costumes for that, so i guess you can say it runs in the family?

Though i must say there were a few people who inspired me alot when it came to cosplay, and they were mostly the cosplayers around me at the time, Vincent, ryzy, and the many other cosplayers who atttended london MCM expo when i first went, i felt so left out when i didn't cosplay it was almost "I MUST COSPLAY!" though... even then didnt take much encouragement to get out my artistic flare, though people didnt accept me for doing it to start with people soon became more and more open to the idea and what it was about and what it meant to me. since then i really hope i've inspired others to cosplay, or in some cases crossplay. heres an image of myself and my partner Ryzy cosplaying as haruhi and chisaki at Ayacon 2009 i might like to add i'd had a really rough night and i know not standing properly or posing that was due to an injury to my foot (which put a big downer on the con)

so much for that...

Well i must say i was going to do more cosplay tonight and get more pictures up however....... after a small accident i'm actually unable to do much with my sewing machine sewing cutting, not too much active so, im going to see if i can root up something else for you guys =D

How to make folding wings

paper wings tutorials - epic tutorials


enjoy =D

I forgot!

I forgot to update the blog oh noes!

Well i've done some more th shun'ou not much but possibly enough so here you go ;) sorry bout bad pic quality will get a better one when its done. i just need to finnish stitching on the gold ribbon the collar and the main parts done ^_^

Wings 'R' Us

Today i spent most of the day cosplay making, i set myself tasks and ok i didn't complete them but i think i set my stndards too high anyway and i wasnt anticipating taking my uncle home either. What did i get done? Well I do not have pictures because its too dark however i've managed to finnish the wing frames, dye the material for my wings and almost complete shun'ous main outfit, just need to adjust the shoulders sew in the collar and front ribbon and tis done! Hell yeah! i was even impressed i sewed in my first zip today too! now to lay off the snack food loose a little more weight but not too much and ill be even happier =D

will post pics as soon as i can, i might even get some with me wearing it if i finnish after uni tomorrow ^_^

Those that inspire

Well i haven't got any progress again tonight, Although at the end of tomorrow im hoping my wings will be done! i just need to finnish the bottom frame cut and dye the material, dry and stitch. (yeah hand stitching them wont be that fun). Also whilst they are drying, if i dont get caught up into guildwars, i am hoping i will have some of my necromancer also sorted. (the top shoulder pads will be awsome to finnish as they're half way there).

Anyway yes, People who inspire. Well i have a lot of my friends i look upto when it comes to cosplay, they've done some amasing things. Miss kimi-chan, Iron, Shinikami, Shunasassie and Taby (and wow is Taby amasing ^_^ especially her new steampunk wings with working cogs) anyway there are more but i shall leave it there. there are a few girls i would like to credit for a youtube video, there is a reason for this, i love foam, and i have used it in a few cosplays now so i can understand what these girls mean, and hell all cosplayers should be like this i know i am! so have a few laughs sit back and watch this:

Wig tips!

Well I thought i'd share some of my new found secrets regarding wigs today, it seemed a good idea so 2 of the most anoying things about wigs

1) Static
2) Knots
3) Hair spray
4) Crusty old hairspray

How do i solves these problems? well thats what im about to tell you =D so hold onto your hats (just remmeber im no expert but i found this really really helps). first of all static! Its a pain in the bum when you get to a con or get your wig in the post for the first time, you pull it out of the plastic bag and netting that you've kept it in so nicely.... and yet.... its still managed to get static. *OH NOES* don't panic just remember tumble dryer sheets! yes you heard me right, tumble dryer sheets, sit there and rub the wig gently with tumble dryer sheets and watch the static vanish! or (i havent yet tried this) I have also been told that fabric freshner also gets rid of static so if you dont have a tumble dryer sheet and in a rush maybe that options better for you? and hey its always good to have febreeze in your bag at a con anyway if you're wearing those cosplays all day right? I do anyway.

Well 2,3, and 4 can be solved in one easy sweep really. Washing your wig! i know it sounds really bad idea its bad enough with all those knots right? I was scared as hell when i washed my Hatsune Miku wig for the first time wondering what it will turn out like. and in all honesty it came out quite nicely though i had pretty much wrecked it already through brushing T_T though theres aparently a cure for this yet oh yes .. see a later blog entery (yet to come))  first off see if you can brush your wig GENTLY with your wig brush, if so give it a small brush first. Then take it to the bathroom and run it under a warm shower head, this helps run any crap out of it through it rather than sitting it into water (which means the dirt goes nowhere) then get a hair dye sachet of hair conditioner now i had some left over from when i dyed my hair however rather than bying hair dye you can buy these saches individually in superdrug now =D HUZZAH! we are saved! this conidioner is made to protect colour, make your hair soft and get out knots, and its not as strong as normal conditioner so its perfect! putting your wig on a wig stand gently rub the conditioner into the wig and if you have knots make sure to put a lot more in those areas then rinse again until all the cnditioner is out get a spare pair of hands if you can to hold the shower head close whist you gently rub the knotted areas loose whilst you're rinsing.. now the tought part DO NOT USE A HAIR DRYER!!!!!!!! not unless your wig is made of real hair. but leave it on a sunny window sill with the window open on the wigstand to dry, this can sometimes take a few days depending on weather and time of year. then once dry you're all ready to restyle it =D

hope this helps if not here have a antenna bangs tutorial that i found enjoy ^_^

Antenna bangs

All paid up but not yet ready to roll!

Well last night i paid up for amecon 2010, i'm well chuffed and mega happy however i am far from ready and prepared for any con. although myself and Luchia have decided the night before MCM Expo we're going to be cooking all sorts of goodies for us to take, including a pocky cake i have invented and willinig to try out, some cookies, mink creams and other sorts, which will be fun, i have set myself a really early deadline for cosplays. I've almost finnished the skirt now just need to put it all together add popper and bones and its done, then onto the rest =D. and hopefully if i work hard the next couple of days along side uni work i can get some done, if not possibly finnish a cosplay? Wishful thinking maybe but its a target im willing to set myself. so here are some images of what i've done. i hope you like it as much as I do (these are different from my facebook photos as Kan-Chan pointed out to me the others were way too dark.

 

when this bits done i'll post what i've done all together in one blog post =D

enjoy

Cosplay Views and Euro cosplay?

Well i said i would write one about my views on cosplay so here goes, and please if you comment remember this is completely my own opinion.

Well theres a lot of people that ask me "what is cosplay?" Now for those who know what it is its easy to understand but for those who dont, it maybe a little more harder to understand why we love it so much! cosplay is basically "costume" and "play" Cosplay is more than dressing up as any old random anime character, it can be any anime gaming or sci-fi character/creature. Choosing a cosplay is very important to each person independantly as its meant to have some meaning to every person. Cosplay is not just about the costumes at all, it may look like it however its not, and this is what in my opinion defines a good or bad cosplayer; A Good cosplayer is someone who not only looks like but can also take on the personalities and characteristics of a character. a bad cosplay is only half of that (and sometimes this can result in elitism, some only wear costumes that flash off waay too much because thats all they care about, but of course they get everyone looking at them - doesnt mean they are a good cosplayer) A brilliant cosplayer is someone who can take on both, someone who looks amasing stunning and can still take on the characteristics and personality of their character. To me this is what matters most, aswell as the time and effort put into making the costumes, HOWEVER saying this it is never wrong to buy or have cosplay comissioned as long as you dont claim it for your own.

I hope this helps those who have asked me understand my opinions now =)

Anyway onto the second half of the subject. Euro cosplay 2010! A scary thought. to enter or not to enter, there are some amasing cosplayers out there at the end of the day way above my standards. I have a choice, i can either enter at Amecon or London MCM Expo, Although at expo its more discreat about if you enter or not.   This will be my firt ever cosplay competition entrance for may MCM masq, as nervous as i am im excited too. Im putting all my effort into both costumes which are both being entered. Also ass i said its also about whether you can get the both factors into your costume, and its the taking part that counts!

So i hope you enjoyed this/my rant and a special shout ot to KimiChan who i really wish she would enter the Euro cosplay because shes so amasingly good!

Elementalist

Well i was going to post some more progress on my necromncer tonight however i have barely done anything after i came home because i was so wound up about somehting else, and as normal when stressed i clean, so instead of cosplay i cleaned up previous cosplay making mess and my fishtank. though i did finnish hand sewing the peices i had done for the skirt together =D

Anyway the title, one of my first flly made cosplays hat i used out on the town was my elementalist canthan armour from guildwars. When i had finnished i was so proud of myself even though the silk started fraying and bells started falling off, the shoes absoloutly killing my feet. At the end of the day it was worth it for the amount of compliments i got. However i plan to improve, on the second improvements of adding my guild cape but here are some photos and some of the progress pictures i took of it.

This is the tip of one end of the wand and the fire artifact i made for my elementalist

 

The cape! this was entirely hand painted with acrlic paints and then ironed to make it washable and water proof. This is my guild Daemons of cantha's cape. And the collar before i painted it.and added more detail.

and of course finally....

 

although this is the only decent image i can find at this point in time, i will post another one later if i can find one. right time to update my design blog and go to bed.

Necromancer Ancient Armour - GuildWars and Shun'ou - Bleach

I will post some more Cosplays i've done after this. but i thought it would be a good idea to post how im getting on with my current projects.

Well minus the sewing machine hiccup i feel im getting on quite well. Shun'ou is mostly done i need to do the collar insert zip and finnish the trimmings. Then i need to finnish the wire frame for the wings, and then her feet. I haven't done too much on her at all to be honest but i think i may do so next week, just maybe to get her finnished so i can concentrate on the rest.

As for my Necroamncer, well times are proving tough and all this details costing me a fortune (in fingers and money), but im glad i've done it in the colours i have. I created a pattern from scratch which i have never done before. ordered and baught most of the materials, and trim including every cosplayers favorite material FOAM!! I have now got in the space of 2 weeks got the bones complete, drawn out the pattern, made the necklace and started the skirt, it doesnt sound alot but there was a lot of bones, with 3 coats of paint. and the skirt has a lot of trimming detail, not forgeting i have also done shun'ous wig and satarted the wing frames too. I shall leave you with some progress pictures for now, those i haven't posted i will be posting after i have better versions of  my pictures

 

More Wigs!

If you're wondering about the multiple posts a day, wel until i've caught up with things i probably will be, unless i forget. Once everythings updated i will probably then post when and as things happen. (3 times a week maybe more)

Anyway i have some more wigs to share! This time its Chisaki my custom Chobits character, Lunamaria Hawke and my new mask (thats been baught) for Miku Zatsune Formal version. Most of the decorations ive made fo Hatsune, Chisaki and Shun'ou the base was craft or funky foam, with some good old hot glue gon and a pattern it wasnt hard to put it all together, i use a lot of funky foam in my cosplays i find it rather useful. Anyway pictures! Chisakis head peice was altered later to have a black spot on both sides:

 

 

Shun'ou Wig - Finally!

Well its aken me a long while to get somethig that looks ok, now dont get me wrong its not perfect but then again its not the worst ive done. this is my latest wig for my latest cosplay Shun'ou From Bleach, id worked on this cosplay for a long time and gave up because of her wings, but since a lot of people have given me tips on how to do it im giving it another go. Hopefully ill be wearing this to Mays London MCM Expo. for now here is the wig ^_^ please excuse the tape and pins, it a very heavy wig and the stand tips over if its not stuck down and the wig comes off if its not pinned to the stand.

Celebration Time

Whilst i was posting my other blog the post came, and i was rather happy it did! My new sewing machine parts have come. I'm so pleased. And they sent them to me free of charge, my poor machine is only a year old but the foot snapped, the joint of it whats meant to move, didnt move and the soldering snapped. it took me 2 weeks to removed the screw as it was in so tight it wouldnt come out unless i used pliers (yay for cosplay equiptment) So i am mega happy now and i can finally get on with some cosplay progress, hopefully i can get my necromancer and Shun'ou finnished within the next 3 weeks and start on my cloak for Miku Zatsune.

so we now have one very happy Luna!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Lunamaria Hawke

My Second Favorite Cosplay: Lunamaria Hawke from Gundam seed Destiny. It took  me ages to find a wig that was right for her, i finally found one that was already styled, however when it came due to customs it was in complete shambles so i had to restyle it and tidy it up from scratch. Again another baught Cosplay and still incomplete as i still lack white boots due to my large feet >.<

Hikaru Wig Commission

Well it wasnt so much a Commission as much more of a helping hand to a friend. She had been taking me cosplay shopping alot to get bits and peices and i felt slightly bad, so i decided to help her out and this was how, she made the headset herself but the wig was styled by yours truely. I was quite impressed when i done this. IIt wasn't my first full style job however i knew to her it was importnt i got it right!

Hatsune Miku Wig

Heres a full shot of the wig complete with bands and headset. Its had its fair share of wear and i hope theres more in it yet, Its been worn for many events now and hopefully many more to come. The headphones were simply made out of an old headset and some craft foam cut up to make sections of the headphones in my reference images. I had at one point made a set tha tlit up however they smashed during an event, and well they didnt look all that tidy either!

Hatsune Miku

Well i thought i had better start off with one of my top 3 cosplays i love best, not including the ones im currently making of course. Hatsune Was unfortunatly a buaght costume so i cannot take credit for the main outfit itself however i did style the wig myself and i also added the crazyness and what must have gotten this cosplay its reputation of the lights. Although they now need repairing i must say i did love them! There are a few pictures on Deviant art with me and the lights and my giant 5ft leek, which eventually had to be cropped insize due to breakages and con regulations. I first Wore it at London MCM expo October 2009. Wxcuse the fact my wig is falling off in the second image, it got tangled it the headphone wires. Oh and in these images there are no lights, they had been taken out for a re-soldering job.