Alex Kay Cosplay

You don't have to have the most expensive supplies to cosplay, and cosplay well. All it takes is learning how to get creative with what you already have around you. Let's get creative!

[alexkaycosplay]

Sword Art Online (SAO) Tutorial: Lambent Light and Elucidator Part 1

So in preparation for Katsucon, Dylan and I are building our swords for our Asuna and Kirito cosplays from Season 1 of Sword Art Online. This is a first step look at how we built the swords. I have several years of prop building experience, Dylan hasn't really ever done this before, and he did fantastic. This doesn't require a whole bunch of experience, just patience and love of the craft.

Here are the supplies you're gonna need.

3/4" thick dowel rods (we used 3 since we're building 2 swords)

Heavy poster paper, the kind that is shiny and plastic feeling (we used 3 sheets)

A multitude of Sharpies or markers, and pencils

Clear packing tape

Scissors

Boxcutter ( we also bought refills)

80 grade sandpaper

Acrylic paints in Black, pale blue, metallic silver

2 blue gemstones, about 1" inch wide (we picked up plastic ones that were supposed to be buttons)

Caulk (we used 1 decent sized tube) this is the stuff people use to patch holes in walls after nails have been there

First things first is to use reference images of the swords to draw out the blades onto the heavy poster paper using Sharpies.

You'll need to draw each part of the blade twice, since you'll need a front and back of the blade. Here are the patterns for Lambent Light and Elucidator.

Remember that Lambent Light is much thinner than Elucidator, so the blade patterns are different. The poster paper that we bought had graph paper on it, so it was much easier to draw out the patterns. I highly suggest looking for paper like that, it saves a LOT of measuring. We got our paper from Walmart in the craft aisle. We couldn't fit all of the blade on one piece, so we continued it next to it.

Cut out all your pattern pieces carefully.

Then lay them out how they're going to be arranged. Go ahead and attach the length of the blade to the top, so it's now two pieces front and back. Like this

Take the dowel rod and secure it down the center of the back sword piece. It doesn't matter which piece is the back, they should both be the same. Use your clear packing tape for this. It should be like this.

Stop the dowel rod BEFORE the end of the blade, so you'll be able to make it into a point. Use the tape to secure the rod all the way down the length of the sword blade. Attach the top piece of the blade, like a sandwhich with the dowel rod on the inside, and make sure to tape the edges together REALLY tight so they actually look like the edge of a blade where they meet together, like this.

hen using leftover pieces of poster paper, form a very basic shape for the handle on both swords. This is Lambent Light.

I used a strip to make a circle shape, then attached it to the vertical T shape on the handle for the decorative hilt on her rapier.

Then I cut out two tiny shape like tombstones and attach them on the sides for where the blue gemstones are on her sword.

Same thing for the handle on Elucidator, it's mainly just following the reference images since the hilt of Kirito's sword is flat.

Here are the two swords after finishing step 1

Follow me and stay posted for when we post part 2!

[alexkaycosplay]

Tutorial (ish) Arbiter DmC

This is kind of a tutorial, but not really since it's not as detailed as I'd like it to be. I took a couple progress shots, but this was before I really got into making tutorials, and I can't really go back now, since the axe is finished. This is a very basic explanation of how we made Arbiter for a Dante cosplay from DmC, using a very frugal prop building method.

Supplies

heavy tube from inside a roll of canvas

3 pieces of FoamCore heavy posterboard from the Dollar Store

Red, Black, Orange, and Yellow acrylic paint

Cotton balls

Hot Glue

Silver Ducttape

Plaster Bandages 1 pack

We started out by finding a bunch of reference images for the blades at the top, and then we sketched them out onto the posterboard. If you feel like sketching it onto paper, and then tracing it onto the posterboard for better accuracy, do that. You'll need three pieces consisting of one blade piece for in the middle, and two smaller side blades that will sandwhich it on the front and back.

Here is the main middle piece after it's been cut out

After cutting them out, using an exacto knife or boxcutter (I highly recommend an exacto knife for better accuracy), you're going to bevel the edges that are supposed to be blades, if you don't understand how to do that, look up photos, it's hard for me to explain with no references I took myself. Then we painted them using the different shades of red, yellow, orange and black acrylic paint.

Start by painting the center yellow, then using orange working your way to blend outwards, then red, then black. We used the cotton balls to really smudge the paint together and get a good blend effect that looked like fire.

Here are the three pieces after they were cut out and painted.

Notice how the two pieces on top are MIRRORED, this is very important, since one will go on the front, and the other will go on the back.

Line up your center blade on the canvas pole, like shown below

Draw a line on the canvas pole where the blade overlaps the pole. You're going to use a boxcutter to cut THROUGH the pole, from one side out the other, to create a slit where you can slide the blade INTO the pole for better stability than simply gluing it on. It will look like this.

Now, you're going to glue both of the side pieces on using hot glue. You might need to wedge chunks of foam in between the center blade and the outer blades to make it even in some places since the pole is in the middle.

Once you've done this, you're going to wrap the entire handle in silver ducttape so it looks like metal, but a bandaged kind of metal. Then use the plaster bandages to build up and mold a shape for the base of the pole that sits at the bottom. This will close off the hole and also give it some weight on the bottom end to balance out the blade. You'll also need to do this on the top to close of the hole at the top of the pole, and at the center where the blade meets the pole so it doesn't seem like an awkward transition. Again, use reference photos to make this accurate. (Sorry I don't have any photos of these steps.)

A final and optional touch that we added later on was using a hot glue gun to draw on the strange symbols that are on the pole itself, then after the glue dried, we used a cotton ball to paint the symbols black so they stood out and didn't look like glue.

Here is what it looked like finished.

Again, I apologize for the lack of details and progress shots. I wanted to share my method anyway, so it could help someone who doesn't quite know where to start, although I know it won't be very useful to someone who doesn't know the basics, and again I'm sorry D: I hope this helps someone.

[alexkaycosplay]

Recent cosplays I've helped with or made. From top to bottom, left to right: World of Warcraft, Night Elf, made entire costume, makeup, and props. Mass Effect, Renegade Commander Shepard armor, nearly completed. Genderbent Dante from DmC, made entire costume and props. World of Warcraft Night Elf and Tiger, made costumes and did costume makeup. Genderbent Harley Quinn, made entire costume and props. Domino from XMen, made costume and makeup. Genderbent Jack Nicholsan Joker and Harley Quinn, did costumes and makeup for both.

[alexkaycosplay]

Some examples of costume makeup, and cosplay makeup I've done on myself and others. These are just some of my favorites :3

[alexkaycosplay]

Commission Completion

Alrighty! I finally finished a full Caitlyn from League of Legends cosplay for someone, and she has taken it and is very happy. I dyed, hemmed, and detailed the dress, as well as added a petticoat. I made, painted, and detailed the hat. I painted, detailed and finished the shoes. And helped her order the wig. I also made all the leg and arm straps. Here are some photos of the person who bought it, wearing the full costume. What do you guys think?

[alexkaycosplay]

Tutorial: Owl Face Paint

I saw an onslaught of people wearing fawn makeup, and I had to be different than the herd (Haha, get it? Herd of deer? No? Nevermind...) so I decided I wanted to be an owl instead. Here are the steps I used to get this look below.

So what you're gonna need!

White cocoa butter. Very important that it is white.

Black acrylic paint

Brown acrylic paint

White acrylic paint

A medium sized paintbrush that is soft and has an angled tip.

First things first is to take two small containers and mix the acrylic paint in with the cocoa butter. It should be 1/3 cocoa butter and 2/3 paint, then adjust the shade. If you want more detailed instructions on mixing face paint, look on my blog for the paint mixing tutorial.

Once you have your paint mixed, you're gonna start with the outer edge, using a black. The black shouldn't be mixed with cocoa butter or it will turn grey. Since it's not near your eyes it is fine if you use regular acrylic paint. Using a gentle sweeping motion you're gonna make a bunch of feathered strokes from the inside of your eye out towards the edges of your face. It should look like this.

It should look like this on both sides of your face. Add a couple strokes of brown in there to give it shading.

Next, repeat the process with the white face paint mixture. But move the rings further in toward your eye. Also yes, I am wearing my everyday eyeliner, if you wear eyeliner you can, if you don't, you don't have to.

The edges of the white should overlap the inner edges of the brown/black. It's really easy, don't focus too much on precision, the strokes should look natural and random like feathers.

Repeat this process once again until you've reached your eyes, but with the brown face mixture.

The last step is to draw a teardrop shape on your nose using the black. If you want to retouchup your eyeliner (if you wear it) and add some long flares from it, then feel free, but it's not needed.

Enjoy and happy  crafting! If you try this, don't forget to submit photos on my blog!

[alexkaycosplay]

Tutorial: Totoro Cake

I know that this tutorial isn't cosplay related, but it was made for a friend who cosplays Totoro, so I consider it at least a frugal nerdy tutorial.

Things you will need!

2 circle cake pans (I already had them, but they're cheap. I've seen them at the dollar store $2)

2 boxes of cake mix (I used chocolate, any flavor you want is fine $3)

Bag of miniature chocolate chips (Grocery store $2)

1 container of white icing (vanilla, cream cheese, whatever $2)

Chocolate covered candy sticks (I guess you could use pretzel sticks too, whatever floats your boat. $1)

Black food coloring (I use the gel kind because it's sold in individual colors in the cake aisle of the grocery store $2)

For me, it cost $7 because I already had the pans and the chocolate sticks, and the food coloring. If you were to get the stuff to make it, it would be about $12. So for about the price of a birthday cake, you can MAKE a cool cake. Yeahhhhh.

First things first is to mix the cake as directed on the instructions, then bake two circle cakes, each of the same size.

These are the two cakes after they've been baked and taken out of the oven.

Next step is to take one of the circle cakes, and cut it up. Cut what looks like a Ushape out of the top. Then take the U shape and cut it in half, we're gonna use that for the ears. Then cut the bottom off so it is flat. I know this is hard to explain, looking at the picture below will probably help. Once you rearrange the pieces on a plate or tray, it should look like this.

It should basically look like a bunny at this point. Don't worry, we're gonna ice it and make it look beautiful.

Next step is to mix the icing. You're gonna take about 2 spoons of the icing while it's white, and using a butter knife or similar icing spreading tool, make Totoro's tummy. Just that white circle where his tummy is. Don't ice the rest of the cake yet. Before you do anything else, spoon about 2 spoons of icing into a plastic bag and put it to the side. Once you're done with that, take the rest of the icing and mix some of the black food coloring to make a grey that you think is Totoro colored. Ice the rest of the surface and sides of the cake  using this grey. Be careful not to cover up the white.

It will look like that... well once you add the eyes. The eyes I made by taking that icing in the bag, remember that bag you made a minute ago? and cutting the tip off the corner of the bag. Squeeze the bag and draw on two white circles where the eyes should be. Leave a little bit of the white icing in the bag still. Use the above photo for reference. You can use a butter knife to smooth it out if you want, but be careful not to smear it in with the grey. To get the eyes defined like above, instead of two big white dots, take the mini chocolate chips and place them in a ring around the white, like an outline. Then put one chip in the center for the pupil. Tada! Eyes!

Next step is to mix a little black food coloring in with the white icing left in the bag to make a little more grey. Make sure it is mixed well and sit it to the side.

Take your baby chocolate chips and outline Totoro's tummy, it should look like this.

You should also take the chips and arrange them to make the nose. I used one chip for the mouth so it looks curious, but in all reality, you don't really have to put a mouth since Totoro is drawn without a mouth a lot.

Take the chocolate sticks and stick them in his cheeks to make the whiskers, then continue to outline. I know this is a tedious process. You're also gonna take the grey bag of icing you put to the side and draw on Totoro's tummy design. They look like upside down V shapes. Guess what you're gonna outline those next too!

Keep up the outlining! It's a pain in the butt, but it looks really great once it's finished! Everyone will be impressed with your mad skills.

Here's the finished cake in the pan.

Here is the cake with the person I made it for!

Good luck and happy crafting! If you attempt this, don't forget to submit photos on my blog! :)

[alexkaycosplay]

The Big FIVE

As a cosplayer, there are five things that I constantly find myself needing, and that are going to show up in nearly every cosplay tutorial I will be posting.

These are the FIVE supplies and materials that I highly recommend that cosplayers have on hand for use in crafting things.

ONE is Mod Podge

This stuff is high up on my necessities list, because I find myself going through jars and jars of this stuff. I typically use the Matte finish because it's more versatile, and I prefer to add the shine on afterwards. It comes in various size jars and you can find it at pretty much any craft store, and some Walmarts where I live, and I'm sure you can find it online. It's a water based sealer and finisher, that really helps to harden and define the outer coats of any props. I primarily use it for armor pieces and weapons. A 16 oz bottle costs around $8.

TWO is Gesso

I primarily use either Bob Ross or Liquitex brands because they're easy to find at local craft stores, and I've had pleasant experiences with both. I can't say anything about other brands because I haven't tried them. Gesso comes in a variety of colors and is a canvas primer. I mostly use gesso as the base for painting any kind of foam, because if you paint foam directly without a primer, it soaks up the paint and looks faded, taking many many more coats than necessary to come out the even color you want. It comes in a wide variety of colors, but I mostly use the white, because it's easier to paint darker, not so easy to paint lighter. You can get a 16 oz bottle from anywhere around $7 to $11.

THREE is Acrylic Paints

I primarily use acrylic paint for my props. Other people have other preferences, I know, but this is just what I use. Already being an artist, I started out having tons of this laying around, and it's what I adapted my crafting style to. I find it easy to use, with bright and bold colors that can be blended easily and sealed to keep durable. It's also a very easy to find and cheap to buy type of paint, which comes in handy when I need to make a run to get a specific color. I recommend having a large variety of base colors like primaries and secondaries, and then getting specific colors as you need them. You can get these at a local craft store or walmart for around 70 cents a bottle.

FOUR is Hot Glue Gun and plenty of gluesticks

This was one of the best investments I made when I started cosplaying. A hot glue gun seems like it would be expensive, but I recently bought one for $3 at Walmart, and it is still working great after 7 months of constant use. The guesticks can be bought in a variety of amounts. I usually buy the packs of 100 sticks because I know I will use them. Smaller packs of gluesticks range from $3 to $8 for the 100 packs I buy, also from Walmart. I use hot glue for everything, from putting things together, to adding texture details, and even a little bit of sculpting on some cosplays.

FIVE is Craft Foam

Craft foam is so easy to come across, and although most people use it for children's crafts, you can use it for so much more if you learn how to really get creative with it. I use foam for the majority of my armor pieces, as well as some accessories. It can be molded, painted, cut up, and layered to create virtually anything. You can find it in VERY cheap packs at Walmart, craft stores sell it in individual sheets of varying thicknesses for around $1 a sheet, and I've even found it at several Dollar Stores on occasion.

So those are the big FIVE that I constantly use. Happy crafting!

[alexkaycosplay]

New Blog!

I'm anxious to start making tutorials for everyone!

As the frugal cosplayer, I'm a firm believer in the fact that you don't have to have a ton of money to cosplay, and do it well. Learn to use the things around you in a new and creative way, and you'll be making things in no time. I'm gonna start this blog off with a few basic posts of information, then get straight down into individual projects and how to complete them.

Let's get creative!