#raven help

[hankypankymcspanky]

So, I’m here too

I guess I ended up in this universe too? It’s quite.. curious to put it in the nicest way possible. Hopefully I can run into the others sooner or later, raven if i’m lucky enough I’m sure. I just entered a gas station and encountered a man and a woman fighting over what appears to be frozen waffles, this universe is great already

[worthyironman]

i'm quite fond of those perfectly placed holes in dean's jeans right on his thigh. i'd like to thank not only god by jesus for these jeans. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come here today before you with grateful hearts. I thank you for this day. I thank you for that beautiful pair of ripped jeans that Dean O’Gorman wore in that photo shoot. I thank you that his legs are well toned. I thank you for the golden hair adorned on his body. I thank you for that thin white shirt that he decided should accompany those sinful jeans. I thank you for dying for my sins so I may think about ripping those jeans off of him. Blessed be these thoughts. 

Amen

[rooktacular]

Hello! I am making a raven belt myself, but having trouble finding the right size casting! I'm not sure if i messaged you about this before, but i hope you don't mind me asking again. Where did get the castings for the shape of the gems in post/43583550766/ ? Thank you!

Hey! I don’t think you’ve messaged me specifically, but I have answered this in detail here.

I didn’t specifically get mine from this website (I’m able to buy them at local craft stores), but I use Castin’ Craft MC-5 molds with 1oz of resin. :)

[rooktacular]

Hey, i had a question about one of your How-Tos. How did you get the gems off the molds for your raven once they were done hardening?

I use a mold release on the molds before I add the resin, so once the gems are hardened, I just give the molds a whack* with a hammer and they pop out. 

*Or several lighter taps, which is generally better and less harmful to the mold/gems.

elfgrove also tested using other methods of mold release...things, and you can see her results here. (Aka dishsoap seems to work as well as mold release.)

If you've already got your gems cast and you haven't coated the molds with something before doing so...uh...I'm not entirely sure what you'd do, other than trying to get them out the way you'd normally do it. I'd be more concerned with saving the mold than the resin myself at that point.

[rooktacular]

Hello! I saw that you cosplayed Raven from Teen Titans and I was wondering how you made her cloak? were there any specific patterns used? Thanks in advance and amazing cosplay btw~

Hey anon! There wasn’t a specific pattern I used, but I used this tutorial as a basic guideline, but with more seams to incorporate the two different fabrics I used to add depth. I used a pattern for the hood, but I can’t remember which one in particular, and then I just modified it to add the pointed tip and interfaced along the edge so it would still stand up when it’s down.

Thanks for the compliment and good luck! :D

[rooktacular]

Hello! You've probably have been asked before, but I cannot find it if so! For your Raven belt, what did you do for the chains? If I can't get what you have, what would be the cheapest alternative to the belt? I'm only cosplaying for a day (free comic book day in canada I'm super stoked), but will be improving it gradually in preparation for conventions.

The chain itself is a length of gold chain I bought locally and then made into smaller pieces around the large links of the belt itself by using pliers to take them apart. If that makes sense. If you’re in Toronto, I specifically bought it at the Leather Supply Store which is now on Spadina. I don’t think it was terribly too expensive? Maybe $2 a yard and you only really need just less than your waist measurement. The large circles were a bit pricey though (a few bucks each, and there’s…8? of them?).

Other options… I mean, sometimes second hand stores have chain belts that can make a good base. I personally have one that’s decent, albeit a little small. There are some on ebay, or maybe places like Ardenes? I’m not entirely sure unfortunately.

[rooktacular]

Hello! I was wondering what kind of dye you used for the gems on Raven's belt. I love how vibrant the red is, but I can't seem to find a dye that can achieve that color. I've used Castin' Craft transparent red dye, but it came out too purple-y.

That’s actually the same one I used. The only thing I can think is to experiment with how much dye you use? Also what you back the gems with also affects the colour. (Mine are backed with gold foil so they look a little warmer. The red gems on my Sailor Moon odango covers are back with silver so they’re a little more “cool”.)

[rooktacular]

do you have any tips on how to make a belt like raven's if you don't have access to power tools? (I'm trying to make Sailor Jupiter's rose belt)

Well, one option if you were going by my tutorial specifically, would be to just sand down the pieces by hand. It’d take longer, but that’s something.

Or, if your casted gems are the right size for the rings you have, it’s also possible you won’t have to do any sanding? Had I used a little less resin, they would’ve fit in the rings better.

Also if your resin is not super hard, you can cut into it with a small knife or sometimes even scissors to make the notches. You just gotta be careful you don’t cut yourself. Alternatively, if you’re making the molds yourself, you can add the notches in that way. I personally don’t have much experience making molds, so it’s not something I’d do, but it is an option.

Hope this helps some and…makes sense. Feel free to ask more questions!

Added a tag specifically for questions and things pertaining to the Raven belt tutorial.