Costume: Levy McGarden (Fairy Tail)

I really wanted to do something from Fairy Tail, I have a lot of friends who cosplay Fairy Tail and I like it so I wanted to do it. I had thought about doing Lucy as she is a precious little boo but I also knew I had this blue wig in my wig box that would be perfect for Levy and Levy is ALSO a precious boo. Originally I was going to do her white shorts and bathing suit top outfit as I thought I'd be able to find all the pieces off the rack (very wrong). This was pretty last minute before Anime Fest but I still finished her in time. I always have to have one costume I'm rushing to finish before Anime Fest. It's tradition at this point.

Construction is pretty basic, only notable things are that while stretch gets the look of the art for some reason this combo is a beast to hide undergarments beneath. Also I messed up the grain of the lining on the sleeves so they aren't very stretchy so they take a minute to put on. The wig isn't a lace front, it's a normal wig with the bangs pinned and fluffed into the bouffant. Her hair band (which is made of  a scrap of lining material) hides those bobby pins. I'm pretty happy with her, especially with how quick and cheap she was though I can't wear her for about half the year here as it's a drafty costume and it can't be worn if it's windy.

Series: Fairy Tail

Construction Time: ~1 week

Cost: $31.08

Materials and Construction:

$8.27 Blue Arda wig (won on eBay)

$3.89 1 yd Lining

$12.87 1 yd spandex

$6.05 .86 yd white rayon lycra
$22.54 bustier

On hand:
Ace bandage
Pantyhose
Sandals
Black and red fabric paints
Thread
Pink and red craft foam
Bobby pins
Old glasses
Hot glue
Blue wig cap

Debut: Anime Fest 2014

Final Appearance: Still in Rotation

Costume: Glynda Goodwitch (RWBY)

Basically as soon as I saw the first episode of RWBY I knew I wanted to be Glynda. She's so kickass and cool and her costume at first glance looks pretty darm normal. And a friend of mine was super excited to hear that since he wanted a cosplay group of the entire cast of RWBY.

I never realized how tiny she is until now. I'm a size 2 and I look way bigger than her.

I decided to push ahead of the rest of the group and get Glynda done for Ikkicon (I have so few warm costumes you see) and it only took one alnighter to have that happen. That would be when I also started learning how not that practical Glynda's outfit is. Since I was going to wear her for a winter con first I altered the design to some solid black thermal leggings and a knee length skirt (honestly she seems more the type to wear a knee length skirt). Her top seems like it should be made from a cotton or something else crisp in order to do the puffy sleeves and wrist ruffles but the only way to get it to fit right everywhere else without a ton of seams was to use a stretch material. I went with the stretch since that made fitting easier and I had some in stock.

The cape was a pain in the butt to make. In order to get the tentacle bits to not curl it needed some hardcore interfacing but using interfacings in something so curvy and pointy is a pain. It took me an entire day to get that all set in. But I am happy with the results. Also really like how the painted crown came out but I have no pics of her back. :x

As for how it goes on... Let us just say that those little gold bits that pull at the keyhole opening cannot in fact hold that sucker on. There's no way, not without pulling the keyhole out of shape. And there's no buttons or pins or anything. She clearly must be using magic but I don't have Huntress magic. So it gets safety pinned to my bra straps. The little fake gold clip bits keep the cape permanently attached to the shirt (via safety pins).

The riding crop is made from scraps of worbla all smushed together then rolled into the right shape and painted. It's a little hefty but free/a good use for the box of worbla scraps which I still have plenty of.

Series: RWBY

Construction Time: 2 weeks

Cost: ~$50

Materials and Construction: Epic Cosplay wig, hair donut, light green bobby pins, sateen (black), purple lining, gold fabric paint, craft weight interfacing, safety pins, worbla, gold acrylic paint, rayon/lycria (white and black), bronze pin, earrings, teardrop charm, gold buttons, skirt (knee length heavier weight for winter and mini with lace for summer), leggings (thermal for winter and purple snakeskin for summer), socks, boots, black spray paint and silver acrylic paint.

Debut: Ikkicon 2013

Final Appearance: Still in Rotation

Costume Planning: Knockout

Since there was a LOT of planning and plotting that went into how to make this guy work it requires it's own post unlike all my other projects which just had one or two sheets that I could put on the costume's post.

So, onward!

As you can see, the theme for this guy was layers. Lots and lots of layers.

Materials and Spending Log: Yuna and Summoner Staff 1.0/1.5

Costume Cost: $85.46 ($96.15 including lost materials)
Staff Cost: $94.49
Total Cost: $190.64

Costume:
$29.46 Wig
$4.54   Wig Head
$6.50   Swim Top, Black
$.54     1/4 yd Flannel, Pink
$13.54 Joann's Paint and Dye trip #2
            -Dye, Petal Pink
            -Fabric Paint, Royal Blue
            -Fabric Paint, Holiday Green
            -Fabric Paint, Yellow
            -2 yd Broadcloth, White
$3.24   1.5 yd Broadcloth, White
$5.40   1 yd Linen, Yellow Amaretto
$10.12 3.75 yd Broadcloth, Dark Royal Blue
$1.60   2 yd Cord, White
$.64     Velcro, Beige
$1.07   Plastic Canvas, Clear
$4.33   Bead Strand
$2.13   Interfacing
$2.35   Interfacing, Craft Weight

Lost Materials:
$5.61   Fabric Paint, Glacier White
$1.55   Fabric Paint, Holiday Green
$1.55   Fabric Paint, Cool Blue
$1.98   Pink Dye


On Hand:

Staff:
$15.09 Fiberglass Resin
$2.68   Fiberglass Hardener
$3.78   Spot Putty
$8.65   Lacquer Thinner
$4.30   Block Sander
$2.13   Wash Tub
$3.24   Brushes
$3.78   Masking Tape
$10.70 Poster Frame
$12.99 3 planks 1/4" Balsa
$12.99 2 Mascara Tubes
$1.64   Spray Paint
$3.97   Spray Paint, Periwinkle
$3.97   Spray Paint, Gold
$3.54   Spray Paint, Brown
$1.04   Spray Paint, Navy
On Hand:

Materials and Spending Log: Knockout

Total Cost: $204.09 ($236.57 Including failed prototype materials)
$64.50 Spandex World (Same order as Arcee 2.0)
            -4 yd 4 way Spandex, Metallic Red
            -1 yd 4 way Spandex, Metallic White
            -1 yd Rayon Lycra, Gunmetal
$26.07 2 yd 4 way Spandex, Metallic Pewter
$12.93 1 yd 2 way Spandex, Metallic Silver
$10.54 1 yd Stretch Satin, Bordeaux
$8.66   Tshirt, White
$33.98 32 sheets 3mm Craft Foam, various colors
$2.15   Foam Pirate Hat, Black (base of helm)
$4.27   2 Foam Board, White
$1.15   Poster Board
$6.16   Balsa
$9.50   2 bags Hot Glue Stick, Hi Temp
$2.15   1 pk Twill Tape, Black
$1.07   Center Release Buckle
$.53     Velcro, White
$3.97   Spray Paint, Metallic Silver
$2.49   Sharpie, Silver
$3.21   Tiny Nails
$1.07   Novelty "Diamond" Rings (for headlights)
$3.21   Machine Screws
$6.48   Testor's Model Paint, Black Window Tint

Failed Paint Materials
$16.24 2 cans Automotive Spray Paint, Burgundy
$16.24 2 cans Automotive Spray Paint, Clear Coat

On Hand
Shoes
Papercard
Plastic (Windows)
Zip Tie, Black
Stockings, Black
Stocking, Beige
Ribbon, Red Glitter Velvet
Spray Paint, Gloss Black

Spending and Material Log: EDI

EDI 1.0
Cost: $115.65 ($154.55 total)

$24.00 2 yd 4 way Spandex, Metallic Silver
$12.00 1 yd 4 way Spandex, Metallic Black
$12.00 2 yd Rayon Lycra, Charcoal
$13.86 Shipping, SpandexWorld
$21.64 Bra, Black
$3.24   1 yd Vinyl, 12 gauge
$5.38   1 pk 2mm Craft Foam (4 sheets used)
$1.93   2 sheets 2mm Craft Foam
$2.45   26" Sport Zipper, Nu Grey
$1.77   22" Invisible Zipper, Nu Grey (not used, too short)
$1.07   Velcro, Black
$5.40   Vinyl Glue
$4.91   Duct Tape (for head double)
$2.01   Bottle of Coke (Visor)
$3.99   Eye Shadow, Silver Lining

Other Costs:
$39.90 Shoes (Tobious Cosplayous bought)

On Hand:
1/2 yd 4 way Spandex, Metallic Pewter
Neoopaque Paint, Black
Lumiere Paint, Pearlescent White
Hot Glue Sticks
Thread, Sharkskin Grey
Paint Brushes and Trays
Plastic Bags (to stuff head double)
Orange Sharpies
Rayon Lycra Scraps, Black
Cream Face Paint, White
BB Cream
Eyeliner, Black
Eyeliner, Silver
Lipstick, Silverwitch
Face Powder, Translucent
Eyeshadow, Gunmetal
Cosmetic Brushes

EDI 1.5 Upgrades
Updated total: $217.05 ($256.95)

$80 2 yd custom printed spandex
$7.30 Snazaroo light grey face paint
$2.50 Snazaroo white face paint, refill size
$3.25 Covergirl eye shadow in Silver Lining
$8.35 Ben Nye setting spray
$3.67 Butt pad

On Hand:
Black craft foam
Print outs of the gun
More thread
More hot glue

Spending and Material Log: Arcee 2.0

So, since I actually keep almost all my receipts and tend to be able to remember what of my on hand stuff I used I thought I'd log that for my own records. See how much actually went into these beasts. Then I realized I would have loved to have gone through someone's materials and spending log when I was just starting out (I still would, I love finding out how other people do things~) so I'm going to type up the ones I have. Only my most recent costumes have these so far but I'm going to try and do them for all future costumes (not including Schwarz since I've somehow lost ALL of his receipts). All amounts include tax (.0825 here) as well.

So first up, the pink bot. My second pink bot.
Total Cost: $137.31

$40      Spandex World (same order as Knockout)
            -3 yd Rayon Lycra, Hot Pink (about 1yd left over)
            -2 yd Rayon Lycra, White (no leftovers)
$22.61 26 Sheets 3mm Craft Foam, various colors
$1.60   2x Velcro, White
$4.27   2x Foam Board, White
$.54     Poster Board, Black
$.54     Poster Board, White
$2.58   1 pck Twill Tape, Black
$4.79   1 bag Mini Glue Sticks, Hi Temp
$3.02   Thread, Hot Pink
$9.72   Boots, Kelis Wedge from Target
$6.50   Leggings
$41.14 Spanx

On Hand:
Mask from Arcee 1.0
1/4" Elastic, White
Leather Gloves, White
Scoop Neck Leotard, Black
Rayon Lycra, Black
Autobot Vinyl Decal