My last post was long ago and I guess it’s really time to show you something new!
Like always I’m really busy with making costumes. But I haven’t made so much progress with my Demon Hunter and my Druid Tier 9, because I had to cancel all my current projects for a special commission: An Alexstrasza costume for all upcoming events of the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game in Europe! And yeah, that’s right, I got an awesome new job (and quit my old boring office job) and become a member of the wonderful Apotheosis Agency. It was a long, long dream to quit my old job and find something better, something more creative, but I didn’t expect getting my dream job. So, I’m still not able to believe it, but all I can say is: AWESOME!
My very first duty was, to create a costume for my upcoming jobs at the european WoW TCG events of Cryptozoic: This costume is Alexstrasza, the Lifebinder from World of Warcraft.
I got this job about 2 months ago and so it was the time when I still… how should I put it… was in my after-Christmas-sweets-time. So, I was still pretty fat and started to work out a lot on my crosstrainer to be get back into shape again. After 2 months of hard work and diets I was pretty successful and already lost over 12 pounds (4 pounds left) and at that time I started my research and plans for the costume.
There were many problems: What materials should I use for the armor? How can I create the pattern at the armor parts? How should I attach the horns and style the wig? How should I create the golden borders at the armor? And many, many more questions. After about 3 weeks of research and experimenting I chose this material for the armor base: EVA foam
I guess it’s the same like EVA foam, “Goldy foam” (cosplay.com) or Lion Board. Or it just works in the same way. It’s very flexible, durable and you can form it with heat, so it’s just perfect for a comfortable armor. Because of the pattern and my good experience with my last costumes I chose my furniture / teflon leather for the cover. And because of all the time I spent researching I started with something I’m well skilled and have fun: Carving expanding foam!
As you can see, my horns were the very first part to get a shape.
Then I tested my learned methods at the first armor part, the head piece, and was very satiesfied with the result. I just used Wonderflex (order this awesome material at the right side, ha ha! XD) for the base, covered it with teflon leather, soldered the patterns with a soldering gun and added shadows with Copic markers.
Now it was time to start with my gem stone experiments and many different mixtures with colors followed:
I searched a long time for the right way and my final decision was this tutorial. In this picutre the blue one was colored with nail polish. And this was the final result:
I’m pretty happy that I got so much time for this costume (3 months) and so I wanted to create this costume as good as possible and just became obessed with it. So, I kept on experimenting with the EVA foam and the right way to create the armor. I started with the bra and sadly it ended in a fail:
Unfortunately I still have many problems with sewing and I’m also pretty bad in creating patterns. This one was just too big, wouldn’t fit and was just… wrong. The next version was much better:
As you can see I used an ordinary bra for the base and covered it with teflon leather. Now came the hard part: The golden borders. Again I researched and tried again until I found a way I was satiesfied with:
The method I used to create the borders was very time consuming and I needed a bit of skill and luck with the material to do it right. I cut long stripes with a triangle shape out of the foam and used fluid glue to cover it with stretchy golden fabric. To create these borders burned most of the time I needed for this costume! And this was the result of my work and my diet:
I’m still working on this costume and so the bra is still not finished, but I kept on working on further armor parts with the same techniques:
That’s the current status of my project and as you can see I’m done soon. And I really cannot wait for this day!
I’m not able to focus myself on one goal and just finish one costume part, so I’m always working on different parts at the same time. So I finished my tiara in the same time (all the golden parts you see is just golden painted Wonderflex) and started with my wig.
This time I didn’t use a wig with cheap quality (like all my other wigs) from China. No, now I got a wonderful and very durable one (it got a lof of pain later! XD) from the german cosplay shop mycostumes.
And because of all my experiments with it, I was really happy to have chosen this wig. I tortured it with Copic markers (tried to dye it), styled it with hot water, hair dryer and hair straightener and brushed it many, many times. Dispite of this it still looks like new and I was able to find the right technique to style and attach the horns.
So, Benni got a new paint job and did it very well (like always) and it was time to attach them.
The horns were one of my biggest problem and I really tried a lot of methods to fix them: Magnets, bobby pins, hair bands, belts and much more. The final solution was to sew the horns direcly to the wig like in this wonderful progress I found on cosplay.com. So you see guys: Posting progress is something really awesome and you help guys like me with your projects!
After I solved the biggest problem I added the details, styled the wig and was really satiesfied with the result. There are still some tiny things to do, but I guess it looks already nice.
And it’s a great feeling to wear them, ha ha! But they are a bit too heavy because of the size of the horns and all the details! I still have to test if I’m able to wear them for a whole day. Hopefully it will work!
Now I only have to show you my cloak (used chiffon and dyed it to make it a bit darker at the bottom) and hope you enjoyed to take a look at my progress. You’ll find more at my facebook progress site soon and the finshed costume will be done in the next weeks, too!
And then I had an awesome photoshoot with Andy Kämmer and my Druid Tier 8 costume:
Okay, and I guess now I’m done! More progress will follow soon!
So, follow, like and add me and be busy with your own projects, too! See you next time!
I really like your works. even though I’m not much in cosplay myself, I’m Jewish – and it’s a tradition, your posts here are helping me in finishing my own costume.
thanks a lot.
Just wanted to say that your work is awesome! :D
I just started working on an Alexstrasza costume(together with my friend who will be Ysera), and your WIP pictures are a great help!
Hallöchen :).. hab mir gerade wieder alle deine Posts zu deinem Alexstrasza Kostüm durchgelesen weil ich bei meinem Cosplay gerade ein bisschen verzweifel. Du hast geschrieben dass du die goldenen Ränder mit der Heißklebepistole befestigt hast was ich ebenfalls versucht habe, allerdings hält das bei mir nicht lange. Der Stoff bleibt leider nicht am Leder kleben. Bei den äußeren Verzierungen bekomme ich das noch einigermaßen hin aber bei den goldenen Rändern in den Platten drinnen (also die Verschnörkelten) weis ich nicht wie ich die befestigen soll ohne dass sie wieder ab gehen. Hattest du das Problem auch ? Wenn ja wie hast du das gelöst ?
I love all your cosplay work, and I think it’s so amazing that you show your work to help other cosplayers! When you made the top for Alexstrasza, did you sew or glue the pattern pieces together? I can barely see any seams!
Hello.
So you are fabulous! This costume is perfect.
I’m in 4th grade of Higth School, I have to do a project this year, I have to build something.
I choose this costume. I already sew (about 2-3 years) so this look hard to do.
I just have one question, where do you buy the foam? I relly want to know because I don’t know where I’m suppose to buy it.
Thank you so much.
-The biggest fan of world of warcraft
With all my respect: Good job!
(iwasawa_chan@hotmail.com)
I bought it on http://www.modulor.de, but I’m sure you can find something similar in the US.
Huhu :D
Dein Alexstrasza Kostüm sieht wirklich super aus :)
Allerdings hätte ich noch ne Frage dazu und zwar wie du das mit der Rüstung bei den Armen gemacht hast. Schlüpfst du da einfach rein mit der Hand oder legst du die um deinen Arm und machst es dann mit Schnallen zu ? Oder überhaupt wie du das befestigst. Da steig ich irgendwie nich dahinter .. xD
Vielen Dank! Jupp, ich schlüpfe einfach rein. Ich habe recht dünne Handgelenke, weshalb eine Befestigung nicht nötig war.
Hi! :) So, I’m going to make my very first Cosplay Costume, and Well…I wanted to know how you made the golden borders? Like…What material is it? O_O I MUST Know! Lol. By The Way, I am in LOVE with your druid tier 8 costume. xD
Thanks a lot! Ehm… and just read my blog and you will notice it. I even added a link to the shop of this material. :)
Hello! Now I´m making a Sylvanas cosplay and when I was searching information I saw you!! This job is very inspirating for me, you give many ideas, your job is truly great. I have a question: I´m using teflon leather too, but how you maked the dragon´s scale in the leather?? I´m so intrigued!!
(Sorry if my english is wrong)
With a soldering gun like I said in my post. :)
Pure epicness. All I can say, =^_^=
Thanks a lot for your feedback, guys! :)
And yeah, I like the other costumes more, too. They are just more special and it was harder to create them. The Gladiator from Aion is also one of my favourite one and I will wear it on Connichi this year. :)
I really like the Alexstrasza Cosplay, but I have to say, that I like the other Druid Tier Cosplays for example or the one from Aion (the blue one.. I do not know the name at the moment^^).. That one from Aion I like the most! Alexstrasza is a good one, but … For me it is not that special, than the other Cosplays. The other costumes are more special in my eyes. Everyone could make an Alexstrasza-Cosplay, but the other ones are more personal! They are quite so detailed, yeah.. xD I really like them much more than Alexstrasza, also that one looks really nice.
My favourite is the blue from Aion. Would you like to wear it to some conventions in the next time? Maybe to the Connichi in Kassel? I do not know, if I will be there, but it would be so nice to see some photos (shot spontaneous from other people) on the internet… That is all, I want to say xD
Alexstrasza is one of my favorites! I love seeing cosplay for her. This looks amazing.
Hello there! I’ve just found your website and I’ve been looking at your work with my jaw on the floor. You have such great talent! Thank you for putting that talent for everyone to see – it is very inspiring. I’m already wondering what I could do with expanding foam…
Good luck with all your projects! I’ll be looking forward forward to them.
Wow!! I’m so impressed and in awe :) Thank you for posting what you did, it really helps to learn from pros ^^ Amazing! Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Everything is looking amazing so far! Thank you too for posting such extensive progress shots of your work :3
Wahnsinn…. das sieht wirklich unglaublich gut aus! Die Vorlage ist soooo gut getroffen, deine Umsetzung ist wirklich fantastisch, ich bin echt begeistert. Vor Allem die Farbe der Steine… der ganze Kopfschmuck – daran kann ich mich gar nicht satt sehen *_*
Wirklich wunder, wunderschön… *gespannt auf das fertige Outfit bin*
Ich würde ja gerne sagen du übertriffst dich immer wieder – aber du meine Güte! Bei dir sieht alles genial aus! xD
Ich hoffe wir bekommen noch viel, viel, viel mehr von dir zu sehen!
Freut mich auch, dass du so einen perfekten Job gefunden hast! ;-D Ich hoffe du hast dabei eine Menge Spass!
Schöne Grüße
Christina
Hey! :)
Ich liebe deine Kostüme ja schon seit langem, aber DAS ist wirklich der Hammer! Und meine Güte, du kannst ja trotz ein paar Schokoriegeln nicht viel gewogen haben, wenn du jetzt SO wahnsinnig schlank bist, meine Güte! Von so einem Bauch träumen wir Mädels doch alle, ich bin arg neidisch! :)
Besonders der Kopfschmuck fasziniert mich ungemein und er sieht so wahnsinnig authentisch aus! Auch dass du dir so viel Mühe gegeben hast mit dem Brustteil sieht man wirklich, das Zweite sieht wunderschön aus!
Hach, ich bin wie jedes mal wieder hin und weg :) Du bist eine wahre Königin, nein, FÜRSTIN in deinem Gebiet!
YAY, more WoW-cosplay!! Can’t wait to see more! <3
Thank you for the post….as Thermoman and others have been anxiously awaiting. Although you are still “The WONDERFLEX Queen”, it is great to see how you have investigated and found many various construction materials….using the right material for the right application. We all look forward to your next progress post.
WOW!! i love the way you make the borders, and the horns too! ><
Can’t wait to see it all come together. Love your progress shots.
This is amazing.
hello, mate, your blog really cool, like for your cosplay sharing, i like cosplay too, am a cute girl from china, my english name is Jojo, Now i am a senior student, my hobbies is golf, cosplay, designed website, swim, drawing, photoshop, music, shopping, I will graduate from college, i have designed my cosplay B2C online website, hope we can make link exchange, waiting for your reply, please mail to my gmail, ajdv1988#gmail.com, please change # as @, thanks
wow, very good ! *_*
& ich bin begeistert, was du machst ist echt toll und kreativ !!
einfach nur toll!!
you’re just amazing and a big idol to me :D
i love cosplay and want to cosplay sth. with such effort to do, soon, too! ^^
Hmm it seems like your blog ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll
just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying
your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to
everything. Do you have any points for novice blog writers?
I’d definitely appreciate it.
what can i say…only O.O Omg! stunning work! congrats