Hi, everyone! Excel, reporting for duty! I'll be your guide through the wonderful world of cosplay. In this world, you'll find many helpful tips for doing a great cosplay. I'll try to post at least once a week with some advice on topics such as cosplaying on a dime, getting character personalities right, and finding rare cosplay items. I'll also feature my own cosplay from time to time, and maybe even some of yours! If you have any questions or ideas on what you would like to see featured, feel free to PM me.

As always, stay classy, Otakuites!

Excel~
~~Why draw anime when you can BE anime?~~

My Own First Cosplay!

Well, I've shared my Ranma cosplay with you, but I just realized I never shared my FIRST-EVER cosplay! Gomen nasai...

My first cosplay project was Akasuna no Sasori, of Naruto Shippuden fame. It actually wasn't very complicated. My boyfriend ordered the Akatsuki cloak from Ebay. I couldn't find a cheap Gaara or Sasori wig, so I went to my local costume shop and found a Columbia wig, from the movie Rocky Horror Picture Show. For pants, I just wore plain black capris. I couldn't find a way to make the sandals, so I simply wore black flipflops. Seeing as I'm a girl, I had to wear a shirt under my cloak. Looking back, I wish I'd made a couple of small puppets to have carried around. I also wish I'd found a way to make the shinobi shoes...Well, here are some pictures!
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DDR's kind of hard in that cloak...

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I was even able to do the black cowl! However, that one only works because it's a close-up. I did it in my room at college, after the debut of the Sasori costume. I used a black Halloween cape...

For my next project, I've completed a female Ranma Soutome (Ranma 1/2) costume. I'll be wearing it at A2F V, which is November 20-22. I've posted pictures on this World already. I've also completed a Rosiel costume (Angel Sanctuary)

If any of you Otakuites plan on coming to A2F V, PM me, and we'll see about meeting up. I'd love to meet some of you!

Well, stay classy, Otakuites, and happy playing!

Excel~

Special Items: Deidara's Eyepiece

Hey, everyone! This week's feature is a guide on how to make Deidara's eyepiece. Before I begin, I'd like to point out that this is not the only way to make the eyepiece. However, it is the only way I know how. I got the instructions from Hiron, on YouTube. All credit goes to her.

  • First, use the clay to make the base of the eyepiece. To do this, make a thin sheet from the clay (not too thin, though!) and using references from the internet, cut it to be the right shape and mold it to your face.
  • Next, make a smaller sheet of clay and make the piece where the lenses go. Attach it to the base using water.
  • For the lenses, you can use a red and a blue lego brick. Press them into the lense plate in the proper spaces (use reference found on the internet).
  • You now need to make the "lense holders". To do this, make two small clay "sausages" and lay them around the lenses.
  • Let your clay dry over night, or bake it in the oven (whatever the directions on the clay package says to do).
  • When the clay is completely dry, you can paint it with miniature or model paint. Use the internet reference to do this.
  • After you've painted it, you can attach it to the headband and use a large rubber band (which will wrap around your ear) to steady it.

Other Tips

  • To help the clay stick to other parts of clay, slip and score both pieces where they will be attached. This is done by making scratches in the clay while it is still wet. You can use a toothpick to do this.
  • DO NOT use pottery clay!! It is too heavy and will NOT work!! Believe me, I've tried this. Instead, opt for modeling clay or air-dry clay. Crayola makes a great brand.
  • This is a great reference to use for the eyepiece. This will also work.
  • Clay can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, or other craft stores.
  • Miniature or model paint can be purchased at Hobby Lobby and other craft stores.

Well, that's all for now! As always, remember to take pictures of your cosplay! Document the experience. Learn from what you did. If something worked for you, share it! Or if it didn't work for you, find out why it didn't work and fix the problem. If you would like, I'll also be willing to feature your cosplay on this world. Just send me a couple of pictures (or links to them) and a description of the cosplay.

I'm also open to suggestions for the next guide or feature, as well as any questions. If I can't answer your questions, I can direct you to someone who can.

Stay classy, Otakuites, and happy playing!

Excel~

When Cosplay Goes Wrong, Pt. 1

Okay, so this isn't meant to run anybody down, really. But here's some examples of bad cosplay. This is not meant to offend anybody! I actually applaud these players' efforts! No flamers, please.

First, we have a typical example of horrible cosplay: Overweight-Middle-Aged-Man as Sailor Moon!
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When anyone mentions bad cosplay, the image most of us receive is that of an overweight man who appears to be in his 30s or 40s dressed as Sailor Moon, or some other short-skirted heroin.

Next up, we have someone who went too cheap: Cheap Kakashi!
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While it is good to do a cheap cosplay, it is not always good to be THIS cheap! Wigs can be expensive, but toilet paper is a poor excuse for hair...

Now we come to something that can be truly disturbing: Existing Characters' Love Child!
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While we all know that Jessi and James were destined to be together, we did not expect them to reproduce...Pokemon will never be the same for me...

Oh, look! More cheap things: Cardboard costumes!
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If you choose to use cardboard to make a mecha, please please PLEASE put some real effort into making your costume! Wearing a cardboard box and writing "Gundam" on it does not work.

Finally, we have a cosplay nightmare: A furry!

Now, don't get me wrong. A lot of people actually like furries. But please remember that CHILDREN often attend conventions!! Do not ruin their childhood by trying to be a sexy furry!

Well, that's all I have for now, as theO only allows up to 5 pictures in a post. Look out for more of When Cosplay Goes Wrong!

Stay classy, Otakuites!

Excel~

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