Tag: Props
Aye, what ye need is a good scabbard!
by Cookster on Apr.18, 2009, under Costumes, Props
While David took on the task of weathering the sword, I began to create a cover for the plastic sheath. Leather would have been the preferable material to make this with, but I prefer to cut costs by using vinyl. This is costuming on a budget, you know.
The ones on the left are the original pieces as you buy them. Most of the (continue reading…)
Avast, me hearties! A wee bit o’ prop makin’
by Cookster on Apr.16, 2009, under Costumes, Props
Ahoy, ye scurvy dogs, let’s face it, pirates have fascinated us for centuries. Pirate costumes and accessories won’t be going away anytime soon with the anticipation of Pirates of the Caribbean 4 set to arrive sometime in 2012.
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to make a pirate costume for a friend, David, who had always wanted one. Although I was responsible for the majority of the clothing, it was a very time consuming project. Therefore, I thought it would be more fun to have David work on some of his own props.
As soon as The Halloween Express stores (www.halloweenexpress.com) were open we decided to scope out the various pirate pistols and swords. The sword was from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean line of costume accessories. It is about 32 inches long and has a really nice heavy plastic sheath. Unfortunately, I don’t think it is still available for sale anywhere. Hopefully it will make a return when the new movie is finished.
David bought a couple of pistols and quickly disassembled them to sand any imperfections in the molds. After putting them back together, modeling putty (I think JB Weld might work better) was applied to fill cracks and holes that shouldn’t be there. With various latex paint mixtures and David’s talented eye for modeling replicas, he had some really nice looking prop pistols.
The sword, on the other hand, was a little more involved as it had a sheath cover that needed sewing. That was left up to me. I will cover the makin’ of the scabbard in the next post.
Who you gonna call?
by Cookster on Apr.04, 2009, under Blog Shorts, Costumes
I put a link on my blog last week for the Arizona Ghostbusters and I really wanted to highlight them a little more than just that. AZspidey, in-between gigs as The Joker or his version of Spiderman, was asked to join the Arizona Ghostbusters a few months ago.
This group is a fan based costume club, but what makes them really special is their spirit. I am not talking ghostly spirit here, but charitable spirit like in doing community service work for many of the organizations helping children and families. These guys are not paid for their services and spend countless hours of their own time attending events and collecting donations for many charities. The Arizona Ghostbusters are committed to not only having Marshmallow Man-size fun, but to making a difference in the lives of many people.
You won’t need Ecto Goggles or a PKE Meter to find these guys, just go to www.arizonaghostbusters.com and look for their next upcoming event! See them in California at San Diego Comicon 2009 in July!
AZspidey’s homemade props
by Cookster on Mar.10, 2009, under Props
Todd is a very talented graphic designer, but he loves to tinker with things. Making some of his favorite movie props has become quite a challenge and it has been amazing what he has been able to do with a little ingenuity and a trip to Home Depot.
Pumpkin-Bomb from Spiderman
Lightsaber from Star Wars
Lightsaber - side view
m76 Joker prop from The Dark Knight
Where to start? Part I
by Cookster on Mar.09, 2009, under Basic Sewing, Blog Shorts
This is a request from my other son, Shaun, about this site and some of the things he would like to see here. Shaun like many others out there knows little what it might take to make a decent costume. Here are some of his questions…
- What tools are needed?
- What type of thread works best ( I know some threads come apart in the wash)?
- How do you know when to hand stitch something versus sewing with a sewing machine?
- How much could it cost if I were to try to make a costume from home?
What tools are needed?
Well this really depends on what your project is. Are you making a hat, shoes, a garment, props that go with your costume, or all of those things? I hope as I cover each of the projects I have on my plate, I will be able to give you specifically what tools will be needed. If you really want to tackle costuming, a sewing machine is essential. Singer has some nice inexpensive sewing machines. I tend to like brands that I know have been around for awhile. Do some research on the internet of various brands and styles and look for feedback from customers. You might be able to find a sewing machine at a thrift store, but buyer beware. Just because they run when you plug them in doesn’t necessarily mean they will sew. I had a friend who picked up a working sewing machine at a thrift store for what he thought was a reasonable price only to find that the timing was off. To have it serviced plus what he paid at the thrift store, cost him more than if he had bought it new. If your mom used to sew, maybe she would be willing to let you have her machine or at least use it. Don’t forget to oil it or have it oiled if it hasn’t been used lately. I suggest if you want to buy a new machine that you don’t get one with a lot of fancy stitches. I have a few different stitches on my machine, but basically I need straight stitch (backwards and forwards) and zigzag for stretch fabrics/edge finishing.
