Green Cosplayers!

It always surprises me when people talk about making everything for their cosplays from scratch or if they are buying certain parts and then moan about the costs, as sometimes what you find laying around the house can look just as good and effective as anything else you could use. It may take some time to collect what you need but it can be just as effective if not better sometimes.

Some examples of using household waste/items The first would be Christmas baubles. The plastic ones of course. If you have any old unwanted ones around the house you can either use them whole as floating orbs or even poke balls and the such like or you can cut them in half and use as gems. These are great because they're hollow so if needed you can back them with an LED light. they come in many colours and sizes! So if you really don't want to spend ages making resin moulds for the oversized gems why not try an old bauble.

Newspaper is a very good Tool for Cosplay, for papier mache and protecting your surfaces to using it to make your pattern for your Cosplay. you can get it for free most places, if not ask family friends and neighbours to save up theirs for you. Its something that's always welcome in the Cosplay box, Just like cardboard boxes, great for bases for things such as expandable foam, don't hesitate to ask supermarket assistants if you can have their big packaging boxes when they're stacking shelves.

Packaging, it comes in many materials shapes and forms. Coke bottles are great for making unusual Gems, details on horns, scales and such like. I have used bottles many times, on my current Aion project for a few gems alongside pear packaging, a green bottle for the crystal in my Sylvari ancient staff, and back in College for Scales on a dragon sculpture =)

A friend of mine even made chain-mail from ring-pulls, how awesome is that? She asked all her friends to help her out in collecting them for her, friends are great Cosplay assets, remember someone else's trash is someone else's treasure! And then of course if you're about to throw out the sofa, keep the foam inside the cushions, you never know when it may come in handy, and hey why not even keep the zips or fabric say like if its an old leather sofa, could be great for armour!

Above is a picture of my Chobits crown i made from left over ribbon some left over velvet some old beads from a necklace that broke and some spare left over chain from another cosplay. Just shows you should never throw anything away! Have you ever made anything with any left overs or everyday household "waste"  share links, stories and pics below.