StrikerTheta

“And I’m in this, and it’s been so long It’s hard to know what you did right and what you did wrong Will the scales stay balanced at the end of the song? Coz it’s all that I really wanted to be was strong” - Lazy Habits

BotW Link Cosplay: The Bracer

It’s worbla time! That’s right, I decided to make Link’s bracer out of worbla. I wasn’t originally planning to due to budget issues, but Arda wigs suddenly stocked new sheets of black worbla, including size small, so I could afford to buy a sheet. This was my first time using the material, and I was excited. Overall, it was a total blast! Here’s what I did:

Choose your fighter Dragonbards style! 

It was an honor dressing up with the D&D Crew at MAGFest! I still can’t believe it happened! 

Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsRPsy3rn5E

From Left to right:

Verthandi Aurajon: @tsubasahime

Basye Charir: @phoskios

Nesrinn Aussiria: @strikerthetacosplay

Mel Rach’il: @ohnoslothattack

Critical Role cosplays! Percy, Percy again, Dr. Ripley, Silas and Delilah Briarwood!

I had never considered Percy in pinstripes and now I adore it.

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE GOOD NEWS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, CHICAGO SCREWS??

Ya’ll…if you haven’t ever used these, sit down and take a peep. I needed to redo the belt covers for Leliana’s armor due to the fact that it took me, like, 15 minutes to put that stuff on when it should have taken less than 5. Originally, I bucked at making actual functioning buckles because I didn’t have time and I was hella lazy. (OHHOHOHO HOW THINGS CHANGE)

Enter CHICAGO SCREWS.

They’re the magical little bits of hardware often used in making belts and doing other leather work. They come in two parts - a male end and a female end (don’t laugh, it’s the truth).

I found a sizable pack on Amazon for a good price and bought that prompto. The finish isn’t the prettiest, but they were cheap and this is cosplay. ;)

I used my Dremel to drill small holes through the foam of the armor. I made some straps ahead of time with the intention of them becoming new belts and just reused the bridle buckles from the old covers. Added the buckles, stitched as necessary and punched a hole where the screw would go.

The female screw I inserted through the back side of the foam. It takes a little effort and can be tricky to do. Widen your holes if needed. Add the prepared strap over the top, secure with the male end and TA DA functioning belts that look good and will actually stay on your armor.

I used foam for my armor but you could absolutely use chicago screws with Worbla builds and the like. Just check the post length to make sure it’s long or short enough to accommodate your materials.

AS ALWAYS this stuff takes practice. You get more comfortable the more you do it, but there are tips and shortcuts to help you achieve something more in your control then just smiling and hoping you look right. 

My favorite tips are the, “MMMM”  “me” “haha” and “you” tricks! And what they are, are words to say to yourself during your pose to help train your face into specific structures. For smiling for example, specifically with your mouth closed, practice saying “MMM” when you pose! It creates a really natural curve to your mouth, without making your cheeks ache and contract when you force yourself into a fake smile. I know this all sounds stupid, but seriously try it. Try it in some selfies, practice agnling your head. Say it out loud if you need to!Here’s me saying “MMMM” to make a closed lipped smile! 

For an open mouthed, natural, teeth smile, say “Me” when you pose!! You can either say “Me” as you smile for a prounouced smile, or simply say it as the shutter goes off to catch a more candid looking, happy state of your face. 

These are all “me” poses, where im literally saying the word under my breath to train my face. 

Saying “You” so youself as you exhale through your lips, creates a very neutral, easy, UN TENSE, looking face. Its my go to for everything. YOU poses are awesome for static poses, where you just need your face to look normal, natural, and pretty. Lol. It’s great cause if you dont do this and keep your mouth closed, you often look boring or too stiff. Sayng “you” activates your muscles and livens your face enough that you dont look dead or lifeless. 

These are all You poses. I’m literally saying that word a I pose. And some of these I say YOU while putting a little smile in there by thinking happy thoughts.

I don’t use “HAHA” as much, but it really is just like you might think. Saying HAHA out loud as you pose creates that easy going, natural look of laughing. 

As you might tell, Posing is a lot about ACTING as well as knowing your body. 

SO GET LOOSE. In between photos im CONSTANTLY moving around. And after a few shots im cosntantly stretching my mouth wide, making fish faces, puffing my cheeks, RELAXING my muscles so they don’t do that horrendous School Day smile that we all dread. 

And again PRACTICE. Get in front of that mirror and try out a bunch of stuff. Try DIFFERENT WORDS to see what saying them dos to your expression. Try angles and poses at home, so when the camers in front of you, your ready. 

Then youll be able to do more complicated stuff too.