Halloween Costume Time!!!! Part 4 - The finishing touches

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND WE MADE IT!!!!

This was a really long process of research on all sorts of cool Cosplay sites and 3D printing sites, but we are finished and all is AWESOME!

The (almost) finished helmets.  I still have to add the face shield and "skuff up" Boba Fett's helmet.

I used some clear face shields we had on hand, may go get some window tint for Halloween, but it will be dark, so I think the clear works for 10 yr old boys!

 

Jet pack and both helmets done!!!!

 

And, the Big show, at the 2021 Texas Renaissance Festival - 1001 Dreams Weekend

 

And, Jake and Liam meeting a fellow Mandalorian! 

When we took this picture we said "say this is the way" instead of "cheese" and he said it back and it sounded just like Mando!!!  Was so cool!!!  

So, that is IT!  I hope you enjoyed this journey just as much as I did!  I will now resume normal life and crafting and scrapbooking.  OH WAIT!  I have one more costume to make (Fennec) and I'll post when that's done too!

Halloween Costume Time!!!! Part 3 - 3D Printing

Last year, 2020, we purchased a 3D printer, with the initial use would be to print masks and face shield parts to donate for the medical community.  We had always wanted one, but never really knew much about them.  But, lots of people who had one were also printing stuff to help out, so we went ahead and got one.  We printed out masks and face shield parts for a few weeks, and were glad we could help out in some small way.

We then played around with our printer, enjoying the fun stuff we could do, printing things to help Dean, things to play with, and all that.  Then, after about 8 months, it clogged.  The feeder tube stopped feeding the filament, and it no longer worked.  We knew we needed to take apart the thing to see if we could fix it, but we "never got around to it".  Fast-forward to September 2021, we asked a friend who we know has a printer to print some Mando weapons for us since ours was broken.  He is a nice guy and of course offered to do that, and offered some suggestions to fix the old printer we have.  Well, we decided to give up on that and bought a NEW PRUSA 3D printer, and the quality of this thing is awesome!  We told our friend we got a new one and could print the guns, so we were off! 

  

This is Mando's "Amban phase-pulse blaster" (I had to look that up).  Dean found the pattern online for free so we went to town!

 

Here are the mando guns in progress!

Funny story. Liam (Jake's friend) asked if he was going to have "the back pack" for Boba Fett, and I said yes, if I have time, and had fully planned on making the thing out of cardboard and pipes.  HOWEVER, Dean found that pattern too!!!

 

This thing is huge, and really really cool!!!!

This is us priming the 3D prints after gluing them together.  Let me tell you, i'm not sure how people keep their 3D prints together, but we had the hardest time!  Superglue works, but one tap and it breaks, especially the blaster!  We will need to work on a solution for that in the future.

AND, after experimenting with paints, air brushing (I'll go into that once I get to the helmets again) and acrylic paint, here is the finished blaster!

Will post jet pack picture once I show you the helmet process first!

 

Halloween Costume Time!!!! Part 2 - Beskar Armor

To continue the EPIC costumes that are the Maldalorian...

Here we have the Armor for Mando primed and painted.  I used Plaid FX Flexible Acrylic Paint on this one.  It really turned out awesome!

Armor Pattern - this pattern is for Boba Fett, but I managed to change it up to look something like Mando's armor.  I used the pattern called "Complete Boba Fett Templates (WizardOfFlight Boba style Mandalorian plates – Downloadable)", should be the first one.

Here is Boba Fett's and Mando's "shirts".  I bought t-shirts from Hobby Lobby (since they are like under $3) and cut them to make something that a 10yr old boy would easily put on or take off!

 

This shoulder armor are my favorite pieces!  The Mandalorian logo is cut from vinyl on my cricut, the Mudhorn is from our new Prusa 3D printer.

All of the armor is attached using E6000 glue.  It does seep thru so be sure to glue it on paper or another surface you don't mind getting sticky.  Also once it's cured (48hrs) it's near impossible to remove!

In the Garage waiting for the glue to dry and cure.

All armor is cut from Black Foam Roll, primed and painted with Acrylic paints.  Fett's logos are all vinyl cut from my cricut.

Be back soon with the helmets and the weapons!

Halloween Costume Time!!!! Part 1 - Helmets

So, I pretend I'm a great customer maker. Like a cosplay level costume maker. I know I'm not.  HOWEVER I feel I'm close and getting better every year!

This year I talked my guys (my son Jake and his friend Liam) into being The Mandalorian (Din Djarin) and Boba Fett. I of course will be Cara Dune. And Liam's sister Missy into being Fennec Shand! It works because Missy's dad loves that character. Long story short, I told them I would make the costumes. This is a HUGE effort, but completely Awesome!

We started off by researching helmet patterns and how to do this thing. We found some excellent resources and got started!

This is Boba Fetts helmet in pieces. 

This is EVA 10mm compact craft foam. 

EVA foam Cutting tutorial - this lady is soooooo funny and super talented, so is her husband!  Enjoy!

Free Mandalorian Helmet Pattern and tutorial.

This took a lot of work to cut! Follow that tutorial if you don't have a bandsaw, and you can do it.  Be patient, have fun!

So, after going to the hardware store for supplies, and lots of dremmel to smooth the edges, I put the helmet together

half way there

Right side done!

ALL together now!!

The best part of this is I get to do it all over again with Mando's helmet!!

So after sanding with a Dremel and adding the extra parts and stuff, we have this

AND after sealing and priming...

And repeating the whole thing, we get Mandos helmet

I actually totally forgot to seal this before priming and you can see the caulk filler difference. So I sealed it it as is and primed it again. MUCH BETTER.

So, next step is painting. We just bought an air brush. Let's hope I can figure that out!!

Wine, Halloween, and other fun cards

Making cards is fun.  They are fun to send, and sending smiles is always a good idea.  I make a lot of cards just for fun to send to the Roadie RAK group on FB, and its a blast!

 I love making cards, especially with wine!  So why not make some cards ABOUT wine!

Ink Road Stamps - Inked Girls Robin

Paper from stash

Copic Markers

Distress ink and a small jar for the rings

At some point in my paper crafting career, I would go to Hobby Lobby and look thru the "dollar bin" and sometimes you would see nice things like clear stamps!  Thats where these came from.  I didn't use them much until now that I stamp and make cards often now, but they are so fun!

Copic Colors and Distress Oxide inks

Blending brushes

Lawn Fawn Peekaboo Backdrop Dies

Black cardstock and Bristol paper for ink blending

Again with the cheep Halloween stamps from Hobby Lobby 

Trick or Treat die cut using Cricut and System Fonts

Distress Inks

Sizzix Sequins and Beads Lovestruck

You want some soup?

As a HUGE Star Wars Fan, been one since my Mom took me to see the first one at the ripe ole age of 4 in 1977, I was ecstatic about the Mandalorian Series on Disney+.  I was hooked on the first season, and delighted to show my son as well, and the 2nd season was even better!  Anyway, I just love Grogu!  He's the cutest!!!  So, when I found Ink Road Stamps and saw that they have the child in not 1 but 2 sets, I couldn't wait to order and use them.  She also has a sentiments set for Star Wars.  I had to have that one too.

Speaking of the Mandalorian, my favorite scene from season one was when Mando met Cara Dune, and they fought in the alley evenly matched, and at the height of it, the child walks out of the café with some soup, and watches them.  Mando asks Cara "You want some soup" as the child takes a sip.  Just perfect!  AND, of course there's an image of the child and the soup cup in the stamp set.

Stamps "Baby on Board" Ink Road Stamps

Alphabet stamps for the soup title

AWESOME Star Wars paper from Sandy Lion

Copic markers for coloring

Washi tape

The copics on grogu's robe - E33 and E00 BOTH decided to run out of ink while coloring for these cards!  I use those 2 colors all the time, especially for skin tones and animal fur, and its perfect for this robe.

Since those colors ran out, I had to go to my stash of "cheep alcohol markers" (the black ones) my mom bought off of Wish I think.  They are a little more yellow than brown, but they still work.  I changed up the greens too by adding the other non-copic white markers above.  Those were found at Tuesday Morning, again by my mom.  She spoils me so!

Stamps "Holiday Baby"

Stamps "Droid Please" for the icons

Random paper from stash

Copic colors.

I believe the tree behind Grogu is a Tim Holtz Die

This is the one I did with the other colors.  Not bad!  He really stands out!

Just for the record, my mother bought all sorts of 6x6 paper pads, decided she didn't need them, and gave them to me.  What's funny is she always buys me one when she gets one, so now I have DOUBLE the 6x6 paper pads, mostly Christmas!!

Here's to my Mom for making this post possible!

My Mom and Dad in the wave pool in Fiesta Texas, July 2, 2021

What the Fork?

I have made this card for a friend who needs a pick me up. Going through hard times is so not fun, but getting a fun card always makes me feel better!

Products used:

Distress Ink in cracked pistachio,  peacock feathers, and evergreen bough

Martha Stewart Butterfly punch

Random big butterfly die

Kindred Stamps WTF die

Ink Road Stamps Lint Licker Stamp Set

Neenah White Solar White Card Stock

Foiled card stock 

Iridescent sequins in 3 sizes

Glossy Accents 

Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle

Gina K Connect liquid glue

I actually tried a technique I just saw on the Jennifer McGuire Ink blog where you use die cuts from White cardstock to lift some color from an inked background.  I didn't like how mine turned out, need practice I guess, but since the die cut butterflies are symmetrical I was able to place the cuts on top of the spaces the technique makes and it looks awesome.

Below is my first attempt.  It was on low quality 110lb cardstock and just didn't look good at all!  The ink did not blend well, or even hold the color well, the white cardstock die cuts lifted well, but I just don't like the ink blending.  Too Splochy!

Trying it again really worked out well, especially since the 2nd one looked better, even if I didn't use it as I hoped to.  That's the fun of making cards, sometimes your vision doesn't play out, but what you end up with is just as if not more beautiful!

Have a great day and thanks for visiting!  Happy Crafting!

Its just a bunch of Hocus Pocus!

I have the "Full Moon" stamp set from Ink Road Stamps and had a bit of fun!  I love all the quotes from this particular movie, so it is now one of my favorites!

Ink Road Stamps - Full Moon

Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock

Distress inks

A really cool Sizzix Embossing Folder

Gold Embossing Powder

VersaMark Watermark Stamp Pad

Orange Stickles
Black Cardstock

Kraft Cardstock

Gold Glitter paper - Marth Stewart
Ribbon from Michael's

I used the technique of putting ink on my embossing folder and run through my die cutting machine like normal on the background.  I did not like the way I inked it up originally, looked horrible.  But, then I inked up my stencil with black Distress Ink over the already inked panel and it came out like this!  How cool is that!

I added a fussy cut image from the stamp set inside.  FUN!

Here is another card, using the same Embossing folder but on some really OLD color core cardstock I've had in my stash for years.  Its where you have a black on top of a color cardstock.  when you emboss it, you can use a fingernail file to rub off the black to reveal the color underneath to make a really pretty background.

Ink Road Stamps - Full Moon

Core'dinations color core cardstock

Marth Stewart glitter and plaid paper

various stickles and a few sequins 

Black cardstock

White Embossing Powder

VersaMark Watermark Stamp Pad

Here is what the background looks like without anything on it.  Really fun technique.

Let's hope we have a great 2021 Halloween!!  I hope to make more soon!

I Love the 80s! Don't you?

It's been a while since my last post, but I'm trying to start doing more card designs and crafts to share. So, Hang on Tight, it may get bumpy here and there!

I recently found a wonderful stamp resource that I want to share!  It's called Ink Road Stamps.  Have you  heard of it?  It's a nice small business out of a small town in Texas (kinda like me!) and they have the most amazing stamps!  A warning, there are some adult theme stamps and phrases, so be careful when opening, don't want the little ones around.  

One of their recent stamp sets was Musical Decades 2 (I missed the first one since it retired, but has since come back and I snagged it too!) which is a sentiment stamp set of only 80s pop song lyrics!  How  totally rad is that??  So, I got this idea to go down the stamp set one by one and do a card inspired by the song lyric.  

Please enjoy this walk down 80s music (which lets face it is the BEST) memory lane...

All of the following Sentiments are from Musical Decades 2.  All other products will be listed below the card.  All black ink is Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.

I'm Walking On Sunshine

Simon Says Stamp Hello Sunshine

Lawn Fawn Sunflower Ink

Distress Oxide Wild Honey Ink

Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Printed Paper

Might as well face it you're addicted to Love

The bear is mounted on a Craft Spring to make it wiggle!

Simon Says Stamp I Love You Beary Much

Simon Says Stamp Tumbling Hearts Stencil

Lawn Fawn Raspberry Ink

Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Elle-Ments

Distress Oxide Kitsch Flamingo

Sizzix Love Struck Sequins and Beads

Ranger Liquid Pearls

Copic Markers

Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Printed foil Cardstock

Just a Small Town Girl Living in a Lonely World

Simon Says Stamp Gnome School

Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangles

Cloud and Grass Stencil

Copic Markers

Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Printed Paper

Its the End of the World as we know it...

Lawn Fawn Out of This World

Lawn Fawn Snowy Sky Stencil

Lawn Fawn Rectangle Dies

Copic Markers

Distress Oxide Inks

Ranger Glacier White Pigment Ink

Ranger Liquid Pearls

Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Printed Paper

Pour some sugar on me!

Simon Says Stamp - February 2021 Card Kit

Sweet Truffles

Sizzix Love Struck Sequins and Beads

Printed Paper and Cardstock from Kit

Ranger Glossy Accents

Printed Paper

Sizzix Tag Dies

Copic Markers

Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Printed Paper

I wanna Dance with somebody

This is is spinner card!  So much fun!

Lawn Fawn Party Animals

Paper Smooches Mirror Blocks (to make the backwards fox)

Sizzix Love Struck Sequins and Beads

Tim Holtz Stitched Ovals Dies

Copic Markers

Kraft Paper

Printed Paper

Another One Bites the Dust

Kindred Stamps Rock Legends

Distress Oxide Ink in Kitsch Flamingo, Wild Honey, Peacock Feathers

Ranger Glacier White Pigment Ink

Lawn Fawn Rectangle Dies

Copic Markers

Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Time After Time

I got this die set JUST for this airplane stamp set.  SO FUN!

Lawn Fawn Little Dragon and Winter Dragon

Lawn Fawn Flying By

Lawn Fawn Swish and Pop Die Set

Cloud, Mountain, and Grass Stencil

Distress Oxide Ink in Mowed Lawn, Frayed Burlap, Salty Ocean

Copic Markers

Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Take my Hand and we'll make it I Swear

Kindred Stamps Galactic Adventures

(note set is retired but they have more "Galactic" stamp sets available now)

Simon Says Stamp Tumbling Hearts Stencil

Lawn Fawn Rectangle Dies

Ranger Ink Liquid Pearls

Printed Paper

Copic Markers

Neenah Solar White Cardstock

Never gonna Give You Up

My son was into Kiwi Co last summer and the first kit was a spinner art kit!  

He made this background for me which is completely AWESOME!

Kindred Stamps Stand By You

Ranger Glossy Accents

Colorful Sequins

Kraft Paper

Copic Markers

Neenah Solar White Cardstock

And, there you have it!  I hope to do this same thing with the original Musical Decades stamp set, it has a lot of "Don't Stop Believing" going on so it will be fun!!

Thanks for visiting!