craft Archives - Journeys Are My Diary

Making a Cosplay Costume

November 10, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

In Summer, Amy and I (plus Kariss who we met there) attended SFCC (Sheffield Film and Comic Con). Last year we were attending LFCC (London Film and Comic Con) but unfortunately the timing just wasn’t right to get to that one this year. I’ve also attended MCM Comic Con in London this year, back in May. However in the end we decided not to cosplay for that, so SFCC was our first cosplay of the year.

Amy and I decided on Disney cosplay (surprise surprise). She was going as Briar Rose and I was Belle. Both choices are their “peasant” dresses, so in a way we’ll be a pair.

I started on Amy’s first as I couldn’t get the fabric I needed for mine without ordering. The first thing I did was find a pattern that would work for what I wanted (I only ever work from patterns). It was pretty easy and didn’t take me too long. Ironically it was another Disney pattern, one used to make Elsa’s Coronation dress.

Next was to pick out some colours. Luckily both costumes comprise of basic block colours, so cotton poplin is perfect for what we need. I headed off to Boyes, picked out come colours and then started to work with the pattern and fabrics.

So once I cut out all the pattern pieces I was sure about, there was the grey to figure out. I picked one that I thought might be a bit dark and when placed together with all the other fabrics, it was decided between Amy and I, that it was too dark. Sadly this began our own 50 Shades of Grey disaster which took about 8 fabric samples from Ebay before locating. However with the grey only effecting the skirt, it was easy to still continue and make a start.

Once the top was done and the grey was found, it didn’t take long to sew it all together and add the zip. It was lucky too as I ended up making Kariss an Alice in Wonderland dress and apron, before also making my own Belle outfit. I was fairly pleased with how they all turned out too.

I have a post on Closet Geek dedicated to all the Cosplay outfits I’ve made so far. But keep an eye out as I will be updating it before too long I’m sure!

Disney Countdown – Days 65 to 59

February 1, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

Monday (65) – Jan 26th – Read a Disney book
Tuesday (64) – Jan 27th – Make or Draw something Disney
Wednesday (63) – Jan 28th – Paint Snow White peg-doll
Thursday (62) – Jan 29th – Play a Disney game
Friday (61) – Jan 30th – Watch a Toy Story
Saturday (60) – Jan 31st – Make Disney inspired food
Sunday (59) – Feb 1st– Paint Alice in Wonderland peg-doll

We started off the week with “read Disney” and all of us commented that we were glad as it seemed like we hadn’t read much of our book so far this month. We were less than half way through too, so we agreed to read a chapter every night, on top of our other Disney challenge. Tuesday the kids were with their dad so they drew pictures at Grandma’s house and brought them home. Megan seemed pretty disappointed with hers, though Lily was pleased. On Wednesday we had a lot to do and Megan made a rush job of Snow White. Since the picture, she has neatened her up and added the hair bow. On Thursday the girls were with Nanny but they were ready for school early and so played on Tsum Tsum in the morning. I’m pretty sure they played again after school too! On Friday our task was to watch Toy Story but unfortunately we were out from after school until the girls had to go to bed. Instead we watched it on Saturday afternoon. We also had Saturday’s task to do which was make Disney inspired food and since we didn’t have much in, we made crown/tiara shaped biscuits and once they were cool, the girls decorated them beautifully. Finally came Sunday and the task was another peg-doll because it was the start of the next princess chain. I can’t believe we’re into February now, meaning only 2 months to go!

Disney Countdown – Days 107 – 101

December 21, 2014 by Bel Leave a Comment

It’s that time of the week again when I round up our Disney Countdown! I can’t believe our third week of doing this has passed and as of tomorrow we’re 100 days till Disney!

Monday (107) – Dec 15th – Make or Draw Disney
Tuesday (106) – Dec 16th – Read a Disney book
Wednesday (105) – Dec 17th – Dress up Disney
Thursday (104) – Dec 18th – Read a Disney book
Friday (103) – Dec 19th – Watch “Frozen”
Saturday (102) – Dec 20th – Dress up Disney
Sunday (101) – Dec 21st – Make or Draw Disney

This week has felt a little repetitive with some of the tasks, but its really the way we planned it because of December being so busy. Monday we had Make or Draw Disney and while Lily was so tired she went to bed without bothering, Megan started to use her Frozen loom bands, to make an Anna. Tuesday was Read a Disney book, largely because Tuesday is often a Daddy day and it was this week so this fitted in perfectly. Wednesday the girls dressed up, the first time since Megan’s birthday party. Since Lily had hurt herself getting out of the car, Megan let her be Elsa and as Rapunzel is Megan’s only other fitting dress, she had to be her. Thursday – because Tuesday or Thursday can be Daddy days – was Read a Disney book again. We didn’t mind though as we’re really getting into this book and actually read two chapters that night. On Friday the girls had their first day off school so we knew picking a movie night was a good choice. Frozen was the particular movie we were tasked with and this is because the next few days were going to be very Frozen-tastic. On Saturday it was Dress up Disney again, I think because the girls had wanted a full day to be able to dress up, not just after school. This time Megan insisted on being Elsa and so Lily chose to wear Megan’s Rapunzel dress. Sunday was the first of many FROZEN days. We were going out for lunch with Anna and Elsa, the girls were dressing as Young Anna and Elsa and everything would be very Frozen orientated. On top of that, the girls had to fit in Make or Draw Disney so Megan worked on her loomband Anna, while Lily chose just to do some colouring in.

This coming week is going to have two more days of FROZEN mania, before we settle down for Christmas. I already know that there will be no shortage of Disney in our house, even on the days without tasks! Check out my post next week, to see what we got up to!

Disney Countdown – Days 114 – 108

December 14, 2014 by Bel Leave a Comment

Our 2nd week of Disney Countdown has passed and its been another full week of Disney fun!

Monday (114) – Dec 8th – Watch “Beauty & the Beast”
Tuesday (113) – Dec 9th – Read a Disney book
Wednesday (112) – Dec 10th – Make or Draw Disney (turned into Harry Potter)
Thursday (111) – Dec 11th – Megan’s Birthday
Friday (110) – Dec 12th – Make an Elsa Peg Doll (which turned into Katai comes and sleepover with Enchanted)
Saturday (109) – Dec 13th – Day with Katai (finally time to get the Peg Doll done in the evening)
Sunday (108) – Dec 14th – Read a Disney book

So this week was another busy one and Monday I was worried we wouldn’t have time to fit in a movie. However we did get Beauty and the Beast crammed in and it reminded me just how much I love that movie. Tuesday we had read a Disney book and that’s because Tuesday is often the kids day with their dad. However for one reason or another he didn’t have them this week but we enjoyed reading the book without being too late to bed this week. Wednesday was Make or Draw Disney but with Lily’s school play taking us till 7.30pm and then Megan’s birthday cake to make – the best we could do was honour the other Florida park (Universal) with our Harry Potter cake. Next was Megan’s Birthday on Thursday and as I mentioned before, having December as part of our countdown came on the condition that some days were easier to relieve the stress. Megan’s birthday had no specific task but there was no lack of Disney – from cards, to wrapping paper, to gifts – it was mostly Frozen but plenty of Disney everywhere! Friday our task was to paint our first peg doll (Elsa) as we had originally planned for Megan’s friend Katai to come on Saturday. However it ended up being Friday so we put off the peg doll for when we had more time. Luckily for the girls sleepover, they chose to watch Enchanted so we had watch “Enchanted” as our task for the day. Saturday we spent the day with Katai and that was marked as such on our countdown. She was gone by 5pm though so in the evening Megan got her Elsa peg doll done, to make sure she was up to date. Sunday was read a Disney story again, so we got another chapter of “in a blink” read and I have to admit I’m quite into it.

Aside from all this, there has been loads of other Disney influences in our life! I can’t wait till next week and work being over, so we cram in even more!