lunarfoxstudios-blog

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We are back from our convention break with 3 great new products! We have two new skirts up in the store featuring everyone’s favorite dessert, donuts, and everyone’s a favorite never ending void, SPAAAAAACE. We also have a one of a kind, limited edition, probably never going to be made again because holy crap, Batman wall hanger made by Maker Josh. Head on over to our Etsy shop to check them out! . . . #newproducts #etsy #etsymaker #notcosplay #donuts #space #skirts #batman #handmade

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Lunar Fox is getting adventurous with our new line of Chalk Bags used for climbing, gymnastics, or accessorizing! So far we have three designs but keep an eye out because we will be releasing three new colors in our canvas bag collection soon! 

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Just in time for the Pokémon craze we have great new Pokémon products for the classy nerd in you! Our new Pokéball Skater Skirt is a cute piece for the  stylish Pokémon hunter and our new Pokéball hair bow makes a great accent piece. And for a sweet summer deal, when ordering the Pokeball Skater Skirt if you enter offer code TeamHarmony at checkout you’ll receive a free XS matching hair bow!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarFoxStudios

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Cosplay Tip of the Day

Don’t repost another cosplayer’s photos that you did not take without permission or credit.

You may mean well, but not crediting the cosplayer or photographer you’re posting photos of causes them to get less recognition for their hard work. And you should always ask before posting someone else’s work!

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Cosplay Tip of the Day

Don’t tear some cosplayers down to build up others.

A compliment that is based on bashing another cosplayer is not a real compliment. It’s just needlessly mean, and it promotes vicious competitiveness in the cosplay community.

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Comic book frames! From Spiderman to the Adventure Time comics these frames make an awesome way to show off photos https://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarFoxStudios

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For those of you getting ready for con season (ahem, Kamicon), here’s an easy way to remove old makeup stains! Mix a bit of blue dish soap and peroxide together and scrub the stained area with it.

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Animazement tomorrow, still putting finishing touches on cosplay like

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Your new favorite cosplay tool: the hot knife

Let’s take a few minutes to talk about our new favorite tool for finishing fabric edges…. the hot knife!  For those who are unfamiliar with this product, a hot knife is similar in size to a soldering iron with changeable tips.  Once plugged in, the tips will heat up so that you can use the hot end to cut or heat various materials.  Hot knives are pretty cheap too - the below set will run you $22 on Amazon.com.

Many cosplayers already use hot knives to cut foam and other prop materials, but you can use a hot knife on fabric too!  So long as your fabric is made from unnatural material such as polyester, a hot knife will melt and slag the raw end of your fabric, turning it into a hard, plastic-like line.  However natural fabrics like cotton will not melt and slag - instead these will simply burn away if you try to light them on fire or use a hot knife.  To test your fiber and perform a burn test, follow these steps.

But why would I ever want to melt my fabric??

There’s a few reasons!

Edge finishing.  Is your fabric edge an odd shape, or something that can’t easily be rolled or serged?  Slagging or cutting with the hot knife prevents your fabric from fraying, and allows you to create whatever shape your design calls for.

Distressing.  We used the heck out of the hot knife for our Sakizou costumes, since it required so many raw and distressed edges.  Holes and rips can look a little strange if your fabric is the kind that frays easily - what looks great now may not look so hot in a day or two when threads are beginning to unravel.  Sealing the edges of your fabric with a hot knife guarantees that the edge will not fray, no matter how much you wear your costume.  We used the following methods while creating our Sakizou cosplays:

Slagging while cutting - on satin, I first traced out my distressed pattern while using chalk.  I then chose one of the tips that came to a point, and “cut” along that pattern with the hot knife.  The heat from the knife burned through the satin and sealed the edge in one go.  A heavy piece of cardboard should be placed under your work so that you do not accidentally cut or burn your table.  This method is great for weightier fabrics or ones that will not roll under the knife.

Slagging after cutting - on chiffon, the above steps were difficult to do since the fabric was so prone to sliding.  Instead I first cut the basic shape I wanted with scissors.  I then used a flat tip and ran the hot knife along all edges of the fabric to seal.  Be careful of the heat setting and how long you stay in one place while using this method, as light fabric can melt easily.

Some general hot knife tips:

Don’t over-heat your knife.  Test first to determine which temperature is best for your fabric; something too hot can melt away your fabric more than you intended.

Don’t leave your hot knife unattended or around animals/children.  It’s really hot!

As always, make sure you use your hot knife in a well-ventilated area since you are in essence melting plastic, and different polyesters can give off fumes.

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High-waisted Shorts with Pockets Tutorial by coolirpa

Link: http://youtu.be/uBmiAEt2Yw8

This tutorial actually makes decent ouji-style shorts and breeches! Swap out the shorts she traces for a pair of ouji shorts or breeches you already own, and add ruffles or bands around the bottom of the legs! (Plus, it has pockets~~~)

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Cosplay Tip of the Day

If you’re working on a piece for a long period of time, remember to take breaks and stretch!

Hunching over a cosplay piece or sewing machine for hours on end can give you bad back and neck pain. Standing up, stretching, and taking small breaks often can help you avoid this!

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Art Nouveau Princess by elyoncosplay

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Nick Wilde Cosplay - Sly Fox! by DakunCosplay

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That moment when you sketch something awesome and have no idea how you did it.

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Vampire Queen~ by Justawaykitty

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The secon #vaultsuit is almost done! @abbyeritter has sewing #superpowers, it's totally a thing #fallout #fallout4 #cosplay #costume #redfoxen

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Gems with Plastic and Iridescent Flakes (+LEDs)

Tutorial by: Eric Browning Cosplay Tutorial Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=830N7LWODDI