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vintageaerith — Tutorial: Cosplay Jewel-Making
Published: 2009-03-23 23:31:33 +0000 UTC; Views: 162455; Favourites: 4792; Downloads: 2621
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Description
Painless, and hopefully profitable for the cosplay crowd out there. I have to cast a large quantity of half-dollar sized dome jewels for Nia, and the experience has been kinda fun, so I thought I'd share it with you all. ^^Thanks to HCC Cosplay for inspiring/instructing me to make them, though I found my own method, which is what this tutorial illustrates.
Aaaand thanks to ~spiked-stock , who pointed me in the direction of that site AND is keeping me sane while I make my Nia costume. x3 And is the best sewing teacher ever--I crashed her room for five hours the other night to make my skirt.
Hope this is helpful! Post if you have any questions!
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Comments: 472
Is there anyway you can make your own molds (Like where you put the mixture in)
my cosplay has complex Jewels so i'm wondering if you can cut them off or make your own.
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I know you made this tutorial years ago, but bless your soul for it. This is going to help me so much!
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No problem at all!! 
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Great tutorial!
Quick question though, how did you make the lining around the red jewels on your shoes? I'm trying to make a necklace with a similar look (Juliet's necklace from Romeo x Juliet anime) and I'm having trouble finding tutorials for it. :S
Did you just create a base out of clay, bake it (or let it dry), and then add the gem? Or was there another method involved? Thanks in advance!
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Actually yes, that's exactly what I did! I made the clay base (and usually pressed the gem into it to make sure the final shape would be right) and then baked it and painted it before glueing the gem in the middle
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Finally! Easy to follow instructions! Can't wait to try this out
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What wonderful tutorial
I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more about the resin. Does it have to be that specific set with the hardener or can I buy other kinds of resin? Art based things are hard to come by around my place XD
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The process of casting "real" polyester resin is more difficult, must be completed outdoors, and involves different proportions of the resin + hardener than I mention in this tutorial! This was mostly meant to be the easiest-possible process to getting resin gems, and involves this resin "epoxy" (doesn't dry as rock-hard, potentially less pure, etc) instead of the real stuff. That's why I mention that specific brand as opposed to this being a generic tutorial on how to cast resin! (I hope that makes sense)
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Holy gee, I have tried polyester resin after some time since I see this lovely tutorial, and I have to say I like it. Despite the smell, it goes away after a few weeks and I can work the resin with some sandpapering and grinding work
The biggest problem in itself is get the molds done before casting the resin XD
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I just use hot glue!
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(*attach c
You'll have to use fabric glue.
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okay thanks never used them and doing dark magician girl
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Oh wow, this is really helpful!!! What a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing!
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Of course!
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Yes! Thank you!!!
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Not sure if anyone's asked this yet or not, but is it possible to layer colors in one jewel? I'm trying to find a better option for a project I'm working on instead of what was used in the original. 
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Hmm, this may work if you let each individual layer completely cure before pouring the next one? However, you're bounded by 'gravity', if that makes sense--you would pour a partial color into the gem mold, and it would fill the bottom. Then the next layer would fill it and they would go from the 'front' to the 'back' of the jewel. This might look neat for spherical gems, though you might get a 'muddy' color looking through the first color because it would have every color behind it (and form kind of a multi-color brown). But, it would allow you to have 'rings' of color coming out from the center! Layering the colors wouldn't work with any other shape, methinks.
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Alright, thanks! I was planning on using the tutorial to make eyes for a plushie I'm going to make. I think the first color can be muddy since that part is supposed to be either brown or black. ^.^
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Thank you for sharing! This is a fantastic tutorial and very easy to follow!
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can you spray a silicone mould for these and use that instead of the plastic??
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I would imagine you can do that! Keep in mind that the resin produces an exothermic reaction, so the resin may stick to the silicone mold--just make sure you use lots of mold release or some other form of barrier, or in the worst case scenario destroy the mold to peel it off at the end. I would run a test first!
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Okay, thanks! Just thought it might be quicker to pop the resin out of a silicone mould is all! :3
Experiment time!!
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Is there anyway you can cut them into shape while wet? Or I think I may need to make my own molds somehow xD
Nice to see it laid out so well! Thanks
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You can cut them once they get to the 'gummy' consistency (after about 7 or 8 hours!), I've done that~ You can't cut them while they're still liquid-based OR when they've totally cured, so just keep poking the back of them after they've solidified a bit!
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Good to know! Need to make odd shaped triangles/diamonds for a large chakram throwing blade. Has 8 of them on. Hoping I can mold one, cut it, then make a latex cast to replicate it. Thank you!!!!!
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Could you use acrylic paints to color the resin instead? I cant find the resin dye anywhere in my area. Also where can I find larger molds, because the store didnt even have the size I needed.
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Yep! I throw in some appropriately-colored acrylic paint to color the gems all the time. Don't use TOO much or it'll turn them opaque, or you can also pour the gems clear and paint the backs of them to give them the color you want.
As for other places to find molds, I would try Amazon!
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Thank you, this is very helpful. How do you attach the gems to the fabric?
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I usually just glue them
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Huh. That simple? Just a fabric or hot glue?
They are really pretty though. Thanks for replying.
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Do you know any online stores where one could buy those supplies? I'm asking because we don't have any of the stores you mentioned in Sweden ;w;
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I believe you can buy it on Amazon.com, if you are able to import it from other countries! ;w;
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okay I shall try that, thank you ^^
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This could totally help with working on my Magical Girl god tier cosplay! :33
Thank you for posting and hope you have an awesome New Year!
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-VV<3
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Thank you!! I hope it's helpful to you
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Sorry if this was mentioned or asked before, but any tips on actually sticking the jewels directly onto textiles?? Like Sailor moon's brooch??? Thanks!
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My only tip would be to definitely back the jewels in something! i.e. aluminum foil, or just a piece of paper, first--because the jewels are clear, the pattern of your glue shows through. So I would VERY much recommend you spray foil or paper with spray adhesive, which coats it evenly, before sticking it to the back of your jewels. When I did Nia, I just hot glued in a squiggly/spiral pattern directly on the back of the jewel and stuck it to my belt, but then you could see the drawn 'glue' lines through the jewel, so putting a layer of paper or foil between them is optimal. I hope that helps!
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What did you use to cast the large gem on your belt (the middle circle one)? I need to make something similar, but I can't find the right depth for casting. You do beautiful work.
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Thank you!! I used a deep circular bowl mold, like in the pic here: www.whatishcc.com/tutorials/im… which I believe I ordered from TAP Plastics at the time but I'm not sure it exists anymore? I would google 'dome mold' or something similar! Good luck
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