Princess Carolyn from Bojack Horseman Cosplay

I started watching Bojack Horseman in 2017. I instantly fell in love with it. I think it is a very smart, witty and real show and the characters are awesome even with all their flaws. My partner and I were deciding on what to dress up as for Halloween in 2017. We landed on Bojack Horseman and Princess Carolyn kind of by accident. We put both the costumes together in about 2 days and used a lot of materials I already had laying around. I think all of one person recognized us on Halloween. We've worn them to conventions about 3 times by now and they always get a good response.


For her outfit:

The yellow cardigan was a lucky thrift store find. The teal dress was a lucky Target clearance buy. The dress isn't 100% accurate but it is pretty close. I glued yellow fish that I cut out of felt onto the dress in a diagonal pattern to match her pattern on the dress. The belt I already owned. I bought pink fuzzy gloves from the dollar store. For her shoes I bought black pumps and painted them red with red leather paint. I wish I would have taken more pictures of all of this but when I was putting this together I was just in the zone and completely forgot!

For her necklace:

I used yellow ribbon for the choker part that I just tied around my neck. The jewel part is made out of perler/melty beads. I glued an eye pin to the ribbon and to the charm that I made and used a jump ring to connect them.

This is stained pink from all the pink body paint (haha)

For her ears:

I cut the ear shape out of craft foam so that there are two connected. Then I wrapped the ears around a headband and glued them together. I primed the ears with glue and painted them pink. I added the black lines with sharpie.

Makeup, hair, and turning yourself pink:

The first few times I wore this costume I did my makeup and hair. I am not the best at makeup or hair to be honest. I painted my face and exposed skin with pink water based body paint. Used purple eyeshadows to give myself a smoky eye and used black eyeliner for a cat eye and whiskers. For my hair I gave myself Princess Carolyn's signature hair bump and sprayed it with pink hair spray. I never could decide which way to wear my hair. For turning my legs pink I dyed white tights with Kool-Aid. There are plenty of tutorials on how to do color something with Kool-Aid. This method works really well and I've even been able to wash them!

This is what the white tights looked like before. 

 

At one of the conventions I went to I saw some other Bj & PC cosplayers that had made masks for themselves. I decided I was tired of doing my hair and makeup before the con and that I would make my own mask. I used the Paper Mache baloon method. I followed a tutorial pretty closely that can be found here.

Make a balloon base. Try it on. Look like Mysterio. 

I added the details with cardboard and attached them with masking tape. I used thicker cardboard for her ears and thinner cardboard for her hair and fur. Then I covered all of that in paper mache. 

 

After the paper mache dried. I primed it with white Gesso. Then painted it pink. Cut out the eye holes. I added the details with black sharpie and a white acrylic paint marker. I added black pipe cleaners as her whiskers and just hot glued them on to the mask. I can't really see or hear out of the mask so I carry it around with me at cons and if somebody asks for a picture I will just put it on then. 

That's how I made my Princess Carolyn costume. I hope this helps if you are on your own quest to making your own PC costume. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I am normally pretty quick to respond. Follow me on instagram @cherelledx. I post more up to date pictures and progress on projects there!

Soldier 76 Grillmaster Cosplay

Last summer I bought a PS4 and was playing a lot of Overwatch. My partner (Devin) and I decided to dress up as Soldier 76 and D.VA for Denver Comic Con. We didn't finish them in time so we wore them for Colorado Springs Comic Con instead. This cosplay was deceptively difficult to make. I didn't think it would take very long but it has a lot of little details. Anyway here is how I did it.

Apron

First things first was the apron! I used an easy pattern to make the base apron. (I don't remember which one.) We bought a spatula and tongs from the Dollar Tree, spray painted them black and added the neon details. The spices were just empty spice jars from my cabinet that I spray painted the lids black.

For the pockets I made a pattern out of paper. I used two pieces of fabric and sewed them, right sides together, then turned them inside out to form a strip. I folded that strip into thirds to form the pocket. They are useable pockets albeit not very good or big ones. I sewed them on the apron with black thread to kind of match the original design. I left the bottom open so I could add the silver wire detail. I added silver rivets to the top flaps of the pockets and I glued black bias tape to the top flap as well.

  

I attached the tongs by making button holes where I thought they should go. I painted hooks from the dollar tree to match the fabric and put them through the button holes. I just glued them in place and they held pretty well. If I had more time I probably would have sewn a patch over the hooks on the back for extra security. Then we just used hair ties to keep the tongs/spatula on the hooks.

To attach the spices I used two strips of fabric. Sewed them right sides together, then turned them inside out. I placed the spices where I wanted them to be and pinned the fabric around them so that the fabric would hold them in place. Then I just sewed the strip of fabric where I pinned it. Then put the spices back in and they held all day pretty well. 

For the "Raise the Steaks" and "Dang!" details we took them to a place to get screen printed but I do not suggest this entirely because they didn't do what we had asked. I personally am a control freak and I don't like giving away creative control to somebody else. I have a PDF for a graphic that I made on google docs here. The first go around of the apron we tried to paint it on but the stencil got stuck to the apron and it didn't work out that well but if we had more time it would have worked better I think. It is all a learning process and the end result turned out fine. 

Shirt

Remember you're painting Hawaiian flowers and not four leaf clovers. (haha) Luckily I only painted one bad one and was able to fix the rest. 

For the Hawaiian shirt we just bought a red shirt from the thrift store. I painted on the Hawaiian flowers. I tried to use stencils but found it to be more difficult than it needed to be. I just free handed them with chalk and then painted them with white paint. The 76 on the back is cut out from felt and glued on to the back. I have PDFs of the 76 you can download. I hand drew them myself. For the 7 you can find it here and for the 6 you can find it here. 

Arm Band

For the arm band I just used a children's belt from the thrift store and cut it down to fit around Devin's arm. I spray painted empty soda cans silver. 

I created a graphic for the cans out of pictures online. Then printed it out on normal printer paper. It is not the best but it gets the job done. You can find the PDF for it here. I just used Mod Podge to glue the graphic on the cans.

I cut down another belt I bought from the thrift store and glued those pieces around the cans. Then glued the cans onto the arm belt.

Shorts, Sandals, Watch, & other small details

Nothing too crazy here. We bought a pair of cargo shorts from the thrift store. Bought the dad sandals at Kohl's. The watch and socks Devin already owned. We sprayed his hair and beard with white hair spray. We made scars out of liquid latex and lipstick. The sunglasses we bought from the thrift store. The dish towel we bought at the Dollar Tree and just stuck it in one of the short's pockets. 

All in all I think this cosplay came out really well. It was well received. I think my favorite part of wearing our Overwatch cosplays was when a little kid came up to us all excited and told us that these were the skins they had on their players.

Found a cool McCree. I'll post how I made my D.VA in another post!

I think I would like to add some of the other details from this skin  but haven't found another con that we will wear these to. Just have to wait for Overwatch 2!

I hope this was helpful if you are on your own quest to making a Grillmaster 76 cosplay! If you have any questions feel free to contact me! I am normally pretty quick to respond. Check out my instagram for more up to date progress and pictures @cherelledx! Also check out Devin's Instagram @Lyn2win 

Bender Tile Graffiti Granny Square Blanket

One thing about me is that I absolutely love Futurama. It has become such a big part of my life. I quote it on a regular basis, have t-shirts, stickers on my car, and I have cosplayed from it as well. So when I saw the episode Proposition Infinity, I knew I had to make Bender's tile graffiti into a granny square blanket. 

I have never made a granny square blanket or even a granny square before so it was definitely a learning experience. I used this tutorial for the squares and this tutorial to stitch them together. I fleece lined it as well using this tutorial. It took me about two years to finish crocheting all the squares, stitching them together (because I did it wrong) and fleece lining it. I am a pretty slow worker. 

Overall I am pretty happy with how it came out and it is really comfy and warm. It does sort of class up the place. ;)

Follow me on instagram for more up to date projects that I am working on @cherelledx!

Crochet BB-8 Beanie Pattern

I've seen The Force Awakens three times. I think I saw all in about two weeks. It is absolutely one of the best movies I have ever seen. Feeling a little inspired with all the Star Wars awesomeness I decided to make a BB-8 beanie

For the beanie

Hook Size J /10-6.00 MM
Work in continuous rounds 
With white 

Chain 3, sl st together 

Round 1- 6 SC in center of circle 
Round 2- 2 DC in each stitch (12)
Round 3- 2 DC in each stitch (24) Change color to gray 
Round 4- 2 DC in each stitch (48) 
Round 5- 1 DC in each stitch, change color to white
Round 6- 1 DC in each stitch, change color to orange 
Round 7- 1 DC in each stitch, change color to white 
Round 8-11- 1 DC in each stitch
Round 12- There is a lot of color changes in this round. 13 DC in first 13 stitches, 1 orange stitch, 1 white, 1 orange, 1 white, 5 orange, 1 white, 1 orange, 11 white, 3 orange, 1 white, 1 orange, 7 white, change color to gray. 
Round 13- 1 DC in each, change color to white 
Round 14- 1 DC in each 
Round 15- 1 SC in each, sl st into second chain from hook, finish off sew in ends. 

For the big "eye"

Hook size G/6- 4.25 MM 
Work in continuous rounds 
With black

Ch 3, sl st together 
Round 1- 6 SC in center 
Round 2- 1 SC, 2 SC in second, repeat around the round (9)
Round 3- 1 SC in next 2 stitches, 2 SC in the third (12)
Round 4- 1 SC in next 3 stitches, 2 SC in the fourth (15)
Round 5- 1 SC in next 4 stitches, 2 SC in fifth (18)
Round 6- 1 SC in next 5 stitches, 2 SC in the sixth (21)
Sl St second chain from hook, finish off, leave long tail to sew onto the hat. 

Use red yarn to give the "eye" a little light. 

For the smaller "eye"

Hook size G/6- 4.25 MM 
Work in continuous rounds 
With black

Ch 3, sl st together 
Round 1- 6 SC in center 
Round 2- 1 SC, 2 SC in second, repeat around the round (9)
Round 3- 1 SC in next 2 stitches, 2 SC in the third (12) Change color to white
Round 4- 1 SC in next 3 stitches, 2 SC in the fourth (15) Change color to black 
Round 5- 1 SC in next 4 stitches, 2 SC in fifth (18)
Sl st second chain from hook, finish off, leave long tail to sew onto hat 


I used poly fiber fill to stuff the eyes so they would hold their shape. If you don't want them so three dimensional you can join rounds instead of doing continuous rounds and they will lay more flat. 

Sew eyes onto the beanie and you're done!

I hope you enjoy the pattern and if you have any questions feel free to contact me. I am normally pretty quick to respond. :)

Download the printable PDF here. 

If you use my pattern send me pictures on Instagram @chocolatebearz or on tumblr. I would love to see what you come up with. 

Bombshell Wonder Woman Costume

This year for Halloween I decided to dress up as Bombshell Wonder Woman. I love this whole series that DC has done. I thought Wonder Woman would be a good place to start because hers seemed to be the least complicated and that I could easily put it together. Turns out all the little accessories weren't the most time friendly things to put together. The things I thought would be the hardest didn't actually end up being that complicated. This isn't necessarily a "how to" but more of a way to share what I did and to share some ideas on how I did it. 

Shirt

I bought a red long sleeved button down shirt from the thrift store. Cut the sleeves off and added a zipper, collar, and the little sleeve embellishments(?) I also took it in at the waist so it could be a little more form fitting. 

Emblem on the shirt

I found an image of the Wonder Woman logo and blew it up to the size I wanted it to be and halved it so I could transfer the image to both sides of the shirt. I printed it out and used chalk to trace the outline. I then put the emblem on the shirt where I wanted it to be to transfer the chalk outline. I used Tulip soft fabric paint to paint over the chalk outline.

Shorts

I didn't take any pictures of the shorts because they weren't too involved. I used a pair of high waisted shorts that I had bought from Forever 21. I just used iron on star patches for the stars on the shorts.

Boots

The boots were a pair of cheap boots that I had bought from Gordmans. I used leather paint to paint them red and paint on the details. I used pleather fabric to add the boots cuffs.

Not the best before picture but I cut off the buckles and painted them red. 

So once I painted them red, I used a pleather fabric that kind of matched the material of the boot. I cut out the shape that I liked for the boot cuff and just hot glued them on to the inside of the boot. I then painted the cuff red to match the boot.

I used white leather paint to add the details. I suggest adding the star to the cuff before adding it to the boot.

Arm cuffs

I used craft foam, foam stars, puffy paint, spray paint, and velcro to make the arm cuffs. I got a pattern for the arm cuffs here. I cut them out of craft foam. I glued small bands of craft foam on the top and bottom of the cuffs. I used velcro to secure them around my wrists. 

I hot glued craft foams stars around the cuffs. I used a sharpie to draw the design around the cuffs that I wanted. 

I used puffy paint to trace over the design I created. I let the puffy paint dry and spray painted them silver.  Once they were painted silver I sponged on black acrylic paint to give them a bit more dimension.

Belt/lasso

The belt was a lucky find from the thrift store which ended up working perfectly. The belt buckle I made out of craft foam. I have scans of my design here & here. 

  

I cut the design out of craft foam. I added an outer edge of the circle part of the belt. I added an extra bird head piece and the details of the wings on to the base of the bird part.



I painted the yellow foam black or you could ya know just buy black craft foam. I thought the gold would show up better on black but painting the yellow foam gold would work just as well. Once they were painted gold, I glued them together and added two strips of craft foam to the back to attach them to the belt I had bought.

  

For the lasso I used some twine I had laying around the house. I'm not exactly sure what it was. I measured how long I wanted my lasso to be and I doubled the length. I folded all the lengths of twine in half and just roped braided the whole thing. I then spray painted it gold. Once the paint had dried I wrapped it up and secured it so it wouldn't unwind. I used a strip of black craft foam to attach it to the belt. 

Earrings

I made earrings out of polymer clay. I used the smallest measuring spoon I had as a mold. Once I got the clay out of the spoon I just baked them. Once they were done baking I glued them onto earring posts. 

Headband

I bought a yellow bandana from the craft store and ironed on an iron on red star. Easy peasy. :)

I wasn't able to get too many great pictures of it once it was all done since I was in Vegas for Halloween. I'm hoping I'll be able to go to DCC next year and wear it there. 

I think it came out really nice. Unfortunately no body knew who I was supposed to be but I was impressed with myself and I guess that is all that really matters. :P I think I might eventually try to get better pictures taken of the whole thing but until then the pictures I have will have to do.

I hope I gave you some ideas on how to make your own bombshell Wonder Woman! If you have an questions always feel free to contact me. I'm normally pretty quick to respond! :)