Archive for the 'Tutorials and patterns' Category

Floral fairy wreaths… tutorial and resources

I love making floral headpieces myself, they’re useful for your dryad, fairy or nymph dress, and a common element for your masquerade ball or performing garment, not to say also a key element for a wedding or flowergirl dress, thus   surfing the net to polish my technique I found some tutorials you might find worth. Making them is inexpensive and you can unleash your imagination choosing a palette of colors and designing  them to fit the seasons or the color of your garments. Also you  can make smaller versions for a ponytail and add some ribbon steamers and other ornaments to make it stand out.


to get this wonderful result or whichever your imagination renders

This is another simple tutorial I found in save on crafts and also this other one in Forever wed focused in circlets for brides and flowergirls, this other in the princess portal

If you’re just too lazy (LOL) or you’re in a hurry  this is an ebay store  called Kcfairy with cute and quite affordable ones, not to say I find them rather cheap for the detail they have

Above: example of crown in Kcfairy ebay store

You can also check these others made by Art of wings (we covered it in a previous article), they’re simpler but not because of that less cute.

Crown art of wings

Above: example of Art of Wings Faery Crown

One of my favourite places for this is our previously covered  “Hairlooms” article. You can see an example of this wonderful crafted headpieces below. The site worth a visit if only to gather some ideas as they’re simply gorgeous.

hairlooms headpiece

Above: example of Hairlooms headpiece

This is a picture of one I did myself for a photo shoot of my song “the long way”. I used some fake branches and only brown, yellows and reds to provide an “autumn” look. I used wire to tie all the pieces to the tiara and after that I used ribbon and fabric straps to wrap  and smooth the possible wire endings that could scratch my head and make it more comfortable or you can use the stem wrap floral tape too. I use fake faux flowers but you can try drying leaves and flowers  and try to do the same, but they’re more delicate if travelling. So yep, that one below is me with my attempt of an “autumn crown”.  I added too some matching golden and red beads with the wire aside from the leaves and flowers and sometimes I even add feathers (check this previous article to buy all sorts of feathers).  Right now i’m working making a matching “leaf-mask”  but that will come in an upcoming article.

Another recommended site is Avalon Fantasy like the one below:

Wedding_showCirclet3

priscilla_hernandez_floral_wreath

Above: me ;-) with my own handcrafted autumn crown

Alley cat scratch: a resource for the perfect lotr costume

alleyscratch

The next link has to be one of the most amazing fantasy costuming sites in the internet.  Alley Cat Scratch costume is a mega data base of movie costume documentations, studying and research in great detail from famous movies gowns models and designers, providing write-ups and will help you to create your own replica.

If you’re intending to dress like ANY of the characters from The lord of the rings movie, or inspired by Tolkien works. We want you to recommend you to visit Alley. They’ve studied about the costumes from fabric to patterns to metalwork. From hobbits to elves, covering not only the gowns and garments, but also cloaks,  headresses, wigs, leather-work, shoes, belts and even make up tutorials to make you look a lotr character. They have a community to get feedback, keep you up to date with costume exhibits in different areas, and also cover dresses patterns, sewing tips  and tutorials of other movies, fantasy and sci-fi and futuristic, but being their pivotal focus in lord of the rings movies.

A must see… for those ones good at crafts, and also for those ones not so but in need of ideas, from very easy to be done to things that are for those with good hands…! Bookmark for reference, it’s an awesome site.

Halloween is just “The Nightmare before Christmas”

Tim Burton’s “The nightmare before Christmas” is one of my favorite movies… This stop-motion animated jewel released early nineties when I was a teenager. I went to the cinema seven times in a row when it was released just to learn the songs by hear (in those times to find the soundtrack where I was living was a complex task, but finally I found the little precious soundtrack of score that Danny Elfman scored for the movie)… “Oh somewhere deep inside of this bones….!” Yes, this film archieved what looked impossible, to make a charming prince to fall in love with out of a  thin  doll of a skeleton with such a great personality… the mighty Pumpkin King Jack Skellington. A gentle mix of genres, it even had some space for romance, and thus Jack and Sally became one of the most loveliest couple ever.. This movie also showed to the world the spirit of Halloween into countries like mine that have no tradition of it. Years later it started to become a cult movie and gain the recognition it initially deserved…

Let´s start with the heroine…. Sally Rag Doll!

There are cheap already made versions available, but you can opt for a fine hand-made version

Polishing details with this stitched glovettes (or you can opt for theatrical make up too. See attached video for Sally’s make up tutorial)


I think this might be more accurate to what the character is, just like the one below with wool hair juts like a doll:

Still due to aesthetics some prefer to wear a bright red fiber hair wig, the next one is suitable in hair  style:

Step by step Sally rag doll YOU TUBE tutorial (4 videos)


Pt 1: Face
Pt2: eyes
Pt3:Eyes and face
Pt4: Finished look

JACK Skellington

Jack’s mask alone

I don’t need to say that the very classical Halloween skeleton gloves are indeed great and useful for Jack’s costume.

Santa hat for turning Jack’s into Christmas mood!

Other characters in the movie

Zero (Jack’s dog)

Major Tom

Oogie Boogie

pumpkin prop “Halloween town”


Singing…. “This is halloween! This halloween! halloween! halloween!!”

Halloween angel or fairy eye make up tutorial

Interesting videotutorial by this girl that holds an entire make up channel in youtube. For the video she’s using MAC (professional make up) but it shows at real time speed and you can attempt to make something similar with your own eye shadows and brushes. I think the final effect is really stunning so have fun!
Though of course you can use your own make up, the fact is that MAC make up pigments are stunning and I myself have a very sensitive skin, so after trying many make up brands, most of mine is actually from theirs. You can purchase MAC make up here, you won’t regret, it’s the best make up ever. ENJOY!

Products used in this video tutorial:
MAC shadestick~ sharkskin
MAC eye shadow~ Tilt
MAC eye shadow~ beautiful iris
MAC eye shadow~ Aquadisiac
MAC powerpoint eyeliner~ Engraved
Stila~ tinted moisturizer
GOSH lip liner~ Pink peony
MAC lipgloss~ Fine china
MAC glitter pigment~ Neon 60’s

This fairy look can be enhanced also with fx contact lenses to make the overall effect entirely otherwordly. I suggest you to read again our article about them.