Posted By Zan on October 24, 2012
This isn’t particularly cosplay related, but I made myself a pair of Sailor Moon shoes over the weekend and got a lot of questions as to how they were made. It was really straightforward so I figured I’d just post the information here for anyone who might want it.
I’ve seen a lot of people making comic book heels lately, and I really wanted to try and make a Sailor Moon pair. These shoes were originally a terrifying grey snakeskin-y print… I like to think this is an improvement.
What you need:
– Shoes
This pair was only $10 in some clearance section, they don’t have to look good- in fact, the uglier the better. Then you don’t have to feel guilty about destroying them. Just make sure they don’t have too much of a raised texture.
- Paintbrush
- Bowl of water
- Modge Podge
I like Modge Podge- partly because I have a few big bottles of it lying around the workroom- I have a feeling you could use white Elmer’s Glue as a substitute though, they seem to be basically the same thing.
- Whatever you want to design your shoes with.
If you’re doing comics, most stores have quarter bins where you can get some pretty cool stuff for only $.25/book. Or you can just print stuff out. Just make sure that whatever you print out isn’t going to bleed if it gets wet. I printed my stuff out onto completely average printer paper. Maybe something a little less sturdy would’ve worked better, but it seemed to turn out fine as it was.
-Scissors
-Exacto/Knife
-Ribbon (to finish the inside of the shoe)
First you should probably make sure that your shoes are clean. That may be stating the obvious, but then again maybe not.
Cut out your source material- smaller shapes will work better over big curves (like the toe area). Try to decide where you want the different pictures to go (I started at the heel and worked my way forward). When you’re ready to start gluing, put your first cutout piece into the bowl of water for a few seconds to soften it up and then stick it on to the shoe. The water alone should hold it there pretty well if you want to mess around with different pictures and see how they fit together- once it looks alright, paint over it with a layer of modge podge. You’ll probably want to make sure you have some overhang on the pieces so that you can tuck them into the top of the shoe afterwards. Sometimes cutting or scoring the pieces with the knife will help them fit around the curves of the shoe. Do this to the whole shoe. And the other- because you probably have two feet. DOES IT LOOK AWESOME NOW?
Maybe not. Mine looked pretty ridiculous at this point- but they were at least looking less snakeskin-y. To finish off the shoes I scored and folded the flange/overhang bit into the top/opening of the shoe and glued a bit of ribbon over it (on the inside of the shoe) so you didn’t see the strange paper edges. I cut along the sole of the shoe with my knife to remove the excess paper/decoupage bits and to give it more of a finished edge. It might’ve looked better if I’d done this as I went and sort of pressed the finished edge into the gap between sole and shoe- ah well, hindsight.
After all of this I went over the whole thing with another layer (or five…) of modge podge in the hopes that it would stand up to a bit of wear and tear.
I hope this was sort of kind of helpful in some way and that it leads to there being more swanky well-loved shoes in the world. <3
Categories: Tutorial
Tags: sailor moon
Posted By Zan on April 28, 2011
I was honored to be asked to take part in ‘Cosplay for a Cause’ – a project full of never before seen photos of cosplayers and illustrations from several professional comic book artists. All proceeds go to the Japanese Red Cross Society to assist in Japan’s Disaster relief aid. For lots more information and ordering, check out the site: CosplayforaCause.com
Seriously, it’s cool stuff. 
Categories: Site
Tags: cosplay for a cause, sailor moon
Posted By Zan on March 5, 2011
Since the last one was lost, I’ll… retype this. ;__;
This is just a sort of simple tutorial for how I make my moony tiaras (and any other shiny things on costumes when I am feeling lazy).
Also, since this is a lot of text here is the short version:
Cut out craft foam and stick metallic spandex to it with spray adhesive or rubber cement. Then attach other do-dads and stick the whole mess to your face. Ta-da!
If that’s not what you wanted, here’s the long winded version:
Materials:
- Craft Foam (1 sheet of the thin (3mm) stuff)
- Card stock or light plastic
- Scissors
- Rubber Cement/Contact Cement or Spray Adhesive
- Gold Metallic Spandex (about 1 sq ft)
- Glue (E-6000!)
- Gem Thingy (Star or Oval Cabochon depending on what version you’re doing)
- Bobby pins to attach this thing to your face (optional)
(more…)
Categories: Tutorial
Tags: sailor moon
Posted By Zan on August 17, 2010
I’m selling Sailor V – ! I have no intention of wearing her again and rather than take up space in my closet I’d like to see her go to someone who wants to wear her.
eBay listing is > here <
Categories: Site
Tags: sailor moon, sailor v
Posted By Zan on January 14, 2009
I haven’t sewn anything in a while, but it has been freezing lately and a new duvet seemed like it would be a fun project… despite the fact that every design from Bob Moon looks really 80′s tastic.
Categories: Costume Progress, Photos
Tags: sailor moon
Posted By Zan on January 1, 2009
Oh man I typed this long paragraph of babble about plans for ’09 but it sounded ridiculous. So I’ll just say that I’m cutting back on conventions and will probably only be going to one or two this year. I will continue to cosplay because I love sewing, dressing up, taking pictures, and being a goon in costume with friends. So if you only know me through my website, nothing’s really going to change- but if we hang out a lot at cons, then I’m sorry but I won’t be around as much.
I do have a few projects planned for this year that I’m really excited about, but it would be silly of me to talk about them considering how long it takes me to get photos of things/my short attention span.
So enough rambling, Happy New Year!
Categories: Photos, Site
Tags: eternal sailor moon, sailor moon
Posted By Zan on December 20, 2008
I’m totally in a funk.
Categories: Photos
Tags: eternal sailor moon, sailor moon
Posted By Zan on November 15, 2008
Cosplay wise I’ve still been kinda MIA. Busy with other things. :/
Still trying to finish my trade with Sean and I finally finished Bob’s winter school uniform- because that thing has been sitting unfinished in my closet for over a year. Pathetically enough I’ve made that skirt four times now and the top three times. How is it that the easiest things seem to give me the most trouble? And how is any of this a sane hobby? Really, sometimes I wonder.
Categories: Costume Progress
Tags: sailor moon, usagi
Posted By Zan on August 17, 2008
….
<3 Leo and Lou for the photos
Categories: Convention
Tags: eternal sailor moon, Otakon, sailor moon
Posted By Zan on August 12, 2008
Otakon’s over (thank goodness x_X) and wasn’t nearly as spectacular as I had hoped it would be. Basically didn’t do much cosplaying at all. Now, back to reality (augh, that’s always such a drag).
I’m looking forward to starting work on new projects, and after the bleh feeling that was Otakon I’m probably going to start cutting down my cosplaying at conventions- it’s just a huge pain in the butt and I don’t enjoy doing it so much. :/
Categories: Convention
Tags: eternal sailor moon, Neptune, Otakon, sailor moon
