She's Crafty | Trick or Treat? Here's Something Neat!

The other day I stumbled across a series of tutorials on YouTube that completely blew my mind O.O

And if you can believe, they all involved craft foam!

Craft foam: Colorful and Squishy

Craft.

Foam.

I never thought in my whole life I would ever be as excited as I am at this moment to work with craft foam. Sure it's colorful and squishy, two modes of being which I completely adore, but I haven't found much of a use for the stuff within the areas of which I'm usually crafting. Until now.

I can see it now, craft foam will completely revolutionize the way I make costume accessories. And it came to my attention just in time for the number one costuming event of the year, Halloween.

Steampunk Goggles

This story of craft foam goodness truly begins with a pair of steampunk goggles I purchased at a Halloween store. When I put them on over my short, spiky hair and looked in the mirror I immediately thought of a comic book/movie character that was popular when I was in high school known as, Tank Girl.

True story.

The next thought that came up: How can I merge these two items?

Tank Girl + Steampunk goggles = ???

"Poster girl for the Apocalypse"

With research mission in mind I jumped on the internet to find more pictures of Tank Girl to find out if I could actually come up with a costume for Halloween in time that incorporates the new goggles. I found pictures of Tank Girl wearing a flight helmet, a fur-lined aviator hat, and a combat helmet. I wanted to go for something I could actually make so I choose the aviator route instead of choosing the hardcore combat helmet.

Well, now what do I do? Do I try to find a pattern for an aviator hat online and sew one? Do I have the time? Maybe there's a video tutorial on YouTube.




Whoa wait, what is this...

Steampunk flight hat?

Wait, from foam? 

I clicked on the video (which you can find here.) and watched with jaw dropped and eyes wide.

It has earpieces, wires and tubing?!
And looks like it's made out of leather?

My internal craft geek exploded into a billion screaming fans of incredibly, awesome things. Yes, I was that excited. I knew what I wanted to make and I was embarking into uncharted craft territory: one of my all-time favorite activities.

I downloaded the pattern from the creator of the video tutorial, LostWax. And I got to work.

So, shall I share with you how it's coming along?
Yes, I think I shall...

Here are pictures of the flight helmet pieces glued together but before paint and earpieces. 

This helmet is held together with rubber cement!

The leathery texture is made by placing a wad of scrunched up aluminum foil onto the craft foam and carefully heating it with an iron. You can watch a tutorial on how to apply this leathery texture to craft foam here. This part took a lot longer than I thought (like, forever). However, it came out so cool looking that it's worth the time and fuss. Once paint is applied you can really see the effect.

Now for the finale, some pictures of the helmet with earpieces added, buckle attached, paint applied, and a spiffy metal plate *winkwink*. I still need to add some wires and tubing, but that's about it and I'll be done and ready to pilot my very own post-apocalyptic airship!

 

"Metal" plate, future home for wires.

Can you believe it's not Leather?

Have a fun and happy Halloween!

Malia & Kaye