Cosplays: L'illusion's Next Projects

As some of you know, I love me some Cosplay. I even made up a handle to use when cosplaying, not that I have any sort of following. L'illusion
You know, for my stature and the whole "illusion" thing that is cosplay.

Here are some of the Cosplays I have been thinking about making:
Riddler from BTAS - Lady version
Zatanna
Dr Harley Quinnel
Velma from Scooby do
Rogue - black body suit with Green Crop
Arya Stark: House of black and white
Doctor Who: 1950s Faceless Rose
Doctor Who: Clara
Catwoman (Golden Era)
Batwoman: (Golden Era)
Diablo: Leah
Hell Cat

Any thoughts or opinions? I can't decide which one to start on currently. Mainly because I have my post baby body right now, which is more like right after baby body. I need to work on my physical fitness before I invest in the money of another costume I feel like, but that might be small minded of me.

BFMH: Chewy Chocolate Breakfast Cookies

So technically these bad boys were made for last weekend as well as the Quesadilla, but I figured that it could count for this week as I won't be cooking. I made these bad boys for the weekend for Husband, Aaron, and myself (and probably Z as we will be meeting up with him).

Chocolate Breakfast Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups white whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cup oats

2/3 cup cocoa powder, preferably dark cocoa

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup of butter, softened

1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I used vanilla flavor)

1 large ripe banana

1/2 cup sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 cup White Chocolate Chips or other mix in of your choice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine your white whole wheat flour, oats, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, combine your softened butter, Greek yogurt and banana. Mix with a mixer until smooth. Add in sugar and brown sugar and mix until well combined. Mixture may have a slightly curdled appearance due to the yogurt, don't worry, this is okay. Add in your eggs and vanilla and mix well.

Slowly add in dry ingredients to wet ingredients, stirring until combined, but not over mixing. Add in your chocolate chips or other mix ins.

Drop your cookies onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat (if you do not have these, make sure to lightly spray your pans with cooking spray and remove cookies immediately after taking out of the oven, to avoid sticking). Use approximately two tablespoons of cookie dough per cookie (a large cookie scoop). Leave 2" of space between cookies.

Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Husband and I agree, this photo makes it look like corn poop. Trust me though, super yummy!

I ended up adding Butterscotch chips as my other mix in of your choice and it turned out very nicely. I had made so many of the cookies that I took them to the Softball game to feed the players and it seemed like they guys liked them too. 

Success!

Next time you want to stab me in the back...

An example of how a craft idea starts and ends for me:

So I saw this little guy on the great website: Think Geek

 Loved it and the realized: ooooh! I have a green cargo messanger bag already!

I still had a extra crocheted flower I used for my Cosplay of Kaylee, so I dolled it up.

Ta dah!

I bought the bear patch at Wondercon in April and got another heart patch at Joann's

The highlighter claimed it's territory. Le sigh.

I am very happy with the way this turned out and I have been using that that I haven't used since college much more. 

Hooray for upcycling! 

Until the next craft...

**Today's title is from Firefly: Mal: "Next time you want to stab me in the back, have the guts to do it to my face."**

How to Make a Cosplay: Hiccup

As you all know, I enjoyed Comic-Con 2014 this past month. I wanted to give y'all an idea of what it took to take an idea from spark in my mind to reality.

An Example

First off: I cut my hair for Wigs for Kids in late March and ended up loving it. After a couple days, I suddenly realized that most of my cosplays were created around what I could do with my long brown hair. "Uh, Oh" I thought... I figured that my hair would grow out enough for Captain Jackie Harkness and Roxy Richter has a wig. I figured I could do lady Mario again, but I wanted to pull out something new this year. So I brainstormed and though of Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon (thanks to best friend whose favorite movie is said film). 

This is the picture I used for inspiration/a guide.

First off, I started hitting the thrift stores. I found a long sleeved, olive tunicish shirt for $6 (50% off day so $3). On another trip, I found boots for $9 (40% off so let's say $5). Unfortunately, the boots are size 8s. I wear size 6s at most normally. So an insert or two, plus an extra pair of socks were needed to wear them. I then hit up Joann's and got the fur for $14 (30% off so $10), lining for $4, and light brown felt for $3. Then came the hard part...construction: 

Using tissue paper, I created the vest pattern.

Using chalk, I outlined the vest on the pricey fur fabric.

I had a sash belt which I attached the felt to in order to make the belt.

The boot cuff was sewn to the sock to keep it in place while walking the Convention floor.

I used olive oil to dye the boots a different color (there was a stain on right toe that needed covering up).

COST

Shirt - $3

Pants - Already owned

Boots - $5

Felt - $3

Fur - $10

Lining - $4

TIME

Shirt (30 minutes)

Hemming slits cut- 20 minutes

Adding strings - 10 minutes

Pants (10 minutes)

Adding lace up detail to side - 10 minutes

Vest (3 hours)

Perfecting Pattern - 45 minutes

Cutting and basting lining for initial example- 30 minutes

Cutting and pinning fur to lining - 30 minutes

Sewing Vest together - 1 hour 15 minutes

Boots (20 minutes - active work)

Dying boots a darker color - 20 minutes

Socks/Cuffs (40 Minutes)

Cutting and designing pattern - 10 minutes

Sewing and hemming fur to socks - 25 minutes

Belt (20 minutes)

Cut and pin felt to belt - 10 minutes 

Sewing felt to sash belt - 10 minutes 

Total Cost - $25 dollars / Total Time 5 hours

So the main costume was a deal when it came to cost and, though the time frame was about what I expected, I am very happy with my first sewing project with my mother's machine.

Horned Helm and Shield 

A lesson in paper mache.

I thought everything was going super until Bro Bro pointed out that I didn't have a Horned Helm. 

Just look at that thing...how can I compete with that?

Thanks to Pinterest, I gathered some decent ideas of how to do a Paper Mache helmet. Most suggested using a wig head form thing or a balloon for the base. I didn't have either at home so I got experimental and made head form from tinfoil, duct tape, and gaffers tape. 

Now the aliens can't get into my brain!

I paper mached a skull cap, for all intends and purposes, from my super awesome head form, letting the firt layer dry atop the form itself to keep the right shape. I then gave it 2 more layers (allowing drying time in between each layer) of paper mache as well as a layer of Mod Podge Outdoor sealer stuff to ensure that it would with stand a day of being worn at Con and all the bumps and sweat it would undergo.

So Much Hot Glue!

I then crafted horn outlines with cardboard and, using gaffers tape again (thanks Husband and your career in lighting), I filled them out with newspaper. I then added 2 layers of paper mache (again, allowing drying time in between each layer) around each horn as well as a layer of Mod Podge Outdoor sealer stuff and then attached the horns to my skull cap.

Then, I hot glued the horns on, holding each horn in place while the hot glue cooled. After the horns were hot glued on, I paper mached around them at the base to secure them extra. Using cardboard, I made the rim/form on the armor on the helm.

Metal Casing...aka cardboard.

I then paper mached over the form and then hot glued rope around then base of the horns and paper mached over it to give the feeling of mounting for them. I then painted the heck out of the helm and sealed it again with Mod Podge and then added felt in the inside of the hat to keep it comfy. 

Making it work...

Check out this stuff!

I also made a shield. I used 4 layers of cardboard, glued together with wood glue and then pressed for several hours with heavy books. I then paper mached 3 layers (focusing on making the edge smooth and look like one piece) as well as a layer of Mod Podge Outdoor sealer stuff. 

DJ helped me do the outline.

 Primed it white, drew the design, and painted in with several coats of acrylic paint and, again, Mod Podge sealed it up

Looking good!

For the hand/arm holds, I covered cardboard with fabric, form arm loops out of them, then hot glued the holds to the back of the shield. I am pretty stoked with how it has come out even though I decided to not lug it around the Con.

I let things dry in the Bathroom. What?

There will hopefully be a photo shoot for this cosplay in August with Kris. More photos to come.:)

BFMH: Comic-Con Breakfast Sweet Quesadilla

So I figured I should try to make something easy to eat in the car for our trip down to Comic-Con. While trolling the Pinterest, I saw a recipe/post about Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Quesadillas.

Now those sound pretty amazing (and easy) in my opinion.

Wrong.

I know that the big problem is that I made them the night before. I spread the peanut butter (use vegan if desired!) on the tortilla (use vegan if desired!), mashed the banana with a bit of honey and applied it, and then sprinkled on some chocolate chips. Wrapped them up in tin foil and figured to save dishes the next day, to rock out the old college trick of using the iron to heat them.

Whelp, I got up the next morning and "cooked them up". I figured I would eat mine before getting in the car, so I cracked open the tin foil to find a soggy, sticky mess. It was edible, and the flavor was great, but in no way was it appropriate to eat for no mess in the car.

Ewwwwy Gooey Mess.

Next time, I will make it fresh, not mash the banana, use less honey, and cook it on the George Foreman.

Not a good looking breakfast at all...

Not a total loss, but far from a success.

Look what you did to him!

When I was doing what I do and trolling for ideas on Pinterest, today's adventure popped out at me. I love an apple pie with a cheddar crust. While many people seem to think that is strange, I was raised eating apple pastries with a bit of cheese so this excursion sound good and right to me.

Apple Gouda Oatmeal Cookies

Makes 24 cookies

2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla OR 1 tablespoon dark rum

3/4 cup flour

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon powdered ginger

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup golden raisins

1 medium-sized apple (about 10 ounces)

4 ounces Gouda cheese, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Whisk the olive oil and egg together in a glass measuring cup until completely combined. Whisk in the vanilla or rum. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, ginger, baking powder, salt, and oats. Stir in the raisins.

Peel and core the apple. Use the coarse side of a grater to grate it directly into the flour. (You should have 1 1/2 to 2 cups of shredded apple.) Stir in the apple and the chopped Gouda.

Add the liquids from the measuring cup and stir just until everything is moistened. The dough will be loose and clumpy. Drop in large spoonfuls on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 17 minutes, or until the cookies are golden. They will be very soft still. Let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing to cooling racks to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

My only qualm with this dish is just the baking time really, but that really can't be helped. I probably should have left the raisins out for my own personal taste buds <stupid raisins, get out of my cookie!>, but as this was shaping up to not be a sweet ,desserty cookie, I figured that they would be welcome in a more savory bite sized food. Though as I think about it further now, I don't really like raisins unless they are in a bread pudding or carrot or broccoli salad. Ah, well, too late now.

These are good. While they don't seem to have a long shelf life, I definitely like the flavor (well, not the raisins, but they aren't too strong) and the texture (again, not the raisins, why did I think it would be ok?).

Husband enjoyed the novelty of them as well as the flavor and was happy o have them to take along on our adventures to SDCC and beyond. Yes, there is a beyond...it is called going the family cottage on Crystal Lake (Not THAT Crystal Lake).

Until the next snack cookie...


**Today's title is from Friday the 13th as I am headed to my own Crystal Lake next week.**

A Land of Milk and Honey...Protein Balls

In the quest to have a good selection of foods to nibble on while at Con and traveling, I found some protein ball recipes that looked very enticing. More so than the "Oatmeal with Peanut Butter" ones.

Milk and Honey Peanut Butter Balls

2 to 3 dozen balls, depending on size

1/2 cup natural unsweetened creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup honey or agave syrup

1/3 cup unsweetened coconut

1 cup malted milk powder (substitute regular milk powder for gluten-free version)

Mix all ingredients until they form a crumbly, sticky mass. Roll into balls. 

This is what the look like following the recipe.

I am sure it is because I didn't have quite enough dehydrated milk, but these look/feel too soft for sitting in a over packed bag at a Convention. So I have decided to take them the extra mile and make them into buckeyes by dipping them into chocolate.

Chocolate Armor Activate!

While I haven't tasted them, (I left them to cool and started writing), I can only guess that they are gonna be excellent. If not, you KNOW I will be updating this post. 

Until the Next Convention Prep Week....

Comic-Con and Michigan Packing

I am terribly excited about Husband and my adventure to San Diego Comic-Con weekend followed by the lovely Moller Cottage on Crystal Lake in Frankfort, Michigan as well as some time in St Louis, Missouri. I'll be gone for a week and a half.

In the world of packing, this is quite a challenge in selection and quantity. There are two very excellent facts to keep in mind though: A) SDCC bags can go home with Aaron Aranda! and B) Fortunately, there is a washer dryer every where we will visiting! YAY! So much easier!

To Be Packed in SDCC BAG

Captain Jack Cosplay
Roxy Richter Cosplay
Hiccup Cosplay
Pajamas

A comfy and appropriate dress in case I am sick of Cosplaying during a day.
A go out party dress for all the rad parties (Preferably, designed after Cat Bug)

To be pack for Michigan/STL

Travel Outfit – Worn 2 times -  Sunday (7/27), Friday (8/1) and Sunday (8/3) for flight

Sundress 1 – Worn 2 times - Monday (7/28) and Thursday(7/31) - Black with Hearts

Sundress 2 – Worn 2 times - Tuesday (7/29) and Saturday (8/2)  - Blue Maxi Dress + White Tank
Sundress 3 – Worn 2 times - Wednesday (7/30) and Sunday (8/3) - Church Appropriate/Dinner Out 

Swimsuit and cover up dress – Worn 4 times - Black 1 piece and Brazil 2 piece, 

Running Outfit
Pajamas
Sweater and Leggings (as it gets chilly up north in the evening)
Running Shoes
Flats
Flip Flops

Besides packing clothes and cosplays, the other important thing to be packed are snacks and food as you might recall from this post.

Great news is that I am super duper fortunate as my best friend, who is doing a fitness test group thing that gives her premade meals, gave me a grip of lightweight food containers. These will be great for taking the food to the Con and then being able to just throw the plastic in the recycle bin. :) Hooray!

I love Husband because he is honest and reasonable when it comes to food and Conventions or travel. He is on board to save a bit of money (as wells as ingesting less preservatives/low value foods) while we are out and about. Not to say we don't indulge in a hot dog now and then, but saving ourselves from eating that way every meal every day that we are away is a good thing.

So everything is planned, now I just need to put it in a bag and ready it the trek!


A special request: Pray that we can get a hotel for Comic-Con weekend. We have a back up place to stay, but I don't want to inconvenience friends with late nights and possible raucousness.

What I Take As No Fridge Needed Meals To Conventions

This year for Comic-Con, I knew I wanted to try some new recipes out for my "no fridge needed" foods. Husband loves himself some Trail Mix and can survive for quite a while on it, while I need something a bit more that nuts and fruit if I don't want to get Hangry. So after some research and poll taking, here is what I'll be taking this year to satiate for Husband and I as well as (probably) the Z and Aaron.

Breakfasts:
Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Quesadillas
Chewy Chocolate Breakfast Cookies

Savory Snacks
Trail Mix (Husband)
Ploughman's Lunch Kits
Caprese Quinoa Salad
Apple Gouda Cookies
Hummus and Pre Cut Veggies

Sweet Snacks
Fresh Fruit: Oranges, Apples, Bananas
Milk and Honey Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Chocolate Chip Cookies


While not all of this is for sure to make it to the convention, I figure the weekend before I will asses what we have in the fridge and will adjust. Keep an eye out for the recipes and layouts of these delightful foods!

Con-vaca-tion!

I like summer.

I don't like having to shave my bikini line for wearing a swimsuit (though I love to pool lounge and swim) nor do I like the excessive heat at times, but all in all, I like summer.

I like the fact that it is Convention season is going on and there are lots of excellent new cosplays from Cosplayers I follow on social media. They inspire me to be better with the few costumes I attempt. Husband and I are blessed enough to get to attend Comic-Con again this year PLUS right afterwards we catch a plane to StL and then head to Michigan with his family! Hooray! Con-vaca-tion!

This year for Comic-Con I (hopefully) will be wearing a new cosplay that I am working on right now:
Hiccup from "How to Train Your Dragon".

Not sure how it will turn out. While it doesn't appear to be a difficult costume, I have made a promise to myself, not to wear a costume that I not happy with completely. Thus far, I have made the pattern and cut the fabric for the vest, found a shirt that will work for the tunic, have a pair of pants that should work just fine, purchased boots that are far too large for me and I am attempting to dye them darker by staining them with oil, and have started work on the cuffs for said boots. At this point I am happy with it, but I really thing the shield is necessary.

I will be using the good old Roxy Ritcher from years past as well as try out Captain Jackie Harkness if Husband's suit is ready for the Tenth Doctor. If for some reason it isn't, we repeat Prince Peach and Lady Mario from Wondercon this past spring.

Also, with the diet I doing, I am cutting the post down to a "mandatory" Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as I simply have nothing interesting to talk about as my creativity is hindered a bit. If it turns out that there is more to write about then I will post on Tuesdays and Thursday. Thanks for understanding, y'all. Trying to drop some weight and build muscle is stressful enough for me right now.

Other Cosplays in the works...

While I posted a while ago about what cosplay is and what I wanted to do for the PAX East convention (I ended up only doing Roxy simply due to space in suitcase), I wanted to express that I am constantly building costumes and have a good selection of choices when conventions come round. Last minute costumes are rarely any good and look like they were thrown together, which normally, they have been.

After my first couple conventions were a bit tough when it came to allowing enough time for the creation of the costumes. So I finally started setting time frames to have costumes done for convention and it has made my enjoyment much greater.

Here is a catalog of any and all Cosplays I have done or want to do.

Group Cosplay for Wondercon in Anaheim.

Mario Sisters and Princes - Comic-Con 2014?

Most recently done Cosplay is the group cosplay with Husband and a couple who are big geeks like us. Remember this post? Here is the surprise: We gender bent it! I was Mario (cuz I'm shorter), her as Luigi (cuz she is taller), Husband as Daisy (he already had yellow and orange dress clothes) and her guy as Peach (cuz he owned it). This will be a very easy one to switch over for just Husband and I. Just need to get him some pink pants as he already has the rest of a Peach outfit.

Couple Cosplays for Husband and me:

Roxy Richter/Scott Pilgrim
I need a new pair of boots and possibly I will buy my own wig instead borrowing it from my makeup/hair professional friend.



Kaywinnet LeeFrye/Simon Tamm
I need a new pair of work boots for this costume as well, but other wise, it is a winner for both of us.


Captain Jackie Harkness/10th Doctor (Waiting on 10's suit is done)
I need a different jacket with brass buttons to complete this look as well as buttons need to be sewn into the skirt for the proper suspenders.


Jennifer Palmer/Marty McFly
I need to my paint flowers onto my now pink jeans, purchase a loose white colored blouse, a blue quilted vest, and a white/cream colored, long thin strapped, leather like purse.


Burt and Mary Poppins
I need a new and better hat for this. I had spray painted a tan hat and it was pretty much falling apart by the end of Halloween evening.

As for some new solo cosplays, many of my older ones just need a bit of updating:

Kitty Pryde
I need some sort of shoe that is comfortable and sexy at the same time as well as new belt. Duct tape ain't gonna cut it. I probably could due with altering sleeves of the dress to make it look a bit more boat neck and if my makeup/hair professional friend can due it, I was a fake Lockheed (a purple dragon) tattoo for my left bicep. And maybe some gloves to go with my new shoes.



Black Canary
This one is set to go, but unfortunately, after Wondercon 2014 and 2013 as well as Comic-Con 2013, I saw quite a few of these, so it is unlikely I will wear this one this next Con.

Hermonie Granger
While I don't think this belongs at Comic-Con, you never know when you need to show your Gryffindor pride. I just need a good wand to complete this look.


Battle Star Galatica
As much as I LOVE this show, I doubt that I will be using this cosplay again too. It is not quite spot on enough to get any sort of attention. If I do though, I will need new boots and some dog tags.


Black Cat
I will never feel like my body is rocking enough for this costume, besides the fact that most of the Black Cat cosplays our there are made of latex and mine is made of cotton/spandex mix. I need to hem and fix the zipper on the black body suit and the add the white fur trim and get a good white wig.


Rogue
I don't want to the the version of Rogue in her Green and Yellow Jim Lee Costume. I like the Post Wars version with the black body suit, double belts and a green cropped top. For this look, I will need to get a couple white streak hair pieces, a green crop top, boots in either green or black, and some green gloves.


Gender Bend Riddler - Comic-Con 2014?
I need to paint my black shoes to look like wing tips, a green bowler with white ribbon trim, a purple mask (preferably with white out eyes), a cane, and some purple gloves. This one will probably get the push to be finished of Comic-Con 2014!


Gender Bend Joker (Maybe someday with a male Harlequin)
I need to get some purple tights, make a light blue Colonel Sanders style neck tie, some sort of purple jacket, and grey gloves. At this point I'm am planning at the orange petticoat being enough of a bottom with the tights, but if I can find a purple swing skirt, I am down. Unfortunately, after Wondercon April 2014, I saw quite a few of these, so it is unlikely I will push to finish mine this year.


Peter Pan
Done and done!


Lucy from Peanuts
Nailed it!


Geisha
Thanks to Bro Bro who lives in Japan, I have everything for this costume except a proper head piece.

Pirate
This costume needs a new flouncey shirt and then either some pirate boots (or cuffs).


Ariel 
I need a red wig and to make a large bow for said wig.


Julia Child
I need a curly short haired wig (or just curl the heck out of my short hair). Not sure if and or when I would EVER use this Cosplay at a Convention, but it make me happy that I have it.


Modern Day Wonder Woman
I still need quite a bit for this one: Firstly I need to fit into the highlow starred skirt I got for said costume then I will also need a W Necklace, gold head band, gold wrist cuffs, and some sort of red and white shoes


Eloise
Cuz, why the heck not?!?! No, not for Comic-Con, but I'm sure there will be a reason someday. I need white knee highs, white peter pan princess sleeved blouse, and a bow for my head.


Poison Ivy
While BTAS version of Ivy is my favorite, I would prefer a corset and a skirt as I like that sort of silhouette. Needed is a red wig, green boots, and green gloves.


Cheryl/Carol
Because, duh! Just need a pink button down with roll-able sleeves.


Domino
Just need to get some sort of good looking fake guns and holsters. I love this chick.



Jason Todd
Some sort of red mask, a utility belt with guns, and a tan leather jacket will be needed.


Black Queen
A red lined black cape, red rose closure for said cape and high black boots.


Zatanna
A top hat, white or red bow tie, and black tailed jacket.


Catwoman
A green cape and that darn purple mask/cowl thing....I want this to happen so badly, but that cowl will keep it from happening for many, many years probably.


Susan Foreman
With my short hair, I pretty much have this one done. Just need to add the button down the front.

Cosplay Ideas, but nothing has been started on them:

Arya- Comic-Con 2014?
Especially since I cut my hair short, this is sort of a must! This will be a toughie, but I really like the idea of doing it while it is popular.


Link
Another one that seem like a really need to do while I have shortish hair.



Pin Up Vault Girl
Lots of work would been needed to do this, but I loves it and the game.



Amy Pond - Vampires of Venice
Lots is still needed for this, but this is a Cosplay that Husband and I have been thinking about for a while.


Clara Oswold - Day of the Doctor
I have a dress that could work, but lots of work still would be needed.

Emma Frost
I love this one, but I doubt it will ever happen.


Small Wonder
Cuz why the heck not...


Megaman
Not sure how to gender swap this, but I loves it sooooooo.


Elizabeth - BAS/Booker Dwight - PI
This one won't happen this year unless I really push for it. I need a well fitted white colored shirt, cuff and collar additions, bird cameo with red ribbon, navy blue a line skirt, red belt, black stockings with cross hatching, and navy t strap shoes. Husband will need his pinstripe suit altered, buy a grey high button vest, shoulder gun holster, a fedora of some appropriate color, and grey belted trench (optional).



There are my full thoughts on the matter for 2014.

Let me know if you have any suggestions for the future!