Color Me Kandi

Captain! An amazing discovery!

2011-07-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

Well most of you probably already know about this site, but here is anyway
http://www.tkbtrading.com/
It's called TKB Trading and they sell, are you ready for this? Bulk mica in every color you could imagine! They also sell all the other ingredients needed for creating your own custom blend of eyeshadow colors, foundations and even lipsticks and lip balms! Because you're buying in bulk the prices are much closer to what you'd expect to pay for one tiny ounce of eye color ($4!! wow! usually an ounce of loose eyeshadow can cost you anywhere from $12 to $25 :\ )

Here is an image of some of the mica colors they sell on their website. The mica can be used for both lip and eye color and they let you know which colors have/have not been approved for lips or eyes (for example, they stated the red color on that image is safe for lips, but not eyes)

If you're into color (which you probably are if you're here)and into having unique shades of make up, This is the place for you! I hope you all enjoy it :]
<3

35% Off Lime Crime make up, today only!!

2011-07-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

My favorite make up brand is having a huuuggeeee sale today! Use the code FBLOVE35 to get 35% off. This sale is to celebrate their 35000 face book fans (wow!) and only lasts until tonight at midnight, so hurry!!

Pinkie Pie is Love!

2011-05-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I've almost finished watching the new My Little Ponies and I already can't wait to do a cosplay! One of my favorite characters in the new series is Pinkie Pie; a hyperactive, super special awesome pony whose special talent is throwing parties! Throughout the show you start to kind of get the feeling that pinkie pie knows a lot more than she ever lets on and that's what I really like about her. She's super friendly and super random and always ready for adventure!
Here are some picture's that sum up Pinkie

Oh, also she sings. All the time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOVDu7etQlc

Anyways, I love pinkie pie. She is the best.
Sooooo, what other way to sho my love than dressing up a human version of her?! No other way. clearly. Here's a sketch I did of the basic costume I'm looking to make; I'm very excited about this!

Sorry it's not the best drawing, There arent any drivers for my tablet that run on windows 7 so I didn't have a lot to work with :x

hopefully the next time you hear from me I'll have more good news to share with you. until then, have some more Pinkie Pie.

After Easter; The White's Edition

2011-04-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows anything about fashion knows the rule about white (or linen) not after labor day or before Easter! Well since Easter weekend has come and gone and many of us are breaking out the whites, what better to blog about than the best white pencil for your make up kit?
The three that I own are the NYX jumbo pencil in Milk, the Sephora brand jumbo eye pencil crayon in white and the Urban Decay 24/7 glide on eyeliner pencil in Yeyo.

Here are some swatches of each in incandescent lighting :]

From left to right the products are NYX, Sephora, and UD.

As you can see the NYX jumbo pencil holds up to it's color's name; it's opaque and milky, giving a perfect, total coverage. The Sephora and UD brands hold a a lot of shimmer and the Sephora brand is a lot less opaque than the other two.

So as far as coverage goes, if you want a true, no nonsense white, the NYX pencil is the way to go. If you wan just a touch of lightness, something a little more wearable around the office, the sephora brand pencil is the way to go. On the other hand if you're looking for medium coverage and a lot of girly shimmer, you'll love the UD pencil (as a side note, the UD pencil does not come in a jumbo size, only the normal eyeliner size, so not so great or full eyelid coverage)

Here's something I think I everyone likes to know. What if I want to wear it all day? Well, here's a tip, ALL eyeshadows (cream and powder) last longer with an eyeshadow primer. ALL of them, period. What if you dont HAVE a primer then?
you'll want to see this next image then

these are the same colors after being rubbed (rather roughly I might add) by my finger. Can you see the HUGE difference in the milk color? It's almost gone! This is defiantly a product I would NOT recommend for long lasting wear if you don't have a primer. I believe it's safe to say the same for the Sephora brand pencil as well (In their defense, they hold up much better with a primer.) On the other hand, you'll notice the Urban Decay shade hasn't budged one bit! (you'll also notice it's less shimmery in this shot, this is not because the shimmer has rubbed off, it's just the angle the color is hitting the light here) The nice thing about the UD 24/7 glide on pencils is that they are ALSO waterproof! Thus, making them tough against sweat and even the oils in you skin for a long lasting wear without a primer.

White shades are good for all kinds of things. In the waterline they make your eyes look bigger. As a shadow base, they brighten the colors of your eye shadows and help them stick to your eyes better. Enjoy your whites lovelies!
<3

Rainbow Sprinkle Snickerdoodle

2011-04-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

Seriously, say that out loud, it's tons of fun, I've been sing-songing it all day, haha

Today I decided I really, REALLY wanted snickerdoodle cookies. Enough to actually make them myself. So I went to my favorite baking website and scouted out a recipe for these delicious works of heaven. I baked my cookies for the longer, ten minute time and they came out a little darker than I prefer, but still very soft (even after cooling) so if you prefer them lighter go for the 8 minute time. This recipe makes what I call an airy snickerdoodle cookie, perfect for dipping in milk because it's less dense, making it soak the milk right up- Yum!!
Now being the crafty person that I am, I couldn't look past my bottle of rainbow star sprinkles while struggling with the flour in the cupboard. So those, of course, ended up on top. And so I give you, Rainbow Sprinkle Snickerdoodles <3

Three tips for Make up N00bs

2011-04-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of tips for girls (and boys) who are new to the make up world :]

First things first; your skin is the foundation of your make up so you need to take care of it!

images from 'Making Faces'

Before applying any kind of make up you should always wash and EXFOLIATE your face and neck. Exfoliating your face is one of the most important components to flawless coverage. When I myself was a n00b to make up I didnt realize how important it was; I just knew that halfway through the day my make up would start to get splotchy and nothing I did made this stop. Until someone told me I needed to exfoliate more often. Seems simple, but I seriously had no idea that just washing my face was not enough. I wouldn't recommend exfoliating EVERY day because your skin does need time to recover from the process, but every other day works perfectly for me.

Another important procedure for pre-make up application is moisturizing; even if (or especially if) you have oily skin! The moisturizer, again, helps create a smooth, even surface for your make up and also helps protect the skin. The reason moisturizing is important for oily skin is that the drier your skin is, the more your body tries to make up for it by producing MORE OIL. Long story short, moisturizing actually keeps your skin less oily.

My last tip for make up newbies is blending. Whether you're applying eyeshadow or foundation, blending is key to a flawless finish. If there's one thing that irks me more than anything, it's a painfully obvious line right round the face and along the jawline where you can actually see that someone has applied make up. The purpose of foundation is to naturally improve the appearance of the skin, not to create a mask.
unless you're actually creating a mask. Like this one,

otherwise that terrible line is off limits and can be avoided by
-wearing a shade of foundation that matches your skin tone and
-brushing powder foundation over the hairline, ears and neckline

Are there any tips you have for people new to make up?

<3

Birthday Present!

2011-04-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

So this year for my birthday my lovely boyfriend bought me an amazing birthday present; the Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil 15 year collection. That's 15 different colors of my favorite water proof eye liner pencil. These colors literally glide on with a soft, highly pigmented formula that stays put all day- and night.

I wanted to play with all of them so I decided to jut do a review and show you guys some swatches :]

sorry the left side is kind of dark :<< This is a picture I took inside with incandescent lighting.

This is a picture in natural lighting :D
**Edit**
I just noticed the first and third labels are swapped. The color labeled as Stray dog is actually Bourbon and the one labeled bourbon is actually stray dog. Sorry for the confusion D:

I've labeled the colors and tomorrow I'll give a more in depth description of each; right now it's bed time x.x

Okay it's tomorrow! 8D
-stray dog; A dark taupe with a silver sparkle
-Corrupt; medium to dark chocolate brown also with plenty of sparkle
-Bourbon; A warm brown, a little on the bronze side with golden sparle
-Midnight cowboy; a shimmery, champagney nude with sparkle
(most of them are sparkly in case you havent gotten that yet..)
-Baked; A true bronze color
-Stash; a dark olive green with a gold-ish shimmer (also sparkle)
-Mildew; Dark forest green with green sparkle
-perversion; As black as black can be. Matte and completely opaque, no sparkle (seriously, I thought zero was black but perversion is not messing around)
-Electric; As it's name states, a bright electric blue (a slight bit on the teal side) with a little sparkle
-Binge; Shimmery navy blue with a very slight touche of purple (a little less opaque than most of the others)
-Ransom; True purple, not much shimmer or sparkle
-asphyxia; (my favorite) I'm not really sure what to call this color, it's like a bright fuchsia with tons of turquoise sparkle.
-Rockstar; very similar to corrupt. A darker chocolate brown with little to no sparkle and just a little sheen
-Zero; A basic black with the tiniest bit of sheen to it
-Uzi; gun metal gray equipped with plenty of sparkle.

Yay! Needless to say this set of eyeliners is a bit of an investment at almost $100, but the possibilities are endless with the number of colors you get to play with :]

What color is your favorite?

A Smart Investment

2011-04-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

As most of my readers know I'm a veteran cosplayer as well as being a make up artist. Today I'd like to combine my two loves and share with my fellow (not-so-veteran cosplayers) a few of the things in my make up kit that may be a bit of an investment (aka costly), but I find absolutely essential to good photographs and cosplays

Item number one; Primer
This includes both face and eyelid primer! Primer is something that goes on after you've exfoliated and applied moisturizer and before your actual make up. Face primer helps to fill in imperfections and fine lines but also creates a smooth base for your foundation (creating an even, long lasting application) The same can be said for an eye lid primer. (yes, you need both, they are different) The eye lid primer creates an even base for your eyeshadow, making the colors appear more vibrantly. It also keeps your eye shadow from creasing in the eyelid if the shadow is to be worn for a long period of time.

Some primers I recommend are
-the smashbox face primer. I like this product because it WORKS. It may seem expensive but the bottle pictured will probably last you an entire year; a VERY little goes a very long way. The other main reason I really like this primer is because it comes in a variety of colors. My face has a tendency towards redness in the cheeks and the green primer diminishes this completely.

-The other product I'm very fond of is the Urban Decay Primer potion I can put this on my eyelids and my eyeshadow stays put for up to 20 hours of heat and sweat and photographs.

the next product I can't live without is a setting or high definition powder.
This is basically a fine, white or skin toned powder that applies invisible.
Okay, it's invisible, so then what's it's purpose??
To save you from greasy t-zone syndrome and 'it's a hundred degrees and my make up is melting off my face' The setting powder helps decrease shine in photographs and also keep your make up together

My favorite setting powder is made by Make up Forever sephora.com states that Make up for ever's HD powder, "Sets the foundation and slightly mattifies skin without changing its natural contours. This 100% mineral silica powder softens the appearance of imperfections. Completely evens out the complexion for a glowing, radiant look. One universal shade for all skin tones."

A base and a top coat; it's elementary dear Watson.

A rose among snowflakes; mini update

2011-04-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

I was on the sugarpill website again recently and found another tutorial by toxikandi.
The name of her tutorial was ruby gloom and This is the look I came up with, using the burning heart and sweet heart palettes from sugar pill, along with my favorite Urban decay white shade: Uzi. :]
I won't make a tutorial with this look because I used someone else's tutorial to do it, so please don't ask <3

You can click on the photo for a full view.

NYX jumbo eye pencil

2011-04-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

So after a frustrating two weeks to trying to acquire one of these things in 'milk' (the white shade) I've finally gotten my little paws on one.
I personally LOVE this pencil. The color goes on smooth and opaque. The only warning I would give you is to ignore the 'non creasing' advertisement. This pencil WILL crease if worn all day or without an eyelid primer (with the primer its fantastic though!)

I decided it was time to play and came up with this lovely blue and white look; hope you enjoy! :]

The products used were
-NYX jumbo pencil in Milk
-Lime crime eye shadow in shoe addict and pompadour
-Sugarpill pressed eyeshadow in poisonplum
-UD primer potion, pressed eyeshadow in uze and 24/7 eye pencil in zero
-Sephora's advanced lash booster

If you'd like a tutorial on this look please let me know :]
-P.L.U.R-

Cause you're hot and you're cold

2011-02-24T12:45:00.001-08:00

I was watching a bunch of tutorials on the sugarpill website and the inspired me to get to some make up...
I used the black eyeshadow base from the bubble goth tutorial and the application patter from the tutorial by Toxikandi This was my result.

I apologize for the not so great photo quality. I haven't mastered the art of getting my colors to come out quite as vivid in photograph as they are in real life :(
in this look I've used the following products on my eyes
-Urban decay potion primer
-Urban decay's 'Perversion' as seen in the NYC book of shadows
-Lime crime's Pompadour
-LC's pink poodle (I think that's what it's called.. I cant read the bottom and it's not on their website anymore..)
-LC's Circus girl
-A bright red by Kryolan that's like five years old.
-UD Uzi for highlght
-Hard candy liquid eyeliner (from walmart lawll)
-UD 24/7 waterproof eyeliner pencil in zero (waterline only)
- pink and black falsies from ebay like three years ago

yay! If anyone has any tips on how to mke my colors come out more vividly pleaseeee send me an email! I'm a make up artist, not a photographer, so I can use all the help I can get! :]

PLUR<3
-Kitty

Valve's Portal 2; omgyes

2010-06-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

I dont even know what to say. The short video preview they were able to show at the sony conference at E3 yesterday was enough to get me squealing like a 5 year old and causing an anurism. I'm okay now, don't worry. Anyway. The game is still in early development, along with Zelda; skyward sword, and we won't be seeing it until this holiday season at the earliest.

E3 highlights; Kid Icarus, a new Zelda game and the 3Ds

2010-06-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

Those are just a few of the fantastic new things coming to gaming from Nintendo int he next year.
Things I'm exited about? Kid Icarus, New golden eye, Donkey Kong country returns, Epic Mickey, and possibly the new Zelda game. As a huge Zelda fan- even my ringtones on my phone are Zelda themed- I'm always excited about anything new and Zelda related, but Im sad to see the darker, more realistic graphics of Twilight Princess not returning in the newest edition to the Zelda saga. This is one of those, we'll wait and see things. Also exited about the new 3Ds; the screen plays in 3d, but you dont have to wear 3d glasses! I'm curious as to how its going to work.

Things I'm not excited about?
Kirby; Epic Yarn.
Nintendo..
What.
What.
WHAT are you doing?!

Kirby sucks up enemies and steals their powers. Wtf is this shit!? It's like you've recycled paper mario and just changed the medium. I'm upset and disappointed in you Nintendo.

ll✖ll Need a Dispenser Here! ll✖ll Otakon 2010

2010-06-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

I'm Very pleased to announce that this year my cosplay group and I will be donning costumes from the Valve game Team Fortress Two. Here's the line up so far;

The ladies in this years group had to get a little creative when it came to our costumes because, as anyone who plays this game knows, there are no actual female characters. I'm pretty excited to see what the other girls come up with as I've already got the design finished for my medic coat.

I'm also a little excited and nervous about this being my first prop building experience; I'll be crafting the medic's pack and healing gun so we'll see how this goes. If it goes well, you'll get a tutorial of how I went about doing it. Thats all for today folks, see you next time!

Minashi on the red carpet; inspired by chobits

2010-06-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

Anyone whose ever read or heard of Chobits knows that the main character, Chi, has got some crazy wicked outfits. Two years ago I did a cosplay of my original charater, Minashi, in what she would wear on the red carpet.

For a very brief background, Minashi is part vampire, part elf, she's from a parallel dimension where she was a royal body guard and a trained assassin. On earth shes been swindled by an old friend, also from her world, into playing the bass guitar in his rock band.

Now if you not more turned around than a prostitute in a threesome, I'll show you some pictures of the costume I commissioned from the very talented Ulrich, greatly inspired by a popular chi outfit.

Here's the original

And Here's mine

skord comi moved!

2010-06-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

I moved my comic- some kind of roller disco- to it's own blog, which can be found here!

I'd like a large iced coffee and a double shot

2010-06-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

click to view :D

Opening Shift

2010-06-08T13:10:00.001-07:00

click to view :D

Just a few other pointers:

2010-06-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

If you want to be noticed, people want interesting, big, colorful costumes. We've all seen Thief Rikku...but the more eye-catching Warrior Rikku might get you more attention. Kairi will always get more pictures over Naminé because Kairi's is a little bit more complex and stands out much more than Naminé's white dress. Last year I was a Rock-star character from my novel. Nobody knew who he was, but I wore bright make-up and interesting clothes, so people wanted my picture even though they didn't know who I was.

Original costumes are a plus. I had everyone taking a picture of a man with an arrow above him saying, "Generic Asian Male". It was simple, but funny and original, so everyone loved him. If you try Piccolo and aren't so great, chances are you'll still get lots of attention because nobody really tries Piccolo, and you'll get major props for breaking out of the mold.

People like completed costumes. How many times have I seen someone with an awesome Vash coat...but no Vash hair or glasses? It's a huge turn-off. If they want to see a Vash coat, they will go on eBay. But hey dont' want to see a Vash coat - they want to see Vash.

How do I get people to take my picture?

2010-06-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

1. Look confident in your costume.
We know if a Zelda doesn't like her costume, and we know to shy away from her. Smile, walk with purpose, be in character! Just have fun and look approachable.

2. Pose.
Last year there was a few hours where nobody was taking our picture, so what did we do? We sat down and posed, and kept posing. The moment people see you're available for a picture, then they want you. Stand/sit there, be in character, even when nobody is around. Someone will see you, and someone will take your picture. And once one takes your picture, then the hoard will come.

3. Keep freshening up.
It's 5 o'clock on Saturday. You've been at the con for eight hours. Run to the bathroom and reapply your lipstick, your eyeshadow, your eyeliner. Even if you have the good stuff, chances are likely that some of it has worn off. If you always look presentable, then people will want you.

4. Walk around.
I've noticed nobody really takes my picture when I'm in the Artist's Alley or the Dealer's room, or at least not nearly as much as in the halls. There's one reason for that - people go to the Alley and Dealer's room to shop. If they see an awesome Sephiroth on the way,they'll snap a picture, but looking for cosplayers isn't on their agenda at this point. but in the halls, that's where the press is,that's where the cameramen are. If you have nothing to do for an hour until the Masquerade, walk around the halls and enjoy the sights,knowing you're one of them.

What if I'm going alone?

2010-06-08T12:56:00.000-07:00

1. Practice, practice.
This goes whether or not you're alone. Know what you're going to say,how you're going to pose, how you'll act. If you're a french maid, what kind of maid? Will you be cute? innocent? sexy? flirtatious? Know all this ahead of time and make it reflect in your pose and attitude.Nothing looks worse than seeing an awesome Roxas just standing there because he didn't know what to do. Know how you're going to smile and pose and be consistent with it.

2. Don't get caught by surprise.
Always be ready for photographers, especially if you have a particularly interesting costume. Be in the "quick pose" mode, as I call it. Have your messenger bag over one shoulder, not over your torso, so you can easily throw it aside and draw that sword of yours.Don't forget that photographers are conformers - if they see two people taking a picture of your awesome Dark Link costume, they'll be inclined to step in and take a quick snap, so don't lose that pose until you're sure that nobody else is interested.

3. Know your limits.
Last Otakon I had a man who was quite interested in my and my friend's costumes. We were half-naked bunnies and kitties! He was asking us to spread our legs, kiss each other, and do other provocative things. Know your limits. If a photog asks you to grab your boob and you don't want to, say so! You're a con-goer, not a professional model. You have every right to deny someone a photograph or a pose. And if he/she insists,call security.

What should I do when I'm in a group?

2010-06-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

1. Make sure everyone is happy.
If you all want to do a Sailor Moon group and Ms. Gundam isn't down with it, then don't force it. Either compromise, or do something else.Don't forget that she'll be seen in this costume for over 10 hours,she'll be paying for it, she'll be acting in it. And if Ms. Gundam doesn't want to be Sailor Pluto, she sure as hell isn't going to act that way.

2. Keep the costumes consistent.
If you're all doing an Ouran Host Club cosplay and five of you have the same costume, but your best friend has his uniform made out of a different material, it's noticeable! The same goes with wigs,accessories, weapons, and so forth. And make sure everyone is posing right. If you want your whole Naruto group to pose the same, make sure everyone is aware of that, and everyone knows their place and pose in the group. Be organized and stay communicated.

3. Make sure everyone feels noticed.
Yes, yes, we get it. Roy and Hughes are the main guys in FMA uniform cosplay. But if John McRandomOfficer has an awesome uniform he made from scratch, let him show it off! Don't shove anyone in the back because you or another are in high demand. Have fun with everyone.

How should I take care of my costume?

2010-06-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

1. Iron, iron, iron.
Especially if you have a costume that's been shipped from overseas. The seller will cram you and your best friend's maid outfit into a tiny bubble-wrapped package to save a hassle, and when it comes out it looks,like it just got run over by stampeding horses. Iron it, steam it,dry clean it, just make sure the fabric is smooth and crisp for convention day.

2. Brush your wig.
Get a wig brush - DON'T USE YOUR REGULAR HAIRBRUSH. After one or two wears, your wig (especially if it's long and straight) will start to look nappy and bad - kind of like barbie's hair after you just found her after 10 years. It looks bad and won't feel right on your head.I've had to throw many many wigs out simply because I didn't care for them enough. But be gentle with it - remember, a wig can't grow hair.Once hair is pulled out, it stays that way. And if you rip out a chunk because you're tugging on it, it's going to stay that way.

3. Put your make-up on last.
Nothing looks worse on your Sora costume than a streak of foundation that came off when you put the top on. Put your make-up on last and to prevent any powder or liquid falling on it, put a towel over your front and your shoulders.

4. Hang your costume,
don't shove it into a trunk.This especially applies if you have a hand-made costume. The stitching will come out easier, it will tear, get caught and mixed up with other costumes, get lost, wrinkle, or things will fall off. Hang it up, like you would a suit or your prom dress. You never know when you might want to recycle it or let a friend borrow it.

What should I get? What shouldn't I get?

2010-06-08T12:48:00.001-07:00

1. In terms of Make-Up:
Get the good stuff. Urban decay, physicians formula, Kryolan, Stargazer...professional makeup! Don'trely on the stuff you get in your nearby Party City. They're meant fora one-time costume party or a talent show - not 10 hours of sweating,walking, talking, posing, flashes, hugs, kisses, tears, food...thesimple fact is that party store makeup doesn't cut it. Spend thoseextra bucks on loose powder (to reduce shine), waterproof eyeliner,professional, high-pigmented eyeshadow, foundation, fixer spray to keepit all on, etc, and practice well before hand to make sure you know/how/ to put it on. Get tips from the internet, a friend, your mother,etc.

2. A wig.
Unless you're being Duo Maxwell and you have long, brown hair, it's not necessary. But if you're planning to go as Axel, Yugi, Chii, etc, get a wig. Hairgel, hairspray, and dye can only do so much, and it takes hours of planning, practice, and executing. Get a wig either pre-styledor do it yourself,and put it on in the morning. If you have a hotel full of 10 eager cosplayers, you can't stay in the bathroom trying to get your gel to work while Mr. Vash wants to take a shower before throwing his coat on.It's more expensive sometimes, but it's worth it.

3. A wig CAP.
Okay, so you've slaved away and spent a ton of money on that awesomeSakura costume you've dreamed of having, and you finally got it, and you put it all together. You stick the pink wig on and you realize,damn! you can still see my black hair through the pink! This is a huge mistake that many cosplayers make. They stick their headful of hair under a wig, and after 20 minutes we start seeing the darker strands.By two hours, nearly all your hair has come out. Get a wig cap. They're cheap, effective, comfortable, and a life saver. They make your pink hair actually look like your real hair.

4. Don't get a satin costume.
They wrinkle, they pucker, they shine against a flash. Satin accents are all right, such as trim, ruffle, or a bow, but avoid a completely satin outfit. You may think you look fabulous as a satin-clad Sailor Moon, but once you see your picture on the internet in a sunny room with a flash, you'll see all the wrinkles or puckers (if you aren't blinded from the brightness firsthand) that weren't obvious in your hotel mirror. And trust me, after many hours, it will wrinkle.

5. Get shoes with some sort of platform.
Even if it's not apart of your character's costume, try to find a shoe with some sort of platform! Even one inch will help. Why? Because if you're walking with heels, you're going to walk with more force than you do while walking on flats. This force will go straight from the floor to the balls of your feet, and over time your feet will HURT! If you get a platform, one that's not too heavy and not too bulky, then the platform will actually absorb a lot of the shock and force that's sent to your feet at each step. It will keep your feet from hurting longer!

6. Get Dr. Scholl's!
If you're going to a convention all day, especially if you're going tobe in shoes you're not quite comfortable with, get some sort of insert!I like the massaging gels, and I notice a big difference when I'm going a day without one! They slip right into your foot, hardly take up any space, and help A LOT!

Prepare your cotsume!

2010-06-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

1. Plan, plan, plan.

No cosplay looks poorer than one that's done last minute. And when Isay plan, I mean plan. I usually have a clear idea of my cosplay fornext year a weekend or two after the last convention has ended. Thisleaves a lot of room for changes, preparation, discussion, and soforth. You have time to buy materials, costumes, make-up, get a grouptogether, and add accessories and weapons.

2. Get everything ahead of time.

I mean like, way ahead of time. If a convention is in August, I usuallyhave all to most of my major costume materials in by May. This isespecially important if you are buying your costume from China or Japanand if it is being custom-made. Complications can occur that delays theorder, and you may need to return it or order a new one. If you haveeverything in order, you're not waiting a week before the con wonderingif you'll get your Organization XIII coat in time. This will also giveyou time to make adjustments to your costume yourself and see if it'scomfortable.

3. Put everything on beforehand.

Never, ever, everwait until 8 o'clock Friday morning to put your completed costume on.And when I say everything, I mean everything. Make-up, wigs, shoes,bracelets, weapons, everything. I had a friend once who realized toolate that the wig she had looked horrible with her costume, so she hadtwo options - either take it off and have it look incomplete, or wearit and try to make the best.

4. Don't forget anything!

Nothing is worse than working your hardest to make Sora'sKeyblade...and then forgetting it at home! It's very easy to leave asmall accessory or make-up product at home, so here's what I do: Get anotebook and list everything you need on one page. I meaneverything. Write down your red glitter, your white glitter, yourmake-up remover, your garter belt, your one rainbow stocking and yourone black one. Anything you wear / carry, no matter how small it is,write it down. As you buy it or complete it, check it off. Then onanother page, do the same list, but save this one for when you'repacking. When you put your white apron in the appropriate suitcase,check it off, then go on to the black dress! This way, you'll beprepared and you'll know you have everything.