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We have revamped the site and archived Volume I.
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our 3-year journey, and thank you to those who are new to the community! You guys inspire me, and I want to share that feeling with you in this brand-new issue.
As you go forth with your holiday plans, take some time for yourself. Don't run yourself ragged and look back with regret. Take some me time. Journal, listen to music and do meditation. Or go for a long walk down the street in the cool weather to clear your mind.
Whatever your plans, just make sure you take care of yourself and spoil yourself now and then. You deserve it.
I love all of you and I hope you have a Happy Halloween! Stay Spooky!
Sincerely,
Your Editor-in-Chief,
L. E. North
By: Lauren North
Costumes aren't just for Halloween. A quick peek into Comicon's, festivals, and Live-Action-Role-Play will show you that. Armor and cool-looking costumes can be used in performance art and make for super immersive storytelling!
Dressing up is one of the most fun things you can do, but your costume doesn't have to be some cheap getup. Why settle for a cheap costume when you can have a beautiful set of armor, a masterpiece of your own creation? Armor is calling your name, and there's a world inside you waiting to be unlocked...
So if you've been thinking about creating a costume (armor) -but you're unsure where to start - you're in the right place. Here is a short guide to get you started!
Visualize Your Armor and Make an Inspiration Folder
Now is the time to visualize what you want your armor and costume to look like. You can browse examples throughout history, video games, major motion pictures, comics, you name it! Make an inspiration (inspo) sheet (or folder) or a board on Pinterest.
Gather your favorite styles by cutting out images, setting aside samples, and getting your creative mind going. Figure out designs, accents, and color schemes.
If you want embellishments, make room for those too. You can use faux gems, studs, or spikes if you'd like. Create a box or folder for your inspiration and keep it near you.
Decide what paint colors you might want to use, and consider finishing touches like fasteners and painted highlights or extra shading.
Get Started
You can make some exquisite armor from simple materials and basic tools you can find around your house.
The Benefits of Creating Your Own Armor
The beauty of creating armor on your own is that you can customize it however you'd like. Take your measurements, get a good fit, and make small adjustments as you go. Why settle for cheap costume armor when you can make armor that is a hundred times better?
Here's A Secret
You wanna know a little secret? You can save hours (even days) of time by skipping a few steps right now. You don't have to come up with your (own patterns or templates after the measurements are through.
This automatically takes hours and days off your planning time, because the hard work has been done for you!
Armor Templates has a website full of patterns and templates with step-by-step instructions on how to execute each piece. If you're not sure, try looking at some free templates he has to offer and see for yourself!
The other cool part about creating handmade armor is that it can be eco-friendly. You can reuse and recycle sustainable materials, reducing your carbon footprint. You can gain hands-on experience in design, craftsmanship, and workshop skills. It takes perseverance, so be patient with yourself. Allow yourself to find your inner artist.
Gather Your Materials and Explore Techniques
You can use recycled metal to make armor, but if you're worried about the weight and mobility of the piece, foam works wonders! It's a popular material to use because it's versatile and affordable.
It doesn't weigh much, it's easy to shape, and it can be heat-formed for more complex designs. Thermoplastics like Wonder Flex can be exposed to high temperatures and molded into intricate shapes for armor and weapons. You can also use cardboard or recycled bottles if you're making eco-friendly armor.
It's important to find a sweet balance between aesthetics and function. You want to be able to breathe and move around in your armor, more so if you work at a museum or are involved in a theatrical ensemble, where moving around is part of the experience.
Explore techniques like implementing rivets, straps, and buckles. Try painting in layers, add highlights and lowlights for added dimension, and experiment with etching and weathering techniques.
Don't forget to use a primer before you paint. Look into spray gloss for a nice finish (if you paint) that keeps your armor shiny and protected over time. It will seal in the color and keep your costume looking vibrant and pretty.
Choosing a Template for Your Armor
Remember, nothing is set in stone. The template is a guide, and it will help you get started, even if you have no experience crafting armor. It's a serious project that takes time, dedication, and workmanship.
With Armor Templates, half the planning and prep is already done for you, so there's no reason you can't get started making your handcrafted armor!
Well, what are you waiting for?
Visit ArmorTemplates.com and pick out a template right now to get started!
Don't be afraid. I believe in you, warrior!
UPDATE FROM DAVID, ARMOR TEMPLATES:
I wrote a couple of fantasy novels many years ago, and I wanted to film a short video (a book trailer) to promote the books. I needed a piece of armor for that three-minute film, and I didn't want to use plastic or something else that would look fake.
I took a brass kickplate off the front door and began cutting it up to make a gauntlet. I had zero experience working with metal. Luckily, I filmed the process of building the gauntlet, because that video ended up getting millions of views on YouTube. The book trailer got about 60,000.
I decided to make a few other armor designs and sell templates on my website. That system worked out well for many years, but YouTube changed some things in their algorithm and my 323,000 subscribers almost never get alerts anymore.
So I switched over to mostly doing commissions of high-end metalwork. I am also working on a new YouTube channel with a friend of mine called DARC Customs, where we will be focusing on custom automotive builds.
Connect with Armor Templates!
https://Facebook.com/armortemplates
https://Instagram.com/armortemplates
Search David Guyton (Youtube)
@DefectivePudding created these adorable ghost illustrations that are currently for sale in print.
Sadie's heart raced with excitement as she stood in the mystical forest, surrounded by the ethereal presence of ghosts and spirits. The dead hour had always intrigued her, and tonight, she had decided to venture into the unknown.
The eerie sound of the cuckoo clock striking 3 a.m. reverberated through the air, sending shivers down Sadie's spine. She hastily threw on her shoes and jacket over her pajamas, driven by an inexplicable urgency. With each step she took, the forest seemed to come alive, whispering secrets only the night could hear.
As Sadie walked, a magnificent purple and black panther materialized before her, its ethereal form gliding effortlessly through the trees. The owl's haunting hoots echoed through the dark roughage, adding to the otherworldly atmosphere. The wind howled, carrying with it a chilling breeze that brushed against Sadie's face as if warning her of the dangers that lay ahead.
The panther led Sadie to an arch formed by intertwining vines and decaying tree parts. Intrigued, she reached out and placed her hand on the top of the arch, feeling a surge of energy coursing through her veins. With a voice as melodic as the wind, Sadie harmonized with a bird perched nearby, and the arch began to emit a vibrant green glow.
Without hesitation, Sadie stepped through the arch, the panther following closely behind. On the other side, she found herself amidst a desolate landscape, littered with rubble and remnants of a forgotten world. Determined to make the best of her journey, Sadie gathered the debris and created a small campfire, rubbing her cold hands together for warmth.
Summoning her courage, Sadie called forth a ghost, her voice resonating with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. The ghost materialized within the logs of the fire, its face flickering like embers. Then, with a graceful motion, it soared high into the night sky before descending back down to Sadie's side.
"Hello, Sadie," the ghost greeted her, its voice carrying a hint of familiarity.
A surge of emotion overwhelmed Sadie as she recognized the spectral figure before her. "Hi, Dad!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy and longing.
Tears welled up in Sadie's eyes as she attempted to wrap her arms around her father, only to find her embrace passing through his ethereal form. Despite the bittersweet moment, her father's words brought solace to her troubled heart. "I'll always come back," he assured her, his voice filled with love and reassurance.
Sadie knew that this encounter was fleeting, a mere glimpse into the realm of the departed. But at that moment, surrounded by the mystical forest and the spirits that dwelled within, she found comfort in the knowledge that her father's love would forever transcend the boundaries of life and death.
As the campfire crackled and the panther stood guard, Sadie cherished the precious moments she had with her father, knowing that their connection would endure, even in the darkest of hours. As the night wore on, Sadie's heart was filled with a newfound sense of peace, for she had discovered that love, in all its ethereal forms, could conquer even the most haunting of fears.
Artwork by Brittany Keller
Mandy was taken aback by the ghost's words. Pumpkins? She hadn't even noticed any pumpkins in the house. Confusion filled her mind as she tried to make sense of the situation. How could a ghost apologize for something she didn't even know about?
She looked around and noticed a trail of pumpkin seeds leading from the kitchen to the backyard. Curiosity got the better of her, and she followed the path, the ghost still clinging to her side. The rain had subsided, leaving the night air heavy with an eerie silence.
In the backyard, Mandy's eyes widened in horror. The once vibrant pumpkin patch was now a desolate wasteland. The pumpkins lay shattered and destroyed, their insides splattered across the ground. It was as if a hurricane had swept through, leaving nothing but devastation in its wake.
The ghost trembled beside her, his transparent form flickering in the moonlight. "I didn't mean to do it," he whispered, his voice filled with remorse. "I was angry, and I lost control."
Mandy's heart ached for the ghost. She could sense his loneliness and pain, trapped in this dilapidated house with no one to understand him. "Tell me your story," she said softly, her voice filled with compassion.
The ghost hesitated for a moment before he began to speak. His name was Samuel, and he had once been a farmer who took great pride in his pumpkin patch. But one fateful night, a terrible storm had struck, destroying his beloved pumpkins. Consumed by anger and grief, Samuel had made a pact with a dark entity, trading his soul for the power to exact revenge on the world that had taken everything from him.
But the power came at a terrible cost. Samuel was transformed into a vengeful spirit, forever bound to the house and cursed to destroy any pumpkins he came across. The guilt and regret had haunted him for centuries until Mandy's arrival offered a glimmer of hope.
Mandy listened intently, her heart heavy with sympathy. She understood Samuel's pain and the weight of his actions. "Samuel, I believe that everyone deserves a second chance," she said, her voice filled with determination. "Let me help you break free from this curse."
Together, Mandy and Samuel devised a plan. They would gather the shattered remains of the pumpkins and perform a ritual to cleanse the house of the dark entity that held Samuel captive. With each pumpkin piece they collected, Samuel's guilt lessened, and a newfound sense of hope filled his ethereal form.
As the ritual reached its climax, the house trembled, and a blinding light engulfed them. When the light subsided, Mandy found herself standing alone in the dilapidated house. The air felt lighter, and a sense of peace settled over her.
From that day forward, the house was no longer haunted. The pumpkins in the patch grew once again, vibrant and full of life. And though Samuel's spirit had moved on, Mandy knew that she had made a true friend in the ghost who had once haunted the old house.
And every Halloween, as Mandy carved her pumpkins, she would remember Samuel and the power of forgiveness, cherishing the friendship that had blossomed in the most unexpected of places.
Once upon a time, in the small village of Ravenwood, there was an old, abandoned mansion that stood at the edge of a dense, eerie forest. Locals whispered about the mansion, claiming it was haunted by the ghost of a young woman named Isabella. Legend had it that Isabella had tragically died within those haunted walls, her spirit forever trapped within.
Curiosity and fear intertwined as a group of adventurous teenagers decided to explore the mansion one moonlit night. Armed with flashlights and trembling hearts, they cautiously entered the creaking front door.
As they ventured deeper into the mansion's dimly lit corridors, a chilling presence seemed to envelop them. Strange noises echoed through the halls, and a cold breeze whispered through the broken windows. The teenagers' nerves were tested, but their curiosity pushed them forward.
Suddenly, they stumbled upon a dusty room covered in cobwebs. In the center stood a grand piano, its keys eerily untouched for years. As one of the teenagers hesitantly approached the piano, the room grew colder, and a haunting melody filled the air, as if played by invisible hands.
The teenagers exchanged terrified glances, their hearts pounding in unison. Then, from the shadows, a faint figure emerged. It was Isabella, her ethereal form shimmering with a pale glow. Her eyes, filled with sorrow, met the startled gazes of the teenagers.
Isabella's melancholic voice resonated through the room, recounting her tragic tale. She had been a talented pianist, yearning for recognition and love. But her dreams were shattered when she fell in love with a wealthy nobleman, who forbade their relationship due to their differing social statuses.
Heartbroken and desperate, Isabella chose to end her life within the mansion's walls, unable to bear the pain any longer. Since that fateful day, her spirit had wandered, longing for peace and resolution.
Touched by Isabella's sorrowful story, the teenagers resolved to help her find closure. Guided by her ethereal presence, they uncovered hidden letters and mementos, piecing together the truth behind her tragic fate. With each discovery, Isabella's spirit grew lighter, as if someone lifted a weight from her soul.
Finally, in the mansion's forgotten attic, they found a letter from Isabella's beloved nobleman, expressing his undying love for her. It had never reached her, lost in the webs of societal expectations and prejudices.
As the teenagers read the letter aloud, a serene smile transformed Isabella's face. Her spirit shimmered, ascending towards the moonlit sky, finally finding the peace she had longed for.
From that day forward, the mansion of Ravenwood was no longer haunted. It became a place of remembrance and understanding, a testament to the power of compassion and the enduring spirit of love. And the legend of Isabella, the ghostly pianist, continued to echo through the generations, reminding all who heard it of the importance of embracing our shared humanity, even beyond the veil of life and death.
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