How I made my -Lightning Returns- boot armor by AlysonTabbitha

How I made my -Lightning Returns- boot armor by AlysonTabbitha

I finished my Lightning Returns boots today!!
I took some progress photos throughout the process & thought it might be help others making armor out of craft foam. It's really lightweight & affordable! (cost me under $10
How I did it:

1:Cut a pattern out of paper.

2:Trace pattern onto craft foam & cut it out.

3:Use stove (or heat gun) to warm up foam so it's moldable for shaping.

4:Trace pattern on poster board or cardstock & glue it under the shaped foam to stabilize it.

Tip: if you need raised edges just hot glue on strips of foam.

5: Glue separate solid pieces together if necessary

6: Coat foam in clear craft glue & let dry.

7: Spray paint base coat (darker color)

8: Paint/detail desired color

9: Attach elastic, velcro, straps, ect.. in desired areas to make it wearable

10: Put it on & look like a badass! ;D

JoyBundle012 Featured By Owner Apr 15, 2017 Hobbyist General Artist

So simple! Thank you! I'm trying to make Mileena's boots from Mortal Kombat for my cosplay in my own style (and on my budget). This is a huge help, thanks so much!

MindlessDragon Featured By Owner Apr 6, 2016

Can I ask you how thick the foam was that you used for the project?

Monster-Star-Kitten Featured By Owner Nov 22, 2016 Hobbyist General Artist

I'm later as hell, and i'm not the best at armor...
but i can tell you that craft foam is generally 2mm thick, if you're getting the sheets.
Sometimes craft foam is labelled "eva foam sheets" in some shops, but when cosplayers are talking about EVA foam, we're normally on about the floor mat kind.

Hope this helps in the future!

Uveria Featured By Owner Jan 27, 2016 Hobbyist General Artist

How do you heat up foam with a stove?

X-u-h-a Featured By Owner Dec 29, 2015

: Coat foam in clear craft glue
Could you please give more details on that? A link to such glue maybe?
Thanks!

Monster-Star-Kitten Featured By Owner Nov 22, 2016 Hobbyist General Artist

I'm late in hoping out here, but hey! the more you know!

I've used tacky glue in the past on craft foam, many to prime AND seal, but the downside is that tacky glue normally drys shiny.
But you may or may not have heard of Mod Podge, right? Mod Podge can be used the same way that tacky glue can, but you can get different varieties of it! So you can get the Gloss one or the Matte one!

Hope this helps out in the future!

AndiSpyral Featured By Owner Oct 16, 2015

Where do you get your craft foam

MaryKaoru Featured By Owner Nov 27, 2014 Hobbyist General Artist

How did you get this beautiful glossy effect? Did you use some kind of varnish?

It looks awesome! Congrats! Love

AlysonTabbitha Featured By Owner Nov 27, 2014 Hobbyist Artist

I used martha stewart high gloss that I got from Michael's crafts!

MaryKaoru Featured By Owner Nov 28, 2014 Hobbyist General Artist

Thank you!!

Apohermion Featured By Owner May 1, 2014

The end result is really awesome. How durable would you say it is? I've used regular school glue to make my armor pieces more durable, but I think I might switch to craft glue instead. Also did you use any special paint to have it look so glossy afterwards?

mizueyes777 Featured By Owner May 1, 2014 Professional Digital Artist

number 6. does the glue harden the foam and makes it more durable? and what type of name brand and glue is it? is there a website?

FinalFantasyCosplays Featured By Owner Apr 17, 2014 Professional General Artist

Sorry! One more question. What did you use to glue the elastic bands to the knee armor? And did you glue the lower knee armor together (the 3 pieces)

FinalFantasyCosplays Featured By Owner Apr 5, 2014 Professional General Artist

Last question -- Did you actually glue the craft foam onto the front of boots? Thanks sweetie!

AlysonTabbitha Featured By Owner Apr 6, 2014 Hobbyist Artist

Oi! No I didn't, they are $300 boots I got as a gift. If they are cheaper I would have, but I just glued elastic to the craft foam

FinalFantasyCosplays Featured By Owner Apr 6, 2014 Professional General Artist

Wow! $300 boots? I wouldn't glue over them either!

FinalFantasyCosplays Featured By Owner Apr 5, 2014 Professional General Artist

Also, what did you use to wrap it around your legs? Elastic bands with velcro on the ends?

AlysonTabbitha Featured By Owner Apr 6, 2014 Hobbyist Artist

Just elastic bands, & i'm not a fan of velcrow cause it's noisy & comes undone easily

FinalFantasyCosplays Featured By Owner Apr 5, 2014 Professional General Artist

AWESOME! What mm foam did you use?

AlysonTabbitha Featured By Owner Apr 6, 2014 Hobbyist Artist

Just the regular sheets of craft foam you can get at walmart of michaels crafts

FinalFantasyCosplays Featured By Owner Apr 6, 2014 Professional General Artist

Thanks. I think I'll use 2mm to go over the shoes and 3 or 6mm for the knee armor.

causeallidoisdance Featured By Owner Mar 28, 2014 Hobbyist General Artist

This is helpful as hell ;u; thank you!
Raven (she's a mutual friend of ours!) is actually going to help me make Bunny's Hero Suit from Tiger & Bunny! So I want all the tips and tricks I can get ^^

AlysonTabbitha Featured By Owner Mar 29, 2014 Hobbyist Artist

I'm so glad this was helpful! I can't wait to see it, hopefully we can all go to a con together someday

causeallidoisdance Featured By Owner Mar 30, 2014 Hobbyist General Artist

Yeah! I wanted to meet you at Mega con but.. mega con. And Raven talks about the airsoft gun place a lot and I've been wanting to go ever since she talked about it x_x