Vinyl and Craft Foam Armor Tutorial by FireLilyCosplay

Vinyl and Craft Foam Armor Tutorial by FireLilyCosplay

At last, the long awaited Vinyl & Craft Foam Armor Tutorial!

I've had a lot of practice with this method, and this is the formula that works best for me, so I hope it can help you build your armor with ease. I really enjoy working with my hands and making armor pieces using various methods, so please don't hesitate to ask questions if you have any - I'll be glad to answer them!

Tutorial and all images therein are Copyright Fire Lily and FireLilyCosplay.com.

epicShadowdragon Featured By Owner Sep 27, 2016 Hobbyist Digital Artist

This might help me. I want to make an Assassin's creed costume and this tutorial an d the boot one will help a lot.

Any suggestions on how to making the knife holders and How can I make the armor on his waist look like it has layers?

Here's a picture of what I want to make. static.giantbomb.com/uploads/o…

Reily96 Featured By Owner Feb 12, 2016 Professional General Artist

Just when I thought I was set to make my own cincher, I saw this and might try it out! I only have one question, though, since I can't really tell on the pictures of the cincher, did you use the same width of foam for the cincher as everything else, like standard 2/3mm sheets of foam?

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Feb 15, 2016 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Yes.

Reily96 Featured By Owner Feb 17, 2016 Professional General Artist

thank you!

Flagged as Spam

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Feb 15, 2016 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Thanks!

PrinceKage Featured By Owner Dec 16, 2015 Hobbyist Artist

This looks super convenient! Thanks for this!

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Dec 24, 2015 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Very welcome!

keelsome Featured By Owner Jul 8, 2015

This is an awesome tutorial! My only question is on how you applied the snaps to the back of your armor, did you just glue them on? Or something else?

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Jul 9, 2015 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Snaps are applied by hammering them together through the fabric. Glue will not hold snaps to vinyl.

keelsome Featured By Owner Jul 9, 2015

Ok thank you so much!

OceanPirate Featured By Owner Apr 1, 2015 Hobbyist Digital Artist

I was wondering something,and if you know this tegnique. Many people make long traingular strips,cut at an 45 degree angle,but it seems I can't figure out how to do that. Do you happen to have any tips or tutorials for that?

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Apr 1, 2015 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Look up a tutorial for EVA foam armor, or check Kamui's armor books

OceanPirate Featured By Owner Apr 2, 2015 Hobbyist Digital Artist

That will do.

TransientVenture Featured By Owner Dec 13, 2014 Student General Artist

What kind of vinyl do you use? How much is it and where do you get it?

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Dec 16, 2014 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Any kind of vinyl fabric will work. You can get it anywhere fabric is sold.

Elenna-Huntress Featured By Owner Oct 8, 2014

You are my hero. My Barbarian costume can now happen, because armor won't break the bank, or break my brain trying to control materials I have no knowledge of! :squee:

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Oct 10, 2014 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Welcome!

realityhack1 Featured By Owner Jul 19, 2014

Very nice tutorial! Thank you!

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Jul 24, 2014 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Welcome!

PrussianEmpire Featured By Owner Jul 9, 2014 Hobbyist General Artist

If someone did Ashe from League of Legends, how would they keep the shoulder armor to stay in place?

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Jul 9, 2014 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

You can try Velcro, buckles and straps, d-rings, snaps, buttons, etc. Lots of ways.

Surgestorm Featured By Owner Jun 11, 2014

can you possibly make a cosplay armor set for me ? email me at tigerheart87@gmail.com and let me know how much it will cost as I don't get on here often but I want to have a set to play airsoft in. please email me

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Jun 11, 2014 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

I'm sorry but I don't make full armor commissions. However there are some wonderful armorers out there who I'm sure would be able to help!

Dark-Tsuki Featured By Owner Feb 19, 2014

Technical question, since I haven't done it yet: would it work for a fully functional glove? Or would it be too delicate?

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Mar 21, 2014 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Not sure - I haven't tried it.

rtj3000 Featured By Owner Jan 31, 2014 Hobbyist Artist

sooo cool i wanna see more

TwistTieKlepto Featured By Owner Jan 10, 2014 General Artist

Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial! This is a really great method for making armor.
I used it for my Sarutobi Sasuke cosplay: twisttieklepto.deviantart.com/…
Thanks again! ^_^

KinGBaKeRo Featured By Owner Jan 9, 2014 Hobbyist General Artist

The cleaver, New occupation - Trainee Foamsmith xD <3 will try

TalaRedWolf33 Featured By Owner Sep 15, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Hi! I was wondering, how heavy is the final product? Im looking for a lightweight method of making a breast plate. Because f my size, heat gets to me lol So I need the least heaviest material to work with.

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Sep 15, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

It's very lightweight, but make sure to back it with fabric - vinyl tends to get sticky when you are hot.

TalaRedWolf33 Featured By Owner Sep 17, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Good to know! I'll make a note of it ^-^ Thank you!

dragonbandana Featured By Owner Sep 4, 2013 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

If you were making a female breast plate, how would you form the 'cup' shape?

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Sep 4, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

You need to heat form the craft foam over a rounded surface, but it will require darts to get a perfectly rounded shape. I would not recommend craft foam for breast cups - the material isn't suited for complex curves without seams.

dragonbandana Featured By Owner Sep 5, 2013 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

Okay, thanks so much!

okami-chan1023 Featured By Owner Aug 21, 2013 Student Artisan Crafter

would this work for rounded pieces like pauldrons? and is there a way to make it seamless and creaseless?

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Aug 22, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

You would need to use a stretchy fabric to make it seamless or without creases.

chewyeng93 Featured By Owner Aug 16, 2013

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

thinkpink99 Featured By Owner Jul 29, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Very helpful

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Aug 7, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Welcome!

thinkpink99 Featured By Owner Aug 7, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Nefairyious Featured By Owner Jul 29, 2013 Hobbyist Digital Artist

Do you think this method would work well for making the collar Henry from Fire Emblem wears? pic reference- images.wikia.com/fireemblem/im…

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Aug 7, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

I wouldn't recommend it - It would be easier to use heavy iron-on interfacing and fabric. You could use craft foam, but I won't recommend gluing it or it will be too stiff.

Nefairyious Featured By Owner Aug 14, 2013 Hobbyist Digital Artist

We ended up just using spray-painted craft foam and it looked great! Thanks for the advice though, if we ever make something a bit more permanent we should try that out!

beccabearchan Featured By Owner Jul 24, 2013 Student General Artist

Can you paint over the vinyl? I'm making a Dragonslayer Vayne cosplay and I was wondering if I should just stick with the usual foam method or should do this. The reason as to why I'd paint it is because her armor is a specific teal, and I know they won't sell vinyl of that shade.

FireLilyCosplay Featured By Owner Jul 24, 2013 Hobbyist Artisan Crafter

Sort of - painting over vinyl is hard with regular paints. You have to use enamel (aka nail polish), otherwise the paint will flake and rub right off. You can also use Floral Spray (a tool for coloring flowers). Floral spray and Jacquard Lumiere Paints are the only paints that will remain flexible with the vinyl pieces - enamel will not.