**Edit: Credit to rgr_maddog for pm'ing me a simple but brilliant solution to free up an extra hand. I truly feel stupid for not thinking of it...but use a candleinstead of a lighter!!**
Well I've been asked by enough people about how I do my fur cloaks that I decided a tutorial might be of use! First time doing one, so be gentle.
I'm going to go over what you will need and how you will make such things as banners, simple cloaks, or fur pelts with a litttle bit of plastic card stock, a lighter and some greenstuff.
Step 1: Supplies. You will need - 1mm card stock
- sharp scissors
- hobby knife
- green stuff
- model to be worked on
- small plastic (or brass) rod (for banners only)
- a pen (pencil is just fine!)
- a lighter (or be smart and use a candle!)
Step 2: Draw out your shapes.
Step 3: Cut out your shapes.
Step 4: Dig out your lighter. If this is for a banner grab your piece of plastic rod. If it is for a cloak or pelt, get the model you plan to attach it to.
Step 5: Line up your shape as shown.
Banner:
Cloak :
Step 6: Holding your lighter approx. 1 to 1.5 inches beneath the plastic stock, heat the plastic until you see it visibly soften. The plastic will sag and
flutter from the updraft of the lighter. Then quickly put them in place. You only have a few seconds of work time. You will need to do one side
of the pelt at a time much like with the banner you will need to do one loop at a time.
Step 7: Now that you have them in position begin heating the banner or pelt from beneath to soften it again. You will need to do this several times as
you experiement on getting the shape/flow you desire. If you mess up its not a big deal, just reheat again and adjust the position. I find it
helps to hold the plastic so that the direction I want it to flow is toward the floor. Then gravity will do a lot of the work for me. Be very careful
not to overheat the plastic at this stage. If you begin to see smoke or the plastic begins to blacken it will stick to your fingers and burn quite
bad. 3-5 seconds of heat is all it takes.
**If your project was a banner or a cloak, you are finished at this point! Continue on for how to apply fur.**
Step 8: So you want fur! Well roll up a healthy size ball of green stuff and apply to your cloak/pelt. Have a bit of petroleum jelly or other lube on hand.
Be sure to get the green stuff spread out using your thumbs to cover the full surface of the plastic card. Do this before applying any lube to
your fingers!! This is important. It makes spreading it out more difficult but if you lube up to soon and get it on the card stock, the greenstuff
will not stick. Once spread out, apply a small amount of lube to thumbs and smooth the surface.
Step 9: Take your hobby knife and make a million downward cuts. Start at the bottom and go across in rows. Each cut should be 1-2 mm and pulled
downward when making it. Do it very quickly as it does not need to be precise whatsoever. You will end with a layered look but an unfinished
look.
Step 10: Take your small snips now and starting again at the bottom, working in rows from one side to the other stab into the greenstuff slightly. You
want your snips open approx 2mm and push them in about 1mm. Now close them while simultaneously pulling downward. This will create the
tuft appearance and again does not need to be incredibly precise. I strongly recommend you roll out a piece of the blue part of green stuff
by itself. Experiement on your downward pulling cut with this unmixed greenstuff until you are confident.
Well thats that! Hope you enjoy and find it useful. Thanks for reading =).
Edited by Argyle, 11 March 2015 - 05:50 PM.