The finished product. |
There is a low cost alternative- craft foam. You need a 1/16" thick 12"x18" pack. It can be found for five dollars at various retail locations.
This is craft foam. |
Once that's final, trace it onto your craft foam. Scissors will cut through the foam easily. Use an iron or a heat gun to seal the foam. Go slow and be careful. The foam will darken when sealed. As soon as it darkens, it's sealed. Seal both sides.
I used red foam and utilized wood stain for coloring. Shoe polish would also work for coloring. It took three coats of stain to get the right color. Try the stain on a scrap piece first to make sure it will look acceptable. Initial coats will be light, but additional coats will darken your color.
Always test finishes on a scrap piece of material. It took three coats before the color looked right. This is a single test coat. |
Before you install the eyelets, use varnish to seal the foam and your coloring.
Sealed with varnish and ready for eyelets. |
The back side before interfacing. |
I added 1" loops of interfacing at the elbow end of the bracer. The sleeve of another part of my costume will tie to the bracer. Depending on your application, you won't need this.
I cut the interfacing just a bit smaller than the bracer. |
One note, make sure to align the eyelets on each side at your elbow. I aligned mine with the end of the bracer, and when laced up, the ends are slightly off because the eyelets are slightly off. It's a small detail and one I only notice, but you can prevent it now that I've told you.
With leather lacing to run through the eyelets, tie your bracers together. You're all set. It's a cheap substitute for leather and looks great considering the cost. I've had numerous people ask me where did I get the leather.
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