This has been the most work I've put into a costume ever. Prior to this year, I stuck strictly to closet cosplays or commissioned. The actual uniform was a Goodwill find, but I hand painted the patch on some cotton and painted the tie using a various number of transfer methods (read as: acetate became my best friend for this costume). The wig was something I found on eBay and styled the night before the convention.

The props, however, were an entirely different matter all together.

The head flames were made using painted cardboard attached to some shoelace lights that I had cut to size and then glued painted sheets of acetate to the base to make it look "flamey". The tail was made using some fabric I pilfered from some pajamas I found at goodwill, batting, some flexi-tool arms I found at the home improvement store, some painted fake fur, EL wire (which didn't show up very well in the convention lighting, sadly enough), and about a half a bottle of fabric glue.

The sword became my biggest challenge. I'd never made a large prop like this, but I knew that I wouldn't be happy unless I made the sword light up. I found some sheets of clear styrene (more commonly used as a glass replacement for framing artwork) at the craft store and hand cut them to shape. I then used a painted canvas stretcher as the hilt, cardboard for the guard and end pommel, and some wood trim that I spray painted silver as a base to attach the EL wire and the styrene. The flames, again, are made of painted sheets of acetate. All of it is held together with some very carefully handled hot glue and electrical tape.

I most definitely plan to remake the props using brighter lights. The EL wire was mostly effective, except the tail, and it didn't light up quite as much as I would have liked. I also need to add the white trim to the blazer, and restyle the wig. Either way, this isn't the last anyone has seen of this.