Cosplay Question

[nice-babana.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know where I might be able to buy the red version of the uniform buttons (in bulk, preferably)? A friend and I are doing Lavi and Lenalee's third uniforms for Otakon, and the buttons are really giving us trouble.

I'm aware Cosmint sells them in sets of eight, but their prices are pretty steep and buying them through a Japanese-speaking third party will set me back well over $100 for the amount of buttons we need.

I also wouldn't be opposed to just buying a bunch of the standard silver and painting them myself, but the only place I've found them for sale in sets of more than two is, alas, Cosmint. (And yes, I've checked Ebay.)

Can anyone help? :3

Comments

[t-twisted.livejournal.com]

It might be an idea to buy the silver version's off ebay and use glass paint to paint them red?

[nice-babana.livejournal.com]

That's not totally out of the question, but I can't find anyone who sells them in bigger batches than two at a time. (The shipping for that is going to kill me!)

[brightdreamer.livejournal.com]

That's what I've done, though, and usually the seller will give you a bulk discount and/or shipping discount if you're buying a lot.

[nice-babana.livejournal.com]

I think this is probably what I'm going to end up doing, even if it is a little more work than just buying the red ones. Just out of curiosity, where did you buy yours?

[brightdreamer.livejournal.com]

I've bought them from user Shinn04 on Ebay. See what deal they'll give you.

What kind of paint would you use to paint yours? I had used Sharpie marker on mine, but that rubs off.

[nice-babana.livejournal.com]

Wow, I got a really good deal. Thanks for the tip-off~!! :D

I'm thinking about using nail polish, actually, since the buttons look pretty slick and will have trouble with most paint. I'll try a few things, though.

[kakemono.livejournal.com]

What I've used is model paint. It's what is used when people make toy cars/Gundam models, and is ideal for small plastic and metal objects. :) I would go for that, and for good measure, spray some clear acrylic sealant (you can buy it for $5 at Michael's) so that the paint WILL NOT EVER rub off.

[songohan-83.livejournal.com]

You might look into a way to make them out of some kind of ceramic or clay or something like that and make them just ornamental, or even wood. You would have to mold and carve them yourself, and then bake and paint them, which will take time, but will probably be way cheaper. You can always hold your jacket shut with hook and eye clasps or something that you won't be able to see, that way you won't have to rely on the buttons that would probably be flimsier if you did that way. Good luck finding what you need to make it though ^_^

[kacfrog711.livejournal.com]

This is probably a stupid question, but.... do you need red versions of the exorcist buttons? o_O All the third (gray) ark pictures I've seen just have plain round red buttons.... Even the Kanda uniform on their site (http://www.cosmint.co.jp/shopping/item/ac065-068.html) doesn't use those buttons.

For my group, we made the smaller red buttons out of casting resin, since we needed to make the "E" buttons, anyway. If you want to go that route, you can cast the buttons round, then draw the pattern on a piece of tinfoil and place it behind the buttons. Looks good, and is cheaper than buying them!

If resin's too much of a hassle, I'm sure you can find normal red buttons easily enough. something like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/Barnd-New-Grace-Glitter-Plastic-Button-Red-Craft-B222_W0QQitemZ280358142750QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4146a5c31e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50) from ebay, for example? Although they might not be big enough. Check the sizes before buying!

Whatever you decide, good luck!

[cattheterrible.livejournal.com]

Wish I'd noticed this earlier, lol. I've made a whole stack of these button sets based on the color scans from Gray Ark. I charge twenty bucks a set for the buttons and the beads across the front. I ink the design onto fabric. My friend Gani snapped some photos of my buttons on cosplay-buddies' uniforms: here (http://ganimyde.deviantart.com/art/Lenalee-Asleep-123828540), here (http://ganimyde.deviantart.com/art/Wings-123838674) and here (http://ganimyde.deviantart.com/art/Smooth-Moves-123838654). Check it out. *shrug* If you like it and still need them, shoot me a message.