Overview of this project:
This is an easy project to make. And you just need a few materials. As always I have the template for you and in three different sizes. So, you can choose the size template that is right for you and use it to make yourself a nice pair of bracers. In no time at all you will be ready to block flying bullets!
Earn a Certificate of Contribution!
If you make this project email me a picture! I will email you a certificate of contribution from stormthecastle.com You can print it up and hang it on the wall.
Materials and tools:
Note from Will: The Template and the tutorial are both absolutely free! But would you consider a donation of $1 to support my work? Paypal makes it very easy and safe. Click here to donate $1 - Every little bit helps Will to keep making great tutorials and templates. Thanks!
About the material I use for this project.
It is often called "craft foam" and sometimes it is called "Foamies". It is inexpensive and very easy to use. And you can work it in a lot of different ways including folding, curving, cutting and even shaping with heat. In this tutorial we don't need to shape it with heat though. It comes in a lot of sizes, colors and thicknesses. So you can probably improvise this project with any number of craft foam varieties. I use sheets of craft foam that are 9 x 12 inches and 2mm thick.
Using craft foam is pretty much as easy as this. The picture here shows one of the Wonder Woman bracers. You cut it to shape, paint it, decorate it, and it is ready to use. Just curl it around your forearm and tie it with some string or a shoelace.
Print up the template and select the size bracer that is right for you. If you prefer, you can cut all three of them out and try them on. This will give you a better look at how each size fits.
Once you have selected your template size lay it on a sheet of craft foam and trace it. Craft foam has a certain amount of softness to it which means you may struggle a little bit with getting pencil to write on it! Use a colored pencil and take your time, going over lines as you need to. I am using a sheet of black craft foam. It doesn't matter what color you use. We are going to paint the whole thing black anyways.
Ok, the tracing is done. it looks good. Go ahead and cut it out.
Ok, the foam is terrific for a bracer but it does lack some strength. With wear and use it will probably tear. We can easily remedy this by applying tape to the back side of it.
Flip the cut piece over and apply some kind of tape to this back side. Any kind of tape will be ok; masking tape, duct tape, packing tape, even strips of cellophane tape if that is all you have. Oh and even vinyl shelving paper with adhesive on it will work.
Note: Be sure to flip the craft foam piece over before applying tape. Seems silly but there might be small inconsistencies in the symmetry of the template or in how you traced and cut it. Flipping it over to apply tape keeps these inconsistencies to a minimum.
This next picture shows me applying packing tape to the back side.
Trim away the excess tape.
Now flip it back over so the foam side is up. And paint it black. Be messy with the paint. You want lots of streaks in it! This is for the technique called dry-brushing. Apply a nice thick coat of black paint.
Once you have it painted set it aside to let it dry. Or use a fan on it to speed up the drying process. 
 Ok , let's continue and do the dry-brushing
MORE CRAFT FOAM PROJECTS
Make Craft Foam Armor Vambraces (Forearms)
Craft foam is some terrific stuff. You can heat it up and shape it into armor. I show you how in this tutorial and I give you the template to make vambraces. Make Craft foam vambraces
Make Wonder Woman's Sword (Godkiller)
One sheet of foam board and I give you the template. Nice sword that comes out great and is pretty strong. Make the Wonder Woman Sword
 Make Gauntlets out of Craft Foam
Yup! that is craft foam and these gauntlets look terrific. I show you how to make them and I also give you the template which makes it so easy. Print up the template, cut out the pieces and then trace onto craft foam. I have a video tutorial too. Make Gauntlets out of craft foam
|
