The Making of Tinkerbell's Cosplay
The Making of Tinkerbell's Cosplay
Behind the Scenes
I wish I could adequately express how proud I am of this look! I love to create art and feel more passion and happiness when I’m crafting these outfits than doing anything else, but I honestly started this project with very little idea of how it would actually turn out.
Here's a little look into how this outfit was originally conceptualized: Last year, I saw a creator on TikTok who made a golden fairy costume that I fell in love with. I wish I could remember the name, but going back, I couldn’t find her account. She had used spray paint, gold feathers, a lot of glue, and store-bought wings, but the outfit came out looking incredible! The idea of painting the corset had never occurred to me, and I was instantly inspired! I didn’t want to copy the look, but I did want to use the idea of spray paint. But I couldn’t stop there… it needed bling with a ton of rhinestones. I set to work first on a blue fairy costume, but when I realized the Renaissance Pleasure Faire was coming up, I pivoted to Tinkerbell for CottageCore weekend, and I am so glad I did! Here are the full behind-the-scenes video of the outfit, plus some fun shots taken at the Ren Faire below.
For those that want to create this look, you can purchase on the supplies on Amazon Storefront
*Per the FTC, I do make a small commission on anything purchased through my storefront*
The base of the skirt that I’m using is different, however. The one listed in my storefront is a good option, but if you want the exact one I used, it’s from True Corset
*The link above is not an affiliate link, but I do work with True Corset and many of the corsets I use in my cosplays are gifted to me in exchange for tagging them in my stories and allowing them to use my content for marketing purposes*
The wings are a whole different story….
So here we go...
The process of creating the wings is not difficult, but it does take patience and the exact right materials.
Here is a little overview of my experience making the wings:
Here is the original Fancy Fairy tutorial I followed.
I had wanted a set of high-quality fairy wings for years but couldn’t bring myself to drop $500 on a set… even though they are 1000% worth the cost as the professional ones are made with metal and she specializes in wings with moving parts using a motor. But I still wanted something that was different and unique, so instead, I bought everything I needed to make not just 1 set but 10 different sets because, well… I don’t have a good reason but now I can make all kinds of awesome wings! If you are one of those people who sees something and says, “Hey…I can make that!” Then I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.
Here is a list of the products and materials I used:
*Below are affiliate links for the products I've used. I am not sponsored to use these products and you pay the same price you would if you did not use these links. I just get a small commission if you buy something.*
Materials
4-ply Bristol Board 500 series 20x30 inch (you will need 3 sheets at least for 1 set of wings) - Blick runs out of this ALL the time and is very unpredictable as to when it will be in stock. I have a local art supply store that keeps a steady supply for me. I highly recommend contacting a local art store that can source this product for you. Keep in mind you will need to cut these sheets down to size for your Cricut machine.
Tools
A Quick Note on the Flower Crown
The flower crown was super simple and is entirely posable. I used floral wire and found some pretty flowers on clearance at the local craft store. In less than 15 minutes, I had a crown. I may make more to pop in my Etsy shop for others who might want their own (and frankly, they are a lot of fun to make!)
Final Thoughts
This was an amazingly fun project and one I’ve wanted to tackle for many years. When we think of art, we often think of 2D images and not often in a multi-dimensional sense. I had no idea what this would end up looking like when I started, but as each piece took shape, it was like finally seeing the gemstone under the mess and muck. Its pure magic.
And it seems as though others must have liked it, too. The number of compliments I received at the faire was beyond amazing! But the real shock was when I posted my cosplay as Tinkerbell on TikTok just before I left for CottageCore day at the Ren Faire and just 8 hours later, I came home to find my little video hit 100k+ views! In just 24 hours, it hit 1 million+ views! It’s been my best-performing video to date and inspires me to continue creating more works of art like this!
I’ll be honest… I struggle a LOT with imposter syndrome and second-guessing everything I do. I took a massive leap with this creation and while it was not easy, nor quick to make, the reception it’s received, as well as the pride I have in myself for going for it, has been so rewarding. The outfit held up perfectly for a full day at the faire too! For the first time in a long while I feel truly inspired to create these spicy fantasy looks!
Are you interested in a creation like this for yourself? Feel free to message me on my Etsy Shop with your ideas!
