Help with Pocahontas Costume?

[owl be there]

Ok so for halloween I want to be Pocahontas (from the Disney movie) because I looove that movie...anyways I think I can probably figure out the dress...its pretty simple but I don't know what to make the necklace out of...I could make the white part out of polymer clay but does anyone have any ideas for the blue part?






If any of you have seen the movie the part where her necklace breaks you can kind of see that its a bunch of square -ish beads (sorry I can't find a picture of it) - but I have no idea how to do that??  

I guess I could do polymer clay but I don't know if i could get the shapes right?

Any Ideas?

[iloveoctopus]

i don't know if you crochet or knit, but you could perhaps work something out with one or the other to make the general shape =)

[darkdaughter]

Perhaps you could make some veerry large beads, four (maybe six), that would connect in that shape. You'd probably have to use memory wire bent at the corners. In theory, it could work.

[sprinklez]

I'd also suggest making a few big beads out of clay to connect in that shape.

[owl be there]

holy cow you guys are fast!


I dont actually crochet or knit (well once i knit a scarf...a loong time ago) but Ill try what you guys suggested

[MissTessaMelissa]

I know you'd want it to be more shell/bead like, but what about fabric? If you got some of that heavy duty interfacing and cut it into the shape and wrapped it in fabric. Or something along those lines. Just throwing it out there.

[sugarpumpkin]

maybe if you know how to you could do some wood-working. get some trim or something thats rounded on the top but flat on the back and use polymer clay for the connecting pieces in the corners?
you could get a lightweight wood so it wouldnt be too heavy and then use polymer clay for the pendant like you suggested

[ThaADDcrafter]

for temporary and so not as nice, but might get the job done ..kinda stuff... maybe straws wedged between cardboard then wrapped in paper and painted...or wrapped in aqua tissue paper?..... I dont know if it would be what your looking for though.

[ladybuggems]

What about paper (papier) mache? People make some really amazing stuff out of it, plus it's cheap and fairly easy. Here's a link to a butterfly necklace made with paper mache: http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=521

That necklace seems more ornate/difficult that the one you are trying to recreate, so it seems like you should be able to accomplish that. 

Plus it would be pretty light which would be a plus with the size/bulk of the Pocahontas necklace.

[bingeandpurge]

I second the paper maché.  It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it, and just about any shape is possible.  It might help to have a base for the maché, cardboard or wire or something in the basic shape of the necklace, then use the maché to round the edges and make it look nice. 

[Mishymishy]

I was thinking sturdy felt wrapped in fabric...

[TheMistressT]

I'm thinking vinyl from the fabric store would be really quick and easy. If you use tissue or have a Teflon foot you could sew on some details.

[little.mrs.sunshine]

Duct tape?  Not sure how you'd do it but I've seen some lovely things made from it.

[Muria]

I always thought that was a necklace similar to the tan ones in the shop the swap:  http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=199218.msg2115227#msg2115227  (need to scroll down a bit, but it's in that post).

[Silvana]

That looks like it is supposed to be a necklace made of turquoise beads, most likely wheels or chips. You can buy these beads but they are pricey.

I would make the flat beads from polymer clay too.  I think it would be the most authentic looking without actually using real turquoise.
here is a link with lists of the bead types
I would look at the chips and wheels
http://www.monstermarketplace.com/ArtsCrafts/Store3236.html

[jchinique]

My first thought was to use craft foam (the adhesive backed kind that comes in sheets) and cut out the shapes for each "bead" twice. Lay out a circle of elastic cord and put each bead in place, adhesive sides together with the cord sandwiched in between.
It wouldn't be sturdy but would be inexpensive to make.
How heavy is the pendant part?

[SlickMariaVic]

Why dont you just use fabric? Make a simple pattern for your neck, get some really pretty taffeta or cool blue fabric, add some iron on stabilizer and WAHLA. You could also do some basic surface embroidery on the sewing machine for all the individual lines and things. I think it would look neat.

[catastrafi]

when i was small i was given a kit to make that necklace, you might be able to still find it out there, and see how it's done, but it was all made from polymer clay..

[Michela]

Well the Pocahontas walking around Disney World wears a plastic necklace, so you could probably make a copy out of polymer clay. I have picture here:
 http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2251/1517284574_5b81cf6ccf.jpg?v=0
It looks like faux turquois, there's probably a tutorial for making that out of polymer clay floating around somewhere.

[lilymarcella]

http://stage.associatedcontent.com/article/58494/make_plastic_with_milk.html

Here's a weird page I found, that seems like a nice, cheap solution to your question.
 I was looking for that stuff they sell in craft stores that comes as a thin bar. It's plastic, you put it in hot water and it molds into whatever shape you want, then solidifies. But maybe it was a health hazard, because I couldn't find it and haven't bought it in a long time.

Good luck at any rate!

[craftewoman]

If you shape the necklace as you see it in one piece, and then cut it apart, you'd get the size and shape of the beads right. The nice thing about the clay is that you can either mix colors of clay until you get the right color, or paint it. After you've cut apart the shapes, use a skewer to make your holes and then bake the beads until they're hardened. The directions are on the package. I made my sister a necklace similar to the one in your picture. Because I mixed the clay, the beads looks like real turquoise. Then simply string the beads and add a closure.

[muffinsgomoo]

I was Pocahontas last year for an orchestra event. My necklace was made in about 30 seconds from the leftover fabric from John Smith's T-shirt. Here's the picture if you would like to see. My mom started making the dress 3 days before the concert! Good luck with your costume 
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/3340/jsmithbi3.jpg

This is my first reply!

[DragonsMuse]

Styrofoam and turquoise paint. Cut in into beads with an exacto, poke a hole through it with a bamboo skewer, paint and thread.

[cold.dinner]

blue/turquoise ribbon? with a white pendant.. haha..

[bella_domanie]

Hi, I don't know if this is a little late or not... Or if someone even suggested it yet but, you could try needle felting it (something I know nothing about but love the way it looks).  Or sewing one out of felt.  I say felt because it can hold just about any shape and it's kind of soft and light.  I dunno maybe I'm wrong.  Good luck.

[owl be there]

Thanks guys! There's so many ideas I don't know which one to pick lol --- I'll try to remember to post pics when I'm done.  Thanks again!

[ems2801]

hey, this is probably way too late, but I remembered your post when I came across this site. If you like making paper beads it could look really good if you haven't made it yet.
http://www.hiraeth.com/ytg/projects/beads/bead1.htm
(scroll to the end of the page)
I can imagine this looking great, but could take quite a long time!
Anyway, good luck with the costume, and looking forward to pics!