Spotlight on Instructables

Hello, internet. It is I, Sabine! Did you miss me? I certainly missed you.

Today, I want to showcase a website that is near and dear to my heart: Instructables. Within its many pages, you can find so many well designed, well photographed tutorials for, well, everything that it's just absurd. Here are a dozen or so choices for really neat costume and prop tutorials, ranging from super simple to super involved. Ready? Let's begin!

For a really slick looking costume piece, how about Amber's jacket from Suckerpunch?

On the prop side, there are dozens of versions of Iron Man's arc reactor, but this one, featuring a cool infinity effect, is my favorite.

This was a triumph: an amazing replica of Chell's portal gun.

Another epic (literally) prop: Thor's hammer, made from a dying star (sort of).

Weapons geeks of all kinds, here's a whole category for you: Nerf gun mods. A little something for everyone, including vampire hunters and steampunkers.

Captain America fans: trying to replicate that goddamn shield on a budget? Here's one made of duct tape and cardboard that still looks great.

If you've got a lot of time on your hands and love Doctor Who more than life itself, you can make your very own K-9.

Here's a utility sort of tutorial that has limitless applications: DIY scales with spray paint.

If you're into steampunk or innovative original costuming in general, one to watch is ModMischief.

Speaking of steampunk, if you want costume pieces, look no further. For example, here's a neat little wristwatch, so you can check the time in your airship.

Another Doctor Who note: looking for a sonic screwdriver that's all your own? Here's one you can make for about five bucks.

If we have taught you anything, may it be that you don't have to start from scratch to make a cool costume piece. Here's a mod for a glowing Green Lantern ring out of one you can pick up at Toys-R-Us.

Video game costume tutorials run rampant on Instructables, and here's a really cool one: a costume from Dead Space 1.

And, last but not least, knit your way to Doctor Zoidberg. Whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop!

I hope you enjoy/are inspired by these few little examples, and that you'll go exploring on your own. Geronimo!

-Sabine