by Annie

Start by laying the t-shirt flat and cutting a rectangle around the image. Be sure to cut through both the back and front of the shirt so you will have two identical rectangles.

Optional: I wanted my image to be centered on the bag so I cut a couple of inches off of the bottom on the rectangle and sewed it onto the top so the image would be further down and thus centered. 

Then flip the image side of the tee inside out and sew the two rectangles together. You will sew the sides together and the bottom but not the top.

Then fold the top edge over about half and inch (or larger if you have larger ribbon) all the way around the same way you would hem a pant leg. Sew this part together leaving room for your drawstring. 

Then flip the bag right side out and cut a little hole for the drawstring, or if you are fancy you can place a grommet or use your sewing machine to make a button hole. Since mine was just going to be a gym bag I just cut a hole.

Thread the shoelace through the hole until it is all through but be sure to pin or just hold onto the other end so it doesn't get pulled through the hole.

That's it. 

After several questions from our readers, I realized that many cosplayers don't think drugstore makeup will work for them if they have a darker skin tone. I made a quick list of products my friends use. Don't be fooled - there are inexpensive, quality makeup options for women of color! Here's the short list:

• Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Shadows 
  
• Mabelline Dream Fresh BB Cream
  
• Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation 
  
• Revlon Color Stay Foundation
  
• Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
  
• ELF pink blush 
  
• Wet N Wild eye shadow palettes
  
• NYX Matte Lipstick in Tea Rose
  
• NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel 
  
• NYX Butter Gloss in Meringue
  

Look for colors like deep, mahogany, cappuccino, ebony, etc. Also, you can use bronzers as basic highlighters if you have darker skin, just find a good match. The most difficult thing for gals with darker skin tones to find in drugstores is a decent contour kit.  I know ladies who use an Ulta brand one and absolutely love the NYX one.  Below is a good tutorial for contouring.  Hopefully this helps!

Fret not, pale cosplayers - we'll have some tips and ideas for you next week!

The best costumes from San Diego Comic Con definitely have to be all the Orphan Black cosplayers campaigning for Allison Hendrix.