.:TUTORIAL:.

Edit:

I still recommend buying Fevereon's belt insignia if you have the money and don't like mine:
[link]


TUTORIAL~!

I'll do my best to make this simple and understandable, but because English isn't my first language, I might make no sense AT ALL!

What you'll need:
- Craftfoam
- Wonderflex, or plexiglas for all I care
- Hot glue and gluegun
- 4 buckles
- pleather or real leather for the belt
- a red gemstone for on the belt
- Black spraypaint
- Silver paint (acryllics, I use Aleen's)
- Soldering Iron (but there are otherways of doing this)

Step 1:
Draw out the 'A' on the plexiglass or wonderflex (I used wonderflex as I had it laying around) but you draw the COMPLETE 'A', so including the leaves etc etc BUT the small leaves under the 'A'. Extend it a bit where you'll place the buckles. Cut it, and use heat to mold the extende piece around the buckle, so it's in place.
ALT. WAY: If you can't afford Wonderflex or Plexiglass, you could try and attach the buckles to the craft foam and glue cardboard behind it to make it sturdy, no clue if this'll hold, but it may help?

Step 2: Cut out two thin pieces of craftfoam, if you'd love to know the shape, check the top right pic, and it should start and end where the scribbling is ON the 'A' (but not where the buckles are placed so just on the inside of the 'A') This is because his insignia is somewhat bent that way, and we'd love to have that effect as well, right?
Glue them in place, and now with them added glue the sides and place another sheet of craftfoam over it, so all is covered, and form it a bit because with the hot glue you can. cut all the excess.

Step 3: The leaves
In the top right pic you can see how I had different layers of leaves, you can either use what I did, or find your own preferences, it's up to you, start with the lowest layers, and end with the red on top. (of course you can use whatever color craftfoam you want, I'm just glad I have a mardi gras insignia, so you know what part I mean! XD)
Also cut out two leaves for each side for UNDER the 'A', the blue ones. Hot Glue the whole thing together.

Step 4: Now all that is done, heat your soldering iron (or if you don't have one, use fire and for example a screw driver. Something with a plastic handle, or you'll have painful hands REAL quick!) and do all the details. If you're not so sure what to do, first try on other craftfoam. Draw out the design if you have to. If all that is done, I SUGGEST a layer of Gesso (I didn't but if I'd make one again I would), but you could also immediately spraypaint it black, both front and back.

Step 5: Painting
After you spraypainted it (don't worry about the buckles getting black, we'll paint them silver again) and it's dry, use silver paint for a first THIN layer so everything is dark-silver-ish. Just a faint layer so to speak. Repeat this again and again, using a dry-brush method to make it look authentic. If you're not familiar with the dry-brush method, check my Fran Helmet tutorial, or on google.

All done? Glue the gem in place and glue the belts in place with two components glue, and voila, that's your belt!

If there's any question, please let me know, I'll try to answer them! ^_^

I'll make more tutorials on request, but I have to stress that finding your own methods and solutions is part of the fun!