Merch — Whimsy Forge

This project is one of the coolest to create, but fair warning, there is a large element of “trust the process” that goes with this… take your time, go SLOW, and you will have something magical at the end!

Key things to note: There is very minimal flex to the corset when done. The resin can crack if you try to bend the corset too much, which is why you will want to do the “body molding” while the resin is still technically curing in its tac-free state. I had a couple of very small cracks at the bottom where the resin meets the worbla, but since those parts were getting covered with Thibra and filigree, I didn’t worry about it.

Sizing your corset: When cutting the corset out, bear in mind you can’t open it like a regular corset, so the back will be very wide. It is more like a stomach plate than a corset. The corset should just go around your waist by a few inches on each side, with the majority of your back exposed. I recommend cutting your EVA pattern longer than you intend to use, try it on, then cut down the sides little by little until you reach a point that the corset wraps around you, but you can still get it off without needing to bend it much. I slide mine on from the side of my waist, turn the laced side to the front, do my lacing, rotate the corset, and tighten the lacing to a snug fit.

Molding tips: Keep your timing in mind… the hardest part to this project is the sandwiching of the worbla, resin, EVA and body molding of the corset. My recommendation is to start early in the morning - I started this process at 8:30 am and didn’t finish until 9pm. The resin then needs a full 24 hours to cure. Make sure to keep a thick (2-inch or more) ribbon/dog leash/yoga strap/fabric belt tied around the waist to help it keep that “sinched in” look.

Once you get to spray painting and decorating, the project really comes to life and becomes a true piece of artwork! Truth be told, this is my 4th attempt at making one of these types of corsets and it took a lot of trial and error to get my methods right finally. This is of course only one method out of MANY to making crystal/porcelain corsets. I am not a professional… just a creative who spends a lot of time hyper-focusing on something until it looks cool lol.

Let me know if you are interested in the template I made for the corset shape (it's built around my measurements, but can be adjusted to others fairly easily, I think).

Happy crafting!

Materials

Worbla (I used a Jumbo size, but a medium will likely work for most)
ThibraFine
EVA 2MM Foam
Hot Glue
Gold Spray Paint
Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint
Painter’s Tape
Clear Cast Epoxy Resin
Resin Dye
E6000 Glue
Beading wire
Aquamarine beads
Gold beads
Clasps & Jump rings

Tools

Optional but helpful tools:

Sewing Mannequin
Padding for a sewing mannequin (If you need to adjust proportions like I do)
Hardshell mannequin