Phantom on a Budget Website Redesign!

I am excited to announce that the Phantom on a Budget website has been completely rebuilt and relaunched! It features a more modern, streamlined, and mobile friendly design. I added more reference materials for cosplayers, costume planning resources, Maria Bjornson sketches, mask paint instructions, and more.

I hope this new site will continue to serve the Phantom cosplay community for another 20 years! Please do check it out as it is a phenomenal resource for new and experienced Phantom cosplayers alike.

If you have used the site in the past, please comment below and let me know! ❤️

So I don't often share my cosplay stuff on tumblr. It just doesn't strike me as the platform for it, not like IG or Tiktok. But I worked so hard on this, and I am so proud of the results, I can't not post my photos everywhere. Plus, most of the phans I know are here on Tumblr.

Nine years ago, I made my first dressing gown. I made it out of cheap rose print costume satin and lace, I had nothing to stand in for the chest plate or bodice, and my wig more closely resembled the bushy 80s and early 90s wigs than the silky, sculpted look of the more recent wigs. I was content enough, but I always wanted to take another stab at it. This year, I finally did it, and I am so pleased with it.

The bulk of the dressing gown is a paisley print silk jacquard, and the ruffles are a floral burnout devore satin. The fabrics are a very close, if not spot-on, match for some of the fabrics that were used in Broadway dressing gowns. The burnout satin was cut into strips, totaling about 18 yards, edged in lace, and then gathered and attached. I knew I wouldn't have time to make a Hannibal bodice, so instead I whipped up a quick chest plate using the cherub brooches once I was FINALLY able to track down the second one. I'd like to swap the cheap craft store gems for some actual crystals at some point, but that, at least, can wait until I make a real Hannibal bodice. The "belt" isn't stage-accurate, because I ran out of time, but that can also be fixed up later. The wig is the only thing I didn't do myself, credit to that goes to Time After Time Designs on Etsy, who is so kind and so wonderful to work with.

And yes, if anyone is wondering, the shoes are Peter Fox ♥

This veil is about 3 meters! 🫣 It’s soooo loooong. I made it with high quality white tulle. Additionally, I trimmed it with a decorative ribbon in white with a silver thread. 🥰

📷: @themrurk

Plus my latest phantom mask I've made based off current London masks ,came out treat it did 😊

Available on my Etsy and eBay now

Here are some fantastic photos from the photoshoot my Christine and I had back in May. This trip has easily become one of the major highlights of my year, nay, my life. It truly was a wonderful experience, and Jasper tolerated my drunk ass while watching Les Miserables. Hope I didn’t come off as too annoying. 😅

Hey 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 since you're ask box is opened, C-CAN I HAVEEEEEEEE A REQUEST DEAR MADEMOISELLE!? 🥺🥺🔥🔥🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

RED HAIR CHRISTINE RED HAIR CHRISTINE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 I love your red hair, just tooo must than normal cause you look so slay with it. So could you cosplay Christine with your real hair or your red wig? I think you would be sooooo perfect 🥺

Love you 💓

BONJOUR MY LITTLE ANGEL! 😍🩷

Here I am with your request! 🥺🩷

First of all, thank you so much for your lovely words, you're always super kind with me!🥹🥹🩷🩷

I decided to use my real hair instead of a wig to take this picture, even if today my curls were a bit messy and rebel ops 😂😂🩷🩷

Anyway...

YOUR REDHEAD CHRISTINE IS THERE! 😍😍🌹🌹

(with a total improvised outfit lol) 😂🩷

PS. Love you tooo🥺🥺🩷🩷

Christine Daae corset from Phantom of the Opera 2004. I've seen Point of no return scene one too many times than strictly healthy. And I had so much fun to crochet lace trim myself.

Star Princess costume progress: my aim was to have this costume at "wearable" stage by June 8th, and I just barely made it.

It's still missing the stars on the skirt and the silver beads bodice embroidery, but it's looking good already!

I don't know if I'll add the ruffle sleeves, I'm not a fan but they do add some nice balance to the outfit... I'll definitely add some boning to the bodice though, I just have to finish the embroidery first!

I am just super happy to have reached my goal, and even more that I've been able to enjoy an "unfinished" costume instead of berating myself for not doing more. I am also 100% proud of the colour-matching between the bodice and skirt (I dyed the bodice to match) and of the skirt's shape, it's exactly what I wanted!

you alone can make my song take flight 🎼 🦂 🦗 🪞🥀

Erik cosplay update! I made new latex prosthetics and I love them.

your angel of music hath arrived 👻🥀

christine daaé cosplay * nyc times square

Phantom Cosplay (makeup & wigs): @phantomonabudget

📸 @vanitystudiosuk

Mask: @longshoremasks

Prosthetics: @studio_d_fx

Costume: @ajmachete

Cape: @viscountess

I don't often post my cosplay stuff here, but I'm so proud of how this turned out 🥹 Once I have actual photos in it with the wig and all, I may share them as well. So much time (and money!) went into this build and I couldn't be happier with it.

I realized that I have it closing in the wrong direction, but I intend to re-do the belt to be stage-accurate anyway (didn't have time this time) so when I do that, I'll re-do the closures as well. But this combined with the stunning wig I commissioned? I can't wait. I'm so excited to wear this.

I just love BIG bows. 🎀 Sending love for you all. ♥️

These two are having a BALL with their Christine/Phantom cosplay.

ID/ Description below

[ID: A beautiful, voluptuous woman in a frothy white dressing gown sits in front of a dressing table. At her feet is a tall, lit candelabra, and another rests on the table in front of the mirrors. Her movements are languid and sensuous as she smiles happily, smelling a rose.

Helen Mirren Voice Over: Barbie has a great day every day.

A man wearing a classic Phantom of the Opera mask and a tuxedo stands against a dark background. He holds another lit candelabra in one hand, the other on his hip in an obviously posed manner. He's smiling widely but seems anxious and desperate to impress.

Helen Mirren Voice Over: But Ken only has a great day if Barbie looks at him.

The man comes to attention as he fixes on a point slightly behind the camera. His eyes go wide and his mouth opens in anticipation as his whole body seems to strain forward. He draws in a big breath and waves desperately.

Ken Voice Over: HI BARBIE!!!

Caption: Hi Christine

The woman sitting at the dressing table smiles widely and wiggles her fingers in casual greeting, leaning toward the camera.

Barbie Voice Over: Hi Ken!

Caption: Hi Phantom

The man in the mask and tuxedo pumps his fist in bro-ish glee, his whole body tensing with the joy of victory.

TikTok by @tashapolis]

I remember there was mist

Swirling mist upon a vast, glassy lake

There were candles all around

And on the lake there was a boat

And in the boat there was a man... ❤️