Vintage Leia Bespin figure

Paper clips

Embroidery thread

Sculpey
 
 

She was made from a vintage Bespin Leia that was in poor condition. First, her arms were severed at the elbows and a wedge removed from the inside of the arms. Next, a paper clip was heated and inserted into each arm to reattach them in the folded position. Glue helped keep them in place while the robes and headpiece were sculpted from sculpey. After curing in boiling water, acrylic paints were used for everything but the gold trim, which was enamel (the design on the arms were made with a pin). After painting the coat grey, a wash of pink and blue covers it for delicate highlights. 

The final step was glueing embroidery thread to the headpiece and trimming it to proper length. 

Unfortunately, with such an elaborate costume, she is not posable, so its just a figure for "show", not play.