Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Our Custom Funko Pop! for Mark Sheppard


 During San-Diego Comic Con this year the cast of Supernatural had a bit of fun with Mark Sheppard (aka Crowley, the king of Hell) over his not having his own Funko Pop! doll yet. They even made him a sad little version out of a paper cup, which Twitter had a field day with.

 I'm sure you'll recognize Sheppard, since he's also the king of guest-starring roles.

Since John and I planned to see Sheppard here at a local Orlando con the very next weekend, I got the crazy idea to make Mark his own "official" Pop! figure.

Please keep in mind I'm not an artist at all - just a bit crafty - and this is the first time either John or I have ever attempted to customize a vinyl figure. 

We also had to do it in three days.

BEHOLD!





Crowley doesn't exactly need weapons on the show, but I wanted to have him holding something, so I gave him an angel blade - which he does use on the show once or twice.



Of course, just making the figure in 3 days wasn't NEARLY difficult enough, so I also tasked John with making a completely custom box for it.

 
Since I had nothing to do with the box, I can honestly say holy Staypuft it is so cool. 
(I did come up with the number, though. Heheheh.)

Mere words cannot describe how tedious and time-consuming this box was, because, oh yes, John customized every side to match the other Supernatural boxes in the series:





 


 

If you're a Pop! vinyl modder yourself I'm sure you can tell how I hacked two other figures to make this one. (That eye smudge? NOT MY FAULT. I only re-painted the bits I had to.) That said, I'd be happy to post instructions & even John's files to print your own box, if enough of you would like them. Just let me know in the comments.


All boxed up:




And then, two days ago, this happened:

(The first thing Mark did was insult John's t-shirt, in case you're wondering. :D)

Mark has since posted a couple of photos on both Twitter & Facebook, and it's been fun watching fans go nuts for it.




So many people thought it was official that Mark had to follow up on Twitter emphasizing it was fan made - which is a huge compliment. I also love how some think the number wasn't intentional - just "ironic"?

So there's our little secret project! Stay tuned for more on John's & my big triple-convention weekend - including Mark's panel at CONjure - just as soon as I've recovered enough from the con crud to post it all. [groan]


[UPDATE: The tutorial is up! Click here to see, and for the custom box files!]

66 comments:

  1. Kudos to you! I did this once for a playmobil soccer figurine for my BIL and that was such a cool feeling of "oh wow, I did it!" Yours is cooler than mine though.

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  2. That is the COOLEST!

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  3. Oh my god I want that so bad! Crowley totally needs his own Funko Pop figure!!

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  4. I think I need to start watching Supernatural.

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    1. You are not watching it yet????/ Welcome to the fandom!!!!

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  5. So. Much. Win. On so many levels!

    Can't wait for the wrap-up of your wacky and wild weekend of wonder that was!

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  6. Everyone who thinks "ironic" is an all-purpose comment needs to be introduced to the term "apropos". Which is precisely the opposite of ironic. And labeling Crowley's figure with 666 is apropos. Awesomely so.

    Kudos!

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    1. I'm with you. I hate it when people abuse and misuse the words "ironic", "literally" and "essentially", just to make them sound "smarter". It only makes them sound like an idiot.

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  7. Totally blown away! Great work! Wishing they were all sitting on my desk right now... :D

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  8. HA! I saw this floating around on twitter, had no idea it was YOU GUYS who did it. AWESOME!

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  9. I think you could earn a fortune selling these on etsy. That is, until the original company's law department finds you. Then they will strip you of said fortune and then some. Oh well, it looks just too perfect :)

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  10. He will never be anyone other than James Sterling from Leverage to me, but this is still totally awesome. =)

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    1. Amen to that! I still haven't been able to bring myself to watch the last episode of Leverage because I don't want it to be done!

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  11. That is so cool! I've been wanting to do a custom Pop! for a long time, just never knew how. Love the idea of customizing the box as well. Post instructions please?

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  12. You and John are AMAZING! And to make it so quickly! I was impressed when I saw the photos on Twitter and the level of detail you put into it, especially that "666" - brilliant!

    Feel better soon!

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  13. I would love to know how to do this...would love to make one for a friend of mine (of her--she's not famous, but everyone needs their own action figure). Any tips would be great. Thank you!

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  14. I would love to see how you did this too. There are so many characters (fictional and non) who need their own figure. :)

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  15. I'm joining the ranks of those who would like a tutorial! I think I need to make my own...of ME! And y'know, maybe my family.

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  16. I need a "Hello Assbutt" shirt!

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  17. Where is your calvin and hobbes shirt from??

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  18. OH wow - this was you?!!? I should have known :-). I saw Mark's posts about it, and was blown away. That is incredible! I would love to know how you did it; I have Sam/Dean/Castiel; they hang out at work with me ha ha.

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  19. That is so awesome! I am jealous and just...wow! You did a really phenomenal job!

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  20. You guys did such an amazing job! I especially loved the picture of you two with Mark and the figure! He is such an awesome guy! :D

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  21. Yes please! I would love to get one for my wife and I!

    Please contact me at milkmanleeroy@gmail.com

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  22. Made a Crowley Funko, AND got to present it to His Dashing Evilness himself, Mark Sheppard? You two are officially THE COOLEST GEEKS EVER TO GEEK in my book.

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  23. Mark is such an amazing Con guest. And Holy Stay Puft this is awesome. I'm so looking forward to your con posts. I am jealous that you could go to Leaky Con. I want to SO bad.

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  24. You guys got on the nerdist with little crowley! http://www.nerdist.com/2014/08/fans-make-supernaturals-mark-sheppard-his-very-own-funko-pop-toy/

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  25. You. two. are. awesome. : D

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  26. You and John are MFEO. You're adorable and brilliant. Love you guys.

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  27. First off, MUST.HAVE.T-SHIRTS(both). Second, hells yeah I want to know how you made the custom Funko Pop! And box

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  28. HI, please post the instructions and files please. Id love to make one. :)

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  29. I would LOVE to see a tutorial on how you did this and the files to make my very own box!!! Please!! I had planned to make a Crowley of my own, and was wondering how to go about it please please!! :D

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  30. HI, please post the instructions and files please. Id love to make one. :) Please email me at scifibook@hotmail.com.

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  31. This is so dang cute and well made. If Funko won't provide, I guess the fans just have to make their own, right? Anywho, I would totally love to see a tutorial of how you did this! I've never customized anything in my life, but I am quite a bit of an arts & crafter, so maybe if I had instructions I could figure it out. And even if I never got around to doing it, seeing the step by step process would still be cool!

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  32. I'm seconding all the comments asking for a tutorial - I'd love to see the process in case I decide to make one one day! Also wow, that is a serious level of dedication. And it looks so professional! All the work on the box was especially worth it ;)

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  33. Wow I can't believe this was you guys! I've been seeing it everywhere and I had no idea :) It's awesome! I will make sure to tell everyone who made it xx

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  34. So cool, its great to see Crowley next to my Hello Assbutt design, please thank John for purchasing it! I happen to be friends with Mike Handy who designed the Calvin and Hobbes shirt, small world huh :)
    Love the custom fig, it needs to be made!
    https://www.teepublic.com/user/matthewparsons

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    1. Your shirt was the hit of the con, Matt! So many people stopped John to compliment it.

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  35. Love the Crowley figure! Very impressive! Not that I expect anything less from you guys. :D But I would definitely love a tutorial on how you did this. I'm not planning on making a Crowley of my very own but I would probably commit several serious offenses in order to get a Hawkeye Pop! figure. (seriously Funko? you make all of the other Avengers plus Fury and Coulson but you can't make a Hawkeye?!)

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    1. Glad to know I'm not the only one annoyed about that - if I did get round to modding one it would be for Hawkeye!

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  36. Just more proof that you two are really awesome!

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  37. Print the tutorial! And the box info! Please!

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  38. This is fantastic!
    You should DEFINITELY post a tutorial on making your own. I could get pretty creative with myself... you know, or others. :) You two make my geek side giddy!
    --Piper P from Washington State

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  39. You guys are just... SO AWESOME! :D

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  40. Really incredibly totally awesome that you guys made this and got to present it to an obviously impressed, flattered, and grateful Mark Sheppard, but that eye smudge completely ruins it for me--the obsessive perfectionist who would've abandoned the whole project if I'd received a figure marred in that way. And that's why I never get anything accomplished. Sigh.

    I mean, you didn't say, Jen, but I'm guessing that you had to order the two figures you were modding online and have them shipped overnight or express, and then when you got the figure whose head you were going to use, there was just no time left to order another one that might or might not have similar imperfections and so you had to work with what you had. Am I right?

    I know nothing about these Funko Pop figures but, if this one is an example, then I'm not impressed with the quality. Why would they package and sell a figure with a deformed eye? Are they hand-painted in the factory and it's just expected that they all have little flaws like eye smudges, etc...? Lame. I sure hope they're not expensive.

    Anyway, I would love to see a tutorial, not because I'd want to make one myself, but because I love to see the process shots and read about the steps involved for everything you make and/or mod. I enjoy all your tutorials so much because it's fun to soak up your (and John's) seemingly endless cleverness and creativity. As always, I'm inspired by your ambition, motivation, diligence, brilliance, and generosity. And especially by your just-get-it-done attitude. You guys are two seriously productive badasses, and I could sure learn from that.

    Thanks,
    KW

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    1. Yes, sadly all Pop! figures have less-than-impressive paint jobs; lots of smudges, outside-the-lines, etc. It's what you get for a $10 toy - and repainting the face would have risked brush strokes & more imperfections that way. And you're bang on about the rush order thing: if I'd had the option I'd have looked for one with a better face!

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  41. I would love a tutorial and to know which two figures you used to make this. I desperately need a Crowley and I'm willing to make it with your instructions.

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  42. "Yes, please" to a tutorial! I'd love to (attempt to) make personalized mods of my friends for the holidays.

    L in Houston

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  43. All I have to say is: dang, that is awesome. The things you and John create never cease to amaze me! :D

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  44. instructions and template would be wicked awesome

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  45. I don't know how you do it, but you two just keep on topping yourselves in awesomeness. Dynamic duo indeed!

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  46. I'm also love to know how you did it! I would love my own Crowley to go with my Sam, Dean and Cas

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  47. Please let me know if you're making more and taking orders! I would love one to complete my set!

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  48. You two are just so ridiculously awesome!!

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  49. Nerd Approved featured you today on Facebook! w00t!

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  50. Mark Sheppard is fabulous, and so is your figure. Now I want one...

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  51. I would love to know how you made the box! They are both so well made (box and figure), you are both so talented!

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  52. This is awesome, you are awesome!

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  53. I need one of these! You are wonderful for making this...I don't know how to do this kind of stuff, but if you post a tutorial, you can bet I'll learn fast, quick and in a hurry if it means I have a Crowley doll.

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  54. Hello, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!! I am in the process of making some of my own SPN characters that they will never ever do just because I want to add them to my collection. Can I ask how you came up with the graphics for the box??? Because , everyone of my "newbies" will need their own custom box to go in!! Thanks so much for sharing... and if you like once I get started on customising my new Pops, I will be posting them to my journal... more than happy to share!!

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    1. John just scanned an existing Supernatural Funko box, and then adjusted the graphics in Photoshop. If you click over to my tutorial, you can download the graphic files we used, and then adjust them to fit each character!

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  55. yours is way better than the one they started selling. argh.

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