Next-level swords, shields, and more thermoplastic cosplay props! Working with plastics can be extremely intimidating, even to veteran cosplayers. Armor Up! Thermoplastics, the first volume in the Ultimate Cosplay Encyclopedia series, includes everything you need to know about working with plastics and synthetic materials. From basic to expert level tutorials, key professionals guide you to create the base piece and polish the finished product with techniques on modifying, color, heat form, and detail with modern materials. When warmed up, thermoplastics hardens to form a firm shell. Cosplay swords, shields, and more have a high-quality look and feel with the modern materials and pattern-making covered in the book. Key experts in cosplay and professional costuming offer their expertise to demystify working with thermoplastics and make them less intimidating! Safety first! Learn the technical information needed to safely and successfully work with modern materials Make your cosplay vision a reality with a wide range of materials and skills to produce props, armor, and accessories.

Armored skin, bony plates, and shells are key defenses animals employ to survive in their natural surroundings. By examining the many forms animal armor can take, readers will have the opportunity to explore the physical makeup of turtle shells, armadillo bands, and millipede exoskeletons, among others. They'll learn how animals use their armor to protect against specific predators. Lively fact boxes, along with sidebars and accessible descriptions of current scientific research, help students discover the more unusual aspects of animal armor. Full-color photographs of the animals and close-ups of their special features enhance the narrative while a list of recent books and websites encourage further exploration of the topic.

Armor Up By: Jordan Leonhardt Armor Up teaches children the importance of putting on the spiritual armor of God at the beginning of each day. It breaks down the biblical concept in a way that is easy for children to understand and apply to their own lives. Leonhardt hopes that by learning these principles, children will no longer live in fear but will walk throughout life feeling confident, protected, and unafraid. “Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6: 13-17

This book is about how the human race left Earth after it was no longer habitable. Assisted by a race of aliens, they complete a large "ark" spacecraft and flee to a planet found in the Andromeda Galaxy, which is named Anthem. After twenty-plus years in space, they arrive and begin rebuilding the human race. After one hundred years on the planet, they start facing dangers from walking insects, with the humans having been banished from the cities on an island nation known as Bastion, assisted by the Shaper aliens, who constructed "liquid armor" suits with onboard weapons. They assist the human citizens of Bastion by protecting them from all threats arrayed against them when they are traveling from city to city. They come to be known as the Bastion Lancers while being armored up by the Javelin liquid armor.

As Christians, we are commanded to “put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:12).” Athletes know and understand that they have a uniform to wear that identifies which team they’re on and have the proper protection for the sport. Christianity has a uniform and it was designed by God to protect us on the battlefield. We are, therefore responsible to wear our armor daily to “fight the good fight of faith.” ArmorUp is a daily reminder that we must not only prepare for the physical battles we face, but also for the spiritual battles.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Brené Brown has taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise strong, and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers, and culture shifters, she’s showing us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead. Don’t miss the five-part HBO Max docuseries Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart! NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BLOOMBERG Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential. When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work. But daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and AI can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start. Four-time #1 New York Times bestselling author Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying the emotions and experiences that give meaning to our lives, and the past seven years working with transformative leaders and teams spanning the globe. She found that leaders in organizations ranging from small entrepreneurial startups and family-owned businesses to nonprofits, civic organizations, and Fortune 50 companies all ask the same question: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture? In this new book, Brown uses research, stories, and examples to answer these questions in the no-BS style that millions of readers have come to expect and love. Brown writes, “One of the most important findings of my career is that daring leadership is a collection of four skill sets that are 100 percent teachable, observable, and measurable. It’s learning and unlearning that requires brave work, tough conversations, and showing up with your whole heart. Easy? No. Because choosing courage over comfort is not always our default. Worth it? Always. We want to be brave with our lives and our work. It’s why we’re here.” Whether you’ve read Daring Greatly and Rising Strong or you’re new to Brené Brown’s work, this book is for anyone who wants to step up and into brave leadership.

Armored Up is a 30-day writing journey of self-reflective passages and questions to prepare, maximize, and endure spiritual warfare. You will see a shift in your perspective as you use the season of calamity to increase your faith in God and declare victory over the enemy.