Whether you're a cosplayer or you just fancy taking a stab at making something cool, making your own props and ornaments can be one of the most satisfying and rewarding hobbies you can take up. With the advent of YouTube and plenty of detailed guides online, it's also easier than ever to get started. Doing a quick search for making your own shield pulls up a plethora of great results, while websites like Instructables or the woodworking and metalworking subs on Reddit are similarly great resources. I also recommend following Sonya Kandah's page. I featured two of her designs above, and she does an excellent job of breaking down the process in an interesting, fun, and easy-to-understand manner.