Hello from a New Cosplayer - Any tips for first-time prop making?

[supportivefisher]

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to say hi! I've been admiring amazing cosplays for years and finally decided to dive in myself. I'm brand new to the whole experience, and actually just started planning my very first costume: [Insert your character/series here, e.g., "Link from Breath of the Wild", "Sailor Moon"].
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I'm getting really excited, but I'm also feeling a bit overwhelmed by the prop-making aspect. My chosen character has a [mention a specific prop, e.g., "sword", "magical staff", "unique helmet"], and I've been looking at tutorials, but it all seems quite complex.

For those of you who have been doing this for a while, especially if you remember your first few attempts at props:

What materials did you find most forgiving or beginner-friendly for prop construction?
Are there any common beginner mistakes I should absolutely try to avoid?
Do you have any go-to tools or techniques that significantly simplify the prop-making process for newcomers?
And honestly, what's your best advice for dealing with frustration when things don't go as planned?
Any and all tips would be super helpful as I embark on this creative (and slightly scary!) journey. Thanks so much in advance for your guidance! Looking forward to learning from you all!