How to attach shells?

[MermaidLiara]

Hi guys,

I have a beginner's question...

I see all these GORGEOUS tops here, so amazing, kudos to all of you who are able to make something like that.

Many tops have shells. But HOW do you attach a shell to a top?? And can anyone direct me to a tutorial? :)



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[Ashe]

Hello :) Shell tops are usually made two different ways. The first is to carefully drill holes directly into the shell and string rope or twine through them to create straps. These are simple and cute, but can get very uncomfortable very fast if you don't line the shells with a soft backing and aren't really an option for bustier mers.
The more decorative way to create shell tops is to use a popular glue called E6000 (or another extremely strong and waterproof glue) to adhere the shells directly to a bra or swim top. You can decorate the rest of the bra with smaller shells or fake plants or gems.

I'll see if I can find you a more in depth tutorial :)

Edit: http://mernetwork.com/imgs/Shell_Top.pdf Here's an old tutorial for making a shell top using a drill and twine if you are interested in this method. For the second method, I would say keep searching around the "Tops and Accessories" forum that we are in for inspiration .

[KateyMermaid]

I made my shell bra based around an old underwire bra. I have had shell tops that were just shells and twine, and I do not recommend it. Super uncomfortable and the twine would cut into my collar bone.

But yeah, I got lions paw shells, and glued them to a bra I liked. I highly recommend using E6000 glue. I tried using other kids, and it does not adhere to shells in water as well as E6000. To cover the bra itself, I got creative with faux seaweed, fish net, and knicknacks.

I would also listen to Kalani--there are a lot of good resources and tutorials on here.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160619/c40963d11a8b8b833cc26e0453eb83b2.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160619/7a49cd9973dc3090634f6841e94b0e17.jpg


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[MermaidLiara]

@Kalani: thanks so much for your explanation and the tutorial! :D It's much clearer to me now.

@Katey: thanks for your advice and WOW! Your top is gorgeous!!! I hope I can make a top as pretty as yours someday.

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[Mermaid Momo]

I second E600. Though I had a hard time getting the shell to stick (that may have been due to the fact i have a small bust and the bra i was using wasn't a pushup but a normal tshirt bra so it didn't have a permanent domed shape)
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160619/c6bf6ee4f9ca8c2a586446d83807bde3.jpg

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[MermaidLiara]

@Momo: your top is gorgeous!!! So is your entire mermaid outfit, actually!

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[Mermaid Cataleya]

I find if u drill small holes two at least hand so it on to the brawl anywhere where you were putting it then use the e6000 glue as reinforcement that is what I do


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[Ashe]

Oh, while E6000 is the glue most commonly used by mermaids, there is a whole lot of risk. I couldnt find the thread but there was a lot of research done on the possible negative effects is not used with caution. All of the warning can be found on the glue tube and packaging itself. Please only use it in a well ventilated area or outside and even wear gloves if you want to be super safe. If you use it a lot like I do, you will really want to cut down on risk, just as a precaution :)

Also Katey and Momo, you both look absolutely stunning!

[Mermaid Cataleya]

I find if u drill small holes two at least hand so it on to the brawl anywhere where you were putting it then use the e6000 glue as reinforcement that is what I do


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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160619/64b47c394254183a47576d3819b1f4d8.jpg



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[merwandering]

The top I used didnt have a shape to it either by itself, so I put it on, held the shells where I wanted them, marked the edges inside the shell where the top was. I took it off, put a really good coat of e6000 inside the marked area, pushed the cloth where it belonged, and then put ziplock bags full of rice in each cup to add pressure and hold it in place. It seems really strong, they are 7" shells and pretty heavy, eventually I will probably drill a tiny hole at the top of each, and put an extra cord through to also tie behind my neck to help hold up- they are on a halter type swimsuit top (the top does the work, the shells are just glued on). But they work!
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[The Harlem Mermaid]

I agree these shells tops are lovely but most uncomfortable, I wore mines first yesterdat for the #coneyislandmermaidparade myvhubby did a great job adding seaweed but we didn't have time to sdd bra cups snd thiscis what it did to me , dont know how tocattsch photo on tapatalk but it scraped je so badly and iwad just sitting, imagine had I been swimming will post photo on later

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[The Harlem Mermaid]

Hi guys,

I have a beginner's question...

I see all these GORGEOUS tops here, so amazing, kudos to all of you who are able to make something like that.

Many tops have shells. But HOW do you attach a shell to a top?? And can anyone direct me to a tutorial? :)



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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160621/31935f718e1716e263fc22e3da35a200.jpg

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[merwandering]

Oh no!!!! I'm so sorry that happened! Though I wonder if mine is still going to scrape even though I used a swimsuit top- it does still touch my skin in some places. Yikes:(
did you have fun at the parade?

[The Harlem Mermaid]

Hi dearmerwandering (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?7091-merwandering) Thank you sweetie and yes i had an amazing time, so much so didnt feel the pain im in rite now lol but you shouldnt have that problem if you added swimsuit top. and also recommended by mermaid mandi, the strings for shell tops should be hamstrings the ones i had were really good and secure but was going into my skin , that hurt.37523

[Sabrina the Selkie]

Well, you look fantastic.

[The Harlem Mermaid]

Sabrina the Selkie (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?5184-Sabrina-the-Selkie) thank you dear

[merwandering]

You DO look great! How fun!!
I had a how-to-attach-shells top brainstorm, because I have been planning on adding to my top but wasn't sure how I wanted to go about it. I like the very plain simple shell top for a vintagey thing I am planning to do, but for EVERYTHING else it is totally impractical.
I got a really really comfortable bra, full coverage, wide straps, soft. I am adding shells and broken old jewelry, etc to the edge, and then I can stack the shell bra on top of it. I will still use the halter strap to hold up the main shells, they are heavy, and I dont want to glue them on anyway, so I am basically stacking the shell bra on top of the other bra, and I will continue to add to the one underneath, but can wear teh shell bra separately for what I wanted it for! I know you were just asking about glue, but wowwwwww this is so incredibly comfortable!!! And it having its own thing to hold it up, it doesnt pull on the bra:) so thought I'd share!
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[The Harlem Mermaid]

merwandering (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?7091-merwandering) Wow its looks amazingly beautiful! thats exactly what i want to do to mine's ilike the bra you choose it looks very comfortable and has good padding so as not to feel the shells great Idea! thank you for sharing im going to give it a try too. but if you dont add the glue how is it going to stay onto the bra? they are heavy dont want them falling off and breaking :)

[The Harlem Mermaid]

Thank you Kalani (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?1290-Kalani) for glue warning, and for tutorial im used the e6000 for first time, luckly i had no issues im usually allergic to most everything, i plan to use it to glue sea top onto bra i dont trust just stacking them onto bra like merwandering (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?7091-merwandering) is going to make which i love the idea of being able to use them separately but im to busty and they might fall off lol thank you both for you tips on how to you all look amazing in them

[merwandering]

Just in case for some reason you end up wanting to stack them, the shells themselves are glued with e6000 to a separate swimsuit top with an underwire in it. It then goes over the other full coverage bra, so there are 2 straps across the back, and the shells have a halter that ties behind my neck, and the bra has regular straps. They are 7" lion's paw shells (my daughter joked when I tried regular ones, about 5", that I needed d shells not sea shells, lol). So they also have their own support, etc. After just putting shells on to figure things out a few times, I am impressed that you made it all day in them! But you looked so wonderful!

[The Harlem Mermaid]

Just in case for some reason you end up wanting to stack them, the shells themselves are glued with e6000 to a separate swimsuit top with an underwire in it. It then goes over the other full coverage bra, so there are 2 straps across the back, and the shells have a halter that ties behind my neck, and the bra has regular straps. They are 7" lion's paw shells (my daughter joked when I tried regular ones, about 5", that I needed d shells not sea shells, lol). So they also have their own support, etc. After just putting shells on to figure things out a few times, I am impressed that you made it all day in them! But you looked so wonderful!



merwandering (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?7091-merwandering) thank you so much, ok i get it now your using two bras is that correct, one of top of the other that does make for good comfort too awewsome i shall post photo once i make them, and you did an amazing job,and your daughter is funny lol

[merwandering]

Thank you, lol
yes the one the shells is on is just skimpier- here's a picture so it makes sense. I know the swimsuit is turned into a crazy Frankenstein situation, that's just because I experimented a lot with it- I actually ended up moving the closure to the front, and replaced the thin strap in the back with a leg of a pair of tights, and turned the shoulder straps into a halter because I was too lazy to sew them on the new back lol, but just out of trying different things. It didn't have to get ugly...just sorta how I roll, ha
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[The Harlem Mermaid]

merwandering (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?7091-merwandering) lol your funny and so gifted! i think this is a great idea!! thank you for sharing your photos they dont look frankenstein at all great job

[Cordelia]

Cute! I like the little starfish and the addition of pearls. I really need to get off my tail and make my own top. I think I've had the supplies for two years! I just never sit down to actually do it. :/