Shell Top (In Progress)

[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

All righty then, here we go. First time attempting a swimmable bra top for my mermaid character for performing. I'm no stranger to shell bras for cosplay purposes but to have a functional one I can swim in will be tricky.

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I got the first few things to start out this journey. I have the shells (which are a set of baking shell dishes I bought from a nautical shop in Seaport Village) As well as the notions, pearls, and the seahorse and shell charm for the centerpieces.

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and some silk sea plants and flowers from Petco and Michaels.

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Here's hoping it all goes well. I'll try and keep updating the progress of this while I'm working on it. :) But these are just the starting points.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

I would make sure there's no outer layer on the shells like a clear coat, that could mess up your paint. You may also need a white base coat on them to cover up any discoloration on the shells. Once you get them painted you'll need to resin coat them to protect the paint. You just get the clear resin and paint it on. I like your design and your color scheme!

[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

I would make sure there's no outer layer on the shells like a clear coat, that could mess up your paint. You may also need a white base coat on them to cover up any discoloration on the shells. Once you get them painted you'll need to resin coat them to protect the paint. You just get the clear resin and paint it on. I like your design and your color scheme!


I plan doing a white base with a pearlescent top coat as the first layer so there's a bit of a sheen to the shells themselves. I've been kind of hooked on ombre color schemes lately and I wanted my tail to reflect my title as the "Crystalline Mermaid" so I'm taking a lot of jewel tone color schemes and adding a lighter tone to add dimension to them. :)

Where do you find clear resin? Would I have to go to Home Depot to find it?


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[A_Koi_Mermaid]

I got mine at Hobby Lobby. I'll warn you it IS like $12-15 but you only need a thin coat so you have a ton to work with. Mine was "Easy Cast" and it was super easy but you will ruin a container and a paint brush. :P I only mention the white base coat because the shells in the picture have some black and brown places on them that may show up through your paint. My lions paw shells didn't have a base coat and you can see the shells natural coloration pattern through the paint, it looks nice to me but others may not want that.

[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

I got mine at Hobby Lobby. I'll warn you it IS like $12-15 but you only need a thin coat so you have a ton to work with. Mine was "Easy Cast" and it was super easy but you will ruin a container and a paint brush. :P I only mention the white base coat because the shells in the picture have some black and brown places on them that may show up through your paint. My lions paw shells didn't have a base coat and you can see the shells natural coloration pattern through the paint, it looks nice to me but others may not want that.

I noticed some of the little specks after I bought them :D They'll be spray painted white before I start gluing and painting the'm since finding porcelain white baking shells is nearly impossible xD


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[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

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Finally began the preparation of these beautiful while seashells with some pearlescent white paint as a base coat. I'm trying to keep these shells as shimmery and as mermaidy as I can so pearl paint and iridescent glitter will be used quite heavily here. You have been warned.

The smaller shell on the bottom is the final piece for my hair clip :)


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[Mermaid Mia]

They look great thusfar! Can't wait to see the continuation :3


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[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

More updating on the top from today's rather intense workday :D My friend Haley and I were working on mermaid tops together and we really cranked out all the stops. We had fun though, singing Disney songs and sharing fun little stories xD

But anyway, after the shells were painted, glittered and everything. Here's what they look like now :)

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160818/1ddd35e29b21a7adfbaad44c33b82e67.jpg

The glitter I used was an iridescent chunky glitter I thought was perfect since it resembled scales. It's a bit darker of a blue than I imagined it but it still looks stunning. I'm contemplating adding a plastic starfish in the corner of one of them, but I like them as they are for now. :) Also the shell piece with the dangling pearls will eventually be my headpiece.

Everything is painted with an ombre scheme :3


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[Mermaid Whisper]

SO BEAUTIFUL! Fintastic work!


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[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

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Since the shells also came in a set of four, I made a second pair for an Ariel inspired swim top as well :) I just have to bedazzle them. The top is inspired from the costume in Shanghai Disneyland :)


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[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

SO BEAUTIFUL! Fintastic work!


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Thanks Whisper :D I wanted to make mine unique and I've been obsessing over ombre color schemes for my mermaid princess so I figured it was the best way to go :3


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[Mermaid Mia]

So preeeeetyyy


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[A_Koi_Mermaid]

Your shells turned out so lovely! Just be sure to do the resin coat before you put them in water! I love the big chunky glitter and the soft pink ombré on the other set is such a unique color scheme! Have you been able to find a good base for the top yet? Personally I'm so pale I'm struggling to find a "nude" bra my skin tone! >.<

[Vela]

Wow!!!!!!!! Beautiful! I love the colors! :)

[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

Your shells turned out so lovely! Just be sure to do the resin coat before you put them in water! I love the big chunky glitter and the soft pink ombré on the other set is such a unique color scheme! Have you been able to find a good base for the top yet? Personally I'm so pale I'm struggling to find a "nude" bra my skin tone! >.<

Not as of yet. I've been scoping around on eBay trying to find a bra that'll work as a base. I'm trying to make sure it isn't padded though. :)


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[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

Wow!!!!!!!! Beautiful! I love the colors! :)

Thank you so much :D


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[A_Koi_Mermaid]

Some people use swim tops with success, maybe one of those would be less padded but still firm? I saw it mentioned recently in "Show Off Your Tops" I think.

[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

Some people use swim tops with success, maybe one of those would be less padded but still firm? I saw it mentioned recently in "Show Off Your Tops" I think.

I'll definitely look into into it but I don't want the top to be too flimsy D: Especially since swimsuit tops can be super lightweight


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[Mermaid Aria]

I'll definitely look into into it but I don't want the top to be too flimsy D: Especially since swimsuit tops can be super lightweight


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Get the swimsuit tops that are shaped like a bra. They have the sturdiness of a bra but are meant for swimming. They feel just like a bra too.

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[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

Getting a bit up close and personal with my mermaid top in progress. I did end up finding a base bra to use for my mermaid top so I'm doing my best to cover the base color of the bra itself

I'm still trying to find something to finish the top once the shells go on it. But I love my little seahorse pendant! It's so cute :)

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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160904/bcdd174be3af5fb71d95e8a6dbeeaff4.jpg


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[Mermaid Aria]

Omg this gonna be so pretty

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[PrincessNymphiaoftheSea]

Omg this gonna be so pretty

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I'm so close to the end :)


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[Mermaid Mia]

I love the color and placement of those flowers. [emoji7]


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