making a painted neoprene tail : bird of paradise tail

[Mermaid Momo]

since i've gotten a job at mcdonalds, and im getting my first pay check soon, I decided to start planning out my next tail. I want to have it finished by the start of summer (which where i live only gives me a few months). I'm going to be buying each thing peice by peice since i also want to buy other things for my other hobbies (lolita, drawing,and stuff for an anime convention where i'll be having a booth at) so here's the design:
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The first thing i plan on buying is the monofin (i'm getting a rapid)
You can't tell from the drawing, but it isn't going to be all one smooth color lay, i'm going to paint scales on it, i was just too lazy to do it in the drawing LOL
and those dots on the tail are gold sequins. They're going to be also running down along side the dorsal fin (which will be hiding the zipper)
The fluke will be closed with velcro so i can take out the monofin.

[Mermaid Celissa]

SUPER CUTE! I love the color combo!

[Mermaid Saphira]

so beautiful! I can no wait to see this! <3 good luck@!

[Mermaid Annariea]

i love those colors together! good luck!! :D

[starlite]

can't wait to see it :-)

[Mermaid Momo]

Update:
I've decided that I want to make a sequin tail instead of a painted tail because i really like sparkly things haha.
I'm buying the sequins from here (http://lovehobbycraft.com)

[Blondie]

Loooooove this!!!

[Mermaid Danielle]

Awesome! Please post lots of pictures!

[MerEmma]

So gorgeous. Good luck! <3

[Disfusional]

I absolutely love the color scheme! Can not wait to see 'in progress' photos!

[Ashe]

I absolutely love the colors and design! I think it will all work really well together :) Good luck!

[Mermaid Momo]

Ordered my Monofin Sunday morning and it should be here by tommorrow according to the trackin number! super excited!

[Marilla]

I love, love, love the whole concept! Your colors are super lovely and your fluke is gorgeous! Keep posting your progress, and use pictures whenever possible! I am making my first tail out of neoprene as well in hopes for summer use. Good luck!Xoxo~ Mermaid Marilla

[Mahi Mermaid]

very cute! And nice artwork :)

[Thalassa]

Can't wait to see how this turns out! Keep us posted. ;-)

[Mermaid Momo]

Thanks everyone! I'll be sure to keep everyone posted an I just ordered my neoprene! Thinking of ordering the liner for my fins tomorrow :)

[jukumerboii]

I looove this!!!

[Mermaid Momo]

Looking for an air spray gun on amazon but I have no idea what I should be looking for. Can anyone help? What type of gun should I get and what other things should I buy with it? Do you think I'll be able to find them at micheals? And can I use any kind of paint in it?(going to be using it to paint my fluke)

[Morticia Mermaid]

Are you talking airbrush?

I know you should be able to find set ups with just the gun nozle and hoses that can be set up with pressurized air-cans. Should be able to find all of it at a local hardware or hobby store

[Mermaid Momo]

^ yeah! That's the word I was looking for! Haha. Thanks! I'll go look around. (Trying to find alternatives to paying shipping charges)

[Morticia Mermaid]

:) You're welcome. You'll more than likely find the aircans at a hardware store, an air hose can be found in hardware AND automotive. And the airbrush nozzle can be found in a lot of different places depending on the project size, you'll probably want an artist/nail art size

[Morticia Mermaid]

for the airbrush can, you're looking for something like this (or similar to)

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/6270457183530737341?hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=airbrush%20air%20cans&oq=airbrush+air+cans&gs_l=serp.3...27765.29175.2.29405.9.9.0.0.0.0.62.4 78.9.9.0...0.0...1c.1.8.psy-ab.EnvzsBj1q3M&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.44990110,d.cGE&biw=1600&bih=796&sa=X&ei=D5VlUdH3JKO1igLhqoC4DA&ved=0CGIQ8wIwAA

It's a bit more affordable, can connect direct to the airbrush (minus the hose), or can connect via a hose. Should be able to find a decent hobby airbrush nozzle for around $15-35

[AniaR]

I can't wait to see how this turns out! Someone asked me once if my tail was inspired by a tiger lilly. Makes sense when you think about it hehe. I think mers should look to flowers and plants for inspiration more!

[Mermaid Momo]

@morticia: thankyou so much! Because I honestly had no idea where to start looking for one or what pieces I needed to buy!
@ Raina : yeah, I think most of my designs are based from flower coloring a or are colored really brightly :3

Also my monofin came in today! So happy! I'm going to start cutting It today if my dad has a saw that can cut it (some people also use scissors for this part right?) is not I'll try scissors then go buy a plastic cutter if that fails (I'm glad I have some sand paper lying around to round the cut out)
Also pics coming later as the ones on my phone are too big to post

[Mermaid Mads]

if you cut the monfin with scissors it depends on the thickness of your monofin. If the fin is pretty thick then it won't cut and the scissors will be stripped after a few tries and it might damage the monofin. I would ask someone you know with a jig saw or a dremmal saw (didn't spell that right) both are made for cutting patterns that aren't simply strait lines. But! If your monofin isn't very thick and its has a more rubber like texture trying scissors just might work! Good luck!

[Mermaid Momo]

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/563659_10201076077933561_572785340_n.jpg
cut my fin today!

[Mermaid Momo]

i did round off the middle section but it looks pointed in that picture, maybe i should do it again? or make it bigger?

[MerEmma]

If you rounded the center like the images in that thread says, then you're probably all right.

[Mermaid Pickles]

Love it! I will cheer you on as you make your tail!

[Mermaid Momo]

My neoprene just came in but I can't start yet without my shelf liner ( which I hope will be here soon) but in going to cut out the two halves for now and go look for a zipper and airbrush

[Mermaid Momo]

okay, I've sewn the pieces of neoprene together, ( besides the zipper because I had to order a 100" one of of amazon on Saturday so im still waiting on that)still haven't ordered my sequins or airbrush yet, but i'm going to order the sequins on Sunday after I get paid. I'm thinking about just picking up a brush to paint my fluke because even though i really want to get my paint to blend really well, I need my tail done by May 25 (which is the day of the mermaid pool party at phoenix comicon AND my birthday!) so I think I'm going to go buy some paint and some brushes (also the paint you guys usually use are in tubes right? I've only been seeing the little pen like tubes of puffy paint and I did find spray craft paint once that looks like and airbrush but that wasn't for fabric )

Also, I'm debating making a top to match . I know I won't have the time I make the top undersigned so maybe just making a sequined top with betting to hold it up?

[MerEmma]

I really love the top design you had in the first post, something like that would be gorgeous. :P

[Ariel-Starfish]

Super cute design! (Youre a great artist!!- Can't wait how everything turns out! ^^

[Theta]

Dude! We'll be like, color buddies! I love it, can't wait to see it :D

[Mermaid Momo]

My zipper arrived Wednesday , and I pinned it into my tail so I can test the fit before I sew it in (because my tail Is already a bit wonky in the size even though I checked the measurements 3 times before cutting its still a bit small. ) but anyway, the zipper only zipped up to under my butt, so I'm going to reposition it and get my sister to zip me up in it again. I'm still worrying that once in order my sequins Sunday that I won't get them in time (but the express shipping is an extra $100!)

[Mermaid Momo]

@ Starfish: thankyou!i can't wait either. :D
@nirix5: YAY! Color buddies! XD is your tail only purple? (Sorry I'm going by your icon because you don't have any photos up)

EDIT: progress photos from a few days ago

http://25.media.tumblr.com/c21075a399b30bcce85dedef48873f48/tumblr_mmc3etQPoN1rqeghso1_500.jpg

[Mermaid Momo]

I haven't updated this in some time , but I've decided to wait after PCC to start adding sequins and painting so that it won't be half finished (PCC is this Saturday )Also, has anyone ever used E600 to glue on sequins to neoprene? I think I've seen it done on the forum before but I can't remember.
Also, my sequins arrived a few weeks ago, but I need to order A LOT more (I bought 2, 1 pound bags of each color)

[MerEmma]

Ilonka used E6000 and the general consensus was that it worked well if you didn't sit or anything like that, if you sat on concrete or rocks I'm sure they would come off immediately.

[Mermaid Momo]

Ooh..I guess I'm back to sewing, I can use the E600 to glue my netting onto my top and the side fins I cut off back together then, Thanks Emma!

[starlite]

I love the fluke :-) what did you use for that ? shelf liner ?

[Mermaid Momo]

I love the fluke :-) what did you use for that ? shelf liner ?
thankyou! and yes, my fluke is made with Shelf liner ♥

[Mermaid Momo]

I'm still sewing on sequins (going to switch to larger sequins from mermaid Shelly for the body of the tail) but I have to resize my tail because at the comicon pool party, my tail got really baggy when wet, even though when dry it's almost so tight it can't be zipped. anyone know what could have caused this problem? all of the fabric just wrinkled up around my ankles, and the top of the tail was so baggy that my tail literally slipped off pass by butt when I dived durn

[Mermaid Momo]

UPDATE: I'm actually further than this (mid fluke about to change color to purple now.) but I'm too lazy to unroll my tail from my closet. Anyway, I'm using E600 and it holds amazingly! I pull and tug on it a lot and not one sequin has come off. I think it's because I'm gluing them down onto the uncovered side of the neoprene instead of a side with fabric covering it. I haven't been working on it since school started because I ran out of glue and need to go buy some more.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/1002856_10201717186040863_1102587655_n.jpg

[MerEmma]

So pretty!

[mermaidCrae]

good luck on your tail every time I try to make one it falls apart! every stitch counts

[Mermaid Momo]

good luck on your tail every time I try to make one it falls apart! every stitch counts

Thanks! I haven't been working on it much because I've been so busy with school and doing things getting ready for college. But I hope I'll be able to get more done eventually when I have some down time.


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[Mermaid Momo]

I'm reviving this thread!
I stopped working on this tail after Phoenix comicon because I wasn't inspired at all to work on it. But now I have a lot of mermaid and volunteer things I want to do that go me motivated to do more work on my tail. I'm switching out the small shells for larger shells, but that means also changing the color scheme. (the larger sequins don't come in the purple I want.) and I've already sequined half of the fluke with the small gold shells so I don't want to take them off. I'll be sequining the rest of the fluke with the small gold ones. and the body of the tail will be gold or butter yellow with a white stripe down the middle. I'm glad to be doing large shells because that means I can use my sewing machine to sew them on instead of handsewing everything and possibly losing interest and patience again.

However, to use my machine, I'll be taking my tail a part on the seams to be able to fit the pieces through my machine.

I'm hoping to order my sequins soon and you all can help me afford it! In my signature is a link to my commissions that I'm doing right now. Please take a look! (the lowest price is $10 USD)