Where's the Fringe!

[Arie]

Hey guys!

I'm in the process of making my second tail and I've been pondering over fringe.
I've been trying to track down shelf liner or rubber floor matting and I can't seem to find any that's either plain or has ridge looks to it so I'm trying to track down some other ideas or other places where I can find it in store (I'm calling around as well).

The other issue I have is I can find heavy duty vinyl and its quite easy to work with it feels, but its always clear.. I'm not sure if I like that (may look too fake). Is there a way to change the color and have it last at least a couple swims? I like how the shelf liner and floor matting have a semi clear/translucent look to them, I'd be fine with that.

Open to all ideas!!

:)

[Spindrift]

For the things you have managed to find, what do they look like? Do you have any photos?

[Mermaid Momo]

oh! I used shelf liner with ridges on it on my tail! there are photos of it here (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?3940-making-a-painted-neoprene-tail-bird-of-paradise-tail&highlight=bird+paradise) Though it isn't finished yet. I'll go find a link to the page I got it from. (All i know is the shop is called Menards or something like that,but I want to post a direct link)

[Mermaid Momo]

actually I'll just post the photo here so you won't have to leave :)

@ 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

[Blondie]

I have found the ridge shelf line at Wal-Mart AND Home Depot. It is around! I've seen it in other places as well in the past. Make sure you're looking through it all carefully. It is very cheap to buy. For my fringe I not only cut the ridges like you normally would, I then split the center of each ridge very carefully. This created the most awesome flow effect. It FEELS so real too!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/Sliver_Shine29/Stuff%20and%20things/null_zps77b67e4a.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/Sliver_Shine29/Stuff%20and%20things/null_zpsef7b695c.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/Sliver_Shine29/Stuff%20and%20things/null_zps869246a3.jpg

[WillowAnne]

Is it possible to paint the shelf liner and seal it somehow?

[Blondie]

Is it possible to paint the shelf liner and seal it somehow?
I haven't tried it but, I think it would need a thicker paint. I can see Acrylic pealing after time. But if it had a sealer on it, it could stay.

Something I think that WOULD work great on the shelf liner is nail polish. If you have the right color nail polish, it would go on and stay on very well. Especially with a top coat!

[Arie]

Hmm wow nail polish.. Who would have thought! I accidentally discovered that I could just use spare spandex, I was cutting out the tail and had some pieces the perfect lengths I wanted and decided ill just go glitter crazy on them! I couldn't find the liner I wanted at any store, however I'm sure if I went to the larger main stores they could have had it there. Next time I'll look into it for sure! I now have to make a tail for my niece and I may just try that out for hers.

[thevirginiamermaid]

I absolutely LOVE this idea! How did you attach the liner to your tail??

[PearlieMae]

Not much is going to stick to vinyl, unfortunately. Nail polish and sealer will peel right off. I've looked for paints that are commercially available and can't find anything. Printed shower curtains are silkscreened with a solvent-based ink that has to be heat cured and are pretty toxic.

[Mermaid Kenzie]

Do you think maybe some vinyl glue mixed with Createx and a touch of water might work? I'm adding shelf-liner to my tail as well, so I'll be sure to try it soon.