The first side is done!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f16979e197.jpg
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The first side is done!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f16979e197.jpg
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Oh, btw did I mention that I have a time limit? This tail has to be done by Wednesday so that I can pack it for Project: Graduation (my school-sanctioned overnight trip to FunPlex) on Thursday night! o.O
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It looks like it is already done.
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Oh, thank you! But I have some more planned for this baby. I want to add some spots to the tail body (which I will probably need a body form for) and I planned on adding some extra (realistic) fins. I was going to put them at the ankle like in my drawing, but that may be too much, so i may make them pectoral fins. I also want to add sequins. It's amazing what some basic, circular sequins can do for a fabric tail. If you haven't, you should see Courtney Mermaid's tails. I LOVE them! And, besides all that, I've still got to paint the other side!! [emoji15]Quote:
Originally Posted by Slim
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Holy carp it looks amazing so far!
Thank you![emoji227]Quote:
Originally Posted by Hydra1337
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Oh my gosh you are definitely doing a way better job than i will😭 That paint job is just stunning
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So great job!!! :D
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d1f31067f6.jpg
Mom is letting me paint in the living room, so I've got to be extra careful! It's time to paint the other side and then put the finishing touches on this side (to make it look nicer and neater). Then I need to make a body form so that I can paint some spots on the tail body.
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So, you know how you heat-set Createx by using an iron (with protective fabric in the middle) or a dryer or the like? Will that damage the holographic fabric?
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The fluke looks like a stained-glass window. I love it! :swoon:
Im going to be heat setting my paint with a blow dryer on the highest setting for around 40 minutes
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Ok. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by MermaidJaiden
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If anybody is curious about materials, besides the Createx paint and airbrush, I'm also using these CHEAP craft paints from Walmart:https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...88cc365806.jpg
And these two Elmer's Paint markers. I actually didn't use the white one on the other side, and I wish that I had because I am able to use it to create this 3D effect that kicks the tail of the other side:https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...abc606e741.jpg
But using paint markers is really fun and easy. Once I swim-test this baby and see how the paint holds up, I'll go get them in a bunch of colors if they hold up well.
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BEAUTIFUL!!!
(I hope you are testing everything on scraps!)
Hey kali, could you tell me how you blended the black part on top? I have a blend in my design but i dont exactly know how i should do it :/
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Beautiful!!
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Yeah, I used an airbrush. That kind of faded, natural look is really only possible with an airbrush. I mean, you can accomplish something similar using a small paintbrush and scumbling or dry blending technique, but it's not quite the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by MermaidJaiden
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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d842182f80.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bccd02886e.jpg
I have been adding sequins to give my tail that extra POP and sparkle. This portion is inspired by the beautiful tails of Courtney Mermaid.
By the way, my fluke design is inspired by Mermaid Raven. If, no, WHEN I finally save up enough money for a full silicone, I definitely want a Merbella's!
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Wow Kali, your tail is so beautiful, I love all the details, the paint, patterns and colors. Its easy to tell you put everything into working on that tail, and it shows! It's been super fun to see it progress, and those sequins! They definitely bring it up to the next level! It looks so great!
Wow, I LOVE that fluke painting! So cool!
Hello, fellow merfolk! I know that I haven't posted on this thread in a long time, and, honestly, it was because I was so disappointed with the results of my test swim. However, I realize that I may be doing the community a disservice by withholding these details, so here goes. Pictures forthcoming.
Ok, so I went swimming on the night of June 22-23. When I left the pool, I was expecting there to be a bit of damage in the knee area as the pool was only 3 feet deep. I did not expect to see two black smudges where my kneecaps had been. That's right, abrasion causes the holographic design to fade...to black. COMPLETELY. I also noticed that most of the paint job had come off, but I expected that. I knew that craft paints aren't the best to use, but the reason why I used them is because the fluke on my old tail (the orange one) was painted using some old craft paints that I found in my room. I found that the paint seeped into the fabric and turned plasticky, which was perfect! However, when I bought the same set of paints, I found that the application was thin and smudgy, so either the formula was changed, or the initial paints only worked well because they were so old. Regardless, I wasn't surprised that most of the paint job wore off. The Elmer's paint markers held up fairly well and so did the airbrushing (Createx). However, they DID FADE, so please take that into account if you plan on using them and not reprinting your tail often. Still, that I could deal with. I went home that night-morning very tired and ready to patch up my tail and get to work on finishing it. However, the next time I saw my tail in daylight, it was a mermaid horror story come true. Pearlie, I never should have doubted you. So what did I find? Well, I found that a about a foot-length section of the tail body had turned from shimmery purple-green to bleach-colored. Obviously, I was very discouraged by this as I was very excited to have the shimmery black, purple, teal, spotted tail of my dreams.
So, tl;dr If you're using this fabric, COAT IT IN SILICONE. It WILL NOT last if you don't. ❤️ Cheers.
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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7ce9aace8b.jpg
Discoloration of the tail body.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1a19debcbb.jpg
Abrasion damage
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So, now, I've just got to accept that my tail is going to be more colorful than I wanted it to be.
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So here's the plan: I'm going to make a body form so that i can see the full impact of the discoloration. Then, I'm going to go with my original plan of airbrushing besides black or maybe a dark purple and painting spots on the tail body. I'm hoping that that will hide the discoloration at least a little bit. I also bought some translucent purple Shimmery sequins, so I am going to put those over some of the discolored area and hope that that brings it back to the purple color at least a little bit. And then I'm going to add more sequins. Almost every scale will have at least on sequin on it. So hopefully the colored sequins will also help to bring the color back. And then, I'm going to coat the tail body in silicone.
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However, I'm not sure what to do with the fluke. Should I repaint it with some better quality fabric paint like Lumiere or Permaset Aqua? Or, should I repainted with the same paint, and then cover it in silicone? If I cover the fluke in silicone, will I be able to take the fin in and out? Or will I have to so the monofin inside? I was thinking about maybe getting a new monofin anyway, though.
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Does anybody know of a monofin that has more propulsion than a Fin Fun, but essentially the same shape (can replace a Fin Fun in a tail made for a Fin Fun)?
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Magictail classic monofin can fit into any fin fun skin and it a lot more stiff with no floaty. I only use my tail of the same fabric in a salt water pool or spring. The person that made the tail decide to use a different fabric than the one I sent her and use a even cheaper fabric for the fluke. That cheaper fabric caused damage by the skin swim where the scale fabric survive. I feel your struggle though I put my in a tail maker.
Attachment 41514
Attachment 41516
I DEFINITELY feel your pain. RIP our old ideas of what our tails would be like! [emoji6] I know it super-sucks, but the most important thing is to not be discouraged and try to think of ways to integrate the damages into a new and cohesive tail design.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slim
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Here's the tail wrapped around the body form:https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...da09e14d22.jpg
You can see the large patch of discoloration here. But I think a nice paint job could hide it.
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That oilslick fabric is to die for.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Kali
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Yeah, I may have to give it another go since this tail isn't coming out exactly as I wanted it to. I really hope all of this trial-and-error turns out well.Quote:
Originally Posted by lotusauriel
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I'm sorry it's not going as you wanted. I didn't read through the whole thread, so I missed that. I hope you can fix it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Kali
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A suntails monofin is pretty good!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Kali
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That is a stunning material, what an exciting project to be working on. :O I wonder what kind of fabric paint they've used to create that iridescent effect.
Sequins will cut through the silicone :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Kali
What do you mean? I have never used silicone before. I don't understand.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Fenicia
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Pearlie found that if you try to cover sequins with silicone, the sharp edges of the sequins will shear through the silicone and leave holes. The silicone also won't stick to the sequins themselves. You might have better luck coating the fabric with silicone first, then adding the sequins. If you sew them on a little loosely, so they're not pressing down too hard on the silicone layer, you might have better luck.
I just received my tail with the SunTails fin. I'm extremely impressed with it - while not a 'pro' dive type, it seems to really stay on your feet, and the way the foot pockets wrap around the fin, it's not sloppy... In other words, not a TOY.
But I already sewed the sequins on. SO MANY. They're not she'll-shaped or anything, just regular round ones.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dancing Fish
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