How To Photos: Irridescent Lizard Mask

My partner created a Pink Feathered mask on her Cat Mask base.  I wanted a coordinating mask, that a man might feel comfortable wearing; so I chose to use a lizard scale pattern.
Studying everything from geckos to gila monsters, I was surprised at how uneven the scales were. (thankfully! Much easier to draw!)  You use an overlap technique.  The top scales meet in the middle of the underlying scale.


This project uses a nylon covered Cat Mask,
*Dharma's Fiber Reactive dyes #25 Turquoise applied with a Preval Spray Gun
*Spray Fixative,
*Jaquard's Pearl-Ex pigment: Interference Blue
* Black, waterproof fine line pen
*Mod Podge and Acrylic gold paint- applied with a brush:

Acrylic jewels,  applied with 2-Part Epoxy or Hot glue.

  Click on the image for step-by-step instructions.
Tips:
* Remove the elastic band first.

* Use dye concentrate.  Spraying diffuses the color.  Your concentration should be strong enough to see light thru it, in a clear cup; but not necessarily it's true color. The exception is yellow, which should be fairly opaque.

*Sieve the dye when filling the spray gun. (see photo how to)

*Wipe the nylon surface with alcohol, to remove body oil on the fabric.


*For best results, completely saturate your mask with dye, allowing little dry time between coats.  This will build up a lacy matrix on the surface

*2-part epoxy gives a firmer hold on flexible masks, when attaching rigid jewels.

The "mistakes" on this project
1.  There were invisible body oil spots, which kept the dye from adhering.

2. Which is why I over-saturated, and got the matrix of dye buildup;
and incidentally a far darker color than #25 turquoise usually gives.

3. The spray fix didn't work.  I should have used one specifically for fixing dyes, instead of pastels and watercolors.  The dye mixed with the interference blue and defined it.

4. The epoxy had dried up by the time I got to it, a week later.  Yes, even with the resealable cap.
  I had to use hot glue, which globbed into puddles I couldn't trim.  The jewels, however, stayed on long enough for the event. (whew!)