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Ink daubers or sponge question - how many do you need?
Does it work just to have one for each color of the rainbow, or do you really need one for each color inkpad? Do the colors transfer at all, or a little or a lot?
Does this differ if it's the cosmetic sponge type, or the ctmh yellow sponge type?
I try to have one for each color. I believe Jennifer Mcguire said if you could not do that then have one for each color family. When I did not have enough I would wash them out.
__________________ Mary Jo
prairiepapercrafter.blogspot.com
I don't use sponge daubers because I don't want to have to figure out storage for all of them and I would be concerned with contaminating a pad if I didn't have one for each color. I buy packs of sponges at the dollar store, snip off a piece to use for a particular project, then toss it when I'm done. Maybe I'm just lazy, but that's how I roll
I find the cosmetic sponges to be greedy little buggers - they keep too much of the ink without sharing with the paper - so I use regular old household sponges.
I agree with Gregsgirl....I have tried them all and sponges work the best and they are cheap. I like make up sponges but I am sure the regular sponges work well too.
Sue, are they a dollar each? I"m assuming you want the "plainest" ones, without scrubbing surfaces.
K
Cosmetic (makeup) sponges, not kitchen sponges. They're actually more like a foam than sponge. A dollar per package. The quantity varies based on whether you're getting wedges or rounds but in either case, you can also cut down the sponge.
Cosmetic (makeup) sponges, not kitchen sponges. They're actually more like a foam than sponge. A dollar per package. The quantity varies based on whether you're getting wedges or rounds but in either case, you can also cut down the sponge.
OHHHH, I assumed she meant kitchen sponges, because she called the cosmetic sponges greedy little buggers, or words to that effect. :0)
I tried to find a picture or a link or something to identify what I use, but came up empty. There are several types of household sponges. The "cellulose" sponges are NOT what I use (those are the Swiss cheese ones that dry out flat and hard as a rock). The ones I get are really squishy like the foam daubers, and they usually come six in a package. Sometimes they only have them with a scrubby pad on one side, so I just peel it off and carry on with what I'm doing... I also need to amend what I said earlier about the cosmetic sponges: depending on the effect you're going for, they can be a good thing - just not my personal preference...
Please, ladies, consider the environment. Wash your sponges... they take hundred of years to decompose. Sorry if I'm being nosy but we cannot avoid anymore thinking about these important subjects.
Good point, Candida, and I should be more responsible, since I pay attention in other areas. I suppose I didn't give it more thought because I seldom have time to make anything, and rarely use sponges when I do. No excuse, though - thanks for the reminder, and I'll try to mend my ways. I suppose washing the sponge would eliminate the need to find another storage option, at least
I keep a big bin of them on my desk. After each use, they are thrown into a mesh laundry bag and go through the washer. After air drying, they are returned to the bin for reuse.
I use the Stampin' Up! sponges that come in a pack of 3. I cut them into 6th's or 8th's (wedges) so you can get quite a few sponges out of one pack. I have one for each color now but before I had 1 or 2 for reds, 1 or 2 for blues, greens, etc. I would just rub them on a scrap paper until no color came off and then they would be good to use on a different color. I would clean them every once in a while by rinsing in water and blotting the excess water with a paper towel then leave to dry.
I use just one sponge per color family - red, blue, brown, etc. I use one side for lighter tints and the other side for darker shades. They get cleaned occasionally when I'm in a "housekeeping" mood. LoL.
Dea
I love daubers. I think once they are dry the color doesn't transfer to another ink pad. But, I do have a red one, a green one etc. I have one of those storage bins to keep them in. I am going to try the Tim Holtz round spongie thing that Kristina Werner uses. She gets good results with it.
Bobbi
I keep a big bin of them on my desk. After each use, they are thrown into a mesh laundry bag and go through the washer. After air drying, they are returned to the bin for reuse.
I would have a significantly smaller bin, but what a great idea! I could probably get on board with this plan - thanks for sharing!
I keep a big bin of them on my desk. After each use, they are thrown into a mesh laundry bag and go through the washer. After air drying, they are returned to the bin for reuse.
ok I just absolutely LOVE this! It answers all my issues.
So, can one only wash kitchen sponges (looks like what u have) or can makeup sponges go through the washer as well? What cycle do u use, and I'm assuming u wash them alone!
I really disliked the idea of washing out the ink in the sponge...seemed like a waste to me. So I am like Charlene. SU sponges, cut in 6 sections (Yes, I have a template to mark them so they're even :rolleyes: ). But then I use the old index tab punch from SU and punch a piece of paper in the proper color and staple it to the sponge. I have dedicated sponges for each color.
You can see my sponges in the photo of this ink drawer.
As for daubers...I don't really like the way that they put the ink down. I see too many lines from "edges". Maybe I haven't practiced enough, but the SU sponges do what I want and achieve the right effect for me. Why try something else? I save my daubers for use with chalk.
I keep a big bin of them on my desk. After each use, they are thrown into a mesh laundry bag and go through the washer. After air drying, they are returned to the bin for reuse.
Yep...that's how I roll, except I just hand wash with soapy water. Takes five minutes, squeeze dry in a towel and sponges are all ready to go again ten minutes later with some air drying. I use sponges and the Ranger (Tim Holtz) blender pads and they both get the same treatment.
Good point, Candida, and I should be more responsible, since I pay attention in other areas. I suppose I didn't give it more thought because I seldom have time to make anything, and rarely use sponges when I do. No excuse, though - thanks for the reminder, and I'll try to mend my ways. I suppose washing the sponge would eliminate the need to find another storage option, at least
Sue, I was doing the same thing with sponges used with acrylic paint, which after dry were useless. Started feeling really bad about my habit so I try to be more disciplined now and always have a bin with water to throw them in. I just squish them out and they are good to go again.
It depends on the look I'm going for. If I'm sponging a background or using a stencil, I use daubers. If I want a really soft look, I use the round sponges cut into wedges. I have a few daubers for each color (light/dark). I have a different sponge wedge for each color too. It doesn't really bother me if the colors blend on the dauber or sponge. I use them until they are falling apart, and I get quite a lot of use out of them.
Same for me. I found that I have more control with daubers than sponges and it saves my cat's eyes from being destroyed by edging cards (I edge almost everything).
I have a dauber for each ink pad and I store them all in an embroidery thread holder. I have just started getting into doing sponges as well but haven't decided how many or how to store them so this thread is fantastic.
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I use the SU sponges too and cut the pieces pie sliced. I also use the old index tab punch and punch out a piece of matching card stock and staple it on the sponge for a handle. I suppose other punches would work for this.
I store mine in a small plastic fishing tackle box with the little sections.IT HAS 12 compartment on each side for a total of 24 compartments almost exactly the size of the sponge I cut.
It was cheap at Wal-Mart.
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
I use dollar store makeup sponges cut up. Instead of Tim Holtzs blending pads I use small pieces of felt. To avoid inky hands with the felt I glued a piece of Velcro, the prickly side, to an old thread spool. The prickly side holds the felt and all is good. I really only use these with distress inks so I just put a piece of double stick tape on the bottom of the ink pad and put the sponge or felt on there to store.
__________________ Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
I have a sponge problem. I own so many kinds. Even when I buy sponges for my kitchen. I take one out of the pack for my art studio, lol. I do work in a lot of mediums.
My favorite sponges for stamping are the daubers. I know with all the cheap sponges on the market they are the most expensive. I think they work the best, for me.
I like the round sponges. I cut them into eight pieces and write each color on one with a permanent marker. They all fit into 2 medium size old SU clam shell cases. I have a few daubers but they seem to wear out faster, probably because they're smaller.
I use the SU sponges too and cut the pieces pie sliced. I also use the old index tab punch and punch out a piece of matching card stock and staple it on the sponge for a handle. I suppose other punches would work for this.
I store mine in a small plastic fishing tackle box with the little sections.IT HAS 12 compartment on each side for a total of 24 compartments almost exactly the size of the sponge I cut.
It was cheap at Wal-Mart.
This has been my intention for a couple of years, so I wouldn't have to wash out my sponges. But I keep adding to my ink pad stash, I'd have to but another box! Besides, I have to face the reality that I am not that organized. ;)
For now, I use a combo of daubers and SU sponge wedges. I will use three sides of a wedge before I toss it in my pile for washing. That way, I can finish a project without reaching for another wedge. (Yes, my hands get messy...I love it!) The guest bathroom is right next to my craft room. Periodically, I carry a bunch of sponges in there and wash with hand soap. I lay them out on paper towels to dry. I sponge fairly often, so I have a pretty good pile of sponges, some which have lasted for years.
This subject is why I use a particular siggy on my blog and when I send cards to other stampers... Inky {{{HUGS}}}
:mrgreen:
__________________ Kim in Illinois, Dirty Dozen Alum, QFTD#207, FS798, VSN Moderator "Famous Last Words" Spring Virtual Stamp Night, April 19 & 20
I bought a package of wedge makeup sponges to use. I get edges while I'm sponging, what am I doing wrong? I saw somewhere you could make your own daubers using small pvc pipe and stuffing the sponge in it!
Yep...that's how I roll, except I just hand wash with soapy water. Takes five minutes, squeeze dry in a towel and sponges are all ready to go again ten minutes later with some air drying. I use sponges and the Ranger (Tim Holtz) blender pads and they both get the same treatment.
I have one Tim Holtz blender tool with a velcro end and one package of Tim Holtz sponges . I wash the sponges after I use them. I have had the same sponges for 5 years . They last forever.
__________________ "I have not failed . I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" --Thomas A. Edison
I use Stampin Up sponges. Why have a ton of sponges for each color when they wash up so nicely??
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
I bought a package of wedge makeup sponges to use. I get edges while I'm sponging, what am I doing wrong? I saw somewhere you could make your own daubers using small pvc pipe and stuffing the sponge in it!
I don't use the wedge makeup sponges for the exact reason. ;)
I saw that PVC idea also but was to lazy to do it. I also saw one where they used the plastic caps from chair legs.
I have made the daubers with the PVC pipe and makeup wedges and they work quite well. The nicest part is that you can write the name of the color right on them!
I created a book of blending pads. They are all organized and do not touch each other. I know exactly where they are and can add more at any time. Check it out!
Ink daubers or sponge question - how many do you need?
Here is an idea...
