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Post by dewryce on Aug 23, 2023 5:57:51 GMT
What are your recommendations for the best blender brush? Is there anything you particularly like or don’t like about the brand you have? What’s your best tip for use?
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Post by kiwikate on Aug 23, 2023 10:42:27 GMT
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Post by amyl on Aug 23, 2023 10:52:04 GMT
Oh my! I just added these to my cart. I also think the generic blending brushes on Amazon are every bit as good as other name brand ones. I have quite the assortment. They hold up well and clean easily. |
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,606 
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Post by kitbop on Aug 23, 2023 11:23:24 GMT
I also have not noticed a difference between name brand brushes and amazon.
I also purchased some small "pen style" brushes (like 1/4" across) to help with small stencil details.
The foam intrigues me: I don't like foam blenders (dome topped traditional handle) as much as my brushes, but is this format perhaps the fix to that? I know the foam blenders ARE better for a heavy layer of ink - and I admittedly like a heavy layer of ink almost all the time!
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Post by dewryce on Aug 23, 2023 13:26:07 GMT
Thank you ladies, I appreciate the links kiwikate! |
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,169
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Post by pantsonfire on Aug 23, 2023 13:28:14 GMT
I have the same brushes as kiwikate and love them! I ha e washed them twice and they held up well. The price point was where I wanted it to be and the quality is great. Several other peas recommended this brand when I asked too. |
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,169
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Post by pantsonfire on Aug 23, 2023 13:29:15 GMT
Between colors (pinks, blues, purples, etc) I just rub the brush on paper or paper toweling to get off excess and then pick up the new color. So like when I go Light to dark or dark to light.
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Post by kiwikate on Aug 24, 2023 8:25:46 GMT
I also have not noticed a difference between name brand brushes and amazon. I also purchased some small "pen style" brushes (like 1/4" across) to help with small stencil details. The foam intrigues me: I don't like foam blenders (dome topped traditional handle) as much as my brushes, but is this format perhaps the fix to that? I know the foam blenders ARE better for a heavy layer of ink - and I admittedly like a heavy layer of ink almost all the time! The foam works like a brush rather than a foam blender in my opinion. I don't like foam blenders or daubers, but somehow the brush works beautifully for me. :-) |
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Post by joblackford on Aug 27, 2023 20:00:14 GMT
What works the best partly depends on where and how much you're blending - card backgrounds vs accents on layouts, completely changing the color of cardstock vs stenciling a background. The domed foams are good for heavier application but the brushes are good for stenciling and sheer/lighter application. It partly depends on how heavy handed you are, if you're good at tapping off some color and starting off the page. I tend to get impatient and end up with harsh lines if I go too heavy, and I usually want lighter color, so I prefer brushes. I have the amazon ones too. I see no advantage to buying identical ones with crafty branding on them. I have enough for each color family. I generally hold the amazon brushes with a grip that supports the head. They can flex quite a bit while you're blending and feel like the handles might break. Holding them close to the head helps with control. I would like some ergonomic large brushes like these from altenew: altenew.com/collections/coloring-mixed-media-tools/products/ink-blending-tool-large I've heard they're very good for getting coverage over a larger area with less pressure on your hands. I end up in pain if I do a lot of stenciling but I'm wondering if I should just do less stenciling instead of buying new tools. |
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Post by dewryce on Aug 27, 2023 20:33:59 GMT
What works the best partly depends on where and how much you're blending - card backgrounds vs accents on layouts, completely changing the color of cardstock vs stenciling a background. The domed foams are good for heavier application but the brushes are good for stenciling and sheer/lighter application. It partly depends on how heavy handed you are, if you're good at tapping off some color and starting off the page. I tend to get impatient and end up with harsh lines if I go too heavy, and I usually want lighter color, so I prefer brushes. I have the amazon ones too. I see no advantage to buying identical ones with crafty branding on them. I have enough for each color family. I generally hold the amazon brushes with a grip that supports the head. They can flex quite a bit while you're blending and feel like the handles might break. Holding them close to the head helps with control. I would like some ergonomic large brushes like these from altenew: altenew.com/collections/coloring-mixed-media-tools/products/ink-blending-tool-large I've heard they're very good for getting coverage over a larger area with less pressure on your hands. I end up in pain if I do a lot of stenciling but I'm wondering if I should just do less stenciling instead of buying new tools. You should always buy more tools  Do the non-generic brushes have as much give in the handle? |
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Post by joblackford on Aug 27, 2023 21:10:33 GMT
What works the best partly depends on where and how much you're blending - card backgrounds vs accents on layouts, completely changing the color of cardstock vs stenciling a background. The domed foams are good for heavier application but the brushes are good for stenciling and sheer/lighter application. It partly depends on how heavy handed you are, if you're good at tapping off some color and starting off the page. I tend to get impatient and end up with harsh lines if I go too heavy, and I usually want lighter color, so I prefer brushes. I have the amazon ones too. I see no advantage to buying identical ones with crafty branding on them. I have enough for each color family. I generally hold the amazon brushes with a grip that supports the head. They can flex quite a bit while you're blending and feel like the handles might break. Holding them close to the head helps with control. I would like some ergonomic large brushes like these from altenew: altenew.com/collections/coloring-mixed-media-tools/products/ink-blending-tool-large I've heard they're very good for getting coverage over a larger area with less pressure on your hands. I end up in pain if I do a lot of stenciling but I'm wondering if I should just do less stenciling instead of buying new tools. You should always buy more tools Do the non-generic brushes have as much give in the handle? Enabler! lol As far as I know they're the same but I've only got one with a brand name - a small Hero Arts one. It seems to have the same flexibility as the others I got from amazon. I mention it because it bothered Shimelle. She didn't want to hold close to the brush head, but the flex made her worry that it wouldn't be durable, so she preferred to stick with domed foam. |
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,923
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Aug 27, 2023 22:24:22 GMT
Check out the inexpensive oval makeup brushes from Dollar Tree (available in three sizes), which work well for my occasional & simple blending (aka stenciling) purpose. HTH.
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Post by SnoopyFan on Aug 28, 2023 16:07:41 GMT
I use the cheap ones from Amazon and find them to be just fine for what I am doing.
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,978
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Post by pinklady on Aug 28, 2023 20:12:23 GMT
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,978
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Post by pinklady on Aug 28, 2023 20:16:27 GMT
dewryce My only suggestion for the Amazon toothbrush style brushes is to get ones that have a cap. If they don't have a cap and you store them in a box/container, you may transfer ink from one brush to another.
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Post by joblackford on Aug 28, 2023 20:57:27 GMT
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 28, 2023 22:34:12 GMT
I have the ones from Amazon too. They are great. |
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craftywendy
Full Member
Posts: 116
May 29, 2018 14:56:21 GMT
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Post by craftywendy on Aug 28, 2023 23:28:10 GMT
I use my Spellbinders Blending brushes and those seem to work great!
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Do the non-generic brushes have as much give in the handle?
