gingerjenny
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Aug 16, 2024 1:40:20 GMT
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Post by gingerjenny on Aug 20, 2024 15:48:53 GMT
Is there much of a difference between the brands of blending brushes? I was going to get the Simon says stamp brand and then I found some generic ones. The price difference is pretty big. Does anyone know if the simon says stamp ones are really good compared to other brands?
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pinklady
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Post by pinklady on Aug 20, 2024 15:50:18 GMT
I only use generic brushes (from Amazon) and have had no issues what so ever. My only recommendation is to get brushes with caps.
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Ryann
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Post by Ryann on Aug 20, 2024 16:22:16 GMT
I only use generic brushes (from Amazon) and have had no issues what so ever. My only recommendation is to get brushes with caps. I second the cap suggestion! |
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Post by scrappinheather on Aug 20, 2024 16:32:13 GMT
I feel like there is a difference. I have bought generic and branded ones. Depends on quality. I really like the SSS ones and I got mine 1/2 off with a sale. I also really like the new Altenew mini btushes. I tried the Amazon ones and they were not as good on my opinion.
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Post by MichyM on Aug 20, 2024 16:39:18 GMT
For the oval brushes with handle, I find no difference between them. I’ve received Concord and 9th, and also GinaK brushes in event kits. To me (and I ink blend a lot), they perform the same as the Amazon ones.
I do have some extra-extra large and extra small “branded” brushes from Altenew, PInkFresh, and Taylored Expressions.
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pinklady
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Post by pinklady on Aug 20, 2024 16:46:56 GMT
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Aug 20, 2024 19:25:09 GMT
As others said above, I have branded and generic from Amazon. I use the generic ones the most. With one "brand" for my Oxides. Mine don't have caps and I'm Ok with that.
My tip is to get more than you think you need. Instead of just ROYGBIV, I have pink, red, orange, yellow, light green, green, teal, light blue, blue, dark blue, violet, purple, tan, brown, black, light grey and grey - so 17 for me.
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Post by craftmepink on Aug 20, 2024 21:38:53 GMT
I have the branded SSS blending brushes and they work pretty well. However, I also have generic brushes that are similar and they work the same. I don't see a huge difference. The only difference is the generic ones sometimes shed and that drives me crazy.
However, Altenew mini ink blending brushes I find work very well and are my favorite. They blend perfectly in smaller areas. They go on sale sometimes. I bought mines for 50%.
Second to Altenew, I like Pinkfresh blending brushes, great quality too. And you don't really need so many blending brushes, just the same color family will work.
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Post by joblackford on Aug 20, 2024 21:56:04 GMT
The brands will argue that they have sourced the good ones and what you buy on amazon might be good or it might not be. I am not a hardcore ink blender but the Yoseng ones I bought on amazon have been great and to my inexpert eye they're no different than the branded ones I've gotten in kits. My only regret is that I bought a multi size pack first instead of buying a bigger pack of one size. I prefer the medium sized ones I linked. The only brush I've had shedding problem with was the original Tim Holtz Distress retractable brush. ETA: fixed the link, hopefully! |
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FurryP
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Post by FurryP on Aug 20, 2024 22:02:16 GMT
As others said above, I have branded and generic from Amazon. I use the generic ones the most. With one "brand" for my Oxides. Mine don't have caps and I'm Ok with that. My tip is to get more than you think you need. Instead of just ROYGBIV, I have pink, red, orange, yellow, light green, green, teal, light blue, blue, dark blue, violet, purple, tan, brown, black, light grey and grey - so 17 for me. Yeah all that. I was going to get lids for mine, but discovered that my Amazon ones were a little bit bigger than pinklady 's so I did not get any, and I'm ok with that. I also use my generic ones more than the branded ones, because the first branded ones I got were brown bristles. I like the white so much better. Also the mini brushes that pinklady posted, I like those too. I got a couple at a local stamp store. Much better than the Altenew brush that I got for free with a stamp set. Those have flat bottoms, it did not work out for me. |
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FurryP
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Post by FurryP on Aug 20, 2024 22:09:23 GMT
joblackford, for me your link goes to a cookie monster GIF.  cookies!!!
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Post by lovestocreate on Aug 20, 2024 23:06:56 GMT
I have several packages of the Yoseng brushes from Amazon and love them. They've been going strong in my craft room for about two years now. I also see Jo's link goes to a Cookie Monster gif! I love it, though  pinklady good to know you like those mini-brushes. They're in my cart now so I may have to hit order. |
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Post by joblackford on Aug 21, 2024 1:40:02 GMT
joblackford , for me your link goes to a cookie monster GIF. cookies!!! I have several packages of the Yoseng brushes from Amazon and love them. They've been going strong in my craft room for about two years now. I also see Jo's link goes to a Cookie Monster gif! I love it, though pinklady good to know you like those mini-brushes. They're in my cart now so I may have to hit order.  Good thing it was Cookie Monster and not something more random  I’ve updated the link and checked it and fixed it again… sigh… so hopefully it goes to amazon now… Link here |
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Post by Embri on Aug 21, 2024 2:51:16 GMT
Blending brushes are just rebranded makeup brushes, so go with the generics and skip the "craft tax". I grabbed a few off AliEx some years back because I couldn't source them locally, but you might be able to find some in the makeup department of your local store if you don't want to shop Amazon.
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lindas
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Post by lindas on Aug 21, 2024 14:10:18 GMT
Another vote for the Yoseng brushes from Amazon. I have several sets in various sizes along with the detail brushes linked above. Out of all them I’ve only had one that the bristles were so tightly packed that it just wouldn’t transfer the ink to the paper smoothly.
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Post by MichyM on Aug 21, 2024 18:15:08 GMT
I want to chime in that I have never had any shedding with my Amazon (Yoseng) brushes. That said, I clean them (wash with Pink Soap, which is designed for cleaning art brushes) on a fairly regular basis. So maybe that may make a difference?
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FurryP
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Post by FurryP on Aug 21, 2024 19:36:11 GMT
I want to chime in that I have never had any shedding with my Amazon (Yoseng) brushes. That said, I clean them (wash with Pink Soap, which is designed for cleaning art brushes) on a fairly regular basis. So maybe that may make a difference? I’ve never cleaned mine and I have not noticed any shedding |
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Post by Embri on Aug 22, 2024 0:27:30 GMT
Bristle shedding happens when the hairs aren't properly secured to the ferrule or base. Cleaning with harsh solvents can cause more shedding but usually it's an issue during manufacture - not enough glue or poor quality control.
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PaperAngel
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Post by PaperAngel on Aug 22, 2024 0:47:19 GMT
I'm not a cardmaker but purchased inexpensive oval makeup brushes from Dollar Tree (available in three sizes) a couple years ago just to sample & determine whether I prefer using brushes to apply ink to stencils (on layouts). These work well for my occasional & simple (non-cardmaking) needs, & I've never replaced them. HTH. |
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Post by jill8909 on Aug 22, 2024 5:17:44 GMT
yes there is a difference. Simon's apply a lot of ink. If you want dreamy blending buy the soft brushes from scrapbook.com brand or spellbinders.com brand. (they are the same). MWAH
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Post by riversong1963 on Aug 22, 2024 10:31:27 GMT
I have the cheap ones from Amazon, and I've tried the expensive ones during make 'n' takes. I've found no difference. Mine haven't shed at all, and they blend just as well as the over-priced ones.
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anaterra
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Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Aug 22, 2024 16:59:12 GMT
I am new to the mixed media blending inking game... so I only have the generics from Amazon... never thought to get them from Dollar General...
I say try the generics and see how you like them... then invest in pricier if you feel you need the umphff
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Post by Embri on Aug 23, 2024 0:55:28 GMT
then invest in pricier if you feel you need the umphff The generics and pricier ones are the exact same product - craft companies are not brush makers, they're buying white label products and slapping pink tax on them, at best "customizing" said product by getting it with specific handles or colours to stand out. The functional parts won't vary much, unless they went with the cheapest manufacturer. |
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pantsonfire
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Post by pantsonfire on Aug 24, 2024 13:34:37 GMT
Another Yoseng user. I bought the 15 pack. Mine have no caps and I store them in my Peanuts Wet n Wild makeup bag along with my SSS paw pad. No issues with inks mixing on the brushes. After each use I wipe off excess on paper. I have had them for over a year and no bristles are coming off. I have washed 1 time and they dried nicely. I am very happy I didn't spend a ton on name brand brushes.
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Post by lovestocreate on Aug 28, 2024 15:34:34 GMT
Ok, so I ordered these and used them last night. Life changing! Lol. Thanks for the recommendation! |
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scrappyesq
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Post by scrappyesq on Aug 29, 2024 21:09:24 GMT
The only brush I've had shedding problem with was the original Tim Holtz Distress retractable brush.
Right!!!! That brush sucked.
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azcrafty
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Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Aug 29, 2024 22:35:32 GMT
I have the Yoseng brushes from Amazon too and they work great, but after using the big fluffy brushes from Pinkfresh that came in my event box I see how much easier to blend with them. Much easier on the wrist and shoulders.
My Yoseng brushes are just too tight and much harder to blend.
Any recommendations on how to loosen the fibers or head so its fluffy?
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Post by Embri on Aug 30, 2024 0:33:24 GMT
My Yoseng brushes are just too tight and much harder to blend. Any recommendations on how to loosen the fibers or head so its fluffy? The stiffness of a brush is dependent on how long the hairs are and what material they're made of. I'd look for blending brushes with more flex versus attempting to modify an existing brush. Pulling enough hairs out to make a difference in stiffness will weaken the integrity of the bundle and potentially make it shed or fall apart. I got a bigger makeup brush, probably meant for foundation or blush, that has no handle and has longer, softer hairs than the smaller oval no-name brand ones I own but I don't have any Pinkfresh to compare it against.
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