Hello, crafty friends! I will add to this pinned comments any additional thoughts and info. - As you can see, any and all of these products are good options. They are like children - all are alike and different... but no one is better than another. :) - If you have make-up brushes that work great, that is great, too. I know some have had success with them, some not. I again just wanted to focus on those offered in our industry. :) I can't include them all. But I tried to include many. - You do NOT need many tools! As I mentioned, a few will work. For the Ink Blending Tools, get replacement foams for different colors. For the brushes, rub the extra ink off on scrap paper or a cloth and move to the next color. Works fine. :) - Here is a helpful comment from swatts1195: "Thank you so much for this video. I have 3 different sets of the Picket Fence brushes (the set of 10, the set of 4 which I won at an Expo class, and the 3 that came with the class. I also bought 2 sets of the knockoffs on Amazon. One set sheds and the other simply did not do as good a job with blending. Like you, I believe in supporting craft companies. I would tell anyone that they don't need the large set. If money is an object 2-4 brushes is more affordable and will work fine for most people. I never wash mine, but just wipe them off with either a soft cloth or even a baby wipe."
Hi Jennifer. First off I’d like to thank you and tell you how much I appreciate all the hard work that goes into making all of these demonstration and comparison videos. I always think that you are always fair and unbiased in your comparisons. As you said everyone has different ways and different connections to products that work best for themselves. I believe that what you are doing is showing what products that are on the market and available to us crafters. Many times I didn’t know about several products that you have showcased in the past. Never do I feel that you are marketing to any of us to make commissions or trying to sell me anything. To each their own. As many of your followers are mentioning in their comments. I always take the information that you offer and make my own choices, just as you encourage us all to do. This isn’t meant to be a “downer” comment. I wanted to mention this so that everyone understands that you are not dictating as to what products to purchase. I appreciate everyone’s comments and opinions. I thank everyone for expressing theirs and I appreciate you, Jennifer.~ Katz
So nice of U Jennifer making these kind of videos. They really helps people like me on our start with many doubts about every little detail. GBY!!!! TFS
Love, love, love! Can’t get enough of these types of tutorials. Thank you so much for all the work you put into these. I know it’s a labor of love for you but we all sure do appreciate it.
Thankyou Jennifer, for going to so much trouble to help crafters get to grips with these things. I had no idea there was so much variety in them all ! Great job, and again, thankyou.
Thanks Jennifer for a great review! I appreciate all you do for our crafty companies- including supporting them with your purchases and reviews. 💕It makes me so upset when people opt to support cheap overseas knock-offs or stamp designs stolen from the companies we love just to save a few bucks. I have a limited crafty budget so I save up for the things I want most. And I’d bet that a majority of the people who are complaining about prices have a craft room overflowing with stuff they haven’t even used. Sell what you aren’t using to make some money for new things! Ugh I just get frustrated when people make our beloved stamp companies seem like the greedy bad guy. As if they are billionaires trying to rip off us poor customers 🤦♀️🙄
Thank you for this great review. I just have to say that although I agree that we should support these companies, some of us can’t justify the high cost of a set of these brushes. I have been using an inexpensive set of makeup brushes exactly like the first set you showed with all the different sizes for quite some time now. I got them on Amazon. Not only do I get very good results (no different than yours) they’ve held up very well even after washing.
If I can give you another perspective. Just because someone on Amazon is selling a product that’s the same or similar doesn’t mean that the reputable company purchased that product for the same price. I would bet a million that they paid much more money so therefore they have to sell it for more. So please don’t let a good & reputable company get a demerit. Thanks for reading I so appreciate it.
I agree, I bought a set of brushes off Amazon as well to see if I would even like them, and I do, a lot!. I have always been curious if they will hold up like the PF brushes. I'm new to card making and as much as I agree with supporting the craft companies, I couldn't justify spending that much money on something I didn't know I would like or if it would work for me. I have been using them more and more as of late as I'm having issues with the quality of the foam replacements from Ranger for the mini blending tool, and I need something that won't ruin my backgrounds! I hope to buy one of the color-coded brush sets when I can.
@@TheDailyMarker I often go for the (much-maligned) cheaper option in craft supplies, in this same way. I am in no way dissing the smaller, "boutique" shops, but if I have to pay those kinds of prices, I just do without. My budget just will not stretch that far. A visit to my craft room shows I haven't done without much!! ;-) Sometimes I choose the cheaper, off-brand, and others I just stick with my old tried and true option, often purchased at a deep discount somehow. Just how I gotta roll.
Thanks for this, Jennifer. As always you have put together a video that gives us tons of information. These videos are always so helpful. I have the Picket fence brushes but vert interested in the ones with the caps. I have only a few handles and not a lot of room for storage. I have put all the foams into the coin pouches that you use for your ink swatches. Each one has it's own pocket and is labeled with the color name for all the distress oxide inks. I am finding that it works well for me. Thanks again for all you do for all of us. You are one of the best.
Now that many companies are coming out with their own versions of these brushes, it was interesting to see the differences. I did buy a set of cheaper makeup brushes on Amazon at first, so I could see if they worked for me before investing in the PF set. I loved them! By then the TE brushes had debuted and I opted for those so I could have one brush (in a versatile size) for each color family. Thanks for the thoughtful review.
Thank you so much for this video. I have 3 different sets of the Picket Fence brushes (the set of 10, the set of 4 which I won at an Expo class, and the 3 that came with the class. I also bought 2 sets of the knockoffs on Amazon. One set sheds and the other simply did not do as good a job with blending. Like you, I believe in supporting craft companies. I would tell anyone that they don't need the large set. If money is an object 2-4 brushes is more affordable and will work fine for most people. I never wash mine, but just wipe them off with either a soft cloth or even a baby wipe.
@@mpbailey18 They may or may not be getting the same (or different) brushes from the same place. I have no idea. But these craft companies don't have the buying power that amazon does. craft companies don't WANT to charge more. They have to. :(
Hi Jennifer, it’s great to hear your voice, please know you & your family are in my prayers and hope all is going well! I’m grateful for this video showing the various blending tools and card stock. I have several blending tools as well and love them, I actually just received the Taylored Expressions rainbow handle brushes and the carousel along with the cleaning item. Looking forward to using them soon. This was wonderful information, thanks for sharing kind soul!!!
Two really good take aways for me was that I don't HAVE to wash these brushes and that I need a surface other than paper to put underneath my project when I'm laying my color down. Nice video. I really appreciate the tips. Thank you.
I have a large glass cutting board I had forgotten and I only tried it but once, but it worked great. It's clear so you can put it over your grid paper if you use that. I don't know how much something like that would cost, but it's something that worked and is very large. Have fun!
I clean mine with my Stamp shammy. I get the shammy set ring it out and wipe the brush like I'm blending on the shammy. Once it seems clean i test it on scrap paper then go on to use the next color. Thanks for the great video.
Hi, Jennifer I always love your videos and very informative. I do not usually respond to any of these but just had to for this one as I have makeup brushes that I use for blending with my distress inks and long before any of the stamp companies jumped on the wagon to create their own and at a very expensive cost to us creative people. So I am just saying, check around on amazon and see what you think of those brushes. I have been using mine for over a year with no problems and I use a baby wipe for cleanup! Hope this helps some crafters that are on a budget;)
there are a ton of reasons why the craft companies *have* to charge more. I promise they don't chose to. :) I purchased these and just decided not to try the cheaper ones after reading many mixed reviews. And I have heard from many who have both that they prefer the higher quality ones. I know these companies will back their products, too. But I get it - everyone needs decide for themselves. :) Glad you found something to work for oyu!
Thank you, Jennifer, for this very informative video. I purchased a set of the crafting blender brushes and began hearing about the make-up brushes. So, I purchased a couple of make-up brushes. I found that the make-up brushes absorbed more of my ink into the bristles and I wasn't getting the same blending ability on my card stock as the crafting brushes. Just a little FYI that I discovered.
These are all amazing, but you left out my favorite that you recommended several years back: the Tsukineko Jumbo Dauber. I've been in love ever since I first tried them--I've found the big rounded bottom doesn't produce any inky lines like I get with some of the other ink blenders and they've been really economical by just having one for each color family like you suggested. Thanks again for all the hard work you put into sharing all these cool products with us.
I took the idea of your ink swatches to store my Tim Holtz ink blending pads. I print out each color on the 2x2 squares and store the pads in the coin holders. It works great! Keeps them organized by brand of ink and color.
I have both the TH glass mat and the WF mat and I usually use the glass mat. But that was until you showed us the benefit of using the WF mat. I love how the paper does not move! Great tip! Also appreciated hearing about more papers as I usually use Neenah. I have 3 of these different sets of brushes and liked seeing you do the comparison. I think a fourth reason on the brushes is that they were specifically made for crafting and the companies put a lot of thought into them. Thanks for this great review!
WOWEE, Jennifer! What a wealth of info in this video. YEP, my head is spinning but I DID find this video so very helpful! Now I really need to “think n’ consider” which might be the best routes for me to go in MY crafting needs n’ style! I am SO VERY APPRECIATIVE of the time you took to pull this together and YOUR “pros n’ cons” of the different blending needs n’ tools available! YOU ARE A GEM! BTW, thank you for the “price comparison” in your blog, too~~~it IS helpful as I consider my purchases! Have a Happy, Crafty Day! I’ll be on the lookout for your additions to these product suggestions! :-))
Thanks Jennifer for sharing this. I have both styles of the blender brushes and enjoy using each. Seeing the different companies styles of brushes gives us many choices. I have the handle blender brushes as well as the blender handle tool with the velcro foam pads. I enjoy using both. Thank you for this very informative tutorial. God bless!!!
Thank you for sharing Jennifer. I found your video very helpful as I have a large set of the picket fence , plus I just ordered the color brushes as well with the holder. Have a lovely day hun.
Jennifer, thank you so very much for this great comparison of blending brushes; ways to store them and types of paper to use as well as the different mats that work better than paper. I purchased the Picket Fence brushes and love them. I have always had trouble with the Ranger blending tool. Now! More than likely that is me and how I bring the ink to my paper....but I keep trying.
The handles on the Picket Fence brushes and the Yoseng brushes I bought on Amazon are *absolutely* identical. I know; I have both. And now that the packages have been opened, there is no way to tell them apart, but for the wider range of sizes I have in the makeup brushes.
Thanks for the great information! I just ordered two of the Honey Bee Detail blending brushes sets because I've been wanting to try the smaller ones when applying ink to more detailed stencils. I wasn't sure which ones to order and your video was so helpful! I was confused about craft brushes versus make-up brushes and think you are right in your assessment! :)
Thank you for the great video !! I have to say I am a very curious person and love to try everything lol. I purchased both Amazon makeup brushes and a craft company brushes. I found a difference in quality , strength and blending ability. I will be sticking with my craft company brushes. No I am not pd nor design for any of these companies lol.
I just want to say thank you for producing such informative videos, I never miss one. I have the Picket Fences brushes, the wood and foam tool and just about everything in between. Have you ever heard of Marshmallows? Not the kind you eat, lol, but the ones used for ink blending on dry embossed surfaces? They are solid foam that look just like marshmallows. They only ink the raised area of an embossing folder. They are a must have tool for anyone that does a lot of inking and I am surprised I don't see them used in any videos on ink blending. Once again thank you so much for all your excellent videos. I am an avid fan.
I have used those paddle brushes for my foundation, and I love them for that application, but I do not find them good for any other makeup application. I took the extra ones from the makeup set and moved them into my craft room!
Thanks again. You’ve inspired me to try the brushes on paintings to get that Caravaggio skin blending that is so hard to achieve. Even though it is harder to clean oil paint glazes out of these, it might be worth it for that effect.
Michael, I have an artist’s brush cleaner that I use - unsure if it works on oils, but it works with several different types of other art mediums that I’ve toyed with (these brushes are fun to use with chalk and oil pastels). I think it’s called masters brush cleaner, I think. I use it on my natural and synthetic paint brushes all the time - great stuff.
Thanks for the information. I have the PF and TSM brushes. I prefer the TSM (medium size), they seem stronger to me. For indicating color I just put a label on the brush head. I store them in a small Fridge Bin. I also have separate brushes for Tumbled Glass and Spun Sugar. I found that the darker colors were overpowering these two lighties even after cleaning on a towel. Thanks again!
I understand and respect where you are coming from. That said I have to comment that these brushes have been around for a number of years in the cosmetic world. It started with the expensive brand Artis and many knock offs followed. I completely believe in supporting craft companies but I have to say in this instance this craft company is taking advantage of a knock off and trying to present as though it is made for crafts. They did not even try to disguise these brushes as craft brushes - that is why they are shaped the way they are - the small round ones are for eyeshadow. The tiny skinny brush for eyeliner and so on. Undoubtedly these sizes lend themselves to the craft world - especially when working with small stenciled area. But the fact remains, Picket Fence picked up these brushes that were already designed for make up, slapped their name on it and charged a high price. It is an unfair practice when someone copies stamps and dies and sells them for less and it is an equally unfair practice when a company copies an existing product, renames it and charges a higher price. This is in no way intended as criticism of Jennifer McGuire but I do think consumers who are unaware of products in the cosmetic world should be aware these are dupes of the Artis cosmetic brushes and then if you feel like paying 3+ times the price just because Picket Fence introduced these brushes to the craft scene that is certainly your choice.
totally makes sense - as i mentioned, i am clueless about the make up world. (i own 4 pieces of make up. period. lol.) however, i will say that these companies are not putting a high price on these to make more money. they don't get the big discounts the bigger companies get. they are ordering smaller numbers. In fact, a friend of mine who owns a stamp company went to china to price out carrying them, and with the price she was given for the low quantities that she would get, the price would be high. :)
Thank you for the very thorough comparison. I have the life changing blending brushes, as well as the ranger blending tools, and I agree they all work well in their purpose. I was interested to see your mat cleaned off so well. Mine has stained, unfortunately.. actually with the same color ink.
I have had the makeup brushes for many years and bought some of the crafting ones when they became popular, for much more than I paid for my makeup brushes. I can tell you that they are exactly the same brushes. My makeup brushes are even different colors and came with a storage caddy. While I am all for supporting crafting companies, I do believe that the price for new and trendy tools in the crafting industry is unnecessary and can be prohibitive to those on a limited income. I respect your opinion, Jennifer, and your loyalty. But be real.
As I said in the beginning, I am not a makeup person, so I have no knowledge of all of that. And i have heard many people say that the experienced different quality. I TOTALLY get the limited income thing. I am just sharing what *I* know. Totally being real :)
Thank you, Jennifer, for such an informative video! I have been contemplating the blending brushes, but wasn't sure what to expect if using them. This gives a lot of information! ! I will refer back to this video to help me choose If I decide to jump on that brush bus.
Great video. Another way to use up our washi tape on the necks of the brushes to color code them. Thank you for the Cardstock and brush comparison. Have a great day.
Thank you for this good tutorial! I find ink blending to be utterly frustrating no matter the tool. Likely, I need more practice. I have to admit my Tim Holtz Mini Blending Tools from Ranger are still my go-to's. I think I'll try blending on some Neenah 110 lb. Classic Crest and see how that goes. Most papers have coatings on them that rule the type and intensity of ink they will accept. I will say, the Versafine Clare Pigment Inks are my absolute favorites to blend!
I would appreciate some tips with video on how you ink up your blending tools on an ink pad. rubbing? tapping? amount of pressure? differences regarding different types of ink pads etc. I always look forward to your video's, Jennifer. Thank you.
Why do I want ALL the brushes? I have the life changing brushes and I love them!! I’ve had my eye on the TE brushes. But I don’t think my husband will agree that them being pretty is reason enough to buy them. 😂
REALLY helpful info! :) Thank you for putting so much time into making this video for us, I realy appreciate it :) makes it easier for ppl like me that are noobs at this ;)
Jennifer, this was an awesome video for someone like me that's just starting out in cardmaking! I would like to try ink blending, however, I do not have inks at this time and I'm not sure how to start building a collection. I love the Tim Holtz ink colors in both the Distress and Distress Oxide. But, I am open to any advise regarding how to start out with building my "ink" collection. Thank you for sharing such great information. I will definitely refer to this video as I continue to teach myself all about the cardmaking world. ; )
Thank you so much for this video! I haven't jumped on the blending brush bandwagon yet, and for now, I'm not so sure that I will, but it's good to have the information if and when that happens. I love my "Timmy" tools and have good success with them, and I also have Color Dusters, so I think I'm good. I do have a question, though, about surfaces. I'm planning to get the TH Mixed Media Glass Mat (although he doesn't know it, the hubs is getting it for me for Christmas ;-)) but until then, and all along, I've used my silicone mat for blending. You didn't mention that, and as most people have a version of that, I wondered why? Thanks again, Jennifer!
Very useful info. I was hoping you'd review the new domed ink blending tool. Maybe I'm not using it correctly and would love to see how it works for others. TFS as always.
Thank you for this very informative video, Jennifer! I was wondering if you could add a little discussion of how the Clarity brushes compare to the newer ones. Thanks again!
I still like those. But they don't give a smooth look, but rather a brushy/stippled/textured look. I like them for this, but to today i was focusing on smoother backgrounds
Thank you for your very educational video!! You are my favorite crafter!! Will you be doing one on the different ink pads?? I am so confused of what each one is and what you use them for!!
A great review, as always. .. I really appreciated your professionalism. It’s super that you pause and label items for,us to take. A screenshot.... very helpful and oh my you don’t wave your hands around a\lie a pinwheel which it is very distracting in other video
Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews. So much great information here. Have you tried the new Scrapbook.com rounded top blending foams? I am interested to see what you think of them in comparison to the original flat version. I wonder if they perform similar to the blending brushes due to the domed shape.
Firstly, thank you so much for all you do to provide information, technique ideas to expand the use of products & showing samples to give plenty of ideas. It is very enjoyable. I noted the difference in the handles when you pointed out that some can stand up on their own, which, as you said, can make finding them on the chaos of a busy work work surface that much easier, which is its own benefit, but it requires a different shaped handle to all of the ergonomic looking ones. Is it as comfortable to work with as the others? I ask this because I see also the benefit of the cap for, as you pointed out, not accidentally transferring colour where it wasn’t wanted, providing I would be diligent enough to replace the cap straight after using. I think the tapered head could also be an advantage, rather than buying a small and a larger size in other brands. I suppose that with all the storage stands, it would be easy enough to have the other brands stand up on a work surface, even having them facing away from the desk to prevent accidental ink transfer, providing there was room.
First off, I'm new at this. I do LOVE ALL your videos and watch as many as I can! I have seen a lot of info on the finger dobbers, what is your take on those? Thanks for all the info on all your videos!!
@@jennifermcguireink thanks for the response and for another amazing, informative video that really helps me pick the best out of the tons of options available! 😍
I used thin strips of coloured paper with glossy accents to colour code my brushes. It’s just another way of coding the brushes. :) As I can’t attach a picture here, you can check my Instagram account for a reference picture. instagram.com/iscribbledesign/
I have the Tim Holtz blending tools one Each color for my Dylusions paints that I store on the Tim Holtz turnstile (don’t think it’s available anymore) but for inks I only have 4 of them and swap out the pads. I have a set of bristle brushes from Stamparosa that I’ve had 20 years (not available now) and I love them so when Tim Holtz put out his brushes I bout several and really like those too. I plan to finish the set. Jennifer have u ever tried those and what is your opinion? I really like them for travel since they store in a tin. Bristol paper is my choice of paper. Thanks Jennifer for doing this video.
Have you seen the new foam applicator from scrapbook . Com that fit on the Tim Holtz tool that so domed, not flat. It is suppose to give a softer edge to your blending. Wonderful comparison
Should I have a separate set for each type of ink or can I switch? You the same brush for dostress and for oxide and for dye etc or will this cause some kind of a chemical reaction that will damage the ink pads or the brushes/blending foam?
I have a separate brush for white pigment ink and versamark that are dedicated to those inks. You don't have to have separate brushes for every single ink. They clean so easily that you can use dye inks of any kind on the same brushes. It can be helpful to have separate ones for oxides.
I bought mine on Amazon. My makeup brushes (which I used well before crafters started using them for ink) are identical in every way to brushes I see from expensive companies. I like to support small businesses too and I’d NEVER buy a knock off but in this case the crafting market has adopted a product already available at a much lower price point. They didn’t invent them! And you can get sets of 2 medium sized brushes (just order several sets) on Amazon for cheap. It cost me about half to get these and that was in Canada. By the time I paid for a $50 set of brushes and had them shipped to Canada they’d cost almost $90!! (Our exchange rate sucks!!) I store mine in one section of a spinning kitchen tool organizer. I added labels to the back of the heads. But the labels weren’t always facing me as they brushed moved around too much. So I added some vase filler from the dollar store to the bottom of the section of the organizer and now they stay put with all the labels facing forward!! Yeah!
totalllly get that. and you are smart to have found them long ago! I am so not a make up person. i need lessons lol. And I wish shipping to canada was less!
Jennifer McGuire Ink I’m not into make up either and I also need lessons! I bought those brushes because I heard they are easier to use and they are! For the few times a month (ok, few times a year) I actually wear makeup, they are awesome!
HI Jennifer and thank you for the tutorial video, I learned a lot! I was wondering if you can store the blender brushes flat like in a square container (box)? Thanks!
Thanks so much for this interesting video I find so helpful. I tried to order the TE Rainbow Brushes but unfortunately they don't send them to Germany... 😭😰😭
Thankyou so much for a great video! Can you tell me if you have separate brushes for regular distress and oxides? I have separate ibt pads, but I can swap them out. But not sure what to do about brushes... Also your thoughts on the ranger blending brushes...? Thanks 😊
i haven't used them with oxides yet. i know these brushes are meant for dye inks. so i am not sure. i would definitely use different brushes to be safe.
This has been a most helpful video. I appreciate all the valuable information you gave in this to everyone. It helped me so much. One question I have is, do you find a difference in the dome shaped blenders of Tim Holts as opposed to the flat ones like the first ones that you demonstrated? Or are the flat just as easy for blending? They velcro on the same just have the dome shape instead of the edge. Thanks again!
Jennifer (and anyone else), have you noticed a decline in the replacement foams for the Mini Ink Blending tool? I bought a pack in August and then another in October of this year, and the foam is constantly separating/ripping away from the black Velcro bit (especially when removing them from the tool if they've not already ripped while blending). They seem much thinner than the ones that came with the tool. I'm not even using a heavy hand when blending, and often while blending, the foam just separates and rolls up under the tool, thereby ruining my card. Either way, I'm having the hardest time with the new foams the last couple months.
Hello, crafty friends!
I will add to this pinned comments any additional thoughts and info.
- As you can see, any and all of these products are good options. They are like children - all are alike and different... but no one is better than another. :)
- If you have make-up brushes that work great, that is great, too. I know some have had success with them, some not. I again just wanted to focus on those offered in our industry. :) I can't include them all. But I tried to include many.
- You do NOT need many tools! As I mentioned, a few will work. For the Ink Blending Tools, get replacement foams for different colors. For the brushes, rub the extra ink off on scrap paper or a cloth and move to the next color. Works fine. :)
- Here is a helpful comment from swatts1195: "Thank you so much for this video. I have 3 different sets of the Picket Fence brushes (the set of 10, the set of 4 which I won at an Expo class, and the 3 that came with the class. I also bought 2 sets of the knockoffs on Amazon. One set sheds and the other simply did not do as good a job with blending. Like you, I believe in supporting craft companies. I would tell anyone that they don't need the large set. If money is an object 2-4 brushes is more affordable and will work fine for most people. I never wash mine, but just wipe them off with either a soft cloth or even a baby wipe."
Jennifer McGuire Ink Beautifully said, thank you for your great informative video on this and I hope you have a beautiful day.
Jennifer McGuire Ink I like the description you have used here 😉
Hi Jennifer. First off I’d like to thank you and tell you how much I appreciate all the hard work that goes into making all of these demonstration and comparison videos. I always think that you are always fair and unbiased in your comparisons. As you said everyone has different ways and different connections to products that work best for themselves. I believe that what you are doing is showing what products that are on the market and available to us crafters. Many times I didn’t know about several products that you have showcased in the past. Never do I feel that you are marketing to any of us to make commissions or trying to sell me anything. To each their own. As many of your followers are mentioning in their comments. I always take the information that you offer and make my own choices, just as you encourage us all to do. This isn’t meant to be a “downer” comment. I wanted to mention this so that everyone understands that you are not dictating as to what products to purchase. I appreciate everyone’s comments and opinions. I thank everyone for expressing theirs and I appreciate you, Jennifer.~ Katz
So nice of U Jennifer making these kind of videos. They really helps people like me on our start with many doubts about every little detail. GBY!!!! TFS
Love, love, love! Can’t get enough of these types of tutorials. Thank you so much for all the work you put into these. I know it’s a labor of love for you but we all sure do appreciate it.
Thankyou Jennifer, for going to so much trouble to help crafters get to grips with these things. I had no idea there was so much variety in them all ! Great job, and again, thankyou.
Thanks Jennifer for a great review! I appreciate all you do for our crafty companies- including supporting them with your purchases and reviews. 💕It makes me so upset when people opt to support cheap overseas knock-offs or stamp designs stolen from the companies we love just to save a few bucks. I have a limited crafty budget so I save up for the things I want most. And I’d bet that a majority of the people who are complaining about prices have a craft room overflowing with stuff they haven’t even used. Sell what you aren’t using to make some money for new things! Ugh I just get frustrated when people make our beloved stamp companies seem like the greedy bad guy. As if they are billionaires trying to rip off us poor customers 🤦♀️🙄
Thank you for this great review. I just have to say that although I agree that we should support these companies, some of us can’t justify the high cost of a set of these brushes. I have been using an inexpensive set of makeup brushes exactly like the first set you showed with all the different sizes for quite some time now. I got them on Amazon. Not only do I get very good results (no different than yours) they’ve held up very well even after washing.
so glad they work for you!!
If I can give you another perspective. Just because someone on Amazon is selling a product that’s the same or similar doesn’t mean that the reputable company purchased that product for the same price. I would bet a million that they paid much more money so therefore they have to sell it for more. So please don’t let a good & reputable company get a demerit. Thanks for reading I so appreciate it.
and if this wasn't my job, i wouldn't have bought all of these either :)
I agree, I bought a set of brushes off Amazon as well to see if I would even like them, and I do, a lot!. I have always been curious if they will hold up like the PF brushes. I'm new to card making and as much as I agree with supporting the craft companies, I couldn't justify spending that much money on something I didn't know I would like or if it would work for me. I have been using them more and more as of late as I'm having issues with the quality of the foam replacements from Ranger for the mini blending tool, and I need something that won't ruin my backgrounds! I hope to buy one of the color-coded brush sets when I can.
@@TheDailyMarker I often go for the (much-maligned) cheaper option in craft supplies, in this same way. I am in no way dissing the smaller, "boutique" shops, but if I have to pay those kinds of prices, I just do without. My budget just will not stretch that far. A visit to my craft room shows I haven't done without much!! ;-) Sometimes I choose the cheaper, off-brand, and others I just stick with my old tried and true option, often purchased at a deep discount somehow. Just how I gotta roll.
Thanks for this, Jennifer. As always you have put together a video that gives us tons of information. These videos are always so helpful. I have the Picket fence brushes but vert interested in the ones with the caps. I have only a few handles and not a lot of room for storage. I have put all the foams into the coin pouches that you use for your ink swatches. Each one has it's own pocket and is labeled with the color name for all the distress oxide inks. I am finding that it works well for me. Thanks again for all you do for all of us. You are one of the best.
thank youuuuuuu!
Now that many companies are coming out with their own versions of these brushes, it was interesting to see the differences. I did buy a set of cheaper makeup brushes on Amazon at first, so I could see if they worked for me before investing in the PF set. I loved them! By then the TE brushes had debuted and I opted for those so I could have one brush (in a versatile size) for each color family. Thanks for the thoughtful review.
Thank you, thank you, so so so helpful. It really is nice of you to put this together for us.
Thank you so much for this video. I have 3 different sets of the Picket Fence brushes (the set of 10, the set of 4 which I won at an Expo class, and the 3 that came with the class. I also bought 2 sets of the knockoffs on Amazon. One set sheds and the other simply did not do as good a job with blending. Like you, I believe in supporting craft companies. I would tell anyone that they don't need the large set. If money is an object 2-4 brushes is more affordable and will work fine for most people. I never wash mine, but just wipe them off with either a soft cloth or even a baby wipe.
@@mpbailey18 They may or may not be getting the same (or different) brushes from the same place. I have no idea. But these craft companies don't have the buying power that amazon does. craft companies don't WANT to charge more. They have to. :(
WOW! Thank you so much. I will watch this a number of times!
Hi Jennifer, it’s great to hear your voice, please know you & your family are in my prayers and hope all is going well! I’m grateful for this video showing the various blending tools and card stock. I have several blending tools as well and love them, I actually just received the Taylored Expressions rainbow handle brushes and the carousel along with the cleaning item. Looking forward to using them soon. This was wonderful information, thanks for sharing kind soul!!!
Excellent information. Well presented video. Good pace, organized & thule. Thanks
Two really good take aways for me was that I don't HAVE to wash these brushes and that I need a surface other than paper to put underneath my project when I'm laying my color down. Nice video. I really appreciate the tips. Thank you.
Wow, I had no idea there were so many different brands for these brushes. Thank you for all the info and demo.
Great tips. Thank you for sharing. Love all your techniques and card as well.
I have a large glass cutting board I had forgotten and I only tried it but once, but it worked great. It's clear so you can put it over your grid paper if you use that. I don't know how much something like that would cost, but it's something that worked and is very large. Have fun!
Thanks so much for this video. I just bought a few brushes and find your videos so helpful.I hope your shoulder is healing well.
This was a great overview of the whole blending world...thank you!
I've got a wish list going! 📃
I clean mine with my Stamp shammy. I get the shammy set ring it out and wipe the brush like I'm blending on the shammy. Once it seems clean i test it on scrap paper then go on to use the next color. Thanks for the great video.
I appreciate you making this video always good to know about products that you’ve tried😊
Hi, Jennifer
I always love your videos and very informative. I do not usually respond to any of these but just had to for this one as I have makeup brushes that I use for blending with my distress inks and long before any of the stamp companies jumped on the wagon to create their own and at a very expensive cost to us creative people.
So I am just saying, check around on amazon and see what you think of those brushes. I have been using mine for over a year with no problems and I use a baby wipe for cleanup! Hope this helps some crafters that are on a budget;)
there are a ton of reasons why the craft companies *have* to charge more. I promise they don't chose to. :) I purchased these and just decided not to try the cheaper ones after reading many mixed reviews. And I have heard from many who have both that they prefer the higher quality ones. I know these companies will back their products, too. But I get it - everyone needs decide for themselves. :) Glad you found something to work for oyu!
Thank you, Jennifer, for this very informative video. I purchased a set of the crafting blender brushes and began hearing about the make-up brushes. So, I purchased a couple of make-up brushes. I found that the make-up brushes absorbed more of my ink into the bristles and I wasn't getting the same blending ability on my card stock as the crafting brushes. Just a little FYI that I discovered.
This is what I have heard from many.
Love your ideas for storage. And videos you are so talented. ❤️
These are all amazing, but you left out my favorite that you recommended several years back: the Tsukineko Jumbo Dauber. I've been in love ever since I first tried them--I've found the big rounded bottom doesn't produce any inky lines like I get with some of the other ink blenders and they've been really economical by just having one for each color family like you suggested. Thanks again for all the hard work you put into sharing all these cool products with us.
I took the idea of your ink swatches to store my Tim Holtz ink blending pads. I print out each color on the 2x2 squares and store the pads in the coin holders. It works great! Keeps them organized by brand of ink and color.
I have both the TH glass mat and the WF mat and I usually use the glass mat. But that was until you showed us the benefit of using the WF mat. I love how the paper does not move! Great tip! Also appreciated hearing about more papers as I usually use Neenah. I have 3 of these different sets of brushes and liked seeing you do the comparison. I think a fourth reason on the brushes is that they were specifically made for crafting and the companies put a lot of thought into them. Thanks for this great review!
WOWEE, Jennifer! What a wealth of info in this video. YEP, my head is spinning but I DID find this video so very helpful! Now I really need to “think n’ consider” which might be the best routes for me to go in MY crafting needs n’ style! I am SO VERY APPRECIATIVE of the time you took to pull this together and YOUR “pros n’ cons” of the different blending needs n’ tools available! YOU ARE A GEM! BTW, thank you for the “price comparison” in your blog, too~~~it IS helpful as I consider my purchases! Have a Happy, Crafty Day! I’ll be on the lookout for your additions to these product suggestions! :-))
Thanks Jennifer for sharing this. I have both styles of the blender brushes and enjoy using each. Seeing the different companies styles of brushes gives us many choices. I have the handle blender brushes as well as the blender handle tool with the velcro foam pads. I enjoy using both. Thank you for this very informative tutorial. God bless!!!
Thank you for sharing Jennifer. I found your video very helpful as I have a large set of the picket fence , plus I just ordered the color brushes as well with the holder. Have a lovely day hun.
Jennifer, thank you so very much for this great comparison of blending brushes; ways to store them and types of paper to use as well as the different mats that work better than paper. I purchased the Picket Fence brushes and love them. I have always had trouble with the Ranger blending tool. Now! More than likely that is me and how I bring the ink to my paper....but I keep trying.
Thanks for the info on all these craft tools as I am a newbie to this. Thank you again.
The handles on the Picket Fence brushes and the Yoseng brushes I bought on Amazon are *absolutely* identical. I know; I have both. And now that the packages have been opened, there is no way to tell them apart, but for the wider range of sizes I have in the makeup brushes.
Thank you so very much. So good to get such an overview.
Oh thank you Jennifer now I know what to get in the future....another great tutorial.............thanks pat
Thank you Jennifer for this very informative video!!! ❤️
thanks!
Thanks for the great information! I just ordered two of the Honey Bee Detail blending brushes sets because I've been wanting to try the smaller ones when applying ink to more detailed stencils. I wasn't sure which ones to order and your video was so helpful! I was confused about craft brushes versus make-up brushes and think you are right in your assessment! :)
Thank you for the great video !! I have to say I am a very curious person and love to try everything lol. I purchased both Amazon makeup brushes and a craft company brushes. I found a difference in quality , strength and blending ability. I will be sticking with my craft company brushes. No I am not pd nor design for any of these companies lol.
I have heard this from many, too. I am not paid by them either ;) Thanks for the feedback.
Thanks for sharing this great video!
I just want to say thank you for producing such informative videos, I never miss one. I have the Picket Fences brushes, the wood and foam tool and just about everything in between. Have you ever heard of Marshmallows? Not the kind you eat, lol, but the ones used for ink blending on dry embossed surfaces? They are solid foam that look just like marshmallows. They only ink the raised area of an embossing folder. They are a must have tool for anyone that does a lot of inking and I am surprised I don't see them used in any videos on ink blending. Once again thank you so much for all your excellent videos. I am an avid fan.
Thanks for all the great info.
Hi Jennifer,Thank you for taking the time to share a very interesting crafty tutorial I found it very helpful 👍 all the best Lin, in South Wales uk x
I have used those paddle brushes for my foundation, and I love them for that application, but I do not find them good for any other makeup application. I took the extra ones from the makeup set and moved them into my craft room!
Thanks again. You’ve inspired me to try the brushes on paintings to get that Caravaggio skin blending that is so hard to achieve. Even though it is harder to clean oil paint glazes out of these, it might be worth it for that effect.
Michael, I have an artist’s brush cleaner that I use - unsure if it works on oils, but it works with several different types of other art mediums that I’ve toyed with (these brushes are fun to use with chalk and oil pastels). I think it’s called masters brush cleaner, I think. I use it on my natural and synthetic paint brushes all the time - great stuff.
Thanks for the information. I have the PF and TSM brushes. I prefer the TSM (medium size), they seem stronger to me. For indicating color I just put a label on the brush head. I store them in a small Fridge Bin. I also have separate brushes for Tumbled Glass and Spun Sugar. I found that the darker colors were overpowering these two lighties even after cleaning on a towel. Thanks again!
yes the handle does seem a bit stronger. not sure if it makes a difference in the results. btu you are right!
What an awesome review. Looking forward to your blending RUclipss. :)
I love my life changing brushes.
I understand and respect where you are coming from. That said I have to comment that these brushes have been around for a number of years in the cosmetic world. It started with the expensive brand Artis and many knock offs followed. I completely believe in supporting craft companies but I have to say in this instance this craft company is taking advantage of a knock off and trying to present as though it is made for crafts. They did not even try to disguise these brushes as craft brushes - that is why they are shaped the way they are - the small round ones are for eyeshadow. The tiny skinny brush for eyeliner and so on. Undoubtedly these sizes lend themselves to the craft world - especially when working with small stenciled area. But the fact remains, Picket Fence picked up these brushes that were already designed for make up, slapped their name on it and charged a high price. It is an unfair practice when someone copies stamps and dies and sells them for less and it is an equally unfair practice when a company copies an existing product, renames it and charges a higher price. This is in no way intended as criticism of Jennifer McGuire but I do think consumers who are unaware of products in the cosmetic world should be aware these are dupes of the Artis cosmetic brushes and then if you feel like paying 3+ times the price just because Picket Fence introduced these brushes to the craft scene that is certainly your choice.
totally makes sense - as i mentioned, i am clueless about the make up world. (i own 4 pieces of make up. period. lol.) however, i will say that these companies are not putting a high price on these to make more money. they don't get the big discounts the bigger companies get. they are ordering smaller numbers. In fact, a friend of mine who owns a stamp company went to china to price out carrying them, and with the price she was given for the low quantities that she would get, the price would be high. :)
Excellent information!! Thank you 🙏
You can laminate a piece of white card stock to blend on. Inexpensive solution but works.
Thank you for the very thorough comparison. I have the life changing blending brushes, as well as the ranger blending tools, and I agree they all work well in their purpose. I was interested to see your mat cleaned off so well. Mine has stained, unfortunately.. actually with the same color ink.
I have had the makeup brushes for many years and bought some of the crafting ones when they became popular, for much more than I paid for my makeup brushes. I can tell you that they are exactly the same brushes. My makeup brushes are even different colors and came with a storage caddy. While I am all for supporting crafting companies, I do believe that the price for new and trendy tools in the crafting industry is unnecessary and can be prohibitive to those on a limited income. I respect your opinion, Jennifer, and your loyalty. But be real.
As I said in the beginning, I am not a makeup person, so I have no knowledge of all of that. And i have heard many people say that the experienced different quality. I TOTALLY get the limited income thing. I am just sharing what *I* know. Totally being real :)
Thank you, Jennifer, for such an informative video! I have been contemplating the blending brushes, but wasn't sure what to expect if using them. This gives a lot of information! ! I will refer back to this video to help me choose If I decide to jump on that brush bus.
Great video. Another way to use up our washi tape on the necks of the brushes to color code them. Thank you for the Cardstock and brush comparison. Have a great day.
smart! i dont buy washi tape much. but maybe i can make my own stickers :)
Thank you for this good tutorial! I find ink blending to be utterly frustrating no matter the tool. Likely, I need more practice. I have to admit my Tim Holtz Mini Blending Tools from Ranger are still my go-to's. I think I'll try blending on some Neenah 110 lb. Classic Crest and see how that goes. Most papers have coatings on them that rule the type and intensity of ink they will accept. I will say, the Versafine Clare Pigment Inks are my absolute favorites to blend!
I would appreciate some tips with video on how you ink up your blending tools on an ink pad. rubbing? tapping? amount of pressure? differences regarding different types of ink pads etc. I always look forward to your video's, Jennifer. Thank you.
Thank you so much for all of this info.
Thank you ... I will come back to see if there are any added info in you pinned comment. I really appriecated the information.
I use my craft mat(the tan one) for my ink blending surface as I would rather buy more ink than surfaces, but I do think these are all great options!
yes, that one works GREAT too.
Why do I want ALL the brushes? I have the life changing brushes and I love them!! I’ve had my eye on the TE brushes. But I don’t think my husband will agree that them being pretty is reason enough to buy them. 😂
I want them too, just because they're pretty 😂😂
REALLY helpful info! :) Thank you for putting so much time into making this video for us, I realy appreciate it :) makes it easier for ppl like me that are noobs at this ;)
Jennifer, this was an awesome video for someone like me that's just starting out in cardmaking! I would like to try ink blending, however, I do not have inks at this time and I'm not sure how to start building a collection. I love the Tim Holtz ink colors in both the Distress and Distress Oxide. But, I am open to any advise regarding how to start out with building my "ink" collection. Thank you for sharing such great information. I will definitely refer to this video as I continue to teach myself all about the cardmaking world. ; )
Thank you so much for this video! I haven't jumped on the blending brush bandwagon yet, and for now, I'm not so sure that I will, but it's good to have the information if and when that happens. I love my "Timmy" tools and have good success with them, and I also have Color Dusters, so I think I'm good. I do have a question, though, about surfaces. I'm planning to get the TH Mixed Media Glass Mat (although he doesn't know it, the hubs is getting it for me for Christmas ;-)) but until then, and all along, I've used my silicone mat for blending. You didn't mention that, and as most people have a version of that, I wondered why? Thanks again, Jennifer!
Thank you jennifer 🙏🙏🙏
Great info, TFS!
Very useful info. I was hoping you'd review the new domed ink blending tool. Maybe I'm not using it correctly and would love to see how it works for others. TFS as always.
I stick with only sharing what works well for me. :) Sorry!
I totally understand. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing
very very nice
Very helpful, thank you!
thanks!
You should paint nail polish on the handle instead of string. Won’t get in the way. Thanks for the info!!😊
Thank you for this very informative video, Jennifer! I was wondering if you could add a little discussion of how the Clarity brushes compare to the newer ones. Thanks again!
I still like those. But they don't give a smooth look, but rather a brushy/stippled/textured look. I like them for this, but to today i was focusing on smoother backgrounds
Thank you for your very educational video!! You are my favorite crafter!! Will you be doing one on the different ink pads?? I am so confused of what each one is and what you use them for!!
I have in the past but have a new one coming soon
A great review, as always. .. I really appreciated your professionalism. It’s super that you pause and label items for,us to take. A screenshot.... very helpful and oh my you don’t wave your hands around a\lie a pinwheel which it is very distracting in other video
The type of paper u mentioned can we use colored pencils and watercolor too on them. Thank u
Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews. So much great information here. Have you tried the new Scrapbook.com rounded top blending foams? I am interested to see what you think of them in comparison to the original flat version. I wonder if they perform similar to the blending brushes due to the domed shape.
Firstly, thank you so much for all you do to provide information, technique ideas to expand the use of products & showing samples to give plenty of ideas. It is very enjoyable. I noted the difference in the handles when you pointed out that some can stand up on their own, which, as you said, can make finding them on the chaos of a busy work work surface that much easier, which is its own benefit, but it requires a different shaped handle to all of the ergonomic looking ones. Is it as comfortable to work with as the others? I ask this because I see also the benefit of the cap for, as you pointed out, not accidentally transferring colour where it wasn’t wanted, providing I would be diligent enough to replace the cap straight after using. I think the tapered head could also be an advantage, rather than buying a small and a larger size in other brands. I suppose that with all the storage stands, it would be easy enough to have the other brands stand up on a work surface, even having them facing away from the desk to prevent accidental ink transfer, providing there was room.
i hold the brush up high so i noticed no difference.
Thank you for very informative video! Is it hard to clean the white mat? I fell in love with it and consider purchasing it.
it will stain with some inks
Hello Jennifer. Beautiful demonstration video. Can you use these blending brushes with acrylic paint as well? thank you.
I haven't tried it but they really aren't made for this. And of course there are other great ways to use paint.
I got on the bandwagon and bought the brushes but they dont work as well as my trusty Tim Holtz round blending tool!!
Thanks for a comparison video!
that is a GREAT tool!
First off, I'm new at this. I do LOVE ALL your videos and watch as many as I can! I have seen a lot of info on the finger dobbers, what is your take on those? Thanks for all the info on all your videos!!
Also, Tim says you can wash the velcro pads with soap and water.
Have you tried the new domed foam blending applicator that fits the Tim Holtz blending tool?
I find the flat ones rock. The original design is often best. :)
@@jennifermcguireink thanks for the response and for another amazing, informative video that really helps me pick the best out of the tons of options available! 😍
I used thin strips of coloured paper with glossy accents to colour code my brushes. It’s just another way of coding the brushes. :) As I can’t attach a picture here, you can check my Instagram account for a reference picture. instagram.com/iscribbledesign/
Really informative and helpful video. I am also wondering what you use the tim holz brushes for, I am still trying to find a way to use them best.
the brushes are cool for a stippled look... i prefer these for smooth.
I have the Tim Holtz blending tools one
Each color for my Dylusions paints that I store on the Tim Holtz turnstile (don’t think it’s available anymore) but for inks I only have 4 of them and swap out the pads. I have a set of bristle brushes from Stamparosa that I’ve had 20 years (not available now) and I love them so when Tim Holtz put out his brushes I bout several and really like those too. I plan to finish the set. Jennifer have u ever tried those and what is your opinion? I really like them for travel since they store in a tin. Bristol paper is my choice of paper. Thanks Jennifer for doing this video.
Have you seen the new foam applicator from scrapbook . Com that fit on the Tim Holtz tool that so domed, not flat. It is suppose to give a softer edge to your blending. Wonderful comparison
i like the original foams. :)
Thanks for this helpful info! Do you know if the long acrylic caddy can go on an IKEA pegboard? Thanks!
no sure - i dont' have the pegboard to try. sorry.
With the nail polish holder, you said it all fits in an Alex drawer....do they fit only in the deeper drawers, or both the deep and shallow?
The deeper one
Should I have a separate set for each type of ink or can I switch? You the same brush for dostress and for oxide and for dye etc or will this cause some kind of a chemical reaction that will damage the ink pads or the brushes/blending foam?
I have a separate brush for white pigment ink and versamark that are dedicated to those inks. You don't have to have separate brushes for every single ink. They clean so easily that you can use dye inks of any kind on the same brushes. It can be helpful to have separate ones for oxides.
@@jennifermcguireink ❤️
I bought mine on Amazon. My makeup brushes (which I used well before crafters started using them for ink) are identical in every way to brushes I see from expensive companies. I like to support small businesses too and I’d NEVER buy a knock off but in this case the crafting market has adopted a product already available at a much lower price point. They didn’t invent them! And you can get sets of 2 medium sized brushes (just order several sets) on Amazon for cheap. It cost me about half to get these and that was in Canada. By the time I paid for a $50 set of brushes and had them shipped to Canada they’d cost almost $90!! (Our exchange rate sucks!!)
I store mine in one section of a spinning kitchen tool organizer. I added labels to the back of the heads. But the labels weren’t always facing me as they brushed moved around too much. So I added some vase filler from the dollar store to the bottom of the section of the organizer and now they stay put with all the labels facing forward!! Yeah!
totalllly get that. and you are smart to have found them long ago! I am so not a make up person. i need lessons lol. And I wish shipping to canada was less!
Jennifer McGuire Ink I’m not into make up either and I also need lessons! I bought those brushes because I heard they are easier to use and they are! For the few times a month (ok, few times a year) I actually wear makeup, they are awesome!
HI Jennifer and thank you for the tutorial video, I learned a lot! I was wondering if you can store the blender brushes flat like in a square container (box)? Thanks!
yes!
Jennifer, Does the waffle media mat bubble when you put it down and have an odour to it? It looks like a good surface to blend on. thank you.
no bubbling. haven't noticed an odour - mine has been out of the package for a long time.
Thanks so much for this interesting video I find so helpful. I tried to order the TE Rainbow Brushes but unfortunately they don't send them to Germany... 😭😰😭
Thankyou so much for a great video!
Can you tell me if you have separate brushes for regular distress and oxides? I have separate ibt pads, but I can swap them out. But not sure what to do about brushes...
Also your thoughts on the ranger blending brushes...?
Thanks 😊
i haven't used them with oxides yet. i know these brushes are meant for dye inks. so i am not sure. i would definitely use different brushes to be safe.
Do you find the blender brush bristles get stiff by not cleaning the ink off of them? Or do you brush them off onto paper after using them?
no! with dye inks, it just seems fine!
I am having trouble with blending cleanly. I do start off the paper but end up with circle marks. How can I get a smooth coverage?
Tap off the brush on a piece of scratch paper first. And use a very light hand in circular motions.
This has been a most helpful video. I appreciate all the valuable information you gave in this to everyone. It helped me so much. One question I have is, do you find a difference in the dome shaped blenders of Tim Holts as opposed to the flat ones like the first ones that you demonstrated? Or are the flat just as easy for blending? They velcro on the same just have the dome shape instead of the edge. Thanks again!
I find the flat ones rock. The original design is often best. :)
Jennifer McGuire Ink Thank you! Same here...don’t mess with a good thing. 😉
Jennifer (and anyone else), have you noticed a decline in the replacement foams for the Mini Ink Blending tool? I bought a pack in August and then another in October of this year, and the foam is constantly separating/ripping away from the black Velcro bit (especially when removing them from the tool if they've not already ripped while blending). They seem much thinner than the ones that came with the tool. I'm not even using a heavy hand when blending, and often while blending, the foam just separates and rolls up under the tool, thereby ruining my card. Either way, I'm having the hardest time with the new foams the last couple months.
Mine are older, but I have heard others say this. Have you contacted Ranger? They are awesome and I bet they will help!