Thanks again, Mary, for being our crafty guinea pig. You put a lot of time, effort, and money into making these videos so that we can save! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! 😀😊❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Great video...I am all about alternatives, especially when they save money. On a side note, yupo paper does not actually wipe clean. It stains and will remain stained, so you can't actually "start over" like some people may think. I am most excited about that poster board, so thank you VERY much for that!
Susan, thank you so much! And yes...I noticed that about the Yupo; I was expecting it to clean away like a dry erase board and as you saw....stained up real nice. lol YES try the poster board; heat embosses and die cuts like a dream!
Mary, your tip about using poster board instead of Yupo, has to be one of the BEST TIPS I have found on any You Tube video! I could not believe the results I get on the poster board! Yupo is expensive, and that inhibits my creativity, because I don’t want to waste such expensive paper! I have tried suggested replacements from others, such as photo paper, Tyvek mailing envelopes, none have worked for me. The poster board does!! I was amazed! And now I can create with wild abandon! Thank you so much for sharing this tip! This video was very helpful for making decisions and saving money on products.
Oh this makes me sooooo happy! Thank you for sharing. I was feeling the exact same way when I was trying to be creative...."get this right or you lose a dollar....YIKES!" No one can be free to create that way. I'm so glad it's working for you! YAHHOOOO
OMG! 😊 I’m only 38 seconds in and you are a hoot. “Sorry for the yelling, maybe too much coffee.” Just one more reason I love you Mary. LOL! You keep it real. And I love your “yelling”. thank you for this awesome information.
Great to see all these tips. Love to learn about the poster board. A side note on that, the reason one might wanna wash off yupo and start again is cause it's so expensive. With the poster board being so inexpensive, I would just toss it if I didn't like how it turned out😊
You are the BEST!! I really appreciate so much your comparisons and how we can save money. That you get beautiful results with less expensive products is one of the reasons I can't wait for your videos! Plus you are so real and funny!! Please continue these kinds of videos and please show Spectrum Noir coloring and other alcohol ink pen alternatives. It is so hard to find anyone using other markers and not Copics! I am intrigued by the Arteza Everblend recently. I also would love to see paper and stamping ink go to's for alcohol pen coloring. I hear different things from different people- like I thought you could use Versafine Claire Nocturne but then I heard it smears? Best and least expensive paper for coloring? Aaaahhh!! So many questions!! Love you! 💗
Amazing suggestions....thank you!!! Ok I'm writing these down. You rock. Also, alcohol pen video coming within a week using Arteza, Ohuhu, and Master Markers. Yay!!!
Love your tips! My tip, which I learned from frugal crafter, Lyndsey, is using Lava soap to take ink off my fingers. I keep a bar along with an old dobie sponge under my sink. It always works to clean my hands!
I know this is an older video, but you ALWAYS give such good information! That was fantastic. I knew there had to be alternatives out there, but who wants to buy tons of stuff in order to test it out. You've done the work for us. So...thank you!! We need to get you more subscribers. People are totally missing out who don't know about you. Keep up the great work!
Liz, you have made my day so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to send me such a sweet and supportive compliment! I shall keep up the work. In fact, I have a new one coming soon! :)
Thanks for all the tips, especially the poster board. Now I have a money-saving tip for you and your subscribers: You can get this same poster board from School Specialty for $4.79/pack, and a pack of 12 droppers for $2.39. I was the purchasing agent for our local Head Start and this is where we got most of our supplies.
Great info Mary! The only other difference I have found between the blending solution and isopropyl alcohol is that the blending solution gives you more workable time as the alcohol itself dries faster. So depending on what you’re doing.....if you need slower dry time the “abs” works. If you’re not worried about faster dry time, the iso is perfect! I use both, but iso is so much more cost effective! Love that you’re doing these! Thank you for taking the time and effort! 💕🙋♀️
I’ve been binging your videos for the last week (sorry if you’re getting spammed with my comments 😂) and I realized why I love your channel-aside from the obvious like good content and good delivery. You put a lot of time and effort into helping others not only discover a new hobby but also meeting them where they are so they are able to discover that new hobby. IE if someone can’t necessarily afford the expensive equipment or tools, you show them a cheaper alternative that isn’t cheap junk. You show us a lot of the things many other RUclipsrs don’t. These are awesome videos and I really appreciate the content!
Binge away! lol thank you so much for this very thoughtful comment. I really appreciate it. I've been trying to both support the industry but more importantly support the creator. There is so much positivity we gain from being creative and I never want anyone to feel they need to have a certain product to do that. Dont get me wrong, I have my own lil obsessions that aren't cheap but I try to share ideas to cover all of us in different arenas. Thank you for seeing me!
Thanks, Mary, for an extremely helpful video! I started with paper products bc I thought that learning with paper (after getting a SnC), would be cheaper than using my fabric. So, a little while later, after really liking the whole card making thing, I'm realizing that my purse is even lighter! 🤔 Thanks for telling us how to do it a bit less expensively!
YES Kenisha!!! It's my absolute favorite. My only wish is that the sold it in single colors. Maybe I will contact them and request it. I'm putting in orders....what's your color choice? lol
Thank you for another great video. Living in a rural area with no craft stores in sight I buy a lot online and sometimes it is just overwhelming to see so many choices.
I totally identify about releasing one's prized labor of love to regular mail. I once had my grandson's card take a circuitous detour from VA to Boston via Kalamazoo, MI. It finally arrived there after a week and "cardiac arrest"!
I am with you on the envelopes and am so happy you shared about being able to find 1000 of them rather then the 25 I have been buying at my local staples LOL.
I feel like the inks all moved better on the cardboard paper than on the yupo papers. That's awesome to know! Yupo is expensive and since I just play with it it becomes pricey for me. Thanks!!
Yes this is one of my all time favorite discoveries because of the cost savings! Yupo is so pricey, I always felt like I couldn't just be free to play! Thanks s much!!
Hi Mary thank you so much for taking the time to test these out and break down the prices!! This is so so helpful and I appreciate the work that you put into so this. Someone told me about your channel when I was comparing glue and they suggested I watch your glue video and I’ve been hooked ever since lol. TFS
Hahah...oh that is so sweet; YAY! I am currently recruiting to join me on the cheap side. hahah. Did you watch Part 2 of the glue review too? A lot of people are missing that one, so I might have to change the photo so its different from the first one.
Mary Polanco oh yes I did lol. It was great. I have been using art glitter glue for over a year (shortly after I started crafting) and love it. But a sweet subbie of mine just sent me the nuvo glue and I must say I’m loving it. I can’t make a freaking card to save my life lol but I can throw down a mini album like no ones business haha. However I’m so addicted to watching card makers it just amazes me!!!! 😀
Just found your video & I have to say I appreciate your honesty so much. There seems, at times, to be pressure from some demonstrators to purchase "the best", but alas, not all can afford that. Thank you so much! I'll be watching many more of your videos Mary. Cheers from the west coast of Canada.
Mary, I have been using 99% isopropyl alcohol for many things, including as a replacement for blending solution. I keep a good size spray bottle full for cleaning my craft surface (glass and laminate desktop), acrylic stamp blocks, my hands, and more. For tougher jobs the hand sanitizer works well because you can let it sit and penetrate longer. I also use glossy photo paper (I have a huge stash) for alcohol inks and recently experimented with a white mylar mailing envelope. I just won't pay the price for Ranger's Yupo Paper. The mylar envelope material is very thin and doesn't die cut well, so it was a bust for me as a card maker. It might be a great way to experiment with different techniques though. Thank you for all of your tips! I took notes and will update my craft shopping list. As a retiree on a fixed budget saving money always wins for me. Honestly, I have been a frugal shopper and diy gal all my life. Your reviews are awesome!! I am subscribing to your channel.
I really appreciate your tests as I always fall for the ads, which are ripping me off. I’ve found if it scrapbook or cars making it raises the price. Thank you for testing these things out.
I haven't been buying the yupo paper either after trying it because I did the math & it was just too expensive to "play" with. So glad to know about the poster board! Thanks gor the great video.
And added note for you, not sure if you know but I always heard you are not supposed to put ABS in a spray bottle but you can with the 99% alcohol. I love the look when you come in and give a spray across the whole surface. So cool.
Well done! If you need a little more dry time for the 99% alcohol a few drops of glicerin will do it, I live where it's very hot and dry so extended dry time is helpful. Also, if anyone has an independent office supply/paper store they may have a damages/discontinued section. I can't believe some of the steals I've gotten at my local one!!!
Grafix plastic is another good, better priced option. It also comes in clear and black in addition to white. It’s available at Amazon, Dick Blick’s, and Scrapbooking Made Simple. Other art supply stores as well. It comes in both 12x12 and 8.5x11. You have to check out Pearl and glitter alcohol inks on black. It’s magical. Marabu has a line of both metallic and glitter alcohol inks that are slightly less expensive than Ranger or Piñata. Plus Marabu has a clear rainbow 🌈 alcohol ink that can be used on its own or mixed into other colors.
I am not certain if anyone mentioned it in the comments but the weight of the paper is only one factor you also want to look at whether it’s index or cover stock weight ... index will feel less thick. I also buy the Neenah from paper suppliers like Kelly Paper in major markets. The 80# cover Neenah is also nice.
YES, thank you so much! Someone actually emailed me the explanation of GSM and WOW did it make a total difference. I will be looking for that now for sure! Thanks so much for sharing!
TY for doing this video. I always need money saving ideas. If you ever do want to wipe your yupo paper off I think it works a little better if you put alchol on your paper towel or rag. And of course the fresher the ink the better it comes off. I will 4-sure be getting some of that School Smart Poster Board. That stuff looked like it did just as good as either of the others. So you saved me some money right there. Oh, and TY so much for breaking down those prices. That really did help. TYFS
Kim, thanks for letting me know all of this! I am glad it was helpful! I really think this hobby can get out of hand with all the things I want so I needed to slow down a little bit and find some alternatives. :)
@@marypolancodesigns You are so right. When I am doing something like this I always want everything that makes it look so great. But People(myself included) just can't afford to get some of these things. So it is so great when we find alternatives, & share them we each other. Again, TY
Great video. If you drop a few drops of glycerin into a couple of ounces of 99% alcohol, it basically behaves like Ranger's Alcohol solution. The solution allows for less staining of the paper and takes more time to dry, giving you more time to move it around. I spent weeks playing around, made about 100 backgrounds and had a blast testing techniques and finding more affordable options.
Hahah..you wont' be disappointed; so much fun! I couldn't believe how many sheets of that glitter cardstock we get for that price; I was like, WHAAT!? lol
I hope Amazon doesn't send damaged, opened or packages missing items to you as they have sent me many damaged/opened paper and cardstock packs recently. Some were missing several sheets of paper as well. If they do come damaged, be sure to tell Amazon about it & make sure they replace the damaged or missing items for free.
In the DFW area we are.lucky to have OK Paper, a commercial paper company that sells to the public. I can get Neenah 110 for about 10 cents a sheet. They also have great savings on Kraft and Bristol. You do have to buy full reams which may be too much for some but my local crafty friends and I share saving us all $$.
The blue and green alcohol pieces are gorgeous!! I hope a lot of newer crafters watch this!! I hate to think of them spending so much money like I did...(and don’t even use it all) finally woke up and found Amazon!! I only buy from Michaels if I have a coupon!🙌🏻🙌🏻❤️❤️
OH YES! The coupon deal is amazing; even if you ever go for one thing,...5 x a week. lol AC Moore usually has daily coupons. I hear you on new crafters! It is so my hope that people share the info because I really don't want people to get overwhelmed with all the prices of new things.
Found this older video and it is soooo helpful! No blending solution or expensive Yupo paper for me, or the expensive glitter paper too. Great info! Thank you sooo much. I was avoiding alcohol inks because of the Yupo cost. Now I will be playing for sure 😍!
YAY! I'm so so happy it was helpful! Thank you for letting me know Jan! I am a posterboard and back of the phot paper gal now! Yupo is an astronomic cost for something I might ruin! lol
Thank you so much for sharing this comparison is mind-blowing love your show can't wait to see what else you come up with and thank you for the big savings have a great day God bless
Great video- I always look for ways to save so I can spend more on other supplies. I also use glossy photo paper for use with the alcohol inks. It works well and it’s cheaper than Yupo. I also use blending solution as well as the alcohol, but I do find the blending solution blends better as the alcohol does evaporate much more quickly.
Also, isopropyl alcohol is available in a spray bottle. I suggest holding it very high/far away from your media surface. Then spray once and wait a few seconds to see the reaction. The tiny atomized spray makes a beautiful modeled look, almost like stones or geodes, rather than puddles that the large droplets do. I found that Walgreens carries it but CVS and RiteAid do not. Important... Alcohol can melt (eat a hole through) some plastics. It may not be suitable for all water brushes. Better to use a little from the bottle cap or small ceramic vessel with a regular paint brush than the water brushes with a barrel. - THANK YOU for doing both the product and price comparisons. Really great info.
The Michael's in the greater Charleston area used to be located near a craft store that has gone out of business. They accepted % off equivalents to all craft stores at that time. But in March 2020 (I think) they stopped taking all competitor coupons. The best coupon they generally carry is 20% off regular priced items. That makes Michael's very low on my list. It's also in a city where the council vote didn't require mask wearing. So there's that. I watch RUclips on my TV via Roku. I wanted you to know that the information with the title and the date in the video has moved to the upper left of the screen and the font is white. When you say "as of this date" for pricing, no one watching the same way that I am can see the posted date. It's very frustrating and not your fault but it would be nice if you gave a verbal general date range. Thank you for all the work you put into your videos. You've seriously changed my wish list items. I appreciate you taking 1 for the team. ♡~Heidi
Thank you so much for this feedback. I didn't realize that about the date. The "as of this date" means the day the video posted which you can see right below the video (when not in full screen). But knowing this now, I will for sure add it verbally to make it so much easier for viewers. I appreciate you! Also it seems that a lot of craft stores are taking away some of their best coupons. So disappointing.
Mary, I think this was a fsntastic video. Thank you for doing all the comparisons. I do not have ANY alcohol inks as I am a pretty frugal person and sometimes it gets a little frustrating when the stores have a minimal selection to choose from if any, and you have to order online. If you only need a couple things the shipping is crazy and takes a while to get. I live out in the "country" so it is dissappointing when you drive 45 minutes to oick up some things and you can't come home with it and play. I should have just ordered it and paid the shipping and saved my gas!! LOL. I honestly did not know there was another alcohol ink, you have convinced me to try these out!! Thanks so much!!!
Thanks so much for the love, Pam. I can imagine that is completely frustrating. If you order from Amazon, you might want to consider signing up for Prime membership. Most things ship through Prime and it's free shipping; that membership cost might be what you would spend in gas in the year anyway. Just a thought. But oh..living out in the country sounds nice and peaceful!
@@marypolancodesigns guess who ordered alcohol inks and markers today? Yep it is me!! I used my daughter's prime account!!! I even had an Amazon gift card from work so it didn't cost me anything!! Now that is a blessing indeed!! Thanks to you I knew what to order! Thank you!🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Thank you for the video. 1 thing is the neenah 110 lb is usually around $12 now. I know the prices change but I've been buying neenah for 8 years now and never paid over $15 for 250 sheets from Amazon.
Thanks Mary! This was helpful. The blending solution by Ranger is alcohol with a few drops of glycerin mixed in. I’ve made my own and it works! This was especially helpful to me with card stock and the yupo paper dupes. Yay! ♥️
@@lonyamathys7131 I found a 'recipe' for DIY blending solution a few years ago. But I just saw this one, watched it, and it's the same recipe. Bonus is that she gives her take on her favorite photo paper to use that she feels is better than Yupo paper: eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FhJrjVImum2k&data=02%7C01%7C%7C89ecad3e75834aab7f9108d6c800382a%7C1a407a2d76754d178692b3ac285306e4%7C0%7C0%7C636916300595329350&sdata=2PuR%2Fnfo0yNEWDkiQVFTMVBHYDGgrypK2Mc6k8zRPmQ%3D&reserved=0
Great video comparing the many options available for different craft uses. After 20 years of card making, I recently just discovered the Accent Opaque cardstock and IMHO, it is amazing especially for the price. I use both the 120 lb and the 100 lb. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience Mary.
Hi Bonnie! I only discovered Accent a couple years ago and I cannot say enough good things about it. I did a video on my channel where i compared it to the expensive type.
Another great video! I love these money saving tips that you give. I’ve tried the accent opaque card stock after you mentioned to in a previous video and love it, and the Rock Paper Scissors removable sticker paper for masking, and it works great! Looking forward to trying out some of your other money saving ideas. Thank you so much 😊
Oh thank you so much, Jill, for the follow up on the products. I always wonder if folks like what I recommend. I really appreciate you taking the time!
I love your videos. You always give some really nice suggestion which is wallet friendly as not all of us have unlimited budget. For most of the folks this is a hobby which comes with limited budget. I have been using Kirkland brand photo paper as my paper for alcohol inks and it is working wonderfully. They cost 20$ for 300 sheets for 4 * 6, 100 sheets of 5 * 7. Good to know about poster board from Dollar Tree, have to try that out for sure.
YES...great tip! Thank you so much for sharing this. I have been hearing photo paper has been a win for so many! YAY! I love it. I'll have to try that next (after I go through my 100 sheets of course) lol
Thanks for your comparison video. I only purchase Neenah 110# for copic coloring because of the bleed factor with other papers as well as the brightness of the artwork appearance. You can compare that factor with copics and that would be better than just for cardstock which I pick up cheap.
Hi! I just had to swing back by and thank you for the tip on the glitter paper. I went to Amazon and they happen to have a warehouse deal. Somebody had returned the pack of paper so I got it for $11.20. That works out to something like $.28 per page with free prime shipping. Amazing! Thank you again!!
Mary, great comparison video, this was very informative! I think that the "poster board" is more like Ranger's Alcohol Ink "Card Stock". I believe neither wipes off with Ranger Alcohol Blending Solution or 99% alcohol & it's more absorbent than Yupo because they both have a higher "paper" content. That is why it can take a bit more heat vs being fully plastic which may be why it doesn't warp as much. Terrific job Mary!!! Thanks for sharing this information, YOU ROCK!!! Sending HUGS!!!
Thank you so much, Maria! I so appreciate the feedback and love! I was thrilled to be finding these deals because I was spending way too much money. lol
Very helpful. Love the fair and honest comparisons. I will be reviewing for myself the differences in cardstock that I usually buy against what you did.
VERY helpful! I've just started using alcohol inks and yupo and have been hesitant to buy but these are economical ideas. I really like that gold Pinata ink! Thanks so much!
I saw a video also about using Grafix Opaque White Plastic, I think it was, I 'm sorry I don't remember who did it. I think it was a comparison between that and Yupo also. I'm sure the cost is probably more than the poster board and I don't know how it would compare but it is probably and option also. Tysm for this comparison.
Amazing!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing. It's all about having options and being able to pick an choose without feeling that you're compromising the integrity of the finished product. Crafting accessible to all, regardless of budget! You go girl!!✊
For the Neenah paper you got that wasn’t as thick as you expected, make sure you get Cover instead of Index because there’s a difference in the two. Great video! TFS! ~ Stacey
Instead of Yupo paper I use the shiny paper background packaging from dollar store stamps, the shiny cardboard that comes with my envelopes and any kind of backing paper that comes with other Dollarstore packaging. I keep a pile of it ready to go and with all the purchases we make... I get lots of paper to play with. They work great!
Mary Polanco Ok, I got my words mixed up (sorry... Happens to me all the time) $$ store STICKERS. They come in a cello bag on a sheet of acetate with a piece of cardstock behind them. This cardstock is lovely slick and perfect for the AIs to flow. It's not as slick as Yupo so a bit of blending solution/alcohol is required to get it flowing... But my goodness, I buy myself some stickers & I get a piece of paper to use. 😉 I've also found at a local $$ store some perfectly sized magnet sheets that come in a heavy cello, resealable bag. I take out the paper that comes with it & it's perfect too! I have the magnet sheet for my dies that I can store in it's original bag AND a piece of paper for my AIs... All for $1.25! Crazy, I know!
The difference in spreading is the same but… the 99% makes the Color flatter looking on paper, the blending retains the Color better. Which makes sense. The blender has resin and the 99% is more liquid so it would water down the color
I am so excited to find out about the school smart poster board!!!!!!!!!!!! I have just bought several alcohol inks to start experimenting with. And I definitely want an inexpensive paper while I am playing and learning. Thank you so much. I had heard about using 99% alcohol. It was nice to see that it does work good.
YES it really does work, the 99%. I am so happy because the blending solution is just too pricey for how fast I use it up. Some have said the 99% dries faster though but I will have to be on the look out for that next time; didn't notice it much.
I use photo paper for alcohol inks. The non-shiny side. I think you can get a large package with no watermark on the back side from Costco. I had an old package that I’ve had for years with a very very light watermark on the back but it seems to fade or disappear once Input the inks and alcoholic there. 91% alcohol works great too. I get a large bottle at Walmart for a couple of bucks. But photo paper is pretty much plastic like YUPO. Anyway it’s fun to practice on. It’s probably a tad thinner than yupo so probably would stand up as well to heat.
I realize this was a year ago and somehow I missed it, and of course I'm not going to read through 670 comments so someone may have said this. For the alcohol inks first I was massively impressed with the poster board. Second 99% vs blending solution, for me it depends on what I want to do. When I lay down my initial inks if I want a lot of movement for a while I use blending solution. If I just want to move it let it dry the 99% because that's going to dry quicker. So I typically use more alcohol but there are times that I want blending solution. Alcohol repels the ink away making bigger spots I think where blending solution helps it mix better. I still love the stuffin outta you for introducing me to Accent opaque cardstock. I even saw Jennifer McGuire list it a video that I saw today. I believe she said she was using Neenah 110 lb but she had accent listed in the description. That surprise me and it's quite a coup LOL. I really appreciate the time and effort that you put into doing these videos. It introduces me to products I may not have found, saves me money, and I don't have to buy and test everything LOL. Allow me to return the favor maybe. I've been on the hunt for white glitter cardstock at an affordable price. Now I haven't tried this yet because I only found it today, but I use the white probably more than any other color. Plus I can color the white if I want to. But check this one out if you is much of the white glitter. I so wanted that for my Christmas cards and didn't have any and wish I had found this then cuz I had to use silver. www.amazon.com/dp/B07RNHWZ1N/?coliid=IA9B44NULPLTC&colid=1MWXZU32862T&psc=1 big hugs
Thank you so much for this; it really helps me understand even the differences I was seeing myself but couldn't quite put my finger on it. Makes complete sense. Thank you!
Buy your alcohol at the Dollar store as cheap and cheap! Loved the comparisons of the paper as well as comparing the Yupo papers. Thanks for sharing and appreciate your time and tutorials.
@@marypolancodesigns Dollarstore alcohol is not usually 99%, and it does not work as well..I have tried..Costco has 4 packs of 99% alcohol, if you have a Costco membership
Hi Mary...I’m a new subscriber and really enjoying your very informative videos! Late to the party here...just thought I’d check the latest alcohol inks on Amazon. Apparently a lot of resin artists use alcohol ink for their work, so there’s a lot of brands made just for that. The bottles and/or sets look a lot like the ARTIST alcohol ink, i.e. Ranger & Piñata. The big difference is the PRICE...a lot lower, and the “viscosity”...how thick liquid is. Alcohol inks made for resin are thicker than artist alcohol inks so that they don’t spread out so much, which is what resin artists prefer. This link for the brand Limino does mention that you can use their inks on Yupo, but that you should dilute it because it’s so concentrated. Actually I’m sure you can use it in a diluted way on virtually any NON-POROUS surface, just like you do the artist alcohol ink. I used artist alcohol ink on a glazed 3x3 tile and had beautiful results (would make really nice gifts for Xmas or anytime.) The only thing is I found myself wishing that the inks would spread out a bit less because I was attempting to make some identifiable shapes and that’s tricky with artist alcohol ink. I think I’ll get this set (22 colors for $19.99!) and compare it to artist alcohol inks. www.amazon.com/Epoxy-Resin-Pigment-Concentrated-Colorant/dp/B07YLJTHGT
You are in my head, Nancy! I just ordered and received the alcohol inks made for resin because of those reasons. I'll have to try them soon. Super excited about it. THanks so much for joining me!
To be fair, I have not purchased Yupo--ever-- because I can't justify the cost to myself. What I tried & liked is SO INEXPENSIVE it will blow your mind! It's thin, but if you're going to attach it to a card front, I actually prefer a thinner paper. I get FINGERPAINT PAPER from Dollar Tree. It has a shiny coating on it. I don't have a pack in front of me, but I believe you get 20 sheets of very large paper (20 inches x 11? I can't remember exactly, but they are quite large) for $1.00. I can't give an honest comparison since I've never tried Yupo, but I really like the results. I don't know if any other fingerpaint paper would work as I have not tried any other. Also, you can get the Ranger Alcohol Inks on sale occassionally. I bought most of mine in packs and as individuals from Joann's online--on sale--for approx. $2.00-$3.00 per bottle. Different colors had different prices. You just have to watch for sales. Lastly, I would not recommend purchasing paper & most other items from Amazon. Over the last 4-5 months I have made several purchases from Amazon & have been quite upset, especially with the paper and cardstock. One pack of paper was wrapped by the manufacturer in a plastic packaging & that is the only package that arrived sealed, unopened and undamaged. All of the other packs arrived opened. Some were damaged either during shipping or by the machines that handled them. Some were actually missing pages! Yes, I actually counted the 250 packs of cardstock since the packages were opened. I don't know if pages came out because an employee stole them, or if the pages fell out after the machines damaged the packaging. It made me quite angry to have to count each and every sheet. If the packages had arrived intact, I would not have had to count them & spend all of my time on that. Amazon did replace the missing sheets & so forth, but the problem has happened so many times that I am past the point of patience. I have had other items arrive damaged and/or opened as well, so I have made the decision just this week to no longer do business with Amazon. Thank you for your comparisons, as I am cost conscious and I am a person who does the math to see which items are the best price!
Laura, thank you so very much for taking the time to share all of this with us. I really do appreciate it. I'm going to check out the finger painting paper. I had done a quick video to share that I used dollar tree poster board paper that I got there; cut down it was 20 sheets of 5x7 cardstock used as Yupo for alcohol inks and it was awesome; that is what prompted me to get this pack from Amazon. I am so bummed for you that you have had such bad experiences from Amazon. I can say that I have had no issues whatsoever from them and if there was something I didn't like, I returned it with no problem as well. The cardstock that said "110" and was super thin (that I showed in the video) was my fault because I didn't look at the GSM of the paper but i'm much smarter on that one now. But I understand completely why you wouldn't do business anymore; too much of a risk for you. I boycotted sony a long time ago for an issue; too much of a liability. lol Thanks again!
I binge-watched a whole bunch of your videos today. Loved it. Especially love your experiments/reviews, although I dont have these products available in my country.
Oh wow, I don't know if i've been "binged" before. lol I feel so honored. YAY so happy you are enjoying the videos. Thank you for taking the time to let me know and brighten my day!
I have only tried the legion yupo. I had pooling issues. I thought it was just me. I am in the middle of a large mother's day card project, so I haven't tried the posterboard yet I only have pinata alcohol inks in the 4 ounce bottles. The 4 ounce bottle of claro extender (comparable with blending solution) is just shy of $8 at blick. I bought all my inks and extender when they had a 25% off coupon code. I use regular alcohol most of the time, but I will list when I see a difference. Any pinata ink that requires shaking seems to do better with the extender. The purple I have is REALLY REALLY dark. I have used a lot of alcohol to kind of dilute it on the page. The extender seems to do a better job of that. Fantastic video. I have been watching it in pieces today
Mary, thanks for the great video. I've thought about buying alcohol inks and yupo but couldn't see spending that kind of money. But now I have a great alternative. I have a paper company near me that sells cardstock. They list it at 80lb but it feels heavier so I use it for my cardbases. They sell it precut in packs of 250 for $9 which is .03 each. I agree with you on the Neenah Exact. I was very disappointed in it.
YAY! What a paper find, ,that is so great. I'm so glad you found that. And yes, no Bueno on the Exact...I guess there is a different weight of paper and the GSM or something, it's in the comments; great info to know moving forward.
Great presentation on an very valuable for saving money on this type craft. Perhaps the title should specify paper crafts or alcohol ink crafts which I'm not doing right now, but it engaged me and I enjoyed watching it anyway. Thanks!
Just an fyi, Hobby Lobby puts the Tim Holtz inks on sale at 40% off every few weeks ( NO COUPON NEEDED), and you can order online if you aren't close to a HL. Also, Ranger now makes a Yupo card stock that is considerably less expensive than its yupo paper. Yupo is 9.99 for 10 sheets, and the yupo card stock is 5.99 for 20 sheets (Same size).
Oh this is awesome info to have; thank you so much. So happy to hear about the ranger cardstock. I wonder if it's poster board. ;) I will have to check that out. YAY on the deals! Thankks again
Mary, great price/performance options! I now feel I can venture into alcohol inks at a reasonable cost! You are definitely establishing yourself as a leader in the paper crafting world.
Oh Brenda, what a super kind and encouraging thing to say! I so appreciate you! I am with you; I held off on the alcohol inks and being honest, if I wasn't on a design team where I get a discount there are certain products I would never buy. So I'm glad I do and then compare them to less expensive items. WIN! lol
Great video, Mary. I've die cut cheap glitter card stock and it's frustrating when the bits don't come out. That's what I use my mini vac for. Don't use glitter at all. Recently have gotten some cricut glitter card stock which I'm curious to try. I have the Empress cutting machine, so I'm hoping it will be fine. Thanks for sharing.
Mary, thank you for this very helpful video and for showing other options that can be a lot more affordable for some of us.Very well done video and very much appreciate it! Thank you once again. Blessings
You are most welcome; I'm so so happy to help. I really appreciate that we can share all this great info with eachother. I never want a price tag to get in the way of someone being creative!
The 110 # exact index is what you bought. Think of index like index cards. Index is always lighter weight than “card” stock. Even if they both say 110#. Always look at the GSM this = grams. 110# index equals to an 80# cover. To me it’s lower like a 65%~>70# cover. Amy Jones Apex, NC PS~I worked for Unisource (paper distributors) for several yrs.
Thank you so much for all this info! I'm on a very tight budget. Now I can do some of the things I've wanted to do with these cheaper alternatives. Makes me very happy. Enjoy all your videos.
Again, another USEFUL video that others don't do. It's clear how much time and effort you put into this. Thanks loads!
Thank you so so much for that feedback! I really appreciate it!
Thanks again, Mary, for being our crafty guinea pig. You put a lot of time, effort, and money into making these videos so that we can save! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! 😀😊❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
You are the sweetest; thank you so much for that! It is my pleasure!
Great video...I am all about alternatives, especially when they save money. On a side note, yupo paper does not actually wipe clean. It stains and will remain stained, so you can't actually "start over" like some people may think. I am most excited about that poster board, so thank you VERY much for that!
Susan, thank you so much! And yes...I noticed that about the Yupo; I was expecting it to clean away like a dry erase board and as you saw....stained up real nice. lol YES try the poster board; heat embosses and die cuts like a dream!
I certainly learn a lot from. Being a new card maker I love all you tips and hacks
Oh thank you so much for letting me know!
Mary, your tip about using poster board instead of Yupo, has to be one of the BEST TIPS I have found on any You Tube video! I could not believe the results I get on the poster board! Yupo is expensive, and that inhibits my creativity, because I don’t want to waste such expensive paper! I have tried suggested replacements from others, such as photo paper, Tyvek mailing envelopes, none have worked for me. The poster board does!! I was amazed! And now I can create with wild abandon! Thank you so much for sharing this tip! This video was very helpful for making decisions and saving money on products.
Oh this makes me sooooo happy! Thank you for sharing. I was feeling the exact same way when I was trying to be creative...."get this right or you lose a dollar....YIKES!" No one can be free to create that way. I'm so glad it's working for you! YAHHOOOO
OMG! 😊 I’m only 38 seconds in and you are a hoot. “Sorry for the yelling, maybe too much coffee.” Just one more reason I love you Mary. LOL! You keep it real. And I love your “yelling”. thank you for this awesome information.
Hahaha...so glad you get me! :)
I'm loving learning of cheaper ways to craft especially in the current climate. I just wish there was someone in UK doing this. Thank you. X
I do too; I hope someone does soon!
Great to see all these tips. Love to learn about the poster board. A side note on that, the reason one might wanna wash off yupo and start again is cause it's so expensive. With the poster board being so inexpensive, I would just toss it if I didn't like how it turned out😊
True story! I felt really restricted, creatively with the Yupo before, now I let the kids play and everything!
You are the BEST!! I really appreciate so much your comparisons and how we can save money. That you get beautiful results with less expensive products is one of the reasons I can't wait for your videos! Plus you are so real and funny!! Please continue these kinds of videos and please show Spectrum Noir coloring and other alcohol ink pen alternatives. It is so hard to find anyone using other markers and not Copics! I am intrigued by the Arteza Everblend recently. I also would love to see paper and stamping ink go to's for alcohol pen coloring. I hear different things from different people- like I thought you could use Versafine Claire Nocturne but then I heard it smears? Best and least expensive paper for coloring? Aaaahhh!! So many questions!! Love you! 💗
Amazing suggestions....thank you!!! Ok I'm writing these down. You rock. Also, alcohol pen video coming within a week using Arteza, Ohuhu, and Master Markers. Yay!!!
@@marypolancodesigns YOU ROCK!!
Love your tips! My tip, which I learned from frugal crafter, Lyndsey, is using Lava soap to take ink off my fingers. I keep a bar along with an old dobie sponge under my sink. It always works to clean my hands!
Great tip! I'll try that for sure!
I wish I could hit the "love" button!!! Im getting some poster boards!!
Yay!!!!! I'm so happy you liked it. Yes, poster board is life. Lol
TiffB.
I know this is an older video, but you ALWAYS give such good information! That was fantastic. I knew there had to be alternatives out there, but who wants to buy tons of stuff in order to test it out. You've done the work for us. So...thank you!! We need to get you more subscribers. People are totally missing out who don't know about you. Keep up the great work!
Liz, you have made my day so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to send me such a sweet and supportive compliment! I shall keep up the work. In fact, I have a new one coming soon! :)
Thanks for all the tips, especially the poster board. Now I have a money-saving tip for you and your subscribers: You can get this same poster board from School Specialty for $4.79/pack, and a pack of 12 droppers for $2.39. I was the purchasing agent for our local Head Start and this is where we got most of our supplies.
Linda!!! WOOOHOOO! I hope everyone reads this! YAY! Thank you so much for sharing! :)
Mary, I received my posterboard yesterday and worked on 4 panels. LOVE the posterboard! Thanks again! ❤️
Great info Mary! The only other difference I have found between the blending solution and isopropyl alcohol is that the blending solution gives you more workable time as the alcohol itself dries faster. So depending on what you’re doing.....if you need slower dry time the “abs” works. If you’re not worried about faster dry time, the iso is perfect! I use both, but iso is so much more cost effective! Love that you’re doing these! Thank you for taking the time and effort! 💕🙋♀️
Thanks so much, Terri! That is super good info to have. It's my pleasure!
I’ve been binging your videos for the last week (sorry if you’re getting spammed with my comments 😂) and I realized why I love your channel-aside from the obvious like good content and good delivery. You put a lot of time and effort into helping others not only discover a new hobby but also meeting them where they are so they are able to discover that new hobby. IE if someone can’t necessarily afford the expensive equipment or tools, you show them a cheaper alternative that isn’t cheap junk. You show us a lot of the things many other RUclipsrs don’t.
These are awesome videos and I really appreciate the content!
Binge away! lol thank you so much for this very thoughtful comment. I really appreciate it. I've been trying to both support the industry but more importantly support the creator. There is so much positivity we gain from being creative and I never want anyone to feel they need to have a certain product to do that. Dont get me wrong, I have my own lil obsessions that aren't cheap but I try to share ideas to cover all of us in different arenas. Thank you for seeing me!
Thanks, Mary, for an extremely helpful video! I started with paper products bc I thought that learning with paper (after getting a SnC), would be cheaper than using my fabric. So, a little while later, after really liking the whole card making thing, I'm realizing that my purse is even lighter! 🤔 Thanks for telling us how to do it a bit less expensively!
YAY! So glad this was helpful! I am happy to share whatever info I can. YAY!
I use the Darice glitter cardstock and I love it!! sturdy, nice colors, good price and no glitter fallout
YES Kenisha!!! It's my absolute favorite. My only wish is that the sold it in single colors. Maybe I will contact them and request it. I'm putting in orders....what's your color choice? lol
Thank you for another great video. Living in a rural area with no craft stores in sight I buy a lot online and sometimes it is just overwhelming to see so many choices.
Oh I'm so glad this could be useful! YAY! thanks for letting me know!
Thank you for going over all of this! It was very helpful, especially the Yupo paper!
Glad it was helpful! YAY!
I totally identify about releasing one's prized labor of love to regular mail. I once had my grandson's card take a circuitous detour from VA to Boston via Kalamazoo, MI. It finally arrived there after a week and "cardiac arrest"!
Oh wow, that's quite a journey! lol Thanks so much for sharing
I am with you on the envelopes and am so happy you shared about being able to find 1000 of them rather then the 25 I have been buying at my local staples LOL.
You are most welcome. I really like having that many on hand. I don't have to think about it.
I was so thankful to see such a great "cheap" alternative to Yupo paper and glossy card stock or photo paper I always used.
YES those are such fun and great options. I just can't do the $1 per sheet anymore; that's crazy to me now!
I feel like the inks all moved better on the cardboard paper than on the yupo papers. That's awesome to know! Yupo is expensive and since I just play with it it becomes pricey for me. Thanks!!
Yes this is one of my all time favorite discoveries because of the cost savings! Yupo is so pricey, I always felt like I couldn't just be free to play! Thanks s much!!
Hi Mary thank you so much for taking the time to test these out and break down the prices!! This is so so helpful and I appreciate the work that you put into so this. Someone told me about your channel when I was comparing glue and they suggested I watch your glue video and I’ve been hooked ever since lol. TFS
Hahah...oh that is so sweet; YAY! I am currently recruiting to join me on the cheap side. hahah. Did you watch Part 2 of the glue review too? A lot of people are missing that one, so I might have to change the photo so its different from the first one.
Mary Polanco oh yes I did lol. It was great. I have been using art glitter glue for over a year (shortly after I started crafting) and love it. But a sweet subbie of mine just sent me the nuvo glue and I must say I’m loving it. I can’t make a freaking card to save my life lol but I can throw down a mini album like no ones business haha. However I’m so addicted to watching card makers it just amazes me!!!! 😀
Just found your video & I have to say I appreciate your honesty so much. There seems, at times, to be pressure from some demonstrators to purchase "the best", but alas, not all can afford that. Thank you so much! I'll be watching many more of your videos Mary. Cheers from the west coast of Canada.
Thanks so much for this feedback Teri! I very much appreciate it. Cheers to you!
Mary, I have been using 99% isopropyl alcohol for many things, including as a replacement for blending solution. I keep a good size spray bottle full for cleaning my craft surface (glass and laminate desktop), acrylic stamp blocks, my hands, and more. For tougher jobs the hand sanitizer works well because you can let it sit and penetrate longer. I also use glossy photo paper (I have a huge stash) for alcohol inks and recently experimented with a white mylar mailing envelope. I just won't pay the price for Ranger's Yupo Paper. The mylar envelope material is very thin and doesn't die cut well, so it was a bust for me as a card maker. It might be a great way to experiment with different techniques though. Thank you for all of your tips! I took notes and will update my craft shopping list. As a retiree on a fixed budget saving money always wins for me. Honestly, I have been a frugal shopper and diy gal all my life. Your reviews are awesome!! I am subscribing to your channel.
Susan thank you so very much for this. I love all the tips and will be getting a spray bottle for the alcohol to clean. Yay! Thanks again
Excellent video...
Thank you so much for sharing this video.
My pleasure; I'm so glad it was helpful!
I really appreciate your tests as I always fall for the ads, which are ripping me off. I’ve found if it scrapbook or cars making it raises the price. Thank you for testing these things out.
My pleasure! Thank you so much!
I haven't been buying the yupo paper either after trying it because I did the math & it was just too expensive to "play" with. So glad to know about the poster board! Thanks gor the great video.
YAY! I'm so glad it was helpful! That makes me so happy. Now I feel free to just experiment.
@@marypolancodesigns yup, yup, you & me too!
You. Are. A. Crafting. Goddess! I love your money saving videos.
Oh my....what a superb compliment. I dont think it would be right to accept that status....but I shall...for the moment at least. Hahahaha
And added note for you, not sure if you know but I always heard you are not supposed to put ABS in a spray bottle but you can with the 99% alcohol. I love the look when you come in and give a spray across the whole surface. So cool.
Lori, yes I learned that after putting my ABS in a spray bottle for a video and everyone saved my life. lol I will for sure try the 99% YAY! Thank you
Well done! If you need a little more dry time for the 99% alcohol a few drops of glicerin will do it, I live where it's very hot and dry so extended dry time is helpful. Also, if anyone has an independent office supply/paper store they may have a damages/discontinued section. I can't believe some of the steals I've gotten at my local one!!!
Amazing tips; i'm going to try the glycerin. Where does one by said glycerin?? I'll have to google. Also, going to Staples now, thanks for that!
@@marypolancodesigns any big box store, I got it at Walmart, best price so far
As always, very helpful Mary. I've only recently started played with alcohol inks. Thx
OH I'm so glad this was helpful! YAY Thank you for letting me know.
This was an incredibly helpful video, thank you!!
Thank you so much for that feedback, Mindy! I so appreciate it!
Great cost comparison. Good to know that expensive Yupo isn’t the only choice
Thanks so much, correct, not the only option. YAY So happy to just play
Grafix plastic is another good, better priced option. It also comes in clear and black in addition to white. It’s available at Amazon, Dick Blick’s, and Scrapbooking Made Simple. Other art supply stores as well. It comes in both 12x12 and 8.5x11.
You have to check out Pearl and glitter alcohol inks on black. It’s magical.
Marabu has a line of both metallic and glitter alcohol inks that are slightly less expensive than Ranger or Piñata. Plus Marabu has a clear rainbow 🌈 alcohol ink that can be used on its own or mixed into other colors.
I am not certain if anyone mentioned it in the comments but the weight of the paper is only one factor you also want to look at whether it’s index or cover stock weight ... index will feel less thick. I also buy the Neenah from paper suppliers like Kelly Paper in major markets. The 80# cover Neenah is also nice.
YES, thank you so much! Someone actually emailed me the explanation of GSM and WOW did it make a total difference. I will be looking for that now for sure! Thanks so much for sharing!
TY for doing this video. I always need money saving ideas. If you ever do want to wipe your yupo paper off I think it works a little better if you put alchol on your paper towel or rag. And of course the fresher the ink the better it comes off. I will 4-sure be getting some of that School Smart Poster Board. That stuff looked like it did just as good as either of the others. So you saved me some money right there. Oh, and TY so much for breaking down those prices. That really did help. TYFS
Kim, thanks for letting me know all of this! I am glad it was helpful! I really think this hobby can get out of hand with all the things I want so I needed to slow down a little bit and find some alternatives. :)
@@marypolancodesigns You are so right. When I am doing something like this I always want everything that makes it look so great. But People(myself included) just can't afford to get some of these things. So it is so great when we find alternatives, & share them we each other. Again, TY
Great video. If you drop a few drops of glycerin into a couple of ounces of 99% alcohol, it basically behaves like Ranger's Alcohol solution. The solution allows for less staining of the paper and takes more time to dry, giving you more time to move it around. I spent weeks playing around, made about 100 backgrounds and had a blast testing techniques and finding more affordable options.
Amazing tips, thank you so much. I wonder if the glycerin additive is the reason we should spray it into the air and inhale it.
And so I now have an Amazon order with Glitter cardstock, school smart poster board & accent Opaque heavyweight paper
Hahah..you wont' be disappointed; so much fun! I couldn't believe how many sheets of that glitter cardstock we get for that price; I was like, WHAAT!? lol
I hope Amazon doesn't send damaged, opened or packages missing items to you as they have sent me many damaged/opened paper and cardstock packs recently. Some were missing several sheets of paper as well. If they do come damaged, be sure to tell Amazon about it & make sure they replace the damaged or missing items for free.
In the DFW area we are.lucky to have OK Paper, a commercial paper company that sells to the public. I can get Neenah 110 for about 10 cents a sheet. They also have great savings on Kraft and Bristol. You do have to buy full reams which may be too much for some but my local crafty friends and I share saving us all $$.
Linda you are so lucky
The blue and green alcohol pieces are gorgeous!! I hope a lot of newer crafters watch this!! I hate to think of them spending so much money like I did...(and don’t even use it all) finally woke up and found Amazon!! I only buy from Michaels if I have a coupon!🙌🏻🙌🏻❤️❤️
OH YES! The coupon deal is amazing; even if you ever go for one thing,...5 x a week. lol AC Moore usually has daily coupons. I hear you on new crafters! It is so my hope that people share the info because I really don't want people to get overwhelmed with all the prices of new things.
Found this older video and it is soooo helpful! No blending solution or expensive Yupo paper for me, or the expensive glitter paper too. Great info! Thank you sooo much. I was avoiding alcohol inks because of the Yupo cost. Now I will be playing for sure 😍!
YAY! I'm so so happy it was helpful! Thank you for letting me know Jan! I am a posterboard and back of the phot paper gal now! Yupo is an astronomic cost for something I might ruin! lol
VERY HELPFUL....THANK YOU for being honest.
Glad it was helpful! YAY!
Got the poster board paper, what a great deal! TFS!
YAY!!!! oh I ONLY buy that now for Yupo! YES
Thank you so much for sharing this comparison is mind-blowing love your show can't wait to see what else you come up with and thank you for the big savings have a great day God bless
Thank you so much! I have a few money savings videos on my channel if you check it out. :)
I just 'play' for the most part, which includes making cards for giving away, so 10 cents a sheet is my mojo.
YAY! Yes that is a great deal for this fun Cardstock. I'm having so much fun with it!
Great video- I always look for ways to save so I can spend more on other supplies. I also use glossy photo paper for use with the alcohol inks. It works well and it’s cheaper than Yupo. I also use blending solution as well as the alcohol, but I do find the blending solution blends better as the alcohol does evaporate much more quickly.
Thank you so much! Great tips and I didn't so much notice the alcohol evaporating but I will watch that closer next time. Thanks for that! :)
You’re welcome!
Also, isopropyl alcohol is available in a spray bottle. I suggest holding it very high/far away from your media surface. Then spray once and wait a few seconds to see the reaction. The tiny atomized spray makes a beautiful modeled look, almost like stones or geodes, rather than puddles that the large droplets do. I found that Walgreens carries it but CVS and RiteAid do not. Important... Alcohol can melt (eat a hole through) some plastics. It may not be suitable for all water brushes. Better to use a little from the bottle cap or small ceramic vessel with a regular paint brush than the water brushes with a barrel. - THANK YOU for doing both the product and price comparisons. Really great info.
My heart just skipped a beat, Anita. Cant wait to try it. Yaaaayyyyy
The Michael's in the greater Charleston area used to be located near a craft store that has gone out of business. They accepted % off equivalents to all craft stores at that time.
But in March 2020 (I think) they stopped taking all competitor coupons. The best coupon they generally carry is 20% off regular priced items. That makes Michael's very low on my list. It's also in a city where the council vote didn't require mask wearing. So there's that.
I watch RUclips on my TV via Roku. I wanted you to know that the information with the title and the date in the video has moved to the upper left of the screen and the font is white. When you say "as of this date" for pricing, no one watching the same way that I am can see the posted date. It's very frustrating and not your fault but it would be nice if you gave a verbal general date range.
Thank you for all the work you put into your videos. You've seriously changed my wish list items. I appreciate you taking 1 for the team.
♡~Heidi
Thank you so much for this feedback. I didn't realize that about the date. The "as of this date" means the day the video posted which you can see right below the video (when not in full screen). But knowing this now, I will for sure add it verbally to make it so much easier for viewers. I appreciate you! Also it seems that a lot of craft stores are taking away some of their best coupons. So disappointing.
Enjoyed this video. Went to Amazon and purchased a few of your recommendations. I have the Piñata inks and really like them. Thanks for sharing.
Yay!! I'm so happy it was helpful. I love the pinata inks so much!!!
I got mine from Not2shabby. That was the first time I heard of them.
Mary, I think this was a fsntastic video. Thank you for doing all the comparisons. I do not have ANY alcohol inks as I am a pretty frugal person and sometimes it gets a little frustrating when the stores have a minimal selection to choose from if any, and you have to order online. If you only need a couple things the shipping is crazy and takes a while to get. I live out in the "country" so it is dissappointing when you drive 45 minutes to oick up some things and you can't come home with it and play. I should have just ordered it and paid the shipping and saved my gas!! LOL. I honestly did not know there was another alcohol ink, you have convinced me to try these out!! Thanks so much!!!
Thanks so much for the love, Pam. I can imagine that is completely frustrating. If you order from Amazon, you might want to consider signing up for Prime membership. Most things ship through Prime and it's free shipping; that membership cost might be what you would spend in gas in the year anyway. Just a thought. But oh..living out in the country sounds nice and peaceful!
@@marypolancodesigns guess who ordered alcohol inks and markers today? Yep it is me!! I used my daughter's prime account!!! I even had an Amazon gift card from work so it didn't cost me anything!! Now that is a blessing indeed!! Thanks to you I knew what to order! Thank you!🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
@@pamjohnson3784 YAY!! Look at you!!! If you got any of the alcohol markers I reviewed and want the color chart, email me! merrymadecrafts2@gmail.com
Your videos are so unique and helpful. I appreciate you!
Glad you like them! this is such a great compliment thank you so much!
Thank you for the video. 1 thing is the neenah 110 lb is usually around $12 now. I know the prices change but I've been buying neenah for 8 years now and never paid over $15 for 250 sheets from Amazon.
Thanks for the info! Is it the same GSM as the one that is recommended by the craft industry and sold in online craft stores?
Thanks Mary! This was helpful. The blending solution by Ranger is alcohol with a few drops of glycerin mixed in. I’ve made my own and it works! This was especially helpful to me with card stock and the yupo paper dupes. Yay! ♥️
GENI - US!!!! WOOOHOOO thank you for this tip. So helpful!
Kathya what does the glycerin do? How much glycerin? thank you
@@lonyamathys7131 I found a 'recipe' for DIY blending solution a few years ago. But I just saw this one, watched it, and it's the same recipe. Bonus is that she gives her take on her favorite photo paper to use that she feels is better than Yupo paper: eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FhJrjVImum2k&data=02%7C01%7C%7C89ecad3e75834aab7f9108d6c800382a%7C1a407a2d76754d178692b3ac285306e4%7C0%7C0%7C636916300595329350&sdata=2PuR%2Fnfo0yNEWDkiQVFTMVBHYDGgrypK2Mc6k8zRPmQ%3D&reserved=0
Great video comparing the many options available for different craft uses. After 20 years of card making, I recently just discovered the Accent Opaque cardstock and IMHO, it is amazing especially for the price. I use both the 120 lb and the 100 lb. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience Mary.
Hi Bonnie! I only discovered Accent a couple years ago and I cannot say enough good things about it. I did a video on my channel where i compared it to the expensive type.
Another great video! I love these money saving tips that you give. I’ve tried the accent opaque card stock after you mentioned to in a previous video and love it, and the Rock Paper Scissors removable sticker paper for masking, and it works great! Looking forward to trying out some of your other money saving ideas. Thank you so much 😊
Oh thank you so much, Jill, for the follow up on the products. I always wonder if folks like what I recommend. I really appreciate you taking the time!
Wow those are significant savings.
Yes indeed, I was so happy to compare these because things are so expensive.
I love your videos. You always give some really nice suggestion which is wallet friendly as not all of us have unlimited budget. For most of the folks this is a hobby which comes with limited budget. I have been using Kirkland brand photo paper as my paper for alcohol inks and it is working wonderfully. They cost 20$ for 300 sheets for 4 * 6, 100 sheets of 5 * 7. Good to know about poster board from Dollar Tree, have to try that out for sure.
YES...great tip! Thank you so much for sharing this. I have been hearing photo paper has been a win for so many! YAY! I love it. I'll have to try that next (after I go through my 100 sheets of course) lol
Thanks for your comparison video. I only purchase Neenah 110# for copic coloring because of the bleed factor with other papers as well as the brightness of the artwork appearance. You can compare that factor with copics and that would be better than just for cardstock which I pick up cheap.
Thanks for sharing! This is super helpful! :) I know lots lof the 110 for blending, I'll have to try it some more. I usually use the 80#.
Hi! I just had to swing back by and thank you for the tip on the glitter paper. I went to Amazon and they happen to have a warehouse deal. Somebody had returned the pack of paper so I got it for $11.20. That works out to something like $.28 per page with free prime shipping. Amazing! Thank you again!!
YAY! I love to hear this! Great deal! Thanks for sharing! :)
New subbie here! You're my type of gal! I'm all about the 'per unit price' and $avings! ♡ that you compare products. Great videos!
Oh YAY thanks for joining me and thanks for letting me know that is helpful! YAY
Mary, great comparison video, this was very informative! I think that the "poster board" is more like Ranger's Alcohol Ink "Card Stock". I believe neither wipes off with Ranger Alcohol Blending Solution or 99% alcohol & it's more absorbent than Yupo because they both have a higher "paper" content. That is why it can take a bit more heat vs being fully plastic which may be why it doesn't warp as much. Terrific job Mary!!! Thanks for sharing this information, YOU ROCK!!! Sending HUGS!!!
Thank you so much, Maria! I so appreciate the feedback and love! I was thrilled to be finding these deals because I was spending way too much money. lol
I appreciate your finding great deals & alternatives to save money on supplies! Hugs!
Very helpful. Love the fair and honest comparisons. I will be reviewing for myself the differences in cardstock that I usually buy against what you did.
Thanks so much Carol; that is a great compliment! I try so hard to be. :) Yes do compare and see what you find out!
I so appreciate your doing the math and the experiments! A lot of money can be saved! Thanks!
YAY! So glad it's helpful. YES, and this can get overwhelming if we are not careful. Thanks so much for the encouragement!
VERY helpful! I've just started using alcohol inks and yupo and have been hesitant to buy but these are economical ideas. I really like that gold Pinata ink! Thanks so much!
You are most welcome! I am so glad it was useful! I feel like I can have more freedom to play now knowing that these options are affordable.
Thank you for doing all this testing. Huge fan of saving money and thanks to you I will be saving even more.
Thanks so much Karen! I appreciate that! I learned a lot from this video!
I saw a video also about using Grafix Opaque White Plastic, I think it was, I 'm sorry I don't remember who did it. I think it was a comparison between that and Yupo also. I'm sure the cost is probably more than the poster board and I don't know how it would compare but it is probably and option also. Tysm for this comparison.
Thank you so much for this; i will have to check it out! I love the alternative options we are all chatting about; it's so great! YAY
Amazing!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing. It's all about having options and being able to pick an choose without feeling that you're compromising the integrity of the finished product. Crafting accessible to all, regardless of budget! You go girl!!✊
Thank you so much Amanda! I am so glad it was useful and I couldn't agree more with you if I tried! :)
For the Neenah paper you got that wasn’t as thick as you expected, make sure you get Cover instead of Index because there’s a difference in the two. Great video! TFS! ~ Stacey
Thanks so much Stacey! I also learned about something called GSM which is what I really should have been looking at. Learning has occurred! lol
I find so much joy and inspiration from your videos! Thank you for posting
What an encouraging comment, thank you for taking the time to say that. Hugs
Instead of Yupo paper I use the shiny paper background packaging from dollar store stamps, the shiny cardboard that comes with my envelopes and any kind of backing paper that comes with other Dollarstore packaging. I keep a pile of it ready to go and with all the purchases we make... I get lots of paper to play with. They work great!
Ok.....BEST tip ever! Yes...just keep what you already get. Do you mean like the cardboard pieces that come in our stamp sets?
Mary Polanco Ok, I got my words mixed up (sorry... Happens to me all the time) $$ store STICKERS. They come in a cello bag on a sheet of acetate with a piece of cardstock behind them. This cardstock is lovely slick and perfect for the AIs to flow. It's not as slick as Yupo so a bit of blending solution/alcohol is required to get it flowing... But my goodness, I buy myself some stickers & I get a piece of paper to use. 😉 I've also found at a local $$ store some perfectly sized magnet sheets that come in a heavy cello, resealable bag. I take out the paper that comes with it & it's perfect too! I have the magnet sheet for my dies that I can store in it's original bag AND a piece of paper for my AIs... All for $1.25! Crazy, I know!
@@Saintly2 perfect!! That's such a great tip. Yay. Thanks
The difference in spreading is the same but… the 99% makes the Color flatter looking on paper, the blending retains the Color better. Which makes sense. The blender has resin and the 99% is more liquid so it would water down the color
Another extremely helpful video. Thank you. So glad I found your channel!
YAY! So glad it was useful. I really appreciate you letting me know.
I appreciate this very much! I won't feel so guilty anymore. I'm an amateur not a professional. I make cards for family and friends! 💖💖💖🌹🤓
That's right, just have fun with it all! Thank you so much, Debra
I am so excited to find out about the school smart poster board!!!!!!!!!!!! I have just bought several alcohol inks to start experimenting with. And I definitely want an inexpensive paper while I am playing and learning. Thank you so much. I had heard about using 99% alcohol. It was nice to see that it does work good.
YES it really does work, the 99%. I am so happy because the blending solution is just too pricey for how fast I use it up. Some have said the 99% dries faster though but I will have to be on the look out for that next time; didn't notice it much.
Terrific as always. Yupo always stains... grafix opaque comes off totally...
That's so good to know thank you so much for the share!
I use photo paper for alcohol inks. The non-shiny side. I think you can get a large package with no watermark on the back side from Costco. I had an old package that I’ve had for years with a very very light watermark on the back but it seems to fade or disappear once Input the inks and alcoholic there. 91% alcohol works great too. I get a large bottle at Walmart for a couple of bucks. But photo paper is pretty much plastic like YUPO. Anyway it’s fun to practice on. It’s probably a tad thinner than yupo so probably would stand up as well to heat.
Thanks so much, Rebecca! This is all super helpful! YAY!
Another useful video. Thanks Mary.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much
Wow!! Such helpful information. Thank you so much!!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for letting me know!
This is a fantastic video-very helpful!
Glad you think so! Yay
I realize this was a year ago and somehow I missed it, and of course I'm not going to read through 670 comments so someone may have said this. For the alcohol inks first I was massively impressed with the poster board. Second 99% vs blending solution, for me it depends on what I want to do. When I lay down my initial inks if I want a lot of movement for a while I use blending solution. If I just want to move it let it dry the 99% because that's going to dry quicker. So I typically use more alcohol but there are times that I want blending solution. Alcohol repels the ink away making bigger spots I think where blending solution helps it mix better.
I still love the stuffin outta you for introducing me to Accent opaque cardstock. I even saw Jennifer McGuire list it a video that I saw today. I believe she said she was using Neenah 110 lb but she had accent listed in the description. That surprise me and it's quite a coup LOL. I really appreciate the time and effort that you put into doing these videos. It introduces me to products I may not have found, saves me money, and I don't have to buy and test everything LOL. Allow me to return the favor maybe. I've been on the hunt for white glitter cardstock at an affordable price. Now I haven't tried this yet because I only found it today, but I use the white probably more than any other color. Plus I can color the white if I want to. But check this one out if you is much of the white glitter. I so wanted that for my Christmas cards and didn't have any and wish I had found this then cuz I had to use silver. www.amazon.com/dp/B07RNHWZ1N/?coliid=IA9B44NULPLTC&colid=1MWXZU32862T&psc=1
big hugs
Thank you so much for this; it really helps me understand even the differences I was seeing myself but couldn't quite put my finger on it. Makes complete sense. Thank you!
Buy your alcohol at the Dollar store as cheap and cheap! Loved the comparisons of the paper as well as comparing the Yupo papers. Thanks for sharing and appreciate your time and tutorials.
Tricia, is the alcohol in the DOllar Tree 99%, and if not, does it still work? I'm looking for the cheapest product so hook me up! lol
@@marypolancodesigns Dollarstore alcohol is not usually 99%, and it does not work as well..I have tried..Costco has 4 packs of 99% alcohol, if you have a Costco membership
Great save lots of money 🌞 I love your honesty ❤ thanks for sharing and happy crafting Hugs
YAY! So happy to see this! My pleasure...hugs back
Hi Mary...I’m a new subscriber and really enjoying your very informative videos!
Late to the party here...just thought I’d check the latest alcohol inks on Amazon. Apparently a lot of resin artists use alcohol ink for their work, so there’s a lot of brands made just for that. The bottles and/or sets look a lot like the ARTIST alcohol ink, i.e. Ranger & Piñata. The big difference is the PRICE...a lot lower, and the “viscosity”...how thick liquid is. Alcohol inks made for resin are thicker than artist alcohol inks so that they don’t spread out so much, which is what resin artists prefer. This link for the brand Limino does mention that you can use their inks on Yupo, but that you should dilute it because it’s so concentrated. Actually I’m sure you can use it in a diluted way on virtually any NON-POROUS surface, just like you do the artist alcohol ink. I used artist alcohol ink on a glazed 3x3 tile and had beautiful results (would make really nice gifts for Xmas or anytime.) The only thing is I found myself wishing that the inks would spread out a bit less because I was attempting to make some identifiable shapes and that’s tricky with artist alcohol ink. I think I’ll get this set (22 colors for $19.99!) and compare it to artist alcohol inks. www.amazon.com/Epoxy-Resin-Pigment-Concentrated-Colorant/dp/B07YLJTHGT
You are in my head, Nancy! I just ordered and received the alcohol inks made for resin because of those reasons. I'll have to try them soon. Super excited about it. THanks so much for joining me!
The Michael's cardstock is called recollection's. Thank you for breaking it all down it really helps :).
Yes indeed, thank you so much for! I'm so glad it was helpful!
To be fair, I have not purchased Yupo--ever-- because I can't justify the cost to myself. What I tried & liked is SO INEXPENSIVE it will blow your mind! It's thin, but if you're going to attach it to a card front, I actually prefer a thinner paper. I get FINGERPAINT PAPER from Dollar Tree. It has a shiny coating on it. I don't have a pack in front of me, but I believe you get 20 sheets of very large paper (20 inches x 11? I can't remember exactly, but they are quite large) for $1.00. I can't give an honest comparison since I've never tried Yupo, but I really like the results. I don't know if any other fingerpaint paper would work as I have not tried any other. Also, you can get the Ranger Alcohol Inks on sale occassionally. I bought most of mine in packs and as individuals from Joann's online--on sale--for approx. $2.00-$3.00 per bottle. Different colors had different prices. You just have to watch for sales. Lastly, I would not recommend purchasing paper & most other items from Amazon. Over the last 4-5 months I have made several purchases from Amazon & have been quite upset, especially with the paper and cardstock. One pack of paper was wrapped by the manufacturer in a plastic packaging & that is the only package that arrived sealed, unopened and undamaged. All of the other packs arrived opened. Some were damaged either during shipping or by the machines that handled them. Some were actually missing pages! Yes, I actually counted the 250 packs of cardstock since the packages were opened. I don't know if pages came out because an employee stole them, or if the pages fell out after the machines damaged the packaging. It made me quite angry to have to count each and every sheet. If the packages had arrived intact, I would not have had to count them & spend all of my time on that. Amazon did replace the missing sheets & so forth, but the problem has happened so many times that I am past the point of patience. I have had other items arrive damaged and/or opened as well, so I have made the decision just this week to no longer do business with Amazon. Thank you for your comparisons, as I am cost conscious and I am a person who does the math to see which items are the best price!
Laura, thank you so very much for taking the time to share all of this with us. I really do appreciate it. I'm going to check out the finger painting paper. I had done a quick video to share that I used dollar tree poster board paper that I got there; cut down it was 20 sheets of 5x7 cardstock used as Yupo for alcohol inks and it was awesome; that is what prompted me to get this pack from Amazon. I am so bummed for you that you have had such bad experiences from Amazon. I can say that I have had no issues whatsoever from them and if there was something I didn't like, I returned it with no problem as well. The cardstock that said "110" and was super thin (that I showed in the video) was my fault because I didn't look at the GSM of the paper but i'm much smarter on that one now. But I understand completely why you wouldn't do business anymore; too much of a risk for you. I boycotted sony a long time ago for an issue; too much of a liability. lol Thanks again!
I binge-watched a whole bunch of your videos today. Loved it. Especially love your experiments/reviews, although I dont have these products available in my country.
Oh wow, I don't know if i've been "binged" before. lol I feel so honored. YAY so happy you are enjoying the videos. Thank you for taking the time to let me know and brighten my day!
Thank you for this video! Really appreciate the time you took for us to be more selective with our choices
Thank you so much for that! I appreciate that you say that! It was my pleasure though. I love sharing a good deal!
Mary Polancoi
I recall reading something about the pearl inks working better with the blending solution vs rubbing alcohol. You should do a comparison just to see.
Charlene, yes i'll check that out; thank you so much for the info!
I have only tried the legion yupo. I had pooling issues. I thought it was just me. I am in the middle of a large mother's day card project, so I haven't tried the posterboard yet
I only have pinata alcohol inks in the 4 ounce bottles. The 4 ounce bottle of claro extender (comparable with blending solution) is just shy of $8 at blick. I bought all my inks and extender when they had a 25% off coupon code. I use regular alcohol most of the time, but I will list when I see a difference.
Any pinata ink that requires shaking seems to do better with the extender.
The purple I have is REALLY REALLY dark. I have used a lot of alcohol to kind of dilute it on the page. The extender seems to do a better job of that.
Fantastic video. I have been watching it in pieces today
I love all the things about this post, Jesse! Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of this information. YAY!
Jesse b pick up a bottle of the Ranger snow (white) mixative it will help lighten the inks that are too dark.
@@bertas-cards thank you!
Mary, thanks for the great video. I've thought about buying alcohol inks and yupo but couldn't see spending that kind of money. But now I have a great alternative. I have a paper company near me that sells cardstock. They list it at 80lb but it feels heavier so I use it for my cardbases. They sell it precut in packs of 250 for $9 which is .03 each. I agree with you on the Neenah Exact. I was very disappointed in it.
YAY! What a paper find, ,that is so great. I'm so glad you found that. And yes, no Bueno on the Exact...I guess there is a different weight of paper and the GSM or something, it's in the comments; great info to know moving forward.
Great presentation on an very valuable for saving money on this type craft. Perhaps the title should specify paper crafts or alcohol ink crafts which I'm not doing right now, but it engaged me and I enjoyed watching it anyway. Thanks!
Thank you so much for the recommendation! Just made the change to the title.
Just an fyi, Hobby Lobby puts the Tim Holtz inks on sale at 40% off every few weeks ( NO COUPON NEEDED), and you can order online if you aren't close to a HL. Also, Ranger now makes a Yupo card stock that is considerably less expensive than its yupo paper. Yupo is 9.99 for 10 sheets, and the yupo card stock is 5.99 for 20 sheets (Same size).
And thank you for sharing, you have a lot of great, useful info here!
Oh this is awesome info to have; thank you so much. So happy to hear about the ranger cardstock. I wonder if it's poster board. ;) I will have to check that out. YAY on the deals! Thankks again
thank you so much ! we all need to save money where we can!
Agreed!!! Thank you so much!!
Mary, great price/performance options! I now feel I can venture into alcohol inks at a reasonable cost! You are definitely establishing yourself as a leader in the paper crafting world.
Oh Brenda, what a super kind and encouraging thing to say! I so appreciate you! I am with you; I held off on the alcohol inks and being honest, if I wasn't on a design team where I get a discount there are certain products I would never buy. So I'm glad I do and then compare them to less expensive items. WIN! lol
Brenda Shelonko SO totally agree!!
Thanks Mary. I did learn a lot on the pricing. Thanks so much.
oh Good, Terry thanks for letting me know that! YAY
A great video, Mary!
Amazing the difference one can pay for crafting papers. TFS the side by side comparisons.
You are most welcome; i'm so glad it was helpful!
Great video, Mary. I've die cut cheap glitter card stock and it's frustrating when the bits don't come out. That's what I use my mini vac for. Don't use glitter at all. Recently have gotten some cricut glitter card stock which I'm curious to try. I have the Empress cutting machine, so I'm hoping it will be fine. Thanks for sharing.
Oh I hope that works for you; Darice Glitter Cardstock is my absolute favorite to die cut; like a dream.
Mary, thank you for this very helpful video and for showing other options that can be a lot more affordable for some of us.Very well done video and very much appreciate it! Thank you once again. Blessings
You are most welcome; I'm so so happy to help. I really appreciate that we can share all this great info with eachother. I never want a price tag to get in the way of someone being creative!
The 110 # exact index is what you bought. Think of index like index cards. Index is always lighter weight than “card” stock. Even if they both say 110#. Always look at the GSM this = grams. 110# index equals to an 80# cover. To me it’s lower like a 65%~>70# cover.
Amy Jones Apex, NC
PS~I worked for Unisource (paper distributors) for several yrs.
Thank you so so much!!! I have learned so mivh about paper lately. I really appreciate you taking the time to post the info
Thank you so much for all this info! I'm on a very tight budget. Now I can do some of the things I've wanted to do with these cheaper alternatives. Makes me very happy. Enjoy all your videos.
Thank you so much!! I so appreciate that. Yay for saving money. Woot woot