sponge dauber alternatives?

scrappingmelissa · 05-21-2009

what else can I use to put Ink or chalk on chipboard other than sponge daubers. I was going to use cosmetic sponges but I am not sure if its the same texture?

anyone know?

Paula in GA · 05-21-2009

I use cosmetic sponges, kitchen sponges, cotton balls, cotton gauze & just about anything that can't run away from me in my playroom. They all work, just differently.

Mingo · 05-21-2009

Cosmetic sponges are probably the closest alternative to sponge daubers. When I'm working with pigment ink I quite often just press the chipboard into the ink and move it around until I'm satisfied with the coverage. It's a bit messier, but you don't need anything special to achieve the look.

mama2oliviamae · 05-21-2009

I also use cosmetic spounges (the wedge kind). I like them because I can use them 3 times (once for the tip and once on either side of the bigger part) and then throw 'em out. Sometimes, I collect them in a tin and wash them out after a while but lately, I've been having to set - up and cleaning up my stuff at the dining room table over and over again (sometimes in one day) so I just throw them out.

Angelnorth · 05-22-2009

I use a piece snipped off the kind of big sponge that's sold for car washing

I can get three big sponges for £1 (I guess you guys would find something similar at the dollar store) and they last ages. I keep a different sponge chunk for each colour group (one for browns, one for greens etc), I do rinse them out every now and again and when they start to get tatty I junk them. I bought my last pack almost two years ago and I only just bought a new pack this week as I'd snipped into the last third of the last sponge! Any kind of sponge with a reasonably close texture that stays spongy rather than going hard when dry will most likely do the trick.

mmstampedia · 05-22-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by mama2oliviamae

I also use cosmetic spounges (the wedge kind). I like them because I can use them 3 times (once for the tip and once on either side of the bigger part) and then throw 'em out. Sometimes, I collect them in a tin and wash them out after a while but lately, I've been having to set - up and cleaning up my stuff at the dining room table over and over again (sometimes in one day) so I just throw them out.

I have a similar idea as your except I keep mine sorted by the color families.... and I keep using them for the same color..... I never throw them out and they always match my ink pads.

If they get really bad I just rinse the works out and let them dry in front of the window for a day or so. I never tried washing them in the washer.... I don't think I would put them in the dryer though!!!

To keep them tidy I have a box with dividers and sort them out by color. So easy to find what you need! Then throw them back in and and close the box! outa sight!

IdahoLee · 05-22-2009

i've washed mine in the washer. i put them in a pillowcase, and then rubberband it shut. then i let them air dry. i've done this with sponges, and the daubers.

stelagrafx · 05-25-2009

Do you mean those little finger tip things from SU with the sponge on the end? I bought some daubers at AC Moore. instead of the piece you stick your finger in, it has a 1" round wood dowel. I pulled off the sponge part (I don't like how it 'daubs') and I hot glued a 3/4" pom-pom on each side. They pounce ink and chalk very nicely. When they get old or too saturated w/color, I just pull the pom off and glue on another. You could get a 3/4 " dowel and cut it into 1" lengths, but these were pretty cheap, they were in the stenciling area, not stamping. I don't do chipboard, so I am not sure how it would work on that, but I guess just as well.

asuncionshija · 05-27-2009

Something I haven't seen mentioned here is Cut N Dry foam from Ranger. It comes in a big sheet (I think I got it from HL, maybe Mike's?) for fairly cheap. Just like most of the other things mentioned, nip a little off from the sheet, use it, wash it & reuse it.
Here's a link to it at Ranger:
http://www.rangerink.com/products/pr...utndryfoam.htm
It gives a lovely soft finish that I've never gotten from anything else.

Tenn · 05-27-2009

Great idea!!

TimeCrafted · 05-27-2009

I used to use cosmetic wedges (they work Great, but be careful, because you can easily and accidentally get a hard line, I've used those little yellow ones cut up (like the ones SU carries), I've used Dollar Tree sponges (really good deal, but eventually they fuzz up and fall off in balls, and I've used cotton balls, q-tips, and little cotton pads for the face. Now, I use the sponges that attach to one of those handles for alcohol inks and LOVE it and think I will never go back!! :>

jeanne3579 · 05-27-2009

Could you send a link for the applicator you describe? I've never seen them in a store and they sound like just what I need. TIA

TimeCrafted · 05-27-2009

Sure! Here's a link for the tool and extra foam pieces. http://www.rangerink.com/products/pr...endingtool.htm
You could also cut your own from the Cut 'N Dry foam that the other poster mentioned. But, I wanted simple, easy, and uniform. You also can reuse these for quite some time. Just have one for each type of color. If you want to see what something looks like inked with one of these, I just posted a card where I used one to do some inking ( http://timecrafted.blogspot.com/2009...-blog-hop.html ) Hope that helps! :>

jeanne3579 · 05-27-2009

Thanks so much. I have been looking for that tool, and now it will be mine soon!!!

wilma bass · 06-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimeCrafted

Sure! Here's a link for the tool and extra foam pieces. http://www.rangerink.com/products/pr...endingtool.htm
You could also cut your own from the Cut 'N Dry foam that the other poster mentioned. But, I wanted simple, easy, and uniform. You also can reuse these for quite some time. Just have one for each type of color. If you want to see what something looks like inked with one of these, I just posted a card where I used one to do some inking ( http://timecrafted.blogspot.com/2009...-blog-hop.html ) Hope that helps! :>

Beautiful card, Karen! I love the verse on it!

TimeCrafted · 06-03-2009

Thanks Wilma!! I really enjoy inking up paper....its almost meditative. :> I think I just like the slow build of it and the soft effect it creates! Thanks again for your comments and for looking! :>