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I'm "hating" my Dove Blender Pen. I've gone through 2 tips in 1 sitting!!! I'm not roughly blending but within 5 minutes of me using a BRAND NEW tip it frays and splits. I don't know what to do. I'm thinking about buying the Stampin' Up! Aqua Painter hoping I don't run into the same problem.
You can not go wrong with an aqua painter! It comes in several different size tips and you have the option to purchase it several different places ie: SU, Michael's or Joanns using a 40% or 50% coupon.
NEVER!! I lightly brush accross my paper - and they just seem to disinigrate. I can't even get close to the edge of my image that i am coloring because there is no difinitive point to do the edges.
I love my SU blender pens as well. I also have the aqua painters, but prefer the blender pens. Haven't had any of my tips deform at all (they're 1 1/2 years old)
I have both the Dove blender and SU's blender pens. Hands down, the SU pens lasts longer and the tips don't wear out. In fact, I've saved some that have gone dry for "other" blending purposes; although it literally took years for the SU pens to dry out. I also like the aqua pen, but I use that exclusively for watercoloring.
I love my SU blenders, and ran out, waiting for my order, and bought another brand at Joann's and it just doesn't work for me. Best of luck in finding your blender pen.
Elaine
I have the SU blender pens and love them - I was at an art supply store over the weekend and was asking if they carried the Dove pens because I wanted to try them, they didn't but maybe I will stick with my SU ones! I am not so good with the aqua painters I tend to make a mess I have even left them empty of water and dip the end in water to try to control the amount of water I get on the paper and that still doesn't work that well for me. Just me though!
You can replace a Dove Blender tip with a Ranger Cut n' Dry nib
A few years ago at a demo at my local stamp store, I noticed the demonstrator�s Dove Blender pen tip to be quite pointed. When I commented, she told me she was using a Ranger Cut n� Dry nib in it. Apparently the tips are made of a different material, more like a regular marker tip, allowing the Cut n� Dry nib to better keep its shape. She had replaced her tip about a year before and it was still like new.
Remove the Dove tip and cut the Cut n' Dry nib down to about the same size, shortening it by ��. Replace the tip with the nib. Remove top of pen and put in six drops of Blender refill fluid. Store pen with tip down overnight to 'hydrate' the tip.
If you have two pens, you can replace one tip with the Cut n� Dry nib to use for fine detailing or small areas and use the one with the worn-down tip for larger areas.
I found a pack of 8 Cut n� Dry nibs at Michael�s for about $5 and of course used a coupon. Have never noticed if Hobby Lobby or JoAnn�s carries them since I no longer am in need of a new tip for my blener pen!
I actually use a recipe I got on SCS a few years ago and re "ink" them. I'm able to give them a second life and use them until the tips are quite crushed. I can't remember the exact recipe anymore, but it had distilled water, alcohol, and a bit of liquid glyercin.
A few years ago at a demo at my local stamp store, I noticed the demonstrator�s Dove Blender pen tip to be quite pointed. When I commented, she told me she was using a Ranger Cut n� Dry nib in it. Apparently the tips are made of a different material, more like a regular marker tip, allowing the Cut n� Dry nib to better keep its shape. She had replaced her tip about a year before and it was still like new.
Remove the Dove tip and cut the Cut n' Dry nib down to about the same size, shortening it by ��. Replace the tip with the nib. Remove top of pen and put in six drops of Blender refill fluid. Store pen with tip down overnight to 'hydrate' the tip.
If you have two pens, you can replace one tip with the Cut n� Dry nib to use for fine detailing or small areas and use the one with the worn-down tip for larger areas.
I found a pack of 8 Cut n� Dry nibs at Michael�s for about $5 and of course used a coupon. Have never noticed if Hobby Lobby or JoAnn�s carries them since I no longer am in need of a new tip for my blener pen!
Thanks for sharing this tip. I don't really care for SU's blender pens. And I agree that the tips for the Dove pen are very fragile. I will have to give this a try.
The aquapainter you fill with water, and the blender pen is already loaded with the blending solution. I find I have more control with the blender pen, but it's personal preference.
They each give a slightly different look.
You can color your stamped image with watercolor pencils or watercolor wonder crayons, then use your aquapainter or blender pen to soften and blend the colors. Or you can take the painter/blender and pick up color from the lid of the ink pad (after you've "smushed" it while closed), or from a small pool of re-inker. I use my markers a lot for this because I have all of the colors handy in a small space. I scribble a little of the marker colors I want to use on an old margarine lid or piece of tinfoil, then pick up the color with the blender pen.
In between colors you just wipe the tip of the blender pen or aquapainter on a paper towel or scrap paper to get the color off.
