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I went tonight to M's & J's and the employees looked at me like I was crazy when I asked about mineral spirits or gamsol. They asked me what it was used for and I really couldn't give them a good answer!! A project with primacolors, a card! LOL!! I told them that I was told it might be around with the regular artist paints, thought I read that somewhere. Anyway, can ANYONE PLEASE tell me where I can find it. I really like the look of this week's technique and would like to give it a try. Thanks in advance for any help!!!!
The best place to get it is online in at a stamp store called Inky Antics. They sell it in a dauber bottle - about the size of a stamp cleaner bottle . They are not the fastest shipper - about 3 weeks or so - but it will get there. Up here in Canada, I can also get it from an art supply store called Opus Art Supplies . If you need the link to Inky Antics, PM me - and also, if you've any serious art stores ( the I named is beside an art college here in Vancouver, you could try them - phone them first. )
I have heard that at Micheals the Odorless Mineral Spirits go under the name of Mona Lisa brand - but I have never looked for them there -and don't know if the Mona Lisa stuff varies from the rest.
Do remember it is quite toxic = don't use it if you are pregnant - be very careful if you have kids - and it is also flammable. I really do like the effect, but I am cautious about using it. Therefore I like the inky antics dauber bottle.
If you're worried about the possible hazards of using the mineral spirits, you can try baby oil. I just tried it for the first time this week and had great success. I believe that this is going to become my primary coloring method. I also read in another thread that there is a natural, citrus-based product that can be used as well.
Thanks so much! I didn't realize it was so toxic. I am not pregnant for a change!!! I might just try baby oil for now. And next time I am at M's I will look for (maybe ask about) Mona Lisa brand. The employees tonight didn't have a clue and I was of no help. This technique is really taking me on a ride! LITERALLY, all over town!
Thanks so much! I didn't realize it was so toxic. I am not pregnant for a change!!! I might just try baby oil for now. And next time I am at M's I will look for (maybe ask about) Mona Lisa brand. The employees tonight didn't have a clue and I was of no help. This technique is really taking me on a ride! LITERALLY, all over town!
The concerns are not just for if you are pregnant, but also for young children. It doesn't give me a headache, but if it does for others, I figure it's not very healthy to breathe in. Probably fine if you are in a well-ventilated area. It's also highly flammable, but I don't smoke and I just wouldn't light a candle while I was using it. You'll definitely find it in the art supply section. I know you can get it at hardware stores, but they say you get what you pay for and the artist grade is better.
I got the Mona Lisa brand at Michael's. It is on the artist supplies aisle, the same one as the pencils, markers, brushes, etc. It comes in a variety of sizes...is in a white bottle. I found mine on the lower shelving of that aisle.
My favorite place to get all sorts of art supplies (including brushes, foil, acrylic paint, COPIC markers, boxes of white crayons, etc.) is Dick Blick (dickblick.com) including gamsol and mineral spirits.
Since I have problems with allergies and am sensitive to smells, I decided I needed the artist grade name-brand Gamsol osm. I got mine from jerry's artarama. Shipping is a little steep but they had the best prices. I couldn't find Gamsol anywhere locally so I bit the bullet (and got a great deal on the taiwan-made stumps which were on sale at the time). It helped justify the shipping a little more (less shipping per item).
I found mine at Hobby Lobby over by the artist paints. I, too, asked where the Gamsol was, and they looked at me like I was speaking Greek. I tried to explain it, and they handed me a can of Odorless Turpenoid. It's just another brand name for the same stuff. Absolutely NO odor--just like water. And it has never given me a headache... never knew it could till I just read it!
I'm sorry to belabor the whole health issue thing, but I just wanted to make the concern clear. It's not a matter of if it gives you a headache or not, but the effects of breathing chemicals that do give some people headaches.
www.dickblick.com also has it. Gamsol IS better than the hardware brand of OMS. Reason? It is processed further to remove more of the harmful stuff. The Exposure limit of Gamsol is higher than terps or hardware brand. AND it is not harmful if it touches your skin as long as it is healthy skin with no open cuts. I read through the MSDS on Gamsol and Mona Lisa brand from M's. Their sheets read very much the same. I also find that they work the same. As for the baby oil......I have heard that if you are looking for the look where you blend the colors then it is good. If you like the look where you drag the colors in and leave white space then you won't be happy with the results. The baby oil will not completely evaporate nor leave the paper as it was like Gamsol will. Dini was just commenting on that fact about a week ago. Gamsol will completely evaporate and leave absolutely NO residue on the paper. If you think the MSDS (Manufacturer's Safety sheet) for Gamsol looks bad, you should read it for nail polish remover!
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
Funny story! Thank so much for all the help I received. I did go back to M's and found the Mona Lisa brand. It is not mineral spirits but paint thinner - basically same thing right. So I get back to the car, my husband went next door to sporting good store and I show him what I got. He says they have that stuff at Wal- Mart!!! We were going there anyway. Pretty much a Saturday night ritual. Date night - dinner & Wal-Mart! Pathetic right! Anyway, they have oderless mineral spirits in with the paints. CHEAP!! in all different sizes. Go figure! But I am happy with my m's buy! Plus I found some Halloween dollar stamps!! Thanks again!
For anyone in Canada I got mine from Stampin Bella and it was $8 or so and doesn't smell at all and works great! But it can't be shipped to the states I guess.
NEED HELP FINDING GAMSOL OR MINERAL SPIRITS
