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Craft Test Dummies

The Crafting Blog for Crafters, By Crafters

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Comparison of Zig Real Brush Markers and Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers

March 29, 2017

Comparison of Zig Real Brush Markers with Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers.

Almost as soon as they came out, the question started rolling in: are Zig Real Brush Markers the same as Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers? If I have Zigs, to I need the Mermaid ones? Well, let’s answer that question today! Disclosure: this post is not sponsored, and I purchased the items for the comparison myself. Some of the links below may be affiliate links, which support free and unbiased reviews/comparisons, and incur no extra cost to you. Thank you!  First, […]

Posted in Comparisons |

What is the Best Gold Stamp Pad?

November 9, 2016

I’m still on my kick of comparison posts- and today I’m tackling which gold stamp pad is the best! Today’s comparison of gold stamp pads consists of five brands on both light and dark papers. Which one shows up the best? I’ve got a video to show you! But first, let’s go over the pads I’m testing: ColorBox Gold (pigment) from Clearsnap Encore! Gold (pigment) from Tsukineko/ImagineCrafts Delicata Golden Glitz (pigment) from Tsukineko/ImagineCrafts Brilliance Galaxy Gold (pigment) from Tsukineko/ImagineCrafts StazOn Gold […]

Posted in Comparisons |

What is the Best Gold Marker?

November 4, 2016

best gold marker comparison

There are so many gold markers out there- how do you choose the best one for light or dark surfaces? Which ones are waterproof? Well, I’ve done the work and now you can see them side-by-side and pick the best gold marker for your project! The gold markers I used for this comparison are: Krylon 18 Karat Gold (chisel felt nib) Faber Castell Pitt Pen Gold 250 (small bullnose felt nib) Zig Painty Metallic (pointed plastic tip) Wink of Luna […]

Posted in Comparisons |

Comparison: BEST WHITE STAMP PAD

October 1, 2016

comparison of white stamp pads

Here’s a common stamping dilemma- what is the BEST white stamp pad? Because sometimes you want a nice white stamped image on a dark background. So I tested 10 white stamp pads on black cardstock and I have the results here for you! Before we get to the video, I want to share my process. each stamp pad was new or nearly-new; I gathered my supplies from big-box stores and Amazon.com with the exception of the Stampin’ UP pad- normally […]

Posted in Comparisons |

Alcohol Marker Comparison!

June 8, 2016

Epic alcohol-maker comparison- 5 Brands!

There are so many brands of alcohol markers on the scene now- it’s hard to know which ones are the “best” for you! So I took to Periscope and did an epic 1 1/2 hour live demo to test out some of the major brands- Copic, Spectrum Noir, Prismacolor, Letraset ProMarkers, and even Faber-Castell Pitt Markers, (Yeah, I know those aren’t really alcohol markers, but what the heck! (disclosure: some links below may be affiliate links.)  Today I’m looking at […]

Posted in Comparisons |

Intro to Shimmering Watercolor Paints!

June 6, 2016

Craft Test Dummies compares 5 different brands of shimmering watercolors on three different kinds of paper so you can pick the right product for your projects!

Shimmering watercolor paints are pretty, shiny, and easy to use- just add water, right?  But there are quite a few brands out there at WILDY different price points. So one evening I did an epic Periscope (you can watch the replays here even if you don’t have a smartphone or want to watch live) and my stalwart gang of Art Scopers and I did some testing. I broke down the hour-long session into two reasonable videos- the first part, about 8 minutes […]

Posted in Comparisons |

Distress Crayons Vs. Gelatos- a Comparison!

April 4, 2016

Everyone wants to know what is the difference between Ranger's Distress Crayons and Faber-Castell Gelatos? Well, I show you here in SIX MINUTES and 10 examples of how they are the same...and different! I am not endorsing one over the other, but you should know that there are some differences in colors, pigment content, and packaging that might influence your purchasing decision.

Everyone wants to know what is the difference between Ranger’s Distress Crayons and Faber-Castell Gelatos? I am not endorsing one over the other, but you should know that there are some differences in colors, pigment content, and packaging that might influence your purchasing decision. Disclosure: samples were provided by both companies for review purposes. Opinions are my own and based on my first-hand experience with the products. Well, I show you here in SIX MINUTES and 10 examples of how […]

Posted in art supplies/mixed media, Comparisons |

Comparison of Manual Die Cutting Machines

March 9, 2016

The other day I reviewed the Spellbinders Platinum and as I was sharing it on Periscope, quite a few of the live viewers wanted to know the specific differences between machines. This led me to do another Periscope comparing the four manual diecutting machines that I have in my studio: the Spellbinders Platinum, the Big Kick from Sizzix, the Lifestyle Evolution, and the Fiskars Fuse. I recorded the “Scope” and edited it into a tidy 20 minutes so that I […]

Posted in Comparisons |

Craft Product Comparison and Overview: Ranger Ink Paints

November 11, 2015

Hey there crafters!  Today I want to go through comparing and contrasting the different paints offered by Ranger Ink.  Currently there are four different paints; Tim Holtz Distress Paints, Ranger Paint Dabbers, Dyan Reaveley Dylusions and Dina Wakley Media Paints.  Other than the Ranger Paint Dabbers, we have fully reviewed the other three paints here at Craft Test Dummy.  I’ll insert links to all of  towards the end so you can check them out and see the specifics and samples, […]

Posted in art supplies/mixed media, Comparisons, Craft Product Reviews, Paints, Inks & Dyes |

Jewel Sheet Comparison- DCWV versus Buckle Boutique

July 25, 2015

These days “bling” is all the rage. These soft plastic sheets LOOK like crystals, but instead it’s a resin that is soft enough to cut with scissors or steel-rule dies. This week #TeamCTD reporter Sara has the down low on two popular brands.  wp_ad_camp_4 Take a look at this video so you can get the best product for your budget & project! wp_ad_camp_4 Take-aways: in our opinion, the Buckle Boutique is a more consistent quality DCWV is more widely available […]

Posted in Comparisons, Craft Product Reviews |

Watercolor Comparison from Jennifer McGuire

April 8, 2015

Watercolor painting is one of those things that ebbs and flows (pun intended) in crafting. It is as easy as adding water to a paint pan and smooshing it around…but for more professional (or tidy) results, it can be tricky and intimidating to some. And there is always the question of what paints are actually GOOD. This last question, at least, was partially covered by Jennifer McGuire. If you don’t know her work, she is primarily a card designer with an […]

Posted in Comparisons |

Mod Melter Versus Hot Glue Gun- A Comparison

March 10, 2015

Since yesterday I reviewed the Mod Melter, I thought it would be helpful for you to see a comparison of my favorite hot glue gun, the AdTech Hybrid, and the Mod Melter- in action!   Enjoy this video I have for you, and I’d love to hear your comments!  

Posted in Comparisons |

More Comparisons with Home Made Gelli Plates

February 13, 2015

A week or so ago I shared my Recipe for Home Made Gelli Plates. .. but you know my mind just keeps turning. I wanted to know if there was a difference between the ones with sugar or no sugar (some folks on YouTube insisted that ones with sugar would not mold) and if there was really a difference between the homemade plates that were made with or without glycerine to preserve it.   So of course, I made some videos […]

Posted in Comparisons |

Comparison of Ways to Blend Colored Pencils

September 16, 2014

Last week I spent time reviewing Gamsol and then comparing which colored pencil brands worked best with it. Now I’m working in the other direction- what other ways can we blend colored pencils? For this round, I compared Gamsol (odorless mineral spirits), Turpenoid Natural (non-toxic version of turpentine) and Baby Oil (mineral oil.) I also used a higher-quality pencil (Prismacolor) and a lower-cost one (Crayola) so that you could see the difference in pencil, if any. Let’s take a look! […]

Posted in Comparisons, Paints, Inks & Dyes |

Comparison of Colored Pencils and Paper When Blending with Gamsol

September 12, 2014

Earlier this week I shared an overview of Gamsol, an odorless mineral spirits used for dissolving the wax in colored pencils so that you could blend and shade them the same way you can with oil paints. Naturally, though, my curiosity got the better of me and I wondered if better (artist-grade) colored pencils really had an edge over cheaper, student-grade ones. And did the paper really matter? Well, I set out to answer those questions!   I tried five […]

Posted in Comparisons, Paper Crafts, Paper Crafts |

Iron Cover Comparison

September 9, 2014

compare holes on bottom

If you do a lot of ironing – like most quilters and seamstresses, you might own an iron cover, or be in the market for one. Recently, I reviewed the Clover Press Perfect Iron Safe Iron Cover here on Craft Test Dummies. You can check out my full review – but the end result was that as an experienced quilter, I decided it wasn’t a product I need in my sewing studio. I decided to test a second iron cover […]

Posted in Comparisons, Crafty Tools, Fabric, Needle, & Quilting Arts |

Glue Pen Comparison, Part 2

April 24, 2014

A few weeks ago I shared a Glue Pen Comparison and one of my favorites (Creative Memories) was discontinued. I’ve discovered TWO brands that are VERY similar to it! So today I’m putting them to the test to see if we’ve got a reasonable substitution. Today’s contestants are: EK Success Zig Squeeze and Roll 2-Way Glue. Martha Stewart Crafts Ball Point Glue Pen and the Creative Memories Glue Pen. All are VERY similar- same ball-point tip, same bulb to squeeze to get […]

Posted in Comparisons, Craft Product Reviews |

Glue Pen Comparison- Part One

April 3, 2014

One of my mantras as a crafter and a product reviewer is “There is no BAD products- only finding the right one for the job at hand.” And by and large, that is true. The only time when you really need to know “which is better than that” is when you have multiple choices in the same product category. So when folks as me “What is the best glue pen?” of course, I have to test them all out and […]

Posted in Comparisons, Craft Product Reviews |

Comparison of Styrofoam versus Smoothfoam

June 3, 2013

comparison of styrofoam versus smoothfoam

I think we are all familiar with traditional Styrofoam crafting products.  That rough surface that has tiny imperfections and holes all over.  There is a new product on the market called Smoothfoam that I was sent to test out.  I started with the Smoothfoam website which had this to say: Smoothfoam is our brand name for molded EPS or Expandable Polystyrene. It is a smooth, closed cell foam, most commonly referred to as smooth Styrofoam ®. It is molded from […]

Posted in Comparisons |

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Hi! I’m Jenny, the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS and the Head Dummy behind CraftTestDummies.com where you’ll find craft product reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news.

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CraftTestDummies is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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Jenny Barnett Rohrs is Head Dummy and Pied Piper behind CTD, which focuses on reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news. Jenny has appeared on HSN, Scrapbook Soup PBS series, and is currently the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS.

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Copyrighted Content Permission All images and tutorials on this blog are copyrighted material. Please contact me if you would like to borrow any media (photos, video or audio files), tutorials, or ideas from this blog. 99% of the time I would be happy to allow you to use one photo with appropriate credit and link back to CraftTestDummies.com (preferably to the same post it was borrowed from.)
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