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, […]
What is the Best Gold Stamp Pad?
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 […]
What is the Best Gold Marker?
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 […]
Comparison: BEST WHITE STAMP PAD
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 […]
Alcohol Marker Comparison!
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 […]
Intro to Shimmering Watercolor Paints!
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 […]
Distress Crayons Vs. Gelatos- a Comparison!
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 […]
Comparison of Manual Die Cutting Machines
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 […]
Craft Product Comparison and Overview: Ranger Ink Paints
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, […]
Jewel Sheet Comparison- DCWV versus Buckle Boutique
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 […]
Watercolor Comparison from Jennifer McGuire
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 […]
Mod Melter Versus Hot Glue Gun- A Comparison
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!
Comparison of Ways to Blend Colored Pencils
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! […]
Comparison of Colored Pencils and Paper When Blending with Gamsol
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 […]
Iron Cover Comparison
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 […]
Glue Pen Comparison, Part 2
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 […]
Glue Pen Comparison- Part One
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 […]
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 […]
