One of the trends I saw at CHA summer was glimmer sprays- every one seems to have a version, and every crafter has their favorite. I am new to both Smootch colors and Smooch Spritz, so I gladly took a sample from ClearSnap to try out. Here I am to share my results with you!
So, let’s start at the very beginning. What is Smooch Spritz? They are water-based acrylic paints, rich with mica particles for shimmer and shine, in a glass spray bottle. They are suitable for any porous surface (ie, wood, paper, chipboard) and clean up with water.
You all should know me by now. Coming up: SWATCHING!
I got 4 colors in gold, black, purple, and olive. Here’s how it looked on white watercolor paper:
You can’t quite see the shimmer on paper this porous- the watercolor paints really soaked in the paint. You can also see that I got some good coverage and opacity. While the “tip sheet” says you should keep the sprayer upright for best results, that is just not feasible in my world. After all, these are liquid acrylics and they will run and mix. You can even see in the sample above I got a lot of over-spray and the black bled into the yellow quite a bit. Here’s the effect on black smooth cardstock:
I’m actually much more impressed with these sprays on black paper. You can see the black spray on the left is SUPER glimmery and has a silver sheen. Love them on black.
So, let’s talk about how it sprays for a moment. Again, the tip sheet says you should hold your Spritz 6-10 inches from your surface, and I am agreeing with that tip. My tendency was to hold them too close and then I got weird patterns from the nozzle, and the spray was unpredictable. OH. And there’s a lot of overspray, too. I really recommend getting a large box to spray in. I didn’t and ended up with Spritz droplets all over my work table, tools, and ME.
I tried the Spritz on some sheet music, too, so you can see how a pattern might or might not show through. Otherwise known as the opacity test!
As you can see from the photo above, you can clearly see through the Smooch Spritz and see the pattern of the sheet music. I really like this fact, as it gives you some fun options with using your own patterned paper and just punching them up a bit with shimmer and shine! Again, shimmer is SO hard to photograph.
You also get some really nice saturated color with the Spritz, and I got really excited to dye some ribbon, buttons, and paper and silk flowers with them. Take a look:
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OK, so NOW we’re talking. I really love the idea of being able to quickly dye embellishments to match. And buttons are non-porous, and they still took the color. All I had to do was heat-set the liquid acrylics for a few minutes. Last, I tried the Spritz on some glossy cardstock.
I have to say this is my ABSOLUTE favorite! On white glossy cardstock you really get the play of pigment and glimmer, with all of the variations of blending. (Oh, and by the way you can add a little extra water to blend your Spritz, as well.)
Now, a few words about packaging. One of the first things I noticed is that these sprays are packaged in smaller pump-spray containers that are made of glass. GLASS. Ok, maybe I’m just paranoid, but I can just see me dropping this puppy and breaking it. Or dropping something on TOP of it and breaking it. I’m just not sure why Clearsnap would go with glass, but I’m just saying it- I’m NOT a fan of a glass tube. (Unless, of course, you’re giving me free refills in it!)
Secondly, each 5″ tube holds .37 ounce. That is great if it’s just a sample pack, but I use shimmer mists like they are going out of style. I’m concerned that this just isn’t enough product for the money. (MSRP is $3.49 USD at JoAnn’s.) That works out to $9.43 USD per OUNCE. Compare that to an average price of $6.99 USD for 2 ounces of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, which then works out to $3.50 USD per ounce.
OK, so here we are at the bottom line. I like the product just fine- but I have reservations. I hate to be a cheapskate, but while these are cute little tubes, they are just too expensive when you do the math. If you just want to try a sample and won’t be using copious amounts- or, more importantly, want your shimmery sprays to coordinate with your Smooch paints, then these are great shimmer sprays. Personally, I’m holding out for plastic container that will hold more and lower the cost-per-ounce price.
What are YOUR thoughts? Have you used Smooch Spritz? Are they worth $9.50 an ounce? Give me an earful….
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I have two bottles of the Smooch Spritz and while I initially liked it, I found the sprayer clogs up way too easily. On the one bottle it oozes out and around the cap and then leaves big droplets. I’m going to stick with my Glimmer Mist….
Love those flowers! I agree though, the $9.50 an ounce makes it hard to fall in love with. So I started playing with making my own, here’s what I did. Plus I wanted them to match with my ink and cardstock. I didn’t try with the less expensive bottles from the drugstore, I don’t know how the mister would hold up. I’ve had these filled, using and sitting for almost a year now, and the spritzer hasn’t clogged, plus they are plastic!
Homebrew Shimmer Mist
6 Drops Craft (pigment) Ink in your chosen color
.625ml White Shimmer Paint (I repurposed a child medicine syringe)
½ Spritzer of Rubbing Alcohol (careful, the house will smell like cheap vodka)
Shake Well Before Use
Bottles are from Oriental Trading.com
IN-65/80472 Small Spritzer Bottles
$4.99 6 Piece(s)
Julie Coyle
jcoyle@wi.rr.com
A couple of more tips:
1) It really does work better standing up. I use a box cut in half diagonally. And like with any spray paint, light, long strokes are best. Build up the color, it intesifies (sp?) as it dries.
2) Cleans up from your craft table with rubbing alcohol.
3) The sprayed area will resist dye ink, so either stamp you images first, and/or mask off.
Have fun!
I agree, this is WAAAY too pricey for me…and I am VERY VERY picky about my shimmer mists. I have tried most of them and up until recently my fav was Cosmic Shimmer (which I still love, but I had to get them from the UK, and they do tend to clog). The BEST EVER I have found are the sprays from Lindy’s Stamp Gang (www.lindystampgang.com) Their Starburst Sprays and Glitz Spritz are absolutely out of this world, and they have a product I have seen nowhere else, Moonshadow Mists, a spray with a light or dark brown walnut ink base and different colored micas. Absolutely beautiful, especially for people like me who love vintage art. Also,they rarely clog, and if they do, they will replace the sprayer. Also they come with dauber caps as well. Try them and see….GORGEOUS!!!
I picked this product up at the craft store cuz they were on clearance since they were Xmas colors & Xmas was over. I only paid $1.99 for the 4 tiny bottles but the original $4.99 price for those tiny bottles seemed crazy for me. I agree w the glass paranoia. I have them in a special place where nothing will fall on them nor will they roll off. I too have made some “home brewed” spritz w straight acrylic paint & water. I’ve added a bit of color coordinated mica & these work wonderfully plus I can make whatever color &/or sparkle I want.