They’re for more than just your face!
As a crafter I’m only too aware of how us crafters can be convinced (conned? who said ‘conned’? see me after school!) – convinced into buying products that, well … we could either do without or could buy something far cheaper which works just as well, or sometimes even better. Cheap cosmetic sponges are one of those things which I know from experience works just as well, – or, for me at least, far better than a well-known make, little wooden handled thing with the [costly] replaceable pads which is meant to be the crafters dream blending tool; or some of the other expensive sponges that I’ve bought in the past which were ‘designed especially for crafters’.
I’ve been using cheap cosmetic sponges in the craft room for quite a while and find them far easier to use than any other option available. I can control the pressure a lot easier. I can add as little or as much of the medium I’m using as I want and where I want. I can dab, swish, pat, splodge, circle, stripe, wipe, swipe and all manner of things which will all give a different effect or ‘finish’.
BUT .. please don’t go to your local supermarket or pharmacy and buy their pack of 6 for £2.99 or some other such ridiculous price. Go instead to your nearest pound shop and find them in there for just a pound, and that’s for a lot more than half a dozen too!
I currently buy mine (the ones the photographs) from Home Bargains (here in the UK). The one pack cost me 99p and the other cost £1. In the grey pack there are the traditional wedge shapes that we all know as being the ‘normal’ cosmetic shaped sponge. In the other pack are the assortment of shapes – all of them very much useable.
You can see in the photo above one of the pads which I’d used two days ago. (I saved it because I knew I was going to take photo’s for this recommendation). The sponges from the red/pink bag are all different types, but you’ll be able to use every single one of them for various different projects. And the best bit? —> Because they’re as cheap as chips you don’t have to worry about trying to wash these out. At £1 for so many, you won’t fret about throwing these away when they’ve outlived their usefulness.
But .. added to all this wonderfulness from a crafters point of view – … if you should find yourself out of make-up sponges – these are actually ok to use on your face too! (see the photo below, for the information from the back of the pack).
Please give them a try. I honestly don’t think you’ll look back once you’ve tried them.
Thanks for visiting. Please, have a look around while you’re here, and even perhaps leave me a comment or two so that I get to know you. It’s so lovely to know who’s reading and what you’re interested in. If there’s any questions you’d like to ask please ask away in a comment. I’ll be more than happy to help if I can.
Have a really great start to your new week.
N.B. I have not been paid, either in money nor ‘goods’ of any sort to make this recommendation. This is a personal recommendation based upon my own use of a product and my own experiences in using that product.
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The Art of Cobwebs 
I love cosmetic sponges, but I don’t find they work as well with distress ink blending as the ink blending tool. They tend to leave more marks on the paper. Just me?
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Hello rainbow! Happy Sunday. 😀 Isn’t that funny … I’ve found that I can control inks way better with these cheap cosmetic sponges. I’ve got a selection of various different ‘tools’ in my craft room, including that well known wooden handled make of blender, (and some very odd shaped specialist blending sponges which cost me half an arm and a pint of blood, lol) but I’ve always gone back to a good old cosmetic sponge as it has more control – for me at least. I can use such a light touch when it’s needed, but with the tool for example, I find that I catch the edges of the paper and have curled or ‘distressed’ paper edges that I didn’t want distressing. I guess it’s down to personal choice in the end. We all work in different ways. That’s what makes the world go round. (aw heck, I’m going to be singing that song in my head now! LOL).
GREAT to see you here! Us crafters need to stick together! ;D
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Oh that’s interesting, we obviously work in different ways. How do you use the sponges?
Hope you have been enjoying the bank holiday. I have been round other artists houses as part of a regional ‘art week’ which was fun!
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Hi Rainbow! I tend to bend and pinch the sponges when using them for blending. Making them into more of a little rounded pad shape in my finger tips. This kind of ensures that you don’t get a ‘line’ in your smudging and blending. But – I will also use them as they are (flat) if I’m trying to achieve a different effect. But on the whole bending them over and then helping with the other hand to pinch up the sides or straight edges of the sponge works best for me.
Funnily enough I saw a demonstration just yesterday where someone was using round sponges (shaped like a pancake – like the old fashioned make up pads that you’d find in a powder compact) and he used the pad flat out but with light pressure from his fingertips into the very centre of the pad so that he didn’t get any ‘straight’ edge marks.
Yes, the Bank Holiday was lovely, thank you! I wish the rain would have buzzed off. Between the showers was glorious, and warm enough to go out without even a cardi. Your regional art week sounds like a blast! ~ Cobs x.
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Perfect for nail art!
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I never thought of that! Clever thinking, Craftynail!
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Home Bargains? I didn’t know you’d visited my house! You see, I practically live there. I am so grateful for this amazing shop. X
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Yes, me too …. along with The Range. I love the crafty sections in that shop. It’s like it has some sort of bewitching thing going. (Another of those shops where things mysteriously jump into my shopping basket!) 😉
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