4/24/2022

Dugato Artist Watercolor Long-Handle Paint Mop Brushes 13pcs Set

This is a decent set of mop brushes in a great variety of sizes and at a great price (when I purchased the product, now the price has doubled up). The brushes have a very long handle, something I love, they look expensive and come with a plastic nib capsule.The bristles are flexible and nice and work well with acrylic and watercolours. They clean well, and so far the bristles haven't fallen or deteriorated.

DOWNSIDES
> The paint covering the brush handle of the brush peels off easily after not much use so it exposes the timber, and this is a way for the brush to get ruined.
> The protective capsule won't fit once the brush has been used even if you squeeze it, and even if you are able to do it some bristle strains get out and damage the nib.
> Just one type of brush in this set.
> I would say they're OK, not good quality.

Vaessen Creative Border Punch with Sweet and Petite Flowered Edge

This a sturdy large puncher that makes a lovely floral shell pattern on the border. It is good quality, sturdy and has a small container in the belly to collect and dispose off the paper waste.

DOWNSIDES
> The punch needs quite a bit of pressure to work neatly (meaning, you have to press it quite hard) even just to punch plain paper.
> The pattern is not always clean.
> Despite the printed guidelines on the back of the package, the border is rarely continuous or clean. This might have been solved if there was some sort of detailed instruction booklet, which was not the case.
> Bulky and heavy, needs a bit of storage space.
> If the results were what I expected, I wouldn't mind the price, but, due to my experience with it, I actually find it a waste of money.

4/18/2022

Bzocio Store 20-Bar Wooden Tie Hanger

This is a good quality hanger perfect for ties, belts or small silk-like female neckties. Average scarves won't fit as the slots are really tiny and I had difficulty positioning my thinnest scarves. If I had known this, I would have purchased something else. However, if you're really looking for a necktie/tie hanger this is perfect.

4/17/2022

Tsukineko - VersaColor Small Ink Pad, Cyan

I'm a fan of the VersaColour minis, as they make great samplers and are perfect for one-off projects. Besides, they don't take much storage space. This colour is just wonderful, true to the photo. However, unlike other ink pads from the same range I own, this one is a bit chalky and not as inky or liquid as others This is a water soluble ink, so if you want an archival permanent one, this isn't for you. I dislike the fact that, unlike other brands, these minis aren't stackable. You can put one on top of the other, for sure, but won't click into each other. Overall a good product at a good price.

4/10/2022

Lehom Silicone Stretch Lids 6 Pack Bowl Covers

I bought this set as I was using e a lot of plastic film and I'm environmentally conscious. This set is great value for money, good quality silicone and it comes in a good selection of sizes. the material stretches easily over round, square and rectangular containers and doesn't deform. Each piece has some sort of handless or tabs that help with the stretching, which is really handy. They clean easily and I can throw them anywhere as they're flat and flexible so they can be fit in very small spaces.

I don't particularly like the colour as it prevents me from seeing what's in the container. Also, I think that the two larger lids are too close in size, and I would have loved a bigger difference in sizes between these two.

For the rest, very happy with my purchase.

Daiso Japanese Calligraphy Paper 100 Sheets

I bought this paper not knowing what to expect as the page info seems to indicate that this paper is specific for Japanese calligraphy. However, I got what I was looking for -- a good quality rice paper that I can use in my mix media projects. It has a soft face and a textured back, which makes it versatile for different art projects. The paper stands well ink-jet printers and I got good quality printing results despite my printer being an average home printer.

The only downside is the sizing. See my photo with an A4 paper sheet against this paper. This isn't important for calligraphy, drawing, collage paper making, or for transferring. However, isn't a good size for printing, so I had to use a guillotine it to get the right A4 size for printing.

For the rest a great versatile rice paper at an affordable price.

4/04/2022

Chalkola White Chalk Markers Set (1mm, 3mm, 6mm, 10mm, 15mm)

This is a great set of chalk markers in different sizes. The markers are really good quality and they come with a set of sticker tags that you can use around your home for quick notes or to-do lists. I have mine stuck to my laptop, desk and fridge. A sponge eraser is also part of the set and erases the chalk completely with no effort, so the tags can be used endlessly. The different sizes are perfect to use for personal noting or to write big lettering or messages on glass or any large surface. I also use these markers on my art journaling as permanent marker when the surface is porous, but not on gessoed, ModPodged areas or on pastel colours as, otherwise, they aren't permanent. For the rest, they are great value for money.