This is a list made by Joy from a previous thread...check it out and decide what you want...need..and go from there!
Hi
I am a bit of a rebel here when it comes to supplies. I see that on your list you have some things that I do not think you need or at least don't need to have so large. And....your rooting needles are WAY TOO big! You will be SO frustrated and disappointed if you get those. Now, here is what I think we all need as basics:
Genesis Heat Set Paints:
ultramarine blue.....little pot....you will never use much at a time and the little size will last you years.
Phthalo green 6......little pot
Flesh 08.......if you can afford a big jar then get it....you will use this all the time
Flesh 07...... the same as above
BB Eyelid color......smallest available....I am still on my first little jar after 2 or 3 years and prob. 20 babies
BB Lip Nail and Blush....this is the "cool" color........a medium to large jar....you will use this frequently
Pyrolle Red 2.......this is a MUST and get medium to large jar
yellow ochre........tiny jar
burnt umber.......tiny jar
mars black.....tiny jar
titanium white......tiny jar ..... the only time I have used it is to make a lighter blue color , but necessary to have.
genesis yellow........tiny jar......
earth mint..........I like it better than mixing my own green wash
The pyrolle red 2 made a HUGE difference in the colors of my mottling and blushing. When I first used it I was shocked at much nicer the baby looked. It is truly a MUST HAVE.
Thinning medium........ounce jar.......I use a lot of this product
Thick Medium......small jar
Glazing gel.......small jar
Matte Varnish.......ounce or larger jar
I buy the gel, thinning medium and matte varnish from Jasmine's Cottage on Ebay. The sell the 4 ounce size for about 10 to 15 dollars depending on product and have free shipping. It is a heck of a good deal.
SUPPLIES:
Brushes:
1/2 inch Maxine's Mop
1/4 inch Maxine's Mop
3/4 or 1 inch Maxine's Mop for blending
the tiniest script liner you can find.......like 20/00 or 18......the smallest you can find
#2 filbert
#1 round
I use a very soft bristle sort of floppy brush for brushing on colors for washes or dark skinned babies. I don't know what it is called, but it is the kid kind of brush for water color etc.
I also ordered a nail set of brushes from China for about 5 to 15 total including shipping. Lara also has a set. They are great for odd places and for creases and eyebrows. You get like 10 or 12 brushes in a set.
SPONGES:
Sea sponges in large, medium and small sizes. I don't mean in actual size but in size of the patterns on the sponges. You will use these for mottling and for faux capillary beds, and for blushing. So you need a little variety. Household sponges cut up are also useful.
Cosmetic sponges: Secrist sells some that are very very strong. This works well for the mottling sponges but I don't like them for regular pouncing. The ones from the drug store or walmart work just as well for pouncing and for mottling. It is just that I find the Secrist ones don't get floppy and fall apart easily.
ROOTING:
I use a 43 1 barb needle. I would not suggest that a first time rooter start with a smallneedle like that, but on the other hand neither would I suggest any needle larger than a 40g. So.....get 40g crowns or 40g 1barb. Seriously do not use anything larger. It will give you big holes in the head even when you heat the head with a rice sock. It is less frustrating and more cost effective to start out with a size that will help you learn and not destroy your vinyl in the process.
I get my needles from Lara here on REAL, Stephanie Sullivan at Hunnybuns Nursery, or from Gina Smith at Nonie's Nursery. BB does not carry the kind and size I use.
RICE SOCKS......make your self and couple. I use a regular sock that has no mate and I fill it with about 3 hands of reg cheap white rice, tie the top of the sock in a knot. I leave a lot of the sock empty so that it can be used in any size head. When I go to heat the sock I just wet my hands a lot and rub the sock until it feels damp, then put it in the microwave for about 2 minutes. I see steam and I then can take it out and put it in the head. I then stuff a dry dishcloth or two or cloth diaper in the hole to keep the rice sock in position and the heat in the head. When It starts to get cool I just re heat it.
OVEN THERMOMETER........a MUST
PALLETS:
Whatever you can use that you can afford. PLBD recommends individual baking dishes like you make custard in......unless you already own them they can be too expensive to buy for this purpose.
I have a ceramic one that is a Petal Shape like Lara uses. I got it on sale for about 8 dollars from Sandi's Doll House. I have also used a ceramic one that I got from Dolls so Real that is square and lets you mix gradations of color. I paid 6.99 for it but the shipping was like 4 or 5 dollars.
The easiest to use are old saucers with the indentation for the cup in the middle. FINALLY a use for all those odd saucers that came with our dishes. And, after almost 50 years of marriage and 9 kids we have gone thru a LOT of dish sets! NO one drinks coffee or tea here. So, I have tons of saucers. Love to use them when doing a wash.
CLEANERS AND THINNERS
I use 91% alcohol to clean my brushes and work area. It will also strip the paint from the kit a little gentler than acetone. You buy it at the drug store or grocery. But make sure it is 91%.
I use Sunnyside Odorless Paint Thinner from the local ACO hardware store. It is 4.98 for a quart. It is truly odorless, does a great job, and is readily available. I think Mona Lisa and Masterpiece odorless thinners have an awful smell. JMO
Pure Acetone........for stripping a boo boo baby. Do not get suckered inot using the goof off stuff or anything that is gooey. It will leave a terrible residue on the vinyl and the kit will never be right. Just use acetone outside or in a very well ventilated space and it will take the paint off quickly and efficiently.
DAWN detergent. It even took cat pee out of a kit I purchased on line! THAT sold me on the brand for sure. It is the only detergent I use for the vinyl and for my equipment.
MISC.
Cotton pads......cosmetic pads......do not order them from online just buy from dollar store or walmart etc. used for stripping and for cleaning the kit in the beginning.
Tooth picks pointed ends
Qtips......best to get the pointed ended ones. Available at local stores
White nail pencil......
WHITE dish towels to use for lining your halogen oven or your baking sheets for the reg. oven. Make sure they are WHITE
Plastic party cloth to protect your work surface. I use the kind from the dollar store. And I also use a big square of cardboard from an old box that I cover with paper towels. It is great! I've used the same one for more than a year and it shows no sign of falling apart. It absorbs the thinners and the paint mixes without it going thru to the table or cloth.
tweezers......plucking out hairs, making mottle sponges
long forceps......reaching into large heads
small forceps... various odd uses
nail clippers ......for cable tie clipping
old toothbrushes.......one for stripping.......one for rooting.
I think I have gotten it all.......but am sure I will have forgotten some things. All I know is my wrists are tired from typing and I am sure your eyes are tired from reading! LOL
Best of luck
Joy
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