Coloured pencils

[Mrs D]

You know when you are colouring in with pencils and if they are soft they blend together well and you can use a blender tool as well. So I wondered why you would need to use Sansodor? Is it that the Sansodor smoothes away any pencil lines? Cos I know it hasn't made a big difference to my blending techniques unless I'm doing it wrong. Can anyone help with advice.
TIA

[Phree]

This YouTube tutorial probably explains it best :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCCo9799dWo

Sansodor is Windsor and Newton's brand name for Low Odour Mineral Spirts. The Gamsol referred to in the tutorial is an amercan brand of the same thing.

Anyhow using such products more or less disolves the colour medium into a liquid which can then be blended for a very smooth and subtle effect including blending it to the point of being colourless.

[Mrs D]

Aaaah - thank you Phree. So basically using my Sansodor is like taking blending to the next level and even further than the blending tool does.

[fabyon]

Yep as long as you're using pastel-waxed based pencils, other normal pencils won't do. Just thought I would clear that up. And one day Vince used the pencils but put the cover of the watercolour pencil unto the pastel ones....so you can imagine my frustration trying to blend watercolour pencils with Sansodor ! LOLOLOL :) I told him off after that saying put the right cover on for Pete's sake ! ;)

[Mothership]

Although Gamsol and Sansodor are the same spirit, the pad on the top of the Gamsol bottle makes it easier to use a cotton bud as demoed in the video Phree linked.
If you dip cotton buds into the bottle of Sansodor it is impossible to control the amount of spirit you will take up. I'd heard of people decanting into a smaller container over some sort of pad, I tried it with a cotton wool pad and although this works to be honest the easiest method is to use blending stubs.

Here's a link to a Shari Carrol video using this method http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_Thoyxw0WM&NR=1 :clapping:

[fabyon]

Although Gamsol and Sansodor are the same spirit, the pad on the top of the Gamsol bottle makes it easier to use a cotton bud as demoed in the video Phree linked.
If you dip cotton buds into the bottle of Sansodor it is impossible to control the amount of spirit you will take up. I'd heard of people decanting into a smaller container over some sort of pad, I tried it with a cotton wool pad and although this works to be honest the easiest method is to use blending stubs.

Here's a link to a Shari Carrol video using this method http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_Thoyxw0WM&NR=1 :clapping:

I agree I use blending stubs (tortillon) and 'clean' them using an emery board.

[LoobyLou]

Although Gamsol and Sansodor are the same spirit, the pad on the top of the Gamsol bottle makes it easier to use a cotton bud as demoed in the video Phree linked.
If you dip cotton buds into the bottle of Sansodor it is impossible to control the amount of spirit you will take up. I'd heard of people decanting into a smaller container over some sort of pad, I tried it with a cotton wool pad and although this works to be honest the easiest method is to use blending stubs.

Here's a link to a Shari Carrol video using this method http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_Thoyxw0WM&NR=1 :clapping:

I was having trouble with dipping in the Sansodor bottle, not to mention the hideous toxic odour all the while the cap was off. Solution, simple. I bought one of those empty markers the sort you use for bingo which comes with a soft sponge pad on top and that is filled with Sansodor. Every so often I tip it up and moisten the sponge tip and then touch the tip of the stumps to that. I also use glass paper to rub the stump down and remove colour.

I just searched for 'bingo marker' and came up with these. I am sure there are others out there if you vary the search name.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SQUEEZER-EMPTY-REFILLABLE-GROG-MARKER-PEN-BINGO-MOP_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a12Q7c66Q3a2Q7 c39Q3a1Q7c72Q3a1683Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZ p3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem3ef45125ebQQitemZ270386 931179QQptZUKQ5fCraftsQ5fDrawingSuppliesQ5fEHQQsal enotsupported

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GROG-INK-SQUEEZER-25-EMPTY-MOP-MARKER-PEN-25MM-NIB_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZQ7c293Q3a4Q7c294Q3 a30QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em14Q2el1262QQhashZitem3e f4bf16b2QQitemZ270394136242QQptZUKQ5fCraftsQ5fDraw ingSuppliesQ5fEHQQsalenotsupported

I have just bought a second one of the first link just in case I should misplace, like you do, the first one as I wouldn't want to be without it now.

Looby

[Phree]

I have to admit I use paper stumps with my colour pencils - never could get the control with a cotton bud. Looby that bingo marker thingy sounds like a pretty useful idea.

[sugarplum]

I pour a little of my sansador onto a piece of packing foam that I cut to fit a small glass pot (Its actually a decleor baume essential pot but one of those little min jam pots would do) The sansador soaks nto the foam and then I just push my paperstump into the foam to pick up the liquid. I have been using the same piece of foam for over year and just top up with Sansador occasionally Its great because if you knock it over nothing spills!

[Mothership]

I can't thank-you enough for that Louby :up:
I didn't even know that sort of thing even existed.
It looks just the sort of thingee to be able to use cotton buds. Cotton buds are great for moving and blending larger areas but risky cos they can flood the image and then you get a halo effect. Not a nice effect :sad:

I've ordered a couple cos I'm thinking that I could possibly put diluted Simple Green into one and use for cleaning stamps, just like the commercial stamp cleaners, instead of spraying it on.

[LoobyLou]

I can't thank-you enough for that Louby :up:
I didn't even know that sort of thing even existed.
It looks just the sort of thingee to be able to use cotton buds. Cotton buds are great for moving and blending larger areas but risky cos they can flood the image and then you get a halo effect. Not a nice effect :sad:

I've ordered a couple cos I'm thinking that I could possibly put diluted Simple Green into one and use for cleaning stamps, just like the commercial stamp cleaners, instead of spraying it on.

My turn to thank you. What an excellent idea!

Looby

[Mrs D]

I was having trouble with dipping in the Sansodor bottle, not to mention the hideous toxic odour all the while the cap was off. Solution, simple. I bought one of those empty markers the sort you use for bingo which comes with a soft sponge pad on top and that is filled with Sansodor. Every so often I tip it up and moisten the sponge tip and then touch the tip of the stumps to that. I also use glass paper to rub the stump down and remove colour.

I just searched for 'bingo marker' and came up with these. I am sure there are others out there if you vary the search name.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SQUEEZER-EMPTY-REFILLABLE-GROG-MARKER-PEN-BINGO-MOP_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a12Q7c66Q3a2Q7 c39Q3a1Q7c72Q3a1683Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZ p3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem3ef45125ebQQitemZ270386 931179QQptZUKQ5fCraftsQ5fDrawingSuppliesQ5fEHQQsal enotsupported

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GROG-INK-SQUEEZER-25-EMPTY-MOP-MARKER-PEN-25MM-NIB_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZQ7c293Q3a4Q7c294Q3 a30QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em14Q2el1262QQhashZitem3e f4bf16b2QQitemZ270394136242QQptZUKQ5fCraftsQ5fDraw ingSuppliesQ5fEHQQsalenotsupported

I have just bought a second one of the first link just in case I should misplace, like you do, the first one as I wouldn't want to be without it now.

Looby

What a great idea! So you just fill them with Sansodor and use stumps?
I need these. I was thinking I could put nail polish remover in one and use it to neaten polish around nails. If it can cope with the Sansodor in it without melting or any damage it could probably take polish remover.
Mothership, I also think your idea is fab as well with the simple green stamp cleaner :clapping: