Glimmer Mist Q&A
First up, some good news! About three hours ago I had a layout picked up by Simple Scrapbooks for their January/February issue. Yay! And I got a copy of the October Memory Makers Magazine and you can see my first published digital layout on page 51! Now, on to the rest...
This is an article I wrote for Craft Critique. It appeared on that blog last week.
Q: What is Glimmer Mist?
A: Glimmer Mist is a glittery dye from Tattered Angels. It comes packaged in a spray bottle with a sticker showing the color of the contents.
Q: Why the sticker?
A:
Glimmer Mist is basically dye with metallic pigment powders mixed in
with it. You need to shake the bottle to get the powder to mix with the
dye because it’s heavier and sinks to the bottom when left alone. The color you see in the bottle is not accurate, check the sticker to see the true color of the Glimmer Mist.
Q: What does it look like?
A: With
over sixty different colors to choose from, it’s hard to make a blanket
statement. Generally speaking they’re very transparent, though I have
found that the darker blues and browns tend to be a bit more opaque.
Some of the lighter colors are almost completely transparent, adding
just a bit of a sheen to your work.
Check out this layout:
I
wanted the background paper to capture the feeling of New York. So I
used a combination of water, walnut ink, Glimmer Mist, ink and
crumpling to get that grungy but shiny and definitely aged feeling.
Q: Cool! So, what does it stick to besides paper?
A:
Wood, metal, plastic, glass, photos, fabric, paint…almost everything
I’ve tried it on! Here’s a canvas I made using Glimmer Mist:
Q: So I can use it on anything?
A:
Well, yeah. But here’s the thing: It’s not waterproof. So, even after
it has dried, if you spray it with water, it will start running again.
So, if you’re using it for an altered piece or something that is going
to be in any kind of weather or humidity, you need to seal it with
something.
Q: Is it hard to use?
A:
If you can use hairspray, you can use Glimmer Mist! It’s in a little
pump spray bottle and you just push the button down and move across
your project. Couldn’t be easier!
Q: Speaking of hairspray, I’ve heard that you can make your own using hairspray and pigment powders….
A:
Yep, I’ve heard that too. But, with over 60 colors to choose from and
such a reasonable price ($6.95 for 2oz), why bother?! Plus, I don’t
love the idea of hairspray all over my stuff… And it's acid free, so if
that is a concern for you, Glimmer Mist has you covered.
Q: 2 oz. doesn’t sound like a lot…
A: Trust me, I use my Glimmer Mists all the time and I still haven’t run out of a single color!
Q: Wow! That’s great! Is there anything else I need to know before I go out and buy a bunch of Glimmer Mist?
A: Nope! Just grab a bottle or two and start experimenting!
Among the comments I received over at Craft Critique, were the following concerns:
-
I heard good things about Glimmer Mist so I bought a couple of colors. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but it always comes out really blotchy for me. I never use mine. ;0(
-
I've done the hairspray with the whatchamacallit before and it works beautifully... until the nozzle clogs. Sometimes you can unclog it, sometimes you can't. I'm wondering if the glimmer mist ever clogs up the nozzle like this?
-
While I dig the layout, I'm a little disappointed to see another Glimmer Mist plug. I actually own a bunch of GM (and other similar products) and find that GM is the one I reach for least often. I don't think you've addressed any of the negative aspects like inconsistent color, splotchy application, and clogged nozzles. And they're the most expensive of the bunch. Like I said, I own other brands that are much more user friendly - and less expensive!
Sorry, but I just don't see the critique part of this entry....
-
I have to agree...I don't see the critique of this product.
And the layout...well, the wording was not necessary. Along with that, it took away from your entire page and the product you were trying to tell us about. :(
Response From Me...
Personally, I haven't had a problem with the Glimmer Mist nozzles clogging or inconsistent color in the five months I've been using them. As for splotchy application, that's absolutely true, but I always thought it was a feature of the product, not a downside. I like the spattered look and it fits my style of scrapbooking. That said, the farther away from your project you spray, the more fine the mist. I haven't tried any of the similar products, so I don't have anything to compare to the Glimmer Mists. But, I do use them a lot. I feel that I should also mention that we are not usually provided with product to review at Craft Critique. We have to use stuff we own and like. Glimmer Mist didn't sponsor my Q&A, so it's really not a "plug." Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns!
And now for something Sultane! I used the Art Nouveau collection, which is all black and white papers...
I think it would have been better with black and white photos, but c'est la vie!
Thanks for stopping by!
Great review. As about the clogging- yep that is true - I have had the same problem.
As for the splots- it depends on the distance you are spraying. The further away you spray the finer is the mist- if you spray up close you get blots.
Posted by: Nat | August 22, 2008 at 03:12 AM
love the critique Julie-and I love that sultane layout-I love it with the color photos personally, it rocks!!
and I'm all over glimmer mist and stuff like that, but I can't wait to try the new Maya road color mists!!
Posted by: Bobbi in KY | August 22, 2008 at 05:33 AM
I have heaps of glimmermists and other similar products, while glimmermists are more expensive than the others I have, they are unique in their own right as the others have a walnut ink base and give a different effect.
The other brands I have clog a lot more than my glimmermist.
I think they are a wonderful product and I use them on nearly every project I do nowdays.
Posted by: sue brown | August 22, 2008 at 08:33 AM
I have soooo been playing with Glimmer Mist in the last couple weeks and having a ton of fun. My concern is that you really have to shake the bottle to get the metallic parts to mix with the other and I end up with so much liquid in the lid everytime. Makes for a MESS!
Posted by: PaperCutting Kind of Day | August 22, 2008 at 07:07 PM
The colors in the Sultane LO make me happy!
Thanks for sharing your review Julie.
Posted by: Sue Clarke | August 23, 2008 at 01:10 PM
I gotta say, I was pretty surprised to see those negative comments over at Craft Critique, and I cringed for you. I know how hard it is to put yourself out there with every article, and I though those comments were uncalled for. Good for you for taking the high road; I don't know that I would have been able to!
Posted by: Dana V. (*danavee* on SCS) | August 24, 2008 at 07:27 PM