Marker Fun, A comparison of the brands I own..

 Hey Y'all!

I've been wanting to do this blog for a while now, and am finally getting around to it. I didn't have exact color matches, but I judged from the caps for the closest I had. As you'll see some (most) aren't even close color wise. I think in the future I'll swatch several to get a closer match, and choose complementary colors, to really test the blendability.

I decided to do a blue and a pink in the following brands, because I had what I thought were "close enough" for comparison.

Brands I own:

Spectrum Noir Tri Blends

Copic

The Fine Touch

Spectrum Noir Aqua

Sharpie Neons

Recollections

The First thing I did was a bit of a scribble and blend test. These are not the right color combinations to try to blend, and really I should have used more than two colors for this. I learn something new everyday. Using the Tri-Blends here felt a bit "cheaty" since really that's 6 markers, to every other brands 2.

I'm not sure about these, and I thought they'd be my favorite.

These both looked lighter on the cap!

I thought this Capri shade would be more aqua than green, I was wrong.

The neon is brighter in person.

This blue (Kingfisher) looks so much lighter on the cap, and the pink looked brighter. 

I made a cheat sheet, that listed all my markers with swatches, but I've misplaced it. I'll have to look for it, I really could have used it here.

Bleed through the back.

All together now!

Thicker paper, and an image to color! (Only used the light end of the tri blends.)

The pink seemed to be okay, but that green really failed. Yuck!

Used the whole tri blend marker here, my blending skill could use some work.

Bleed through.

Positives:

Tri Blends-  Blend well, no guess work with complimentary colors, easy to use.

Copics- Colors layer well, brush tip, lots of colors available.

Fine Touch/Masters Touch- Affordable, vibrant, come in storage case.

SN Aqua- Fine tip (pen like), water based dyes, brush tip. (This one is the best dual tip option in my opinion.)

Sharpie- Easy to find in any retail location, affordable, comes in a wide variety of colors.

Recollections- Doesn't bleed as much as others, easy to use, dual tip.

Negatives:

Tri Blends- Bulky, harder to find, not as much variety in colors as other brands.

Copics- Cost more than the competitors, bled through to the table underneath, wide/chisel tip isn't necessary for me.

Fine Touch/Masters Touch- Bleeds, both through the paper and on the paper into other areas , only available at Hobby Lobby,  

SN Aqua-  Cap colors are WAY OFF across the entire line, water based dyes, bulky (though not as much as the tri blends).

Sharpie- One tip, marker is shorter than other brands, some colors are more saturated than others.

Recollections- Low quality, hard to find, don't preform well.

I really need to play with all my markers some more. I especially want to work on my blending, and see how the Aqua Markers really preform when using them with water.

I'd love to try out ohuhu, prismacolor, and tombow markers in the future!

My final thoughts here are that the Recollections are pretty crappy, I'll see if my niece wants the few I have and if not I'll just toss them. My favorites are TBD as I play with them all some more.

Which did you like? What didn't you like? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

June Everyday Makeup Shelf

 Hey Y'all!

It's makeup shelf time again!

Here's a reminder of what I was working with in (TooFaced) May:

I used every item several times, and I think I have finally found the right amount of products to pull.

I was worried that the Dew You Collection would be so great I'd hate that it's discontinued, and while I really do enjoy the foundation, and primer, the setting powder is just okay, and really doesn't work on it's own (without foundation). I still don't like the Better Than Sex mascara, so much so that I started using this Big Poppa from Wet 'n Wild that my Mom gave me, and I love it! Everything else here I liked just fine... still working on panning that Chocolate Gold Soleil Bronzer. I really like it, but I need to use up something, and I picked this.

Onto the June Shelf:

I left the Dew You foundation, but pulled the Bare Minerals powder back out, maybe I can finish it this year! I only pulled a few lip sticks, because I want to get some more use out of the Anastasia Lip Palette. I figured since I'm home most of the time, I can go about my day, and not worry about reapplying when it wears off, since it's near impossible to travel with this (from a mixing standpoint).

After this month I think it's time for these Cover FX drops to go, I've had them forever and while it's not empty it's down to less than half which is great for me!

Benefit Blush Palette, BH Cosmetics Festival*, Juvia's Place Nudes & Chocolates, Jeffree X Morphe**, and LA Girl Hey Hey Vacay Good Times & Tan Lines palettes.

* no longer available, but BH Cosmetics is good quality at a great price, link is to current collections.

** Jeffree & Morphe have cut ties, however if you look you can still find this palette elsewhere.

I think I did well, and pulled just the right amount again. I purposefully left out an eyeliner this go round, and will see how that goes.

What does your summer makeup look like? Anything you're excited to see? Share in the comments below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

100 Get To Know Me Questions (51-75)

 Hey Y'all!

Here's my answers to questions 51-75.

The questions can be found here:

100 Getting To Know You Questions

Next crafty blog is going to be a marker comparison on the 31st. Wednesdays Beauty Blog will be my June shelf!

51. Would you rather trade intelligence for looks or looks for intelligence? A happy medium in both is fine for me.

   52. How often do you buy clothes? As needed, or when I find something super cute.

   53. Have you ever had a secret admirer? Well, how would I know?

   54. What's your favorite holiday? Christmas.

   55. What's the most daring thing you've ever done? Travel to Atlantic City from Chesapeake, where we were living at the time, w/ Hubby (before we were married) and MIL one weekend on a whim. Fun trip!

   56. What was the last thing you recorded on TV? Does anyone still do that?

   57. What was the last book you read? Still reading the Buffy Series, it's ok but I'm not engrossed in it.

   58. What's your favorite type of foreign food? I don't know if I've found it yet.. I love trying new things.

   59. Are you a clean or messy person? Messy.

   60. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life? Not myself, I'm not an actress, and hate being the center of attention. I could barely get through speeches at school, no way I'd want to preform on that level. So, who? I don't know. Y'all tell me in the comments below!

   61. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Depends on what I'm doing. Anywhere from 5min to an hour or more.

   62. What kitchen appliance do you use every day? Fridge.

   63. What's your favorite fast food chain? Hmmm... Taco Bell I suppose.

   64. What's your favorite family recipe? Mom's Potato Salad.

   65. Do you love or hate rollercoasters? I'll ride some, but I am not as young as I once was, so some I just can't do anymore.

   66. What's your favorite family tradition? PJ's for Christmas Day.

   67. What is your favorite childhood memory? I have a lot, but the first thing that popped in my head was the goat/dog Christmas morning fiasco. Leave a comment if you want to hear that story.

   68. What's your favorite movie? Wizard of Oz I suppose, or anything horror, romcoms, Disney.. I just like movies..

   69. How old were you when you learned Santa wasn't real? How did you find out? 4th grade, so 9-10. I came into the bathroom from recess and was in the stall when the other girls were talking about how they found out. I asked Mom when I got home and she told me Santa was her & Dad. We kept it going for my little sister for several more years.

   70. Is your glass half full or half empty? Depends on the day.

   71. What's the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of love? Move 2 states away, where at the time neither of us had immediate family. Hubby had an uncle here that we saw occasionally, but he was a truck driver. Within 2 years both our families were here. His has since moved to Indiana, and while we miss them it really was the best thing for all of them.

   72. What three items would you take with you on a deserted island? Water, tent, food. 

   73. What was your favorite subject in school? Cosmetology, or if you mean more mainstream, English.

   74. What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? Gator. It was pretty good too.

   75. Do you collect anything? Yes, a few things. Tea pots would be number one, but I'm out of room currently to display any more.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

My Current Makeup Collection Pt 2 (Eyeshadow Palettes)

 Hey Y'all!

Here's my eyeshadow palettes! It was more than I thought, at 73. There are a few here that I'm thinking of decluttering soon, but not today.

The two drawers before:

I was trying to keep it high end in one and drug store in the other, but that didn't hold up when a few new ones were added. It should work now that I've rearranged and left room for what's currently on the everyday shelf (pictured below).

Too Faced May Shelf.

First I got them all out and separated by brand, and then a pile of palettes that I only had one from the brand (high end and drug store separately).

I started with Too Faced, since that's what I'm working with this month, and also the brand I have the most of. I didn't do swatches of anything, but I can if that's something you want to see. Just leave a comment below!

I did do inside pictures of each palette this time. I did this more for reference for me, and I'm sure I have dupe-able colors several times over.

Pineapple and Raspberry palettes.

Gingerbread & Salted Caramel.

Chocolate Gold and Chocolate Bar.

Chocolate Bon Bon & Clover.

Pretty Rich and Natural Mattes.

Just Peachy Mattes & White Peach.

Christmas 2017(?)

Christmas 2018 and HSN Exclusive Pumpkin Spice.

Next up is Tarte's Mermaid palette, one of their minis, and the Sephora Minnie Mouse.

Below are my Nabla palettes, Metropolitan and Secret.

Out of the two (Pur and Colour Pop) I think I prefer this My Little Pony. This festival palette is nice, I like the warm browns. 

Jeffree Star Cosmetics:

Above is the Morphe collab, below is Jawbreaker!

Lorac Cosmetics:

Pro 2

Venice 

Malibu

Mega Pro ?? & I Love Brunch.

Urban Decay is next, and honestly they're all pretty old:

Is it just me or has the brand gotten boring? They used to be the grunge, dark, go to brand.. now it's Naked everything (BORING).

Electric, Dangerous, Moondust, and ??? I can't remember the name, but it's discontinued anyhow.

Lastly in the High End Section are the brands I only have one of:

Above, starting at the top and going clockwise~ Smashbox, Zoeva, Marc Jacobs, Stila, M.A.C., Huda Beauty. Below is Storybook Cosmetics.

Starting out the Drug Store section is the one ofs:

This Ulta palette was a free gift with order my hubby got me Christmas 2019 and is shockingly fantastic!

Next up is LA Girl, LA Colors, Profusion, and Revlon Wonder Woman palette.

Following that is Colour Pop!

Above are Baby Got Peach, Mar, In a Trance, and Mint to Be.

Below are My Little Pony, Misunderstood (Disney Villans), and Hocus Pocus!

Next is Juvia's Place:

These are probably the best quality and color/pigmented drug store price eyeshadows out there!

Top~ Saharan 2, Tribe, Nubian 3 Coral, Zulu.

Bottom~ Berries, Nudes, Chocolates, Violets.

 

Last in Drug Store is BH Cosmetics:

Pride, and Prejudice, and Zombies. It's Me Rae Rae, Weekend Festival, and Galaxy. Below is the Zodiac palette, as of posting this blog it's currently half price!

The drawers all re-organized!

What are some of your favorites? What should I try next? 

Which should I pull for June? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife