I’m looking for opinions from my friends. I am thinking seriously of switching to air dry paints, but the transition is a big commitment of funds and then there is the time spent as I relearn everything. Here are my questions:
Do you think it is worth switching from Genesis to air dry?
Do you think the paint is as permanent?
For those of you who use FX, does it scratch???
Do you think that creamy skin tones are easier to achieve with air dry?
Also:
Does anyone who has been using these for awhile have a list of supplies? I don’t want a short list. I am trying to find out what colors, mediums, etc. you REALLY use.
Okay, thanks for letting me pick your brain!
Group hug!
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Following as I have been thinking about this too for some kits like the ones that are too big to fit in the nuwave oven.
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Do you think it is worth switching from Genesis to air dry?
For me it was well worth it. I spend more time painting and less time running to the oven. I do not worry about burning my kits which I have done before. I do still like to use Genesis varnish mix to seal but a one time heat set is far better than many layers of it to me.
Do you think the paint is as permanent?
For those of you who use FX, does it scratch???
I will answer both these questions together. First off I will say NO paint is permanent. I have seen Genesis paints rubbed off and scratched and damaged. It is true that once Genesis it heat set, it is as durable as it is going to get.
With air dry paints, they do not reach their maximum durability until 4 weeks out. Air dry paints can be dry to the touch within minutes and about 80% cured in 48-72 hours. However, it does take 2-4 weeks to completely cure on its own to maximum finish. This can be sped up some by applying heat set varnish over them. It is best to wait 72 hours minimun before applying a heat set varnish over them and I like to wait a week. If using an air dry sealer/varnish, it too must be allowed to cure up to 4 weeks to reach maximum durability. That is not to say you can not sell a baby after 2 weeks. Just be sure to inform the buyer to handle it with extra care until the full cure time is up.
Do you think that creamy skin tones are easier to achieve with air dry? Everyone’s painting style is different and so there is not a one answer fits all scenario. However, for myself I can achieve every look with Baby FX air dry paints that I could Genesis. You can see my Genesis painted baby in the crib next to my Baby FX air dry painted baby and not tell any difference at all.
EDIT: CURE TIMES LISTED ABOVE ARE AVERAGES FOR MOST ARTIST GRADE AIR DRY PAINTS AND CAN VARY BY BRAND. IT IS STATED BELOW THIS COMMENT THAT MELISSA GEORGE SAYS BABY FX CURES IN 72 HOURS. I HAVE NOT ASKED MELISSA MYSELF.
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I too have thought about using FX but then I look at all the supplies I have of Genesis and think to myself do I want to invest that kind of money again and start all over with a learning curve. I feel like my babies are getting better now and I sure hate to start all over. Then I think of all the wait time for them to cure, I don’t know guys, I think I’m staying on the Genesis side of the fence at least for now!! Another thing I wouldn’t want to start learning on my ‘expensive’ kits either.
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The cure time is not so big a deal if you get into a rotation like I do. I have several kits being reborn at the same time all at different stages. Most my babies are finished out at 2 weeks from painting so by the time they are listed and sold the 4 weeks is up. If working on a custom order I ship out at 2 weeks with instructions to the customer to handle baby carefully for 2 more weeks when dressing if it was sealed with air dry sealer. I tell them this up front and occasionally one will request i keep baby here til 4 weeks is up. Most others want them though at 2 weeks and do fine with them. If I sealed with Genesis sealer I do not worry about it after I have sealed it but I do wait at least a week before heat set sealing.
Edited to say if baby is being rooted that usually takes up the rest of the wait time and 4 weeks is up when it is done.
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I did not know that Melissa says Baby FX is fully cued in 72 hours. The times I quoted above are the average times for most aritst grade air dry paints. I just assumed Baby FX would be the same since they are air drys. I will go back and edit that.
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I use Art and Magic Water Borne Air Dry paints. I am new at this so I can’t compare, but I do like them. I am going to try another type once I run out of these. I am thinking of trying Folk Art, but am not sure how to use them. I will go to FX or Luminaire.
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So it would be best not to sell these dolls until they have been finished for about four weeks?
Oops! Just noticed this was already answered above. LOL
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Next time I talk to Melissa I will ask her about this. I have always waited at least 2 weeks to deliver a baby to a buyer.
I do know baking does not change the color of Baby FX.
I very much believe baking vinyl is harmful to breath and set up my table top oven on my screen back porch. No way would I ever do this in my house now.
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That’s very good to know! thanks!
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following 
Looking forward to have the supplies needed. I can’t afford to buy any extra and useless paints. I consider buying FX later this year .
thank you for the topic
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[quote=“honojane, post:1, topic:39285”]
Do you think it is worth switching from Genesis to air dry?
It was definitely worth it for me. I guess it depends on what you are looking for. I feel like it is healthier because I’m not sure what kind of long term damage can be caused by breathing the fumes. It is more cost effective and environmentally friendly because it does not take the hours of electricity usage that you get with heat set paint. It also takes so much less time because you don’t have the bake and wait to cool time. The Baby FX paints dry super quickly.
I believe that it is just as permanent as heat set. I have done about 40 or so babies with Baby FX and have never had anyone complain about the finish not staying on. As long as it is properly sealed it should be fine.
Not without some effort and intent.
Probably about the same.
Mediums:
Slow Dry Medium - get lots of it
Shine Remover - buy twice as much of this as you do of the Final Sealer. They are used together and the mix is 2 parts Shine Remover to 1 part Final Sealer
Final Sealer
Paint:
Skin Highlights
Skin Base
Inner Glow
Bright & Creamy
Peach Skin
Strawberry Skin
Caramel Skin
Olive Skin
Sun Kissed
Flesh Tone
Natural Brown
Biracial Brown
Burnt Bronze
Brow & Bronze
Brow & Ethnic
Lips
Cherry Kisses
Crease & Shade
Mottle & Blush
Rosy Blush
Hot Stuff Red
Dark Red Mottle
Dark Crimson
Magenta
Calypso
Brilliant Beige
Purest White
Pale Purple
True Blue
Dark Turquoise
Violet
Pale Green
Peachy Blush
Pretty Sweet
Buttercup
Thin Skin
Veins & Shade
Neutral Gray
Fair Veins
Blue Speck Mottle
Olive Shading
Purple Shading
Yellow Earth
Warm Details
Naturalise
I also use the powders:
Heavenly White
Flesh Pop
Warming Touch
Sweet Mint
Soft Skin
Purple Shades
Peach Cheeks
Dusty Pink Blush
Clever Creases
Deep Creases
Heavy Creases
Chocolate Creases
Flushed Blush
Berry Cheeky
Viridian Shader
Lost Light
Shading Space
Berry Dark Blush
Fiery Sienna
Soft Focus - MATT
Sure Bond
Matting Powder
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How much would this whole order cost? And can you buy all these items at the same place?
Most of them will come in sets:
The Full Size Paint Set is $85
It includes:
Skin Base MEDIUM FLESH
Skin Highlights LIGHT FLESH
Warm Details YELLOW
Thin Skin LIGHT GREEN
Lips BURGUNDY
Mottle & Blush TRANSPARENT RED
Crease & Shade DARK RED
Vein & Shade BLUE
Brow & Bronze BROWN
Brow & Ethnic BLACK
MEDIUMS
Final Sealer - PERMANENT VARNISH/SEALER
Slow Dry - THINNING RETARDER MEDIUM
Shine Remover - MATT ADDITIVE
The Advanced Skin Tone Set is $55
It includes:
Skin Base MEDIUM FLESH
Skin Highlights LIGHT FLESH
Inner Glow LIGHT REFLECTING WHITE
Bright & Creamy WARM WHITE
Pure Ivory PALE FLESH
Peach Skin PALE PEACH
Strawberry Skin SOFT PINK
Caramel Skin WARM LIGHT BROWN
Olive Skin WARM DARK FLESH
Neutral Grey GREY
Blue Speck Mottle LIGHT BLUE
Olive Shading DARK GREEN
Purple Shading PURPLE
Naturalize YELLOW BROWN
Slow Dry - THINNING RETARDER MEDIUM
The Intro Ethnic Paint Set is $39
It includes:
PAINTS
Skin Base MEDIUM FLESH
Sun Kissed DARK FLESH
Biracial Brown DARK BROWN FLESH
Brow & Bronze BROWN
Brow & Ethnic BLACK
Lips - BURGUNDY
MEDIUMS
Final Sealer - PERMANENT VARNISH/SEALER
Slow Dry - THINNING RETARDER MEDIUM
Shine Remover - MATT ADDITIVE
The Heat Set Replacement Pack is $29.95
It includes
5ml Colours
Pure White
Skin Tone
Buttercup
Mottle & Blush
Dark Crimson
Pale Green
Pale Purple
Raw Umber
Burnt Umber
Vein & Shade
5ml Mediums
Ultra Matt Varnish
10ml Mediums
Slow Dry
The Baby FX Powder Set is $84.95
It includes
Heavenly White
Soft Skin
Flesh Pop
Warming Touch
Peach Cheek
Sweet Mint
Dusty Pink Blush
Clever Creases
Deep Creases
Flushed Blush
Berry Cheeky
Sure Bond medium
3 Mini Brushes for applying powders
Fixer spray bottle
The other Powder colors are $6 each
Soft Focus MATT is $7
The Paints can be bought individually for $7 each
Varnishes are $7 each
Mediums are $7 to $9.90 each
Matting Powder is $7
I get everything from Dream a Little Dream.
Hope that helps
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I need a second job😩
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Start with the basics and build on it.
I would get the Full Size Paint set first and a couple extra bottles of Slow Dry. That should get you started and then you can judge what else you will need or want from there.
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Thank you ! I just have to push the button!
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Thanks so much y’all, for taking so much time to put so much information together for me. You are amazing, incredible and super special! Now I must go and do some estimates and decide exactly how deep I want to go into this. If I sell one more doll I could do it, I have to remember that I need all new brushes too because the residual oils from my Genesis would be bad, bad, bad. Then I need two storage areas instead of one, and unless I do a major reorganization of my studio, my space is limited. It might be time to get everything out of there that doesn’t relate to doll making… You wouldn’t think this could be so complicated, but I can overcomplicate anything, just ask my husband! LOL:
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What brand do you use? Does liquitex make one? Would that work?
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I started with the basic pack and some purple, dark crimson and was able to paint this baby with it. She was going to get sent out to have rooted hair done but I do not have time as I need her for the IDTS show so she will be getting painted hair and going with me to the IDTS show to be sold there.
I did seal this one with air dry sealers. You can purchase my color guide for $10 at the link below.
If you decide to purchase singles, these are on my Baby FX must have list:
Skin Base
Sunkissed
Blush and Mottle
Naturalise (it is pretty close to yellow ochre and I use it as such)
Thin Skin (this is a great color for green washes, neutralizing pink vinyl, and thinned down for a final wash on baby at times to pull color together)
Dark Crimson (I mix blue with this color to make purple shades and to make a shade I like to use for creases)
Caramel Skin is a great color to warm up the bland vinyls
Strawberry Skin is a great color to pink up yellow vinyls
If you want to make a darker skin tone get
Biracial Brown
Natural Brown is the other ethnic brown I got recently
and then the Brow and Ethnic is the dark almost black color that can be used on them as well.
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