So I am fairly new to reborning and still struggling to finish a doll in full mainly the dirt glitter and dust that appears 247 on my painted vinyl . I am on my second brand of air dry (miracle blend) and although I am happier with the second brand I’m still not sure if its the best for me .
Genesis please tell me why its better or why its not I’m debating whether to spend more money on new paints .
Genesis are great paints, the only downside is that they need to be baked. Heating vinyl causes certain gasses that aren’t good for you. So you’ll need a oven that you don’t bake food in and bake in an area that is well ventilated, or outside.
If that’s not a problem for you, I’d make the switch to Genesis.
i used air dry paint and have had the same problem lately. I have decided it is because the paint is drying in my mop brush before I clean it. The ladies on CORA suggested I use Winsor Newton brush cleaner. So I am trying that to see if that was my problem.
As for comparison, I used ghsp when I first started reborning and switched to air dry. I personally get more realistic tones with air dry paints. I tried using ghsp again last year and hated it. It’s totally a matter of preference.
I have used both air dry and GHSP but I started with GHSP and that is where my comfort lies.
If you started with air dry try to make every effort to stick with it… We are dangering our health baking the vinyl.
Ive used both. Great results from both airdry and genesis. But… i keep going back to genesis. I can get a variety of skintones from genesis, not to say I couldn’t with airdry, I’m just more familiar with how to achieve a variety from genesis. Plus genesis is more forgiving when it comes to correcting errors, at least it is for me. With airdry, once it’s applied it’s there and harder to remove If I’ve messed up. Genesis allows me to correct a mistake as long as I’ve not baked yet. I will continue to work with airdry till I master it as well. The plus side of airdry is you don’t have to bake.
I love my GHSP…i have tried air dry paints and just ended up going back to my heat set paints. Air dry just didnt work well for me.
@lollipop_cradle thanks for the information I hope you find out a solution as I’m at my wits end lol
@snuggle2me that is a big problem for me as I’m a beginner I seem to make a mistake just near the end and I can’t face stripping so the kit gets thrown back in the bag and put away . I’m slowly making a mountain of ruined dolls
And as much as I prefer GHSp over air-dry, there are still problems with it too. Like the vinyl getting shiny and not taking any more paint or absorbing it so it disappears when baked. Sometimes I use both paints on one doll.
I started with air dry and continue to love them. I mix my own colors and can finish the painting so much faster than if I had to bake every layer or two.
I just like how it takes to the vinyl 
like others have said the only down side to heat set is that you gotta bake it. But to me im more comfortable using genesis and i dont worry much about paint rubbing off. Perhaps in the future i will try air dry again but for now ill stick with heat set. I think you should stick with what works best for you. When i first tried air dry it was taking me longer to produce a finished baby. Heat set i brush on the paint and pounce well and once i have even color i back it. As soon as its cooled completely i add more. In my opinion its less time than waiting for air dry to cure.
Fuzz… the struggle is real!!! I’ve been trying to minimize fuzz lint dust in a few ways. I’m hoping it all helps to a certain degree.
It is the most aggravating and time consuming activity but I’m tired of fuzzy babies😝
I put a thin layer of matte varnish (mixed with thinner) on the vinyl before i start each kit. Its thin enough that you hardly feel any roughness but its enough for the paint to cling too and i have notice since i started doing that, the kits hang onto the color better
Thanks for that tip. I will try it on the next baby. Nothing like almost being done and can’t get the paint to stick to finish the fingers and toes.
Here is an article that may help you!
http://www.janmcdonald.com/artrisings/?p=70
The reason why they are so great on the vinyl, it coats the baby with a type of melted plastic once baked. That is why they are so durable. I wish I could use them! Migraines will not let me.
@LisaLynn thanks for the advice I do use the same preventative methods but still not fixing the problem .
Which paint are you using if you don’t mind
me asking.
