Sponges – Tool Time

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Sponges, sponges and more sponges.  If you are a stamper, you probably use them and use a lot of them.   I am currently using Stampin’ Up! sponges in my stamping.  They come in a pack of 3.  I cut each sponge into 12 pieces.  Yes, that’s right, 12 pieces!  I have seen stampers use very large chunks of sponge, like 1/4 of a whole sponge.  I find it is much easier to control the ink on a littler piece of sponge.  Granted, my fingers get inky when using the smaller pieces of sponge, but they are inky anyway, lol.

I don’t have a sponge dedicated to each ink color that I have either.  That is way too time consuming for me to keep track of, or I am just to lazy to do so, lol.  I’ll let you decide.  🙂

I use a piece of sponge for a color and then throw it in a basket I keep at my work space. 

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When I have enough inky sponges I put them in a lingerie bag and send them through the washing machine.  By themselves of course!   They will come out stained, but the color will not transfer to the next project they are used on.    This is my way of currently staying “Green” at home in regards to sponges.  🙂

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What is your sponge system?  Inspiring stampers want to know.  🙂

Until my next post. . . .  .

Huge Hugs,

Michelle

dsc01434.jpg  Get ready for Brayer Workshops!  I am coming to:

Portland, Michigan  (Only 2 beginner workshop spots left)

2010

Dayton, Ohio at Marco Paper

Phoenix, Arizona

Monroe, Louisiana

Jacksonville, Florida

 St. Louis, Missouri

Mechanicsville, Virginia

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Colleyville, Texas

Colorado Springs, Colorado

 Boise area of Meridian, Idaho

Riverside, California (Southern California)

Salem, Oregon

Wheaton, Illinois

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Rockville, Maryland

North Chili, New York (near Rochester)

New Johnsonville, Tennessee

Kenova, West Virginia

Helena, Montana

Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Venice, Florida

Grinnell, Iowa

Piedmont, Alabama

Auburn, Washington (near Seattle)

Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Savannah, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Soledad, California

Here is a link to my workshop calendar where you can see all of my travel schedule and to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops:   http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar 

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

Frequently asked questions answers:  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/ 

41 thoughts on “Sponges – Tool Time”

  2. AntoinetteS's avatar AntoinetteS

    How cool- I do the exact same thing!! I cut them up into smaller pieces, keep them in a jar- and the wash in a lingerie bag when I need to. I have wondered a few times if I was crazy to do that, but the color does not stain the next project at all. I don’t dry them, just put through the wash and air dry. Love your blog!! I have been learning so much by following your tutorials!! I really admire your beautiful work.
    PS- Do you think you will hold a workshop in Nashville, TN or Paducah, KY anytime? I would love to attend, but there hasn’t been one anywhere close to me.

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  6. Carol Dee's avatar Carol Dee

    Great tip Michelle. I do cut my sponge into smaller pieces. All get dumped into a plastic coolwhip tub! No order at all. I just try to sort out one in a simular color to use next time. Then toss out when too yucky. NO MORE. Now they will get washed. TFS. Have terrific Tuesday , hugs…

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  7. Phyllis's avatar Phyllis

    I do the same thing you do but I do wash them with my DH’s Levis. If color transfers who’s gonna know???? I also don’t use a bag, I use a sock.

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  8. Lisa Tedder's avatar Lisa Tedder

    That is too funny! Here I thought I was doing such a ‘bad thing’ because I was so lazy! LOL But, it gets the sponges so much cleaner this way! I have tried to wash them by hand, but it never really gets out all the colors, it will still leave some. I’m glad to see I am such good company! 🙂

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  9. Peggy Parenteau's avatar Peggy Parenteau

    I love the smaller size sponge and just rinse them out in the sink w/soap after I use them. I’m still using the ones I got at one of your workshops!

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  11. lucy's avatar lucy

    I got a different way of being economic and/or green: I use the sponges for dish washing. When the green, itchy part is too loose to clean my dishes, I tear it of and use the sponge for stamping. I just tear it in smaller peaces and throw them away when they are dirty.

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  12. Willow's avatar Willow

    What a great tip!!! I do not normally cut my sponges up that small (but I sure will from now on!!) also, I just use each edge until I can’t stand them anymore and throw them out…guess what I will be doing from now on??? Thanks so much!!

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  13. Jena's avatar Jena

    That is EXACTLY what I do with my sponges – I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who washes them in my bra bag, I thought I was a little crazy for coming up with that one 😉

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  14. crystle k.'s avatar crystle k.

    I have a set of drawers that are for nuts and bolts that you would get at
    the hardware store. I have each drawer labeled for 1 color and in that drawer i
    have the sponge that is for that color.
    that is how i store my sponges

    Great blog Michelle keep up the good work.

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  15. jenna's avatar jenna

    I have to admit..i have been throwing mine out when they are all inky..but i have wondered about running them threw the dishwasher…but never thought about the washing machine…i have a huge front loader…wonder if that would waste water??

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  16. Betty McCommon's avatar Betty McCommon

    I do the same thing with my sponges, I don’t usually cut them up so small since I buy mine from Stateline Tack or at horse.com They were originally used as Tack (saddles & horse gear cleaning) Usually a dozen for around $3. They are exactly the same as SU too.

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  17. Tammy Q Howell's avatar Tammy Q Howell

    I do the same thing with cutting the sponges, but have been cleaning mine in the sink. Need to buy a lingere bag!

    One tip I have is to use a clip (the ones you sometimes see decorated) with handles and then I don’t get my fingers inky.

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  18. Beth Ann's avatar Beth Ann

    I “heart” my sponges! I cut them up in smaller pieces, too! Then, as I “assign” a sponge an ink color, I put them into a “hardware” box, that has 24 compartments. (I have more than one box!) Each compartment has a label with the color printed on it. That way, I never have to even wash my sponges! If I need the “Night of Navy” sponge, like I did last night, there it is! 🙂

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  19. Donna Warner's avatar Donna Warner

    I also use the same sponges over and over. However I rinse mine out after each use and just let them air dry over night. Then I toss them back in the drawer with all their stained buddies till the next time I need one.

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  21. christine's avatar christine

    I buy my sponges at the $2 shop in new zealand. I get 12 small makeup sponges in packet ,use them ,abuse them ,and toss them. BUT now I think I try washing them as my 4 grandkids love inking their papers and use heaps, Thanks for the great tip.

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  22. Jillian's avatar Jillian

    We somehow ended up with a never used foam underlay for a bed that was just sitting there taking up space until I realised that I could use it for sponges. This thing is the size of a single bed so I have enough sponges for possibly the rest of my life.

    If I use a bigger piece I’ll just trim off the edge that I used but will just chuck the smaller pieces out.

    happy days everyone.

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  25. Melissa (SCS: Stampin_Melissa)'s avatar Melissa (SCS: Stampin_Melissa)

    I cut mine into 8ths. I store my sponges and daubers in a “nuts & screw” organizer. I assigned each drawer two colors (within the same color group, just not close in color; i.e. So Saffron & Ballet Blue). I save on space by combining colors and I ensured the colors weren’t close enough to confuse.

    Thanks for all your tips Michelle! I love your blog!!

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  26. Tonya's avatar Tonya

    I cut my SU ones into quarters, and have a couple each for blues/green, reds/pinks, yellows/oranges, purples, browns/neutrals, etc.

    Same way w/my Sponge Daubers…lt/dk blues, lt/dk greens, reds, pinks, oranges, yellows, browns, purples…

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  27. Gitana's avatar Gitana

    I use different kinds of sponges – cosmetic sponges, natural sponges, even crinkled plastic wrap – to apply ink. With the larger natural sponges I just tear a piece out of them rather than cut. I find that the ragged edges and the natural openings in the sponge give me a more interesting imprint and less of a sharp defined edge. I tend to layer ink colors and becauseof the openings in the sponge the bottom color peeks through the upper color, giving it an interesting depth and color play. If I’m applying successively darker shades of the same color I just use the same sponge, blotting off the previous color before tapping on the next. Just have to be careful that you finish all your light color sponging before moving on to the next darker color because you can’t go back to the lighter ink with a sponge that’s got dark ink on it.

    I don’t run my sponges through the wash. I just dump them in a small pail of soapy water. If I wash the sponges soon after they’ve been used I can usually get out most of the color.

    – Gitana, the Creative Diva

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  29. Janet Sisk's avatar Janet Sisk

    Good idea about washing all the sponge pieces in a laundry bag! I actually have some SU sponges and I just turn them over and use a clean spot on the sponge. I throw them in a drawer which became the abyss! LOL Now I buy Nerf balls(softball size) at Wal-Mart for a little over a dollar and cut them up. Cheap enough to just throw away when the piece gets too nasty.

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  30. sandie carter's avatar sandie carter

    I too cut my sponges into pieces but I also use bull dog clips to hold them while using them to help keep my fingers cleaner. I keep colour families together to avoid any mix ups. Love your idea of cleaning them in the washing machine – I usually just wash by hand as needed.

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  32. Jacqui D's avatar Jacqui D

    I use SU sponges and sponges I bought from M’s and just cut them without thought to size. Then I try to use them with like colors. Once they’re too covered in color I just hand wash them along with my scrub pad. I like the idea of throwing them into a linen bag and then into the washer. I’ll have to think about that for the next time. But washing them by hand is so much easier for me.

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  34. k a matelsky's avatar k a matelsky

    I’d have something to wash if I didn’t drop them and my puppy tore them up…. guess I should bag the dog and wash her with all the pieces she has torn up.

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  35. Jacque's avatar Jacque

    What a cool idea!!! You are one of the most generous people on the web…ALL the work you do to show people how to do the gorgeous brayering you do. Thanks!!

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  36. Jacqui's avatar Jacqui

    I cut mine as well and put them in a drawer or a jar on my work table – I have to make sure I shut the drawer or put the lid on the jar because my cat steals them! She takes them and tears off tiny pieces until it is in the shape of a ball and then she bats them around and throws them in the air. It’s hilarious. She doesn’t come near me when I am stamping until I break out a sponge! I swear she can smell them!!!

    Thanks so much for all the tutorials you have here. I love your work and look forward to seeing your next beautiful creation.

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  37. Stephanie's avatar Stephanie

    I cut them up small like you do. When I wash them, I just take them to the sink and squirt a shot of handwashing soap on them and squish and rinse until all the color is gone. I’ve never had a problem getting the ink or the soap out, although they are stained, but as you pointed out, that doesn’t transfer after they’re cleaned and dried.

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  38. Tracy's avatar Tracy

    I love your idea! I’ll have to get brave and cut mine into twelve..right now I cut them into six pieces. I found these awesome single row ice cube trays at the Dollar Store that have a snap on lid. Twelve (ironic that you cut your’s into 12 Ü) compartments and I label the lid with which color is in each hole. I do keep extras of my most frquently used sponge colors like Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip and Black in a little basket at my stamping station.

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  39. Paula's avatar Paula

    I cut mine into 1/4’s cause I like them bigger. I put a smsll bulldog clip on each one and stick a label on the clip with the colour I have used. Never have to wash them, the clip gives me something to hold onto as I am sponging and I can always find the colour I need!

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  40. Sheila's avatar Sheila

    So many good ideas. I use the white make-up sponges that are triangular. I haven’t tried washing them, but I do use a LePen to write the name of the ink color on the broad end.

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