MUST SEE Review! Do You Need ANOTHER New Ink Tool? 

Sadly these "pouncers" were a copy from a small company out of Canada -Local King Rubber Stamps -the magic mushroom. The small business did a ton of tutorials on their use and I was seriously disappointed that PF copied this idea which seems to be a "thing" with several larger craft companies "borrowing" product ideas.

I love reviews! It helps me have an informed decision about what to buy. I watch multiple reviews of the same items. I appreciate you taking your time to help us out!😘

I do like using the pouncers. Helps with the arthritis in my fingers! Thank you.

I saw these on Temu for less than a dollar each. I don't think they are worth $40.00 either . Thank you for the video always nice to see your demos.

I have just found your videos, and I love them. I have been watching a few of your older ones too. Great job. I love how you put in all your hints and tips with cost saving ideas and everything. Thank you.

A long time ago (at least a few years now), Lindsay Weirich (The Frugal Crafter) suggested using makeup wedges shoved into chair leg tips to make DIY sponge daubers. As I recall, you fold the wedge in half & just insert it into the chair leg tip so it's snug. Friction holds it in place - no glue needed. I would think the way they go in would make them kind of rounded/domed, so they would likely be comparable to these ink pouncers. I'm not sure how much those tips cost now, but you wouldn't need or want large ones, so I imagine you would still spend less than on these pouncers. I've never tried her method, but I would assume it does work. And if the wedge gets too worn down or worn out, just pop it out & shove another into the tip/holder. Another video I came across used segments of PVC pipe for the holders to stuff the wedges into. Anyway, just my suggestions. Thank you for such an honest review, Mary. My one big gripe about the foam blending tools is how the foam wears out if you use them much for stenciling, & how it eventually breaks down no matter how you use it. So I kind of wonder about the longevity of these pouncers. I know you said that they are made of the same material as makeup wedges, but I figure wedges are likely not designed with long-term survival in mind, since they are disposable. Probably a question for the company, if they know or not. Otherwise, I suppose only time would truly tell. I for one won't be rushing to buy these. Nor would I go slowly to buy them. LOL Anyway, thank you again for sharing. Take care, & have an awesome day! :)

Thank you for taking the time to do such a thorough review!

Interesting, thank you, looking forward to trying it. I believe that foam is a “closed cell latex foam”, which means the bubbles in the foam have not popped open. It gives a smoother texture. Closed cell latex foam is also used in some padded shoe inserts.

The Picket Fence Studios Paper Pouncers look like the Local King Rubber Stamp Magic Mushrooms that came out in 2019. Magic Mushrooms have denser foam and flatter head than makeup sponges. Local King Rubber Stamp shows more techniques beyond pouncing/tapping in her YT videos making them very versatile.

For the price point, I'd want the sponge to be replaceable, the sponge part seems like something that is going to limit the lifespan of the tool.

I bought some cosmetic blenders 5 for 6.00 they work great and I get the same results as the videos I’ve seen! Great idea but I found a more reasonable price point.😀

These are also available as “mushroom makeup foundation blending sponges & loose powder puffs”. You can buy them with or without the plastic cases & I found them available in lots of one, six & 10. They come in a variety of colours but with black cases & are not the rainbow 🌈 of colours you get from the ones used in the video but are a lot less money. They are basically fancy beauty blenders. Big thank you for the great video & demonstration of these blenders.

They are just like Local King Rubber at a fraction of the price

Same as Local King Rubber Stamps Magic Mushrooms.

Thanks so much for the review! I love to hear your honest opinions about new craft products! Makeup sponges work really well for stencils😊

Thank you for the thorough and honest review, Mary. It's good to know about these new products, and now I won't have to wonder what they are when I see them around. Have a great weekend!

Those look like the magic mushroom the lady from local King Rubber Stamp uses.

I am not willing to spend any more $ on blending tools, no matter how good. I blend colors before I die cut. Thank you for sharing this product. It does help a lot.

Thanks for the review. I believe when I first started watching RU-vid craft videos I found that Lindsey from the frugal crafter had used regular triangle makeup sponges and hot glued them in to a bottle cap. For a dollar you get a bunch of sponges and have a diy of this same thing and toss it out and make a new one when they start to wear out.

Thank you, Mary. I really appreciate your review videos!

Great review, thank you! You really do help me figure out whether or not I "need" a product.

I really appreciated your review! I was on the fence with these, but have decided I really done need another pricey tool! Yay me 😀

Thank you! If my wrist pain gets any worse I’ll be looking into these! ❤

Thanks for the review. This will be great for intricate stencils.

There is no way I’d pay $40 for them! I use the makeup foam triangle from the dollar tree!

Great review Mary 🥰 I love your review and your honesty ❤ thanks for sharing Hugs xx

Best stencil tool I own. No special mats or sticky surfaces. Applies color easily and evenly. Prefer them over foam applicators or brushes for stencils and die cuts. Love them!

Thanks for the review I truly appreciate it ❤

I don't think I need another bulky tool when I can buy a 3 pack of makeup blender sponges for 3-5.00 that clean easier no worries of pulling out of the handle when they're used up toss and replace. Blender sponges dry out. Also there's no plastic waste when time comes to toss. When they slap buzz words or keywords on a product the price raises 4-8 times what it costs. I'd rather spend money on other things.

Thank you! Great educational video.

Thank you for a thorough review! As a retired PT, I must say that these handles really aren’t that ergonomic at all! The type of grip required to use these would not be very restful for most arthritic hands. I think I will be staying with makeup sponges as many are! 🧑🏼‍🎨

Looks like it had great coverage, thanks for reviewing this stuff. It saves angst 😂

Thanks for the informative review.

Hi Mary! Just wanted to pop in and to you this was a great review of the Picket Fence ink blending tool. I have several other tools that do the same thing. I do enjoy the color coordinated colors. I don’t think I will be purchasing these any time soon, but as my other blending tools wear out I will look into getting these. Thank you so much for your honest and objective review! ❤️😺

I saw these (and their price) and wondered why anyone would spend that much on them. Now that I know how to use them, I have to agree with others about just using a makeup sponge and a clip. I can get a whole lot of makeup sponges in a small container. I do agree though about the anesthetics of a rainbow lined up on my shelf, but that doesn't mean I need them. Thanks again Mary for your wonderful review.

Thank you for your honest review. I don’t think I would use these enough to take up the space needed in my craft room. However, if you need an inexpensive diy version, Lyndsay at the Frugal Crafter also has one using makeup wedge sponges folded in half and held together with a binder clip or glued into bottle cap. I was thinking that buying the mini beauty blenders that are already in the perfect shape would work really well too if it’s something that you would use frequently.

Aaaand the military pops out with NOMENCLATURE😁😆 Yeah, this will be a pass when actual makeup sponges and a binder clips at DT or Wally World are available at a much better price point🤷🏾

Temu Is where I go get mine hate saying it but they work just as well for 90. Each !

Thank you for sharing your videos

First, Mary thank you for your review. I always appreciate your time and honesty. Secondly, I totally agree with Ann, these are outrageously overpriced and on that note the Altenew Stamping Wheel that price of $99 for what? They wonder why some crafters go onto overseas for the same items.

Love your honest videos. I have purchased every blender that comes out- yes I’m one of those people 🥴- I have finally (I hope) started thinking what I really need, and actually use. I have put my dome blenders in separate containers with names of the colors I’ve used. I have three handles to hold the domes. I kept my mini blender brushes but did away with the large ones. I found, for me - the brushes were holding too much of the previous shades of color and short of washing all the time I decide the best and most economical was to go back to the domes. My only issue is getting the tag that tells me the color keeps popping off the plastic- maybe someone has a hack for that 😊. I use small Avery labels, and the containers screw together to form a tower.

These sponges look more like beauty blender sponges rather than the wedge shaped make up sponges. I grabbed an unused knock odd beauty blender sponge and played with it to ink up some stencils. Worked great- better than the firmer sponge on daubers. I think if your familiar with using beauty blender sponges, you might want to give them a whirl on your craft room. No handle but if you already use one for makeup you probably won’t miss the handle.

So I seen the make-up sponge with a handle at dollar tree, now $1.25. Of course they only have 2 colors, pink and black. I used them for color on some die cuts. It worked well. So if someone doesn't want to spend a tone on these, give the DT a try before you buy.

TFS I've been ignoring video showing them! I don't think it's anything I need and you helped clarify that.

So, I made myself a set of these from Lindsey the Frugal Crafter's video when I started . . .10 years ago. Everything old is new again. My hubby got me 1/2" pvc pipe and cut me 1.5" handles (maybe it was 3/4" pipe?) I made 10-12 of them for around, I wanna say $6. Supplies to make them: 1 bag round makeup sponges, then the handles

I think another pro for this tool is that it will not bend a delicate stencil. I know with the blending brushes I have had it happen with very fine stencils. With the pouncing action I think this will not occur. I also like that they are color coded in that you can use all your reds, blues, greens, etc. Thank you, Mary, for your very honest review.

Hi Mary, A great review!! For me it is not something I would used. For me it would take up to much space and I do more bigger backgrounds. Your video was very helpful and it let me know this is not for me!! Thanks so much my friend!!!🥰

I found those pouncers on both Ali and temu in their makeup brush section..only difference is the handles are all black..

First makeup brushes, now makeup sponges. Craft companies think we crafter aren't already using these beauty product substitutes already lol. I also been using sponges for all time. I guess it's marketed at those who like to keep their collection colour coded and pretty, but a pass for me. I also don't see it being any good for ink blending large backgrounds if pouncing. That already makes it subpar to using blending foam or brushes. Thanks for reviewing this so we are informed.

Reading the comments below, I was going to say the same thing about Local Rural King. You can find their videos here on RU-vid. This company is always at local craft exhibitions such as Scrapbook Expo and Stampfest. You get a set of 10, and they are $10 more than PF. However, if you get them from one of the craft shows, they always have show offers and there is no shipping as you buy them there. I was very disappointed to see PF copy their idea. However, I am not sure it is exactly the same material, as with Local Rural King, If I remember correctly, you have to wet the sponges to make them puff up. But, they come in opaque cases the exact same shape as the PF ones do.

I think the similar brushes (make up, Picket Fence, etc) are the more versatile version as they’re not limited to pouncing.

okay thanks i found link, brushes only

The other place the sponge seemed to have a bit of an edge is with çoloring small die cuts. I'd probably need to either ink the paper up before cutting, use a sticky mat, or replace a delicate die cut back into its paper negative if I wanted to color something that small with brushes instead. I found some cheap rainbow colored makeup tools with brushes on one end and sponges on the other, so am planning to test my theory. If they turn out to be any good, I'll pass it on!

Would you use the same pouncers for both oxides and regular dye ink?

So the rainbow set is it for paint and brushes, or just the brush?

Mary--how do these differ from the dome foam blending tool? Thanks so much for the demo!

While watching you, it seems to me, from what I know of makeup sponges, that the pouncing tool is not absorbing the ink as much as the foam finger tools or brushes...that might make it worth the money for some to purchase it because the brushes and foams absorb a lot of ink, in my humble opinion. For myself, I'll likely stick to using makeup sponges...I am a frugal crafter. Blessings!

nope, not buying ANY more craft stuff this year. NADA. I already have enough. And then of course there's inflation which has really messed up my retirement budget. thank you Mary.

I need to buy a mese? The tablet you use stamping your cards etc.and a small hand die cut machine.i have a big electric one but its too heavy to get out etc.im 73 newbe just want to buy both things but without too much expence

These were very costly. I got same on Amazon and put color stickers on handle. Saved enough $ to get set for using with my oxides too. Be wary of overpriced craft supplies

Couldn’t you also pounce with a finger dauber? I have a small craft room and would not have room to store these large pouncers.

I guess RU-vid doesn’t like my comment since it disappeared…amazon has makeup up sponges called Mushroom makeup sponges that are essentially the same thing for 1/4 of the price.

T4s

Sadly this just a glorified make up sponge on a post with a cap and a case. I bought one of these a few years ago from my local Miniso shop and I got it in the make up section. It’s another make up to craft crossover. I won’t be getting them but thanks anyway for the review. Appreciate you taking the time to get information out to crafters.

A make up sponge on a bull dog clip would do the same job for a fraction of the price, yet another money making gimmick. I would prefer to see new product that solves a problem that is not already out there, there are already tons of ways to get your ink down so come on let’s have something new please. Thanks Mary for your great reviews 👏👏❤️❤️🇬🇧

I saw these reviewed on another channel and the reviewer was sent the product. She claimed, of course, that she would give her “honest opinion.” She called these pouncers a “game changer.” Oh honey, if these are a “game changer” then you don’t understand the term. Needless to say, I won’t be buying just another overpriced, overhyped version of an ink blender that comes in its own cute little holder. This RU-vidr suggested that even the foam was better and that these pouncers would give you softer blends than the “makeup” brushes so many of us use for ink blending. Sure. 🤨 It’s like how many ways can you “build a better mousetrap?” Whatever you come up with…it’s likely been done before and any “big” changes are in reality only going to be “slight” modifications.

So sad to see that a craft company copied another. And then of course they copied the makeuo industry. When does it stop?

I bought mine on Temu the same pouncers a whole set for around $12…work great…Lynne

It feels like a waste to me if it can't blend backgrounds , sort of a one trick pony for a lot of money and space.

These look like knockoffs from a Canadian company I think they call theirs mushrooms. Shame on you Picket Fence Studios!

Nope, don’t think I need another ink tool gimmick.