DIY Black Sponges vs. Store-Bought Black Sponges

I was looking to buy some more sponges because the few I have are terribly stained. I happened upon a thread on here about dyeing Fantasy World Wide sponges black using RIT dye and the stove-top method. I thought it was an excellent idea! I load my online shopping cart with the sponges but then realized that the store now has Kyrvaline black sponges as well. They actually come in two sizes, large and small.

I did some online research on both sponges (FWW and Kryvaline) and the consensus is that the FWW sponges are very soft (some even say too soft) while the Kryvaline black sponges are firm (some say even too firm).

I like the idea of not having to DIY it with the Kryvaline sponges, but I also like the idea of having soft sponges like the FWW ones. I don't know which to choose. I am hoping that someone that has purchased both can break the tie and help me decide.

I can only look at the cost in this situation but it's not including the dye... w/ quantity discounts...

10 pack of Fantasy World Wide Sponges (20 halves) - $8
20 Kryvaline Black Sponge, Small - $13.60
20 Kryvaline Black Sponge, Large- $18

I'm assuming the Kryvaline are already cut into halves as shown in the pictures on the shop, otherwise my numbers are incorrect - would like to know this if someone knows otherwise.

Just heard back from Metina.
The Kryvaline black sponges are priced per the half sponge in the FPF shop.

So to reduce cost, I will be going the DIY route and buying the FWW sponges and dyeing them myself. This works out pretty well as I can also dye my existing sponges and pounces as well.

Try the "wicked" sponges from Austrailia if you are concerned about having a bit more robustness than the fantasy offer. It crossed my mind that if the Kryvaline are too stiff, you could tty boiling them to soften them?

I just tried my FWW sponges for the first time and I found the paint bled through to my fingers which did not happen with my Snazaroo sponges - they were nice to work with otherwise though

Little Monsters,
Thank you for the review
Just the sort of thing I was looking to find out.

I like soft (as in not rough) but firm sponges to both keep my hands cleaner and to more easily manipulate the paint.

I really neeeeed more sponges asap. Maybe I'll order a few of both kinds before I make my final decision.

I think that's a good idea... $8 is a good deal for 20 halves if you go FWW and if you're only using the sponges once - they might not bleed through

I have both the Kryvaline and dyed Wicked sponges.

I like the look of the Kryvaline sponges but I have a horrible time getting into all the little cracks and cranies on kids faces with them. I tend to save them for stencil work now.

I do love my Wicked sponges. Dying is messy and there is a learning curve, but I found it worth it. If you look closely you can still see a bit of staining but from a distance (parent view) they still look good

And my hands get dirty no matter what I use, I'm just a messy painter LOL!

I dyed all my sponges black, LOVE it.

FWW are my sponges of choice. They pick up and lay down paint better. The other ones are just to 'plastic' like, I hate them with a passion, most of all those petal sponges. I will be putting with in the swap shop soon with a bunch of other stuff that hasn't worked out for me.

FWW some times gets on your fingers, but they all do really. But regardless they still lay down the paint better IMO. 

When storing them it's VERY important to keep them dry, or else they will degrade. Once i forgot i stuffed a FWW sponge in the bottom of my empty paint jar and forgot about it. a Few days later i found it, and it was falling apart and ruined. But you should be keeping your sponges dry ANYWAY, so this is also a good motivation to keep them clean and dry.

They work better, simple as that.

The new series of FWW sponges are blue instead of green, and I find they don't stain as much as the green ones did...
Or my green ones are just ratty and need replacing, that's always a possibility :p

Blue is my favorite color!  Why do I not have these!?!

ok....I'm missing something...
Why do you dye your sponges?

Dear Blastin:
I dye my sponges black to hide the stains... and because I have heard that black makes my butt appear smaller.

xoxox

ahhh.....I'll get right on it for the butt effect