Glitter Tattoos in the cold

[Sherry]

Glitter tattoos can be such a headache to me.  First I was dealing with putting them on in the heat.  The glitter gloms on to sweaty skin in all the wrong places.  I semi-fixed that by dusting their skin with cornstarch.  

Now, last night at the fair it got pretty chilly.  I didn't even think about it affecting the body glue, but it did.  I was happy that the customer picked a $7 stencil, but when it was all said and done, it didn't really turn out.  Not much glitter stuck to the glue for some reason.  I didn't charge the customer and put away the glitter tattoo set up for the rest of the night.

Anyone else had this problem?  Can you just not do glitter tattoos when it gets cold?  

[Alison]

I was Glad to find this post about the Cornstarch -
So much I don't know yet.  And if I ever take this to the 'streets', I hope I'll be prepared for the heat.

Two days ago, I did my first glitter tattoo at my house on my friend.  I haven't spoken to her yet about what her experience was. 

I used some Very fine face-painting glitter and some fine craft glitter that I had here.  I was able to tell the difference - the face-painting glitter was Sooo much softer to my fingers.  But my friend said it didn't make a difference to her.

The colors were very soft - pastelly.  I think these things look better with bolder colors.  What sort of choices do we get for the glitter for the tattoos?   

I sprinkled the different colors on to my friend's arm with my fingers.  Plenty of stuff.  Even though I worked over a piece of paper, there was a Lot of waste.  And especially because I wanted to let it set (dry) before brushing it off, all the colors on the paper mixed together.  Wouldn't be very usable.   At this rate, I would estimate Each little tattoo to use up about Half a container or glitter (might cost more than the price I'd be selling them).  So I don't think this is the way to do it.  Do you use pouffer-bottles?  Or what?  How much glitter???  Are you going to continue to offer them?

[Sherry]

I offer glitter tattoos, but they're frustrating to me.  The weather seems to affect them too much for my taste.  It's rather embarassing to take all the time for a paying customer and then for it to not turn out right because of the temperature. 

I think the lighter colors look better on darker skin and lighter skin needs the dark vibrant glitter colors to look pretty.  Have you tried the shimmer powders for the tattoos?  They call these mica tats I believe.

I'd like to take a class on glitter tattoos when I go to the convention in February.  Maybe I'll learn a thing or two and bring the knowledge back to share with the board.

I currently have the glitter in the containers and the poof bottles.  The thing I don't like about the poofers are some come out easily and some I have to squeeze and squeeze to get a little bit of glitter.  I guess I need to use something to enlarge the holes on them.  With the ones in a container, I take a brush and lift the glitter up and with the brush apply it where I want it.  Whatever I brush off, I brush into a container and then reuse this mixed up glitter when face painting.

[Alison]

I Think Shimmer-Powder was the face-paint-glitter I was using.
I get stuff when I'm intrigued,
and then I forget what I wanted it for.

I'm ready for info about glitter tattoos now.
Interesting how things make more sense
After I try to do them.

[Wildcatfin]

Ahh...well, OK, if its the standard shimmer powder, its not glitter. Thats a sort of powdery almost eyeshadow thing and isn't waterproof, usually, which is kind of the point of doing glitter tatts - waterproof and lasts several days!

Try it with proper cosmetic glitters - not craft glitter as that may negate your insuarnce - but its similar to craft glotter, just safe near eyes/ on skin.

Also if you want really striking glitter tatts, make sure to get just the opaque glitters. You can get some interesting effects with the semi-sheer stuff but its not as impressive as the opaques, especially the stronger draker coours.

cat x

[Alison]

That's really good advice, Cat -
About getting the opaques.
Thanks ~