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Noantum · Senior Member

Secrist won't take my money!

Buffington · Guru

Sometimes when a credit card companies computers are down it denies everyone, no matter how much money they have in their account.
Also, when I use my check card I just click the credit card button anyway(if its Visa, Master, etc) and it goes through just fine.Try that and see if it works that way. Otherwise call or email the office on Monday to see if they have a solution

Noantum · Senior Member

Thanks...I'll try that and see what happens. I've already sent an email, if nothing goes through then I will call on Monday.

Noantum · Senior Member

Ok I was looking at another site to buy my supplies (BB) and found that they were cheaper. Not to mention I ordered from them earlier and I recieved my order in 3 days! I love speedy deliveries. The only problem was....I would have to buy an odorless thinner (which I don't want to do) and they did not have the last color I was looking for (yellow orche). So, not wanting to go without what I really wanted I decided to give Secrist's site another go. To my wonderous surprise

my order went through!

I thought more as I was filling out my billing information with BB what Patricia said about the possibility of the site being down. I had my other browser opened in case this one didn't go through, I would just push the "Proceed to checkout" button over at BB. What do you know.....I get "Thank You For Your Order". Yeah! I am pleased. Now I wait. This and the oven are the last of the supplies to come in.

I wanted to get a Training DVD but could not decide (even after searching the forum's posts) if it was really worth it or not. So I plan to check out more free online tutorials and see what happens.

Thanks Patricia! Your a life saver biggrin

-- Edited by Noantum on Sunday 9th of August 2009 12:46:10 AM

Play Days Dolls · Guru

It's weird that your order didn't go through at first. I'm wondering if the credit card processor was down. I know there was trouble with at least one of them just recently. If that ever happens again, I think I would call them to order by phone so someone can help you right away. Anyway, I'm so glad your order finally went through.

Hugs,

Buffington · Guru

I'm glad that worked for you, just a glitch I guess. :)

As far as the dvd... I highly recommend the beginner training dvd. You can go back and forth, stop, pick and choose what part you want to see and how many times you want to see it. I was on the panel when this was going to be introduced and I thought it was great as it stops after each teaching section! I'd give it a go if I were you! I did! :)

Noantum · Senior Member

Thank you both. Play Days I would appreciate that.

I was thinking to buy the beginner DVD but thought it may just be a repeat of all the tutorials I've seen online (applying flesh tones, veining, mottling with sponge-sea sponge-mop brush, rooting, assembling the baby). Although I would like to see more on rooting. I still can't fathom how to get a strand of hair in the hear with a pin point needle confuse

I thought the needle point was forked. Then I could get how it grabed the hair. I watched over and over but still it eludes me blankstare

What is the difference between the Beginner DVD and the Advanced? I know I'm not advanced, I haven't even started yet. However, I learn very quickly (tought myself to sew and made 16 pajamas and a flower girl dress in 6 months!) and would like to have something that is really going to take me through.
I don't know, just want to know more. Or am I moving ahead of myself

Tina W. · Guru

I have both dvd's from Secrist. Both the beginner and advanced. The beginner just you the basics, mixing colors, applying paint, steps for applying, brushes to use for each step. It will help you complete your first baby from beginning to end. The advance has basically the same thing plus some added techniques. I can't remember exactly what was in it but both were very helpful for a beginner. They also do have forked needles for rooting which believe it or not, it not as easy as it sounds and for some hard to grasp the technique. Me being one :0( however I haven't given up hope yet! I still use a one barb needle and can get the same effect. Rooting just takes practice. There are excellent thread in the forum on rooting and equally excellent threads on painting.

Noantum · Senior Member

Thanks Tina. I ended up getting the Course #3 dvd as I am going to be using the Authentic Reborn paints. I believe he uses them in this dvd and it'll teach me how to use them without a thinner. I'm not sure if the techniques are different or not so I thought it would be a good idea. My only concern is that as I read some of the posts on painting, some have said that the Authentic Reborn paints are still quite thick. Hummmm confuse

I thought they didn't need thinner, sounds like they do. My whole purpose for getting them was to eliminate the use of thinners. I have children and two cats and I was concerned about the toxicity. Do you know if the Mona Lisa thinner is less toxic than the Lowel Cornell? Or are both of them toxic? I've seen both of them at my local Michael's so that is convenient. Just wish I didn't have to use them. hmm

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Emily, I have all of the DVD's, including the Advance Classroom DVD. I have enjoyed them all and learned lots from all of them. I love the Authentic Reborn paints from Secrist, especially since I'm still pretty new at this. I have found that mixing them really well before using them is the secret to them going on thinly enough. Sometimes though the oil leaks out in shipping, and then I will add only a drop of thinner. It took me some time to work out the techniques on the DVD's. I had some practice parts I worked on before I started on my first doll. I highly recommend this! Learning from your mistakes is the best way to learn, but you don't want to make the mistakes on your doll. Hope this is helpful!
Melinda

Buffington · Guru

Noantum wrote:

...My whole purpose for getting them was to eliminate the use of thinners. I have children and two cats and I was concerned about the toxicity. Do you know if the Mona Lisa thinner is less toxic than the Lowel Cornell? Or are both of them toxic? I've seen both of them at my local Michael's so that is convenient. Just wish I didn't have to use them.

Like Melinda and I have said, be sure to mix them really well. They may still be a little thick but they should be free of lumbs and be creamy. Only the "Gentle Touch" ones are the ones that you don't need the thinner with (there are 2 kinds of AR paints). Check which ones you have.

As far as the thinners, you have a few choices...
1. Use the Genesis thinner, not more than 30-40% or your paint won't cure correctly. This would not be for the AR "Gentle Touch" paints as they are already thinned and translucent enough). The Genesis thinner is just like their paints.

2. Google and go on the manufacturers website for both thinners, read the MSDS (data sheets) and other information and you'll have to make your own decision on whether you want to use them or not hun. I have 2 cats and health issues but I have had no issues from either one of those thinners.

Hope this helps.

Noantum · Senior Member

Okay, I checked which paints I bought and most of them are the Gentle Touch!

However three are not, the premixed vein paint, eyebrow paint, and skin texture foundation. So I guess I'll still need to buy the thinner.
Pat thanks for the info I will look that up, and Melinda thanks for the dvd feedback.
Oh yes....I definately did buy a couple test parts wink

I did not want to tackle the kit without some kind of test run. I am so anal when it comes to that kind of thing. I would be so upset with myself if I had ruined my first kit after it is taking so long to get all the supplies together. lol
I mean I find this waiting as hard as pregnancy lol. It just seems to drag on and on and on

although it is okay because I am still learning new things while I wait.
Pat, for the AR paints I can still use either thinner correct? Sorry if it seems that you are repeating yourself. It just seems that the questions and answers are meshing with my other posts.
Thank you both, you have been very helpful. xo

-- Edited by Noantum on Tuesday 11th of August 2009 08:01:19 PM

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

You are very welcome! But I have to give you this warning: once you reborn one doll, you'll be hooked! And that's not such a bad thing - you could certainly pick something else that it not near as fun or gratifying! Hugs, Melinda

Buffington · Guru

Yes hun, either thinner will work well. I believe Secrist used to carry the Lowe Cornelle thinner and then went to the Mona Lisa. I think it might have been a price point. But they do work equally as well, I use both, depends on what I can get.

You are very right Melinda... it can be very addicting! I think I have 40 babies waiting to be done! lol

Noantum · Senior Member

Thanks and have a wonderful day.
Happy Wednesday everyone! xo

Buffington · Guru

One correction with the thinners:
On the Secrist site where they're talking about the orange correction paint, they do say to use the Mona Lisa brand. Something about no/less impurities. So I guess its the Mona Lisa I would get.

Noantum · Senior Member

Thanks so much for that. I was just out and was thinking to go pick it up. Then I decided to wait until tomorrow when I had more time. Oooo I'm so glad I came home and checked my email smile

Have a good evening. xo

Buffington · Guru

Me too! :)