- Push pins - these can create very fine dots, just be careful not to pin yourself in the process
- Toothpick or wooden barbecue skewer
- Plastic dental pick
- Mechanical pencil (0.5mm) - I actually use this a lot even when I have a dotting nearby
- Mechanical pencil (0.7mm)
- Paper clip
- Old pen - might not work afterwards, so don't try with a pen you love...
- Small flat head pin - stuck into the eraser end of a pencil to prevent painful pricks...
- Round head pin - also stuck into an eraser...
- Brush handle tip
What other things have you tried making dots with?
Hopefully this is useful for some of you!
Let me know if you are interested in seeing other random tips & tricks for nail art...
Anutka :)
What an awesome post!!! I've used the rounded eraser end of a pencil to get really big dots, much like the end of a paint brush
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting and useful! Š¢hanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteI just use my dotting tool since I already spent money on it but my toothpicks does a decent job as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is really useful for me now, thank you Anutka :)
ReplyDelete@Emma, that's a great idea for larger dots! I've even seen people carve the erasers to get patterns :)
ReplyDelete@Elena, you are so welcome! :)
@Choi, I mostly use dotting tools as well, but have used the pencils quite a bit too :)
@Sonidlo, You are very welcome! I'm so glad it is useful! :)
Before I got my first dotting tool, I used knitting needles to get all the different size dots I needed. It also made for an interesting conversation next time I showed up at my knitting group with paint splattered needles :D
ReplyDelete@foxfire, that is such a great idea! I have heard from other's who used knitting needles. Way too funny about paint splattered needles. I'd want to know what you were up to also :)
ReplyDeletegreat idea to replace nail art dotting tools. We have lots of options available but still we spend on tools.
ReplyDelete@Jasmeet, it is true, we all want the tools when there are lots of alternative. I find myself using these more often than the dotting tools themselves, especially for the finer dots...
ReplyDeleteCool ideas..thanks!
ReplyDeletegreat ideas for dotting! Love the knitting needles idea!! I knit & crochet all the time, so I'm totally going to ' decorate' my boring needles! lol
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you find these useful! Have fun and see what else you can find in the house to use! :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband saw my need for dots and made me a simple tool. He took a small head nail and stuck it into a wine cork, so you could set it down easier !
ReplyDeleteMy husband saw my need for dots and made a very simple tool. He took a small head nail and stuck it into a wine cork. So I have a handle and I can set it down easier!
ReplyDeleteChopsticks make a nice dotting tool as well. I also use my yarn knitting needle for dotting. I love it because it is not sharp at all, but small enough to make nice dots. I have a plastic one, so the tip is easily cleaned and the paint peels right off when dry.
ReplyDeleteRobin Moses suggested on a video clip using bar-b-que wooden skewers as a very inexpensive alternative for making large dots. She suggested filing the point off and cutting workable lengths thereby making several dotters from a single stick.
ReplyDeleteBobby pins work great to!
ReplyDelete