Best paint sponges according to redditors

Here's the general weathering and battle damage things that I did to the Riptide:

1. Using a sponge (https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Hobbies-Synthetic-Painting-Household/dp/B01FIG2FM6/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=round+artist+sponge&qid=1565154447&s=gateway&sr=8-14) sponge/dab over the white (including the white decals) with the main red color of the battle suit, to make it look like the white is chipping away to the red underneath.
   
2. Using a sponge, sponge over the red areas with black (mostly around the edges, but as much as you like), to make it look like the main paint job on the battle suit is chipping away to the primer underneath. You could even sponge a little Leadbelcher if you wanted it to look like there were deep scratches.
   
3. Lightly Drybrush the extreme edges with Leadbelcher
   
4. Wash the joints of the suit with Seraphim Sepia to make them look oily (the legs aren't just silver either, they're painted black and then drybrushed all over with Leadbelcher)
   
5. Using an airbrush, hit some of the big recesses with black to increase contrast. I also airbrushed the edges of the exhaust vents to make them look dirty/charred.
   
6. Using an airbrush, spray in some of the dirt color used on the base, into the recesses of the joints or where you'd think dirt might collect.
   
7. Next to last step is to take raw pigment (https://www.amazon.com/Vallejo-Dust-Dirt-Pigment-4x35ml/dp/B07193GYZQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=vallejo+pigment&qid=1565154837&s=gateway&sr=8-1) and distribute it in the recesses to give a real texture of dirt on the model
   
8. Last thing I did was varnish the entire model to seal in the pigment. I airbrushed a mix of matt and satin varnish (1:1). The only problem there is that the airbrush does really blow off a lot of the pigment.
   
   Edit: Changed the wash I used to make the joints look oily. Also fixed some typos.

I use something like this:

Creative Hobbies 3-1/2 Inch Round Synthetic Silk Sponges for Painting, Crafts, Ceramics, Household Use & More! Pack of 10 Sponges https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FIG2FM6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_X.5DzbPM29HK0

I take each one and cut it into 4 pieces, so they go farther.

How are you inking your sponges? If you're seeing the edges of the sponge, you may have too much ink on the sponge. I take my sponge to an ink pad, rather than using liquid ink refills. It gives a more subtle effect. I also keep a piece of scrap paper under my project and check the level of ink on the scrap before I move to my project. Just keep practicing on scrap paper until you're satisfied with the effect.

After thinking about search terms all day and knowing I'd found them this size before, I found them 8"x11" with the term "sponge sheet."
https://www.amazon.com/Beige-Compressed-Sponge-Sheets--Pack/dp/B004I2WV3U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1466534621&sr=8-2&keywords=sponge+sheet

I would use green tape (low tack masking tape used in painting) and a sponge stipples to apply the paint. If you use your hands to hold the stencil down and use the sponge in an up and down motion you shouldn’t get bleed out under the stencil.

Honestly, most of my journals only have 5-10 sentences per page. I do a lot of collage, drawing, and abstract painting.

Here's what I suggest:

Buy some cheap liquid watercolors and some [sponges] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VF2KEAI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). You can do backgrounds on every page before you start. This helped me build the habit of nightly journaling, and removed the fear of "ruining" a page. Any parts that I didn't like I could collage over!

Start using your own photos as much as possible. One of the easiest ways to do an image transfer is to alter an image on the computer, then print it out on an ink jet printer. I use cheap-ass photo paper for this, while the photo is fresh. Spray it with water, then put face-down and rub it into the page. (A rubber brayer is nice, but a used gift card or other hard object would be fine.)

Did you know that you can buy bulk stickers from [Amazon???] (https://www.amazon.com/DreamerGO-Graffiti-Transparent-Motorcycle-Skateboard/dp/B01M9FHC08/ref=pd_sim_21_11?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01M9FHC08&pd_rd_r=YGCTQJHQC1ZBD807ASAQ&pd_rd_w=ESCUg&pd_rd_wg=E85wC&psc=1&refRID=YGCTQJHQC1ZBD807ASAQ)

I also suggest making a to-go bag. If you make your backgrounds at the beginning of the week, or before you start the journal, this makes it extra easy. Mine has:

1. [paint markers] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VB4T86/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
   
2. a few of [these] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038FIA42/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and [these] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L87XRA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
   
3. Ephemera (usually from my obnoxious amount of magazine subscriptions, my own drawings, and things I find)
   
4. Glue sticks. Lots of folks here are interested in archival quality glue, but I just use Elmer's.
   
   I often use my journal to annotate from books (I used to do it INSIDE the books, but I found them difficult to read with any new clarity that way, and I'm trying to move to digital.) Since I mostly read self-help/improvement books, that made some great starting points for prompts.

No kidding. Never thought of those because the can says to use the natural bristle, these are for cheap!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG5FZD3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.k5Dyb3Y5JVHD

I actually think that'll be pretty easy to paint...just lay down a foundation layer of the darker green then just go to town with some circle sponges.

I also want a Baby Poop Camo Rhodesian FAL, but I'm literally out of safe space anymore and my wife won't let me expand, haha.