Have you been holding off on using ink with your scrapbooking because you just don’t know where to start? Like what inks are good. Which aren’t so good. Which company has the best colors … well wait no more. In this guest post by Crazy Daisy design team member Trace Geworsky you learn all you need to know about the inks out there.
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“I don’t know about you, but I have often gone into a scrap shop in search of an ink pad only to leave feeling slightly overwhelmed. I find ink pads to be pricey, and unless you stamp regularly or have researched them, how do you know that the one you pick will be right for what you want to use it for?
I try to include a lot of stamping on my layouts and other projects (okay…I confess….I have a HUGE obsession with stamps!!!) so I thought I would share some of my notes with you, of my thoughts on certain ink pads…what they work on, if they are easy to clean, etc.
Some of you may disagree with some of my findings, but unless you try them out, you never know, right?
1. Tsukineko Staz on
Pros:
This has got to be one of the most popular brand of ink pads out there.
Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with these ink pads:)
It is a solvent based ink pad
It will stamp on ANYTHING (at least I haven’t found anything that I cant get it to work on) I have tried it on acrylic, glass, metal, paper, candles, leather, suede, aluminum foil, and wood.
It has a mild sweet smelling smell(not over powering)
It comes in many, many colors
The downside:
It will also stain everything…I have ruined many articles of clothes with this ink, and it will stain your hands and stamps.
I have used the Staz On all purpose cleaner, and while it will clean your stamps, it will still stain them.
Pricey
2. Stampin Up
Pros:
This would probably be the next popular ink pad
It is a water based dye ink
It will not stain anything
Super easy to clean….I just run my stamp and acrylic stamp block under running water, and the ink just washes away immediately.
Affordable
If you press the lid into the pad, it will form a puddle of ink, and if you dip a paintbrush into it, you can use it to achieve a water color look on paper.
Dries quickly
Downside:
Works best on paper
I have found it to be very light when stamping it on acrylic, etc..and it won’t dry but just smear at first touch
3) Ranger Adirondack
Pros:
It is a raised felt dye ink pad
The last time I checked it came in 48 different colors, so an excellent selection
Easy to clean. I just use a diaper wipe and it gets the stamp completely clean
Dries fairly fast
Downside:
It works best on paper…it will stamp on metal or acrylic but it shows up so faint, that you wont notice it very much.
depending where you buy it, they can be pricey.
4) Tim Holtz distress ink
Pros:
It is a water based dye ink
Comes in many different colors, and some amazingly vibrant colours
Nice for a vintage, stained or aged look
Usually reasonably priced
Cleans very easily … Just hold the stamp under running water, and the ink should run right off the stamp.
Downside:
Really only works on paper
I have used it on metal & acrylic, and it wouldnt dry, it only smeared
5) Doodlebug Design Inc
Pros:
I find the KI Memories ink pads to be identical to these in every way
It is a pigment ink pad
Easy to clean … I use a diaper wipe or running water … no need to really scrub it off
It wont stain anything
Cheap
I let my 5 year old work with these ink pads, because I know he can’t ruin any clothes or furniture by using this brand
Downside:
It wont work on anything but paper
6) Tsukinenko Versamagic
Pros:
It is a chalk ink pad
It will stamp on pretty much anything
Looks great on dark paper
Downside:
Can be pricey (depending on where you buy it)
Takes a while to dry
They advertise that it doesn’t have a chalky residue, but I disagree with this
Wash carefully with a diaper wipe … I find that it will stick in the stamp, so it can take awhile to clean
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A layout using inks
There are other stamp pads out there, but these are the ones I have experience with, or tend to buy. If someone were to ask me which ink pad is my ultimate favourite when it comes to working on paper, the answer is easy … A tie between Stampin up & Tim Holtz distress ink. They both have great colours and are clean and easy to work with.
Hope this helps! I look forward to seeing what you all create using stamps and ink.”
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