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5 Ink Pad Types You Must Know About

If you’re a crafty mom, chances are you’ve got a few rubber stamps in your craft box. Stamps are a fun and easy way to liven up a scrapbook page or to make your own unique clothing. But, stamps will never live up to their full potential if you’re not using the right stamp ink pads.

There is more to ink pads than what meets the eye. For example, ink pads can be purchased in dozens of colors and varieties. There’s also certain ink that’s meant for certain fabrics. Furthermore, are you wondering which stamp ink pads for rubber stamps are best for your project? If so, below is everything you need to know about stamp ink pads.

1. Pigment Ink Pads

Pigment ink pads are dye-free. Instead, they use solid pigmentation in a glycerin base. These ink pads are thicker bodied and more vibrant compared to dye ink pads. These ink pads are similar to paint. Instead of soaking into the surface, the ink dries on top of the surface. This keeps the color opaque and strong. The best part of using pigment ink pads is that the color doesn’t fade and the creation will last for years to come.

However, Pigment Ink takes longer to dry. But, the wait is well worth it. To ensure you achieve the look you’re seeking, avoid using this type of ink on glossy paper. Also, materials such as metal and plastic require the ink to be set using heat. This minimizes the risk of smearing and smudging. For extra fun, use pigment ink with an embossing powder!

2. Dye Ink Pads

These ink pads are most commonly used with rubber stamp creations. They’re inexpensive and can be used on all sorts of paper. You can find dye ink pads in a wide variety of colors.

There are several options with dye ink pads including:

● Water-based
● Waterproof dye
● Distressing inks
● Alcohol inks

Dye ink pads tend to produce transparent colors. When stamped, lighter colors are pastel and subtle. On the other hand, darker colors usually turn out bright and vivid. To get the best stamping effect, don’t use dye ink pads on glossy, coated or non-porous surfaces. The dye won’t dry and is more prone to smudging.

3. Chalk Inks

Ever wanted to achieve a soft look while using ink? Looking to create a design that looks as if it’s a chalk creation? If so, chalk inks are your dream option. Chalk inks provide a chalk-like look without the hassle of dust and offers a sophisticated look. Stamping using chalk ink looks best on dark paper. The dramatic contrast between a matte ink and a dark background are striking!

Chalk ink is also great to use for creating background for scrapbook pages and even stationary. Benefits of using this type of ink include:

● High absorbency
● Can be used on a variety of surfaces
● Doesn’t bleed, fade, or smear

Similar to pigment inks, chalk inks are long-lasting. This means you can enjoy your creations for years to come!

4. Specialty Ink Pads

Specialty inks are suitable for stamping on most materials including metal, plastic, wood, glass, paper, and even leather. Also, Specialty Ink on washable fabrics will fade.

Do you want to faux stained-glass windows? If so, a specialty ink is just what you need. On clear surfaces, this ink looks just like stained glass!

Specialty inks are also great for making outlines. The ink dries in less than 5 minutes. Paints and markers work well with this type of ink. Specialty Inks can be found in opaque dark, opaque pastel, and even metallic colors.

5. Spectrum Ink Pads

Spectrum ink pads offer many colors in one pad. You’ll find that some pads separate the colors in different compartments to avoid bleeding. But, others are housed in the same ink pad which allows for smooth color transitions. Spectrum ink pads aren’t as long lasting as others. Spectrum Ink Pad need to be re-inked more often because colors can become muddy. Especially, lighter colors.

Spectrum Ink Pads can be purchased as water-based, chalk inks, and even pigment inks. Use these ink pads to create gradient designs for scrapbook pages, shirts, customized stationary, and much more. Spectrum ink is also great to use as a basis for a color palette for any of your designs.

Conclusion

Walking into the stamping aisle in the local craft store can be overwhelming, but now you’ll know exactly the ink pad you need for your stamping project! So, go ahead, leave your mark! What ink pads do you prefer to use? What stamping project are you most proud of? Share your creations in the comments!

Fun Crafts You Can Do Once The Kids Have Gone To Bed

It’s always a nice time when the kids go to bed. After all, it gives you some time to rest and prepare for the next day. But rather than spend the night in front of the television get creative. After all, being creative is a great way to relieve some of the day’s stress. And you will feel a sense of achievement. Here are some fun crafts you can do once the kids have gone to bed.

Start Knitting

One of the best things about knitting is you can do it anywhere. You might spot people on the bus or even at the movies with their knitting needles. For one thing, knitting is highly therapeutic. And it can be a lot of fun when you are trying to create a masterpiece. Therefore, hunt down some great patterns, buy some needles and yarn and get started. You might want to attempt to make something for one of the kids. After all, a lovely knitted scarf or hat will make a great gift or treat. Start with something small, and then you can go for a harder pattern once you become more experienced. If you want to make it more social, look into attending a knitting group. Or start your own. Get a few of your friends over, and you can knit to your heart’s content.

Become a Sewing Whiz

Sewing can be a vital skill for moms. After all, there are bound to be times that your kid needs a costume or you want new throw pillows or curtains. With basic sewing skills you can make both. However, sewing doesn’t just have to be a handy skill. For a lot of women, they do sewing as a hobby or use the skills for their business. After all, it can be quite relaxing sitting in front of a sewing machine making your next project.

Use the time to create once the kids have gone to bed. Hunt down a good sewing machine to make your dreams a reality. Before you go to the shop, you can read reviews online such as this brother cs6000i review. That way, you know you are investing in a good sewing machine that will last you for years to come.

Start Drawing or Painting

For a lot of people, they find drawing and painting therapeutic as wel. After all, it’s a good way to get your emotions out after a long stressful day. You can paint how you are feeling, and it’s good for easing some pressure. It can be a fun experience. After all, you might create some beautiful paintings that you can either put up in your home or sell to the public. Therefore, it’s worth doing some of this in your spare time as a fun new hobby. And you will be much more creative when you are next doing crafts with the kids!

And some jewelry making should also be on the cards too. Not only could you make some for the kids, but you could create some to sell online for some extra money. As this article says, there are lots of tutorials online which can make it an easy process.

We hope that our fun craft ideas have you thinking about getting creative and using your down time to utilize your skills.