I was chatting with CS regular Helen Chilton the other day and funnily enough we got onto the topic of stamping (can't imagine how that happened LOL). We got onto inkpads and starting to chat about our most used and loved inks, and Helen suggested this topic could make a fun blog post.
If you set aside situations where you have to use a specific ink for a specific technique or surface, I think inkpad choice is really a very personal one. Ask ten stampers which is their favourite inkpad and you'll quite possibly get ten different answers!
My favourite cannot-live-without inkpad is my Archival Coffee one (if anyone knows where I can get a re-inker for this by the way I'll be eternally grateful - I keep having to buy new pads!). I use brown a lot in my stamping; I find it softer than black and this inkpad has a lovely warm, rich colour and great coverage with solid stamps (a favourite of mine). Also - and this could be an overactive imagination - I think it smells a little like coffee.... weird but also quite cool. (I should probably say here in the interests of self-preservation that I am in no way recommending sniffing inkpads!!!).
Helen on the other hand loves her black StazOn and uses it for just about everything. I can see why; this ink will stamp onto practically any surface, even really slick ones like glass and plastic. And as you know Helen does rather like to stamp on unusual things! This inkpad a good all rounder that's for sure.
So, what's your favourite inkpad and why? We'd love to know (not for any reason, we're just nosey)!
Definitely Memento - all the colours! Although for stamping outline images for colouring then I go with Memento Tuxedo Black or Rich Cocoa. I love the fact that I can use either water of alcohol based mediums with these inks.
ReplyDeleteIm with you I much prefer archival for most of my stamping. Love my adirondacks too for colours and blending and my distress inks well perfect for distressing LOL apart from these I do have 3 stazon which are only used on acetate! and a momento for promarker colouring I have no other ink pads as I find these fullfill all my needs - i just need more colours LOL!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't live without my distress inks-especially frayed burlap. My main stamping ink though is memento black!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Helen! It's black StazOn all the way for me! Kate
ReplyDeleteI go through phases, but at the moment it's black archival. I could say it's because of the detail, the different surfaces you can use it on etc, but to be honest, it's because it's on my table!!
ReplyDeleteMemento's Tuxedo Black. Gives great detail and remains unsmudged when coloured over with Copic markers or similar.Dries really fast too...instantly infact.
ReplyDeleteI like satzon inks but I like their stone grey as it is a bit softer than the black and also the brown stazon too. They are great 'cos they work on so many surfaces
ReplyDeleteJackie x
I like Stazon for it's application purposes, i.e., permanent on all surfaces...but for direct to paper and their juicy-ness...I love the "chalk" ink pads, small and large!
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I'm loving the Distress Inks - great for backgrounds, edges and stamping. I use dusty concord and worn lipstick the most, I think, but love all the 8 pads that I bought. Need some more !
ReplyDeleteI also use brown a lot when stamping and I share your preference for Archival Coffee. Not because of the smell :-)) but I totally agree it's a lot softer than black and it gives a nice vintage look.
ReplyDeleteOoo that is an interesting question.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new convert to Archival black - VersaFine Onyx black or the Memento tuxedo black are my favs for most things but I find they just aren't black enough for various techniques I've been playing with. I recently got my first Archival pad and love the deep black and the coverage. I still use Versafine and Memento (and others!) but for some things you can't beat the Archival.
Not sure they smell of Tuxedos or Onyx though LOL! Tee Hee.
Kim
Gat to be Versamark, for watermaking, embossing, resisting, pearlex backgrounds, utee, it is just so Versa-tile.
ReplyDeleteWithout any hesitation I choose my Smokey Gray Versafine - lovely subtle results - gentler than black. Its my Musthave item!
ReplyDeleteVersafine Onyx Black is my favourite black ink to stamp with, and Distress Inks for backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteMemento for my promarkers but for other things like adding a touch of colour around an image its versamagic sea breeze and I'm also very fond of brilliance black and coffee
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is Versafine Onyx Black, I wish it would stamp on all surfaces, I find it lives up to it's name and picks up all of the fine details.
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of Black Stazon though!
I'm in love with my Distress Inks as well- very versatile, but I also use Impress inks, chalk inkpads, Stazon, Memento and Archival. Phew!!!
Tricky question.......mmmmmm as love them all, but my favourite one at the moment is Versafine Vintage Sepia, but next week it could be something else... as am a fickle crafter...
ReplyDeleteAlong with Heavens2Betsy I also love the grey Versafine - it's gorgeous. I depend on Versamagic chalk inks a lot too.
ReplyDeleteAnd Katy, don't worry, I'm a fellow inkpad sniffer!
If we're talking black then mine is VersaFine Onyx as I like using detail and photo stamps and I've found it inks them better than anything else.
ReplyDeleteFor backgrounds I almost always use Distress inks which I've adored since they first came out and they never get put away as I use them so much lol
x
the ink i use the most is versafine onyx black but i'm also loving my distress inks.
ReplyDeleteBlack stazon you can use it on so many different medias.
ReplyDeleteI stamp mostly (always!) with Archival black - love its deep, water resistant, crisp colour/impression... ooh and that I have a really big pad - big'n'juicy sized - so its a 'must have' stamping product for me.
ReplyDeleteStazon - definitely for things other than paper/card. I like my Versafine and Memento blacks as well. Versafine is great for detailed stamps and of course, Memento black for colouring with Copics.
ReplyDeleteBut most of all, I absolutely love Distress Inks - I use them as often as I can and my fingers are constantly inky from working with them!
I like Archival black and coffee also I am an ink junky. So I probably have a wide variety. Especially because I like to make my own background paper.
ReplyDeleteP.S. You can get Archival Brown refill from Ranger ink online.