Types of Ink for Scrapbook Stamping

This is a guest post from Jennifer Smith-Sloane of Live.Teach.Create.

Have you seen all the many different types of ink available? Surfing online got me to looking and I noticed over 200 different types and colors at one store! How is a scrapbooker supposed to know where to start?

If you are like me and LOVE color, you will love ink pads! There are not only different types for different applications, but there is also an endless supply of colors.

Types of Ink for Stamping

Picking the right ink pad will depend on what project you are working on for the most part. The major types of ink pads are pigment ink, dye ink, solvent based ink, and embossing ink. Many different companies exist that create ink pads and have several different brands of ink as well.

Through the past 12 years, I have used almost every brand out there in my scrapbooking and stamping. During that time I have learned:

• Pigment Inks are great for getting a true color. The ink sits on top of the paper and is fade-resistant. This does mean that it take a bit longer to dry. You can heat set it to dry quicker.

• Dye Inks dry quickly and work great on all paper types. Many dye inks will fade over time and are not waterproof. Distress Inks are a special water-based dye ink that reacts with water to create deeper colors and designs. They are great for blending colors together on projects. My favorite dye inks are Memento brand – permanent and they seem to stay “juicy” forever. Anytime I am stamping, I use this ink because it dries SO quickly! Another favorite dye ink is Colorbox Chalk Ink which is great for inking edges.

• Solvent based inks are designed for decorating porous surfaces and are permanent. I have used Staz-On for quite a few years and have always enjoyed using them. They work well and are great for a deep color. I absolutely love the Staz-On Cotton White ink pad for a great detail.

For more details, Monkey House Hobby has a fantastic primer on the basic types of inks and how they should be used.

As a part of this post, I am offering a Simple Stamp Pad Pack for a great price. You will receive 1 Memento Tuxedo Black Dew Drop, 1 Memento Rich Coco Dew Drop and 1 Staz On Cotton White Inkpad/Reinker Set. The retail value of these items is $15.70. I am offering these to you for $12 including shipping to the lower 48 states. Visit Live.Teach.Create to purchase this set and check out other stamping and scrapping project ideas.