Today’s article pertains to your ink pads and your re-inkers. Could you be damaging your ink pads and not even know it?
This is the time to inventory your ink pads AND re-inkers. If any need to be replaced, do it in August and perhaps your order will qualify you for a free SaleABration item!! Orders $50 and more (subtotal) qualify. More on this, at the end of article!
Some History
A couple years ago, Stampin’ Up! did a Color Renovation. At that time, our ink pads transitioned not only in colors, but the materials that are used to manufacture the pads themselves. Previously, our ink pads had a “felt-like” surface. With the transition, pads were manufactured with a “firm-foam” surface. This aids is better inking of the stamps, which in turn gives us cleaner, clearer stamped images.
The ink used in the newer firm-foam pads has an anti-foaming agent added to them, to also give you a superior inking experience. You’ve probably noticed that your newer ink pads (with firm-foam surface) are “stickier” and you need to use a light tapping motion rather than a “pound and press” motion to ink your stamps. Here is the potential problem: if you are using OLD re-inkers on your newer pads, you could be damaging them. Keep reading!
Investigate your pads
Check the surface of all your colored ink pads. See if they look smooth and unblemished. If they do, they are probable fine. But if the surface appears bubbled or uneven, you might have a damaged ink pad.
Here are 2 photos of ink pads that have been re-inked with old re-inkers and are no longer providing a favorable inked image:
This is my Rich Razzleberry ink pad. Notice the “pilling” that has happened. These look like ink bubbles but actually it’s the surface of the pad that has been affected.
This is my Blackberry Bliss ink pad. In this photo, the surface of the pad is a bit different than the first photo. You don’t see the same “pilling” effect, but rather, a strange and uneven surface like small ridges around the edge of the surface.
In both cases, the pads are pretty much useless. These are my pads, that I re-inked, unknowingly, with old re-inkers. I was repeatedly getting poor inking from the pads and didn’t know why. Of course, I tried adding more ink! With the unfavorable inked images, coming out, I decided to avoid using these colors altogether. But now I know the reason that I had those problems. Gratefully only 2 of my pads have been ruined. So, check out each of your ink pads, and set aside any that may be damaged.
Old re-inkers VS new re-inkers
On the label of a re-inkers you’ll find the color name and also some other information. Re-inkers made with old ink will have lower numbers. The new re-inkers all have the number 17274 or greater. Next, we need to check all the re-inker bottles and discover which ones (if any) are old.
Investigate your re-inkers
When you look at the label on a re-inker there will be 2 or 3 numbers printed on it. One number (typically under or near the barcode) is simply the item number. The second number indicates more info such as dye-lot or age.THIS is the number we need to pay attention to. (There may be a 3rd number. A couple of my re-inkers had a 3rd number and I don’t know what that one pertains to.)
Here are 2 photos of re-inkers. In each photo, the arrow is pointing to the item number. If you added this item number to an order, you’d be ordering a re-inker in that color. The number that is circled is what you are looking for. Is that number 17274 or greater? If it is a lower number, you have an old re-inker and it should be thrown out.
In this final photo of a re-inker, you’ll see the item number and you’ll notice that the other number, which is circles, is greater than 17274. This is a newer re-inker with the ink that is safe for use on a newer firm-foam pad.
Stampin’ Blends
While we are investigating our ink pads and re-inkers, it might be a good time to investigate your Stampin’ Blends as well. While Stampin’ Blends do not get re-inked, they do run out of ink and/or have tips that get worn or damaged. Typically the brush tip gets worn out faster than the bullet end on my Stampin’ Blends. After the brush tip gets worn or perhaps damaged (from mis-use or from the cap being forced on incorrectly) I like to replace it so that I can have a satisfactory and enjoyable coloring experience. The Stampin’ Blends currently come in a 2-pack including the light and the dark of any given color. So when you replace a Stampin’ Blend, you’ll actually be replacing the set.
This is my Petal Pink dark, and Petal Pink light Stampin’ Blends. You’ll notice that the brush tip on one marker is frayed and bent. This one no longer colors well. In fact it really isn’t usable at all. The other Stampin’ Blend still has a fresh and pointy tip that works well.
After investigating all my ink pads, re-inkers and Stampin’ Blends I am placing an order for about 14 re-inkers 2 ink pads (to replace the ones I ruined) and that Petal Pink Stampin’ Blends set. How about you? Do you have some pads that need replacing? Do you have old re-inkers (throw them away today!!) and need to order new ones? How about your Stampin’ Blends? Do they still work well or you need to replace some? Perhaps you want to add new colors to your Stampin’ Blends collection.
Whatever the need, now is the time to place an order because the SaleABration promotion is still going on! August 31 is the last day to place an order and qualify for a free item (at the $50 or $100 levels). Visit my online store today: https://www.juliebaum.stampinup.net At checkout, use this host code when prompted: JK2RCHTF I
Provided here is the link to the SAB brochure: https://issuu.com/stampinup/docs/jasab22_en-us?fr=sNjA5NzQ3MjczOTE
And this link takes you to a PDF showing additional items you can choose as SAB gifts: https://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/catalogs/2022/SAB-2/2nd%20Release/MKTL_FLY_NA_0722_SAB22_EXTRA.pdf
As always, I’m here to help any way that I can. Feel free to contact me! Thank you for allowing me to serve you, as your Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.