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SU markers and ink pads, what would you consider the next best brand? I am NOT assuming SU are the best, they would be my preference but they are cost prohibitive.
I love my versafine ink pads for perm. black and brown. You can get them at AC Moore or Michaels with a coupon.
If you'd really like SU ink pads, but can't afford the large ink pad, what about getting the spots instead? I got the spots due to cost and space and I love them. I even use them to ink up large areas like background stamps. It takes a little bit longer than the full size pad would, but it does work and I've been able to get even coverage that way.
I'm still on the fence about getting the SU markers so I can't help you there. Most of the time I buy stamps with images I can color in and I love my prismacolor pencils and baby oil.
the spots are sold in sets of 12, available in each color family. they are available in classic ink and craft ink.
classic spots are $22.50 for each set.
craft spots are $25.95 for each set.
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Ashley former SU! Demo, taking a break. but i'll be back soon enough.
new fan club member! supporting the site i love so much. my etsy shop ;; my blog
I bought a ton of the $1.00 stamp pads from A.C. Moore for my students to use and they are still juicy 3 years later- now I've started using them for some of my crafts...
I also love my Versa Fine ink pads. They are the best for stamping detailed images. My small JoAnn's store sells a package of 12 small dye inkpads (similar to SU spots) in 2 different color families that you could buy with a coupon. I think Michaels carries packages of 3 dewdrop shaped small ink pads of Versa Magic and possible Cat's Eye's from Colorbox for stamping & embossing. Marvy Brush markers are sold in packages at Michaels and Joann's.
You know, I'll probably get slammed for this, but I still prefer coloring the stamp with a plain ole crayola marker and stampin' it that way. If you don't over color, and you stamp evenly, you can't tell a difference b/t a marker and a pad. But that's my preference and it's not due to $$. It's just me. Dh offered to buy the spot sets from SU, but I just prefer the markers.
Now, if I'm using glitter gel pens, I will stamp on in versarmark (clear) and "trace" it with the gel pens, but that's about the only true pad I use.
Don't settle for less than the best. Just buy them one at a time over a longer time. You won't be sorry!!!
__________________ LizThe joy of the LORD is my strength.Right Brain Madness --My blogProud member of the redDivasKSS certified multi-step stamperFan Club member since 2004
I would buy one, two or three at a time.. maybe say each month get an ink pad and a marker. I have all SU inks and have had others in the past.. I gave them all to the school art teacher. Some families I bought all at once, but some I bought one at a time. Pam
__________________ "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
I think it depends a lot on how you stamp. Do you buy mostly rubber stamps or clear stamps. I can't get most of my clear stamps to stamp well with dye ink. I also find that I am always reaching for 2 or 3 regular pads from SU, even though I have all of them. Most of the time because of the style I prefer I use my versamagic dew drops or Tim holtz distress ink pads.
After having spent all that money on the ink pads, I wish I wouldn't have.
I have most of the EE, SS and RR pads and a couple BB but I have all the markers. 90% of the time I find myself reaching for my black Stazon and colouring with my markers. I'd sacrifice the ink pads before them any day!
That said, see if your SU demonstrator has a marker club. It's a great way to get them all without spending the money all in one shot... and in 4 months you have all the colour families.
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in the beginning i bought some of the 'cheaper' ink pads...
in the end, i spent MORE because i had to replace them with SU!
i love that SU! inks, CS & DSP colors coordinate/match
i have been stamping for several years and still don't have ALL the colors of ink. i did buy the marker set which helps to fill the gap till i get them all. i just buy an ink pad and matching CS each time.
I vote for what others have suggested - buy them one or two at a time and "collect" the SU ink pads - that's how I did it - and looking back, one thing I would suggest? Buy the ink refills at the same time. So let's say you bought one ink pad and one refill - it would be about $9....
I like the spots and collecting them one at a time. Sometimes you can even pick up the pads second handed. We had a gal got rid of some clamshell ones and they were $2 or so each. A little reinker and they are good to go if they seem dry. ;)
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Loretta Rathert~
I bought this set at AC Moore. I'm very pleased with it. And all the colors are waterproof. My set did not come with the alphabet but it came with 15 markers. Needless to say I used a coupon too.
Maybe you can buy a few different ink pads at Michaels using their 40% off coupons. They sell Stazon, Brilliance, Tim Holtz, Versacolor, and many others. You can test them out and see what you think/like.
I don't owna single SU inkpad because I have used my friends/sister and I personally do not like them. I can't stand their flip open cover and have seen most them get all sunken and smooshed in the middle.
I really love the smaller size Versacolor you can get at Archivers. As far as markers go, I have heard Tombow are great markers and I have one set of the Marvy ones and I like them. I'm can't wait to get my first Copic marker and try that out too.
For black, brown and white I use Memories ink ($4.99 from Joanns). I too was looking for a cheaper version of SU. I purchased the mini packs from Joanns that are like spots, they were AWFUL, so I took them back and put them towards a set of SU spots.
So far I only have one set, but plan on getting more, I really like them!
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I always tell new customers on a budget (and who isn't?) to start with the SU! ink spots in their favorite color group. After using those awhile, you'll discover which colors you use the most, and then you can buy those colors in the regular-size inkpad.
Another alternative is to get markers in your favorite colors (maybe 5 or 6 at a time). It's easy enough to color a stamp with a marker, unless it's a very large stamp. Just "huff" on the stamp when you finish coloring it, to make the ink moist again before stamping.
__________________ Donna - Check out my blog: www.stampingwithdonna.com In the news today: Energizer Bunny arrested, charged with battery.
I actually used to have the entire set of SU craft pads and marker box and sold them on ebay when I discovered and fell in love with the VersaFine pads and VersaColor cubes. If you shop around you can find them at great prices and the colors are fabulous. There are no coordinating markers, but I have found that the Tombow Dual Brush markers are close enough to do what I like, want and need. If you do want SU, I suggest ebay (the people who bought mine got great deals!)
when i started stamping I bought one set of SU spots and lots of cheap in pads. I should have saved my money and just bought all of the spots, one set at a time.
i agree with other posters who have said buy the spots and use those until you figure out which colors you reach for the most often, then you can buy the full size pad of those colors if you want.
I had my first set of spots for 2 or 3 years and then bought the reinkers for them, because they finally needed reinked.
Now, I am building my collection of full size pads and buy one or two with each order. I do recommend that you buy the reinker with the pad if you buy the in-colors from SU.
Another vote for the spots! Had mine for years and they are still stampin' strong even on background stamps with just a little more work--like misse336 said--and the cost and space savings are a great feature. One of my smarter purchases!
I bought a few SU pads, but can't stand the way they're made-sag in the middle & break my nails when I open them. Gave them away. Haven't missed them a bit. Have most colors of Adirondack Dye pads, most of Brilliance ink pads, a few Pallette pads, a lot of Marvy pads, most of Tim Holtz's pads, some Nick Bantock pads, some CTMH pads & am in the process of building my collection of Memento Dye ink pads (which I really love). Have never had a problem matching them with any card stock. Love, love all my choices & most of them are not expensive.
__________________ Keep what is worth keeping
and with the breath of kindness
blow the rest away.
I am SUPER picky about my inks and papers and embellishments matching. IF you're that way, the thing to keep in mind is what will match your paper. If you have mostly SU paper, I would say get the spots or large pads over time. If you don't have mostly SU! paper, or if that doesn't bother you, then I would say to see what matches what you usually use.
__________________ ~*~ Clara ~*~ If you can think it, you can ink it!
I bought a lot ink pads over the years. I like my SU ones, mainly because they match the paper - I am terrible at trying to match things. Anyway, another option, which I did, is to make your own spots. Order the SU refill bottles and then order your own spots - couple places offer them. It is a bit more than just ordering the SU spots but not as expensive as full size pads. So, not only do you get the spots but you have the refills for future use on your spots and to "paint or color" with.
__________________ Martha
"When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life." Jean Shinoda Bolen
I bought a few SU pads, but can't stand the way they're made-sag in the middle & break my nails when I open them. Gave them away. Haven't missed them a bit. Have most colors of Adirondack Dye pads, most of Brilliance ink pads, a few Pallette pads, a lot of Marvy pads, most of Tim Holtz's pads, some Nick Bantock pads, some CTMH pads & am in the process of building my collection of Memento Dye ink pads (which I really love). Have never had a problem matching them with any card stock. Love, love all my choices & most of them are not expensive.
Wow! Thats a lot of ink pads! You must have every color ever made!!
versamark can be used as a darker ink color on ANY cardstock.
I also like versafine ink pad, great for detailed stamps and I would get them
in the basic black, brown, white and grey to start.-using coupons.
Then I would go with the spots also
__________________ Carolyn
my avatar: (such desparation), Dear God, if you can't make me thin; make my
friends fat"
I would buy one, two or three at a time.. maybe say each month get an ink pad and a marker. I have all SU inks and have had others in the past.. I gave them all to the school art teacher. Some families I bought all at once, but some I bought one at a time. Pam
It's a good idea, but it would take 4 years doing it this way. I would just buy what you can afford, when you can afford it. They are worth it.
Erin
__________________ My Adoption Blog 2009 Card Making Goal 400 Cards!!! Made So Far = 254
I've just made my first SU order and did not order any ink. Their inks are pretty, and if you want everything to match perfectly, then maybe buying the SU spots or a few full-size pads at a time will help save money. If you just want good quality ink, the major brands should work fine.
I've not been disappointed with inks from Tsukineko, Clearsnap, Ranger, Stewart Superior, etc. I've had some pads for years and have had good results. Occasionally I've purchased a pad or two that was sorto dry, but that was probably due to poor handling after manufacture, not poor quality. The Colorbox Mica Magic inks tend to dry out quickly because of how they are made. Also, I've rarely paid full price for any ink pad. With sales and coupons, it is easy to get inks at far less than the suggested retail price. Of course, that's assuming that you are near a craft store.
I like Stazon (Michaels or AC Moore with a Coupon), I own many Vivids, Distressed (Michaels or AC Moore). I no longer buy all the inks to match all the colors of cardstock, especially when these companies then change some of the colors each year and then you have an inkpad that you can't buy the cardstock for! lol. I own over 138 inkpads. I also like Colorbox's chalk inkpads. You can even buy those in cateye shape. IF you live in PA..Amish owned stamp stores sell these inkpads..way cheaper than Michaels does!
Cyndi
I wanted to get the SU! colorfamilies in the larger pads, so I signed up as a demonstrator. I got them on my first order, which had an extra 10% off, so I only paid 3.38 for each pad. I am pretty sure that's cheaper than most other inkpads, anyway. I love being able to reach for ANY color I want (of course, if you want to spend even less, the spots would be the way to go). I have a friend who bought the spots eight years ago and loved them, until she started using the full-sized pads. Now she's going to buy the big ones... So think about what kind of stamper you are, and how likely you are to end up buying the cadillac in the end, anyway. Just a thought.
Now, if I decide to not remain as a demonstrator, at least it was well worth my money...
Since I love ink about as much as rubber and paper, and since I hate full sized pads (waste of space and too hard to hold) I have all the SU spots Classic and Craft, all the Palette spots, all the Brilliance and VeraMagic Dew Drops and now all the Mementos. I have bought blank spots and made my own for all the new In Colors every year and now make my own Ranger and Distressed spots as well.
I have Ancient Page minis and Vivid Minis that are years and years old and they still stamp as good as new. I have Color Box Chalk Eyes and VersColor spots.
Spots last a long time....
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
If I Can't Afford.........
