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I am in the process of selling my pads because I am investing in the spots for several reasons. I find the spots easier to use than the huge pads, even for large background stamps. The pads are so combursome to store as well. Plus it is economical to get the spots if you want to collect all the colors. Just my thoughts.
Well, now, see, you asked for "expert stampers" feedback, and that is something I'm not! LOL! HOWEVER, I always have an opinion. I really like the spots mainly because I then have colors that I probably would not have bought in a pad but can play with. The spots are excellent for inking the edges also. They are very convenient to travel with and don't take up too much space.
I have full sized pads in all the SU colors as well as some palette, chalk and versafine inks that I use a lot. I also have bunches of palette spots and versamagic dew drops. I ink stamp to pad, so I do get a little frustrated using the spots for larger images. That said, they are way more economical and easier to store. I've found that they stay juicy a long time too!
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For stampers with the spots, how do you store them? I currently have 2 1/2 sets of full sized pads, and the pad stand SU! sells. I am thinking of getting the colors I don't have in spots.
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I like the spots and went for those because you do get more ink pads to play with. I think they do stay juicy a long time. Spending 22$ for all the colors in a set is better than 57$ to me any day! I have been slowly working my way to purchasing the big stamp pads and I like those too. If I purchase one large ink pad at a time it seems like I am not spending so much money.
I keep my spots in the box they come with and store them that way. I dont really have a storage solution for anything, my stuff is soooo disorganized. And to make things worse I do not have a defined craft area, I use the dining room table Ugggg!
So my opinion is buy the spots and pick your favs and buy the big ones for longevity reasons.
I don't have SU! spots or pads, but I have PTI and a few other brands and I like the small ones just fine. I think it is a little more convenient and easy to ink up the stamps on the larger pads. BUT the small ones work just fine and they cost so much less!
I store mine in the boxes they came in and I store them upside down. Just be careful that there are no loose threads on the edges of the pads or they may wick ink out onto the label and box. You can trim off the loose threads.
I personally really like the full pad. I have three sets of spots that I bought a while ago and while they last forever and are super portable, I just get so frustrated with them. I don't like using spots for large images (especially if I'm stamping a lot of cards at once that have a large stamp -- like Brocade Motifs). And, when I use the brayer -- don't even get me started!
I am currently buying a couple large pads at a time (I'm in a stamp club so, it's easy for me to place an order atleast once a month). I wish I would have done this first, it would have saved me some $$. I was trying to be economical by buying just the spots... full pads are the way to go if you ask me!
I have two background-stamp-sized SU clamshell cases with my "spot" sized inkpads in. I find I reach for these all the time because:
1) the cases are really easy to grab/use, so for little effort I get to pull out a wide variety of ink colours and types at once
2) I use a lot of smaller stamps (less than 3x3 inches, for example) and find the spots ink these up with ease
3) they are super easy to do DTP distressing with
4) they work well for pulling colours from for using with a sponge, blender pen, etc.
I don't really use them with BG stamps and other giant images; for that size, I grab one of my Ranger Distress inkpads or Clearsnap full sized inkpads. Also, for colours I use a lot (ie. Coffee Bean, Graphite Black) I invest in the large pads and/or have a full pad and a dewdrop.
i bought all the spots when i joined as a demo. i wanted to be able to have all the colors at my disposal, and couldn't afford to get all of the full size pads at once. so, i bought the spots. and i still use them, even after buying a lot of the full size pads.
i like the convenience of being able to pull out the box and have all of the colors in the family right there. what i don't like, however, is that it's tough to ink large stamps with them. but it's the size.
i LOVE my spots. i have all four color families, in classic ink. i'd recommend them to anyone. that way, you can SLOWLY build up your ink pads in the full size, but still have all of the colors. know what i mean?
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I like the spots because they take up less room but have started buying the bigger ink pads because I find the small ones hard to use on a big image. But then again - I now have the markers too.
I have spots and pads for dye inks and craft inks...I normally use only the full size pads...however, when I go somewhere else to stamp...the spots travel so easily. I keep my spots in the nice boxes they come in and label the end of the box. Then easy to grab and run....
Blessings.
I love the spots b/c I can afford to get all of the colors in all of the color families I like, they take up less room to store (I use the clamshell cases so I can see everything), and if the stamp is larger I just apply the ink and huff. I do have the large pads in chocolate chip and black. I wish I had those in the spots.
Thanks for everyone's input -- I'm pretty much sold on the spots because of how I stamp and storage space is an issue for me. Next question though. Does anyone re-ink the spots? Or do you just re-purchase a color family again? Or isn't this an issue because they last so long?
Thanks, again, for everyone's input!
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For stampers with the spots, how do you store them? I currently have 2 1/2 sets of full sized pads, and the pad stand SU! sells. I am thinking of getting the colors I don't have in spots.
An empty stamp case works perfectly. That's how I store my craft spots.
Stampin' Spots vs. Standard Pads
