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Right now I have the full set of Bold Brights regular sized ink pads and about 4 or 5 from other color families. It is really killing me not to have more color options when stamping. So I am kicking around the idea of getting spots in the families I don't have.
Are the easy enough to use? What is the actual size of the pad? How hard is it to ink larger stamps? Or should I just commit to buying a couple of the regular sized pads on a regular basis?
Also, how do you store them? I currently have an old wooden cassette rack that holds my full sized pads.
What about markers?
What to do, what to do?
Last edited by tsboughton; 09-21-2005 at 05:47 AM..
I love my spots! They are one inch square, and perfect for inking the edges of your paper! I don't mind inking up large stamps with them...you just turn the stamp on its back and tap away. For me it was the only way to get lots of colors on my budget.
I have three color families of spots and have had trouble with about half of them leaking. I posted a question about it here and had about six people respond that theirs did that too. Someone recommended trimming the little strings on the side to keep them from leaking. Just thought you would want to know before purchasing...other than the leaking, I really do like having all the colors availible to me.
I love my spots! They are one inch square, and perfect for inking the edges of your paper! I don't mind inking up large stamps with them...you just turn the stamp on its back and tap away. For me it was the only way to get lots of colors on my budget.
YUP! I love my spots. I have two sets and intend to have the other two by the end of the year. I only have 2 full size pads and I actually prefer my spots to those pads.
I have 3 family colors of Spots and I LOVE them. I have a few full size ink pads and don't care for them. The middle of them doesn't ink the stamp well. I get better coverage with the Spots. Even on a stamp like Canvas (just breathe on it when you've inked it up and that will make it wet again). I've only had one Spot leak cos of the threads. Just make sure they're tucked in when you put the lid on, not a big deal IMO.
I definitely say get the Spots, they're easy to use and give you so many color choices. Then get a blender pen and you basically have all the markers too.
I love my spots, it's a great way to see what colors you will want to buy the big ones, I posted the same question and everyone advised me to start with the spots and I'm glad I did............
__________________ Grandkids are God reward for not killing your kids!
I have all the spots (dye, not Craft) and *love* them -- in fact, I passed the full-sized ones on to a friend. (Except the Basic Brown, since that's the only way it comes. >8-[ ) A dozen Spots fit perfectly in a Medium (#3 on p. 235 of the big catalog) Stamp/Supply box, so that's how I store mine. I alos learned the hard way that you do *not* want to store these babies upside-down! I've had only one 'leaker' otherwise, and it was because I over-inked it. I *rarely* have to re-ink these, BTW -- have had them for literally years, and use them all the time. I *highly* recommend them!
Happy trails....
Sue
Last edited by scpd; 09-21-2005 at 07:04 AM..
Reason: Forgot something
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I too love my spots -- have all of them, both classic & craft. I bought them because I wanted all the colors but didn't want to pay for the large pads. I do background stamping, and yes, it takes a little longer to ink up, but not enough to deter me! I know I still wouldn't have all the colors if buying only large pads was the way I decided to go.
The only time I wish I had full-sized pads are when wheel-rolling (because I don't want to buy every color of ink for the cartridges, I buy uninked, but that means you gotta ink them and I'll never know if I will use that color again...but if I'm just wheeling the front of a card, I can do it with rolling over the ink pad -- very difficult to ink using the spot).
I love my spots. I agree, you can't really wheel with them, but when I want to wheel (except when I was making wrapping paper) I buy the full-sized pad. It's the same price as the cartridge, and if I'm using the color that much, I'll probably have other uses for the pad. The only other issue comes with the smaller background stamps. Using them with the spots, especially if you're making a stack of cards, can be very time-consuming. But honestly, I bought the spots so I could have all the colors to play with, and they've been great. Love them!
I LOVE my spots too! I have all the colors new and old and boy that was the best decision I ever made! I have the full size black, white and vanilla, and the only one I like is the white! I hate the other 2. The center of the black is lower than the edges and I can never get full coverage anyway. So I usually just take out my spot and ink away. Spots rule!!!
Several people mention using blender pens as "markers" with the ink pads. How is that done? Do you just "dip" the blender pen into the stamp pad?
OMG I can't believe I never thought of that!!! I just "scraped" the edge of the spot against the lid edge to get some ink there and then dipped my blender pen into that. I guess you could stamp your spot onto an acrylic sheet or other plastic and use that as a palette. Thanks for the idea!
I love my spots .. I have the full color set of pastels in reg size and don't find myself using them as much as my spots. They are so easy to use and take up way less space on my shelf. I just purchased the new colrs in the spots and I am going to get earth elements and rich regals in the spots soon
Spots = only way to go !!
I own all 48 Classic Pads, and all 48 Classic Spots. Spots are great for ommission techniques, and PERFECT for rubbah road trips! ;) I like having BOTH of every color at my disposal. BUT, I didn't get them all at once. First, I invested in all the full size pads, and added spots one color family one month at a time.
Yes, I also own all the Many Marvelous Markers as well.
Each of these has useful properties that the others, in some ways, do not, depending on use.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Several people mention using blender pens as "markers" with the ink pads. How is that done? Do you just "dip" the blender pen into the stamp pad?
Take an old CD you don't care about, wipe the ink Spot on it, then wipe the blender pen on the ink and color on your paper.
The plastic you put your ink on makes a difference IME. I used a plastic plate the first time and I kept having to wipe my Spot on the plate. When I used an old CD the ink seemed to go further.
When you're done you wipe your pen on a piece of paper till no color comes off. When you use the next color, you'll only get that color. It's pretty cool.
without reading other responses I can tell you to get them. If nothing else you can find your favorite colors and then add the full size pads. Even as a Demo I am doing this. I may not want certain colors in full pads if I never use them. KWIM?
Since we are on the "spot" subject, I have the old bold bright and earth elements, does or will SU sell the new colors in spots - seperate? I really want Pixie Pink and Pumpkin Pie in the spots.
I love my spots!! They are a great way to try the colors plus I use them for our group get togethers at the church. That way I can have all of the colors and I only have to pack a small case of supplies to take with me.
Had not so good experience with other companies 'spots' & didn't like them at all so when I was introduced to SU I went with the regular classic pads. Did buy the SU spots in the new color set to see if I like them & will decide later if I want to buy the regular sized pad. May decide to go with the 'spots' in the craft (use these just a bit).
Kitty
I have a lot of the full-size pads, but I have ALL the Classic Spots. I love them! They are great for travel--I stamp in the car and on planes at kids' play rehearsals and ball practices! When I use a color a lot, I'll buy the full-size pad for use at home, but how do I know I'll use it a lot? It's because it's one of those spots that I keep pulling out to use! For watercoloring with an aquabrush or blender pen, I stamp the spot onto a plastic lid (like from a margarine container) or just the plastic box lid of the stamp set I'm using. Awesome! I'm a demonstrator, and I'm always recommending Stampin' Spots to people!
__________________ Cindy
"Just when I think I have all the stamps I need... I get a new catalog in the mail!"
Spots in all four color families was the first thing I bought. I love them. I've kept mine upside down for over a year and never had a problem with leaking. I just keep mine in the box that they came in. When I use a blender pen with them I just touch the side of the pad (since it's raised up and easy to access). Seems to soak up the color just fine.
__________________ Sandy Nelson "It goes without saying that you should never have more children
than you have car windows." - Erma Bombeck
I'm learning so much just from reading all your responses. I bought all the pads and am kicking myself because I could have purchased all the spots to see which colors I used the most! Besides that, it never occurred to me to purchase the spots to take with me to crops and classes! Duh.....
To get spots or not?
Spots Rule
