Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
I've been using Stampin Up pads for YEARS. And I think I might like to start using other brands. See what's out there.
Do you exclusively use one brand? Or do you buy whatever color and brand you feel like?
I don't do elaborate things with my cards. I'm a very simple stamper. I only do Christmas cards. I don't do watercoloring. So tell me what your favorite black ink is and what your favorite colored inks are. Thanks
__________________
Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely BUT...to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand and screamingWOOHOO-WHAT A RIDE!
Michael's Craft Smart house brand dye ink line has very vibrant colors, is easy to clean off stamps and fingers, dries quickly, and seldom require multiple stampings to create a color-loaded image.
Stazon solvent ink is wonderful, but clean up is problematic.
Last edited by TexasGrammy; 12-26-2018 at 04:03 PM..
Reason: SPR
My total favourite black is the new Versafine Clair, called Nocturne. Gives a wonderful crisp image, and is unbeatable on solid stamps. They have quite a range of colours in this now, and every one is a gorgeous colour and performs really well. I'd suggest having a look at Jennifer Macguire videos, she covers a lot of inkpads we don't have over here in the UK. She does one every year on her favourite stamps/ inkpads etc of the year, so try a YouTube search for Jennifer Macguire favourite inkpads.
Ditto Shaz. Versafine Clairs pick up fine detail and stamp extremely crisply. The black is so black! They also are terrific if you want to try clear heat embossing because they take embossing powder long after they seem dry - I've gone as long as 5 minutes.
The colors are quite intense but they do nice second or even third generation stamping. I sure wish they had soft colors, however.
Depending on what else is going on, sometimes I use Ranger Archival black too.
An ink not often mentioned that I love is IO - Impression Obsession. The owner visited an LSS and said it isn't that her inks are different from other high quality inks, but she would get frustrated wanting to go light to dark in a color. So she formulated light to dark "sets" - for example, peach, melon and orange. They're sold individually though.
My all time faves are Distress Oxides but they may not appeal to you if you want to stick to simple stamping. That said, they come in terrific colors, do regular stamping very nicely, including fairly detailed stamps, and are amazing for techniques - though that part may not interest you.
A unique feature is that if you stamp one color on top of another when fairly dry (not even bone dry), the two colors won't mix, don't blend. But if you do the same when wet, they do blend. Both can be handy.
For example, you can transition colors - like red to orange to yellow just using red and yellow. On the other hand, if you wait until dry, you won't get brown aka mud if stamping complementary colors on top of each other - like red and green.
And I agree with watching some of Jennifer McGuire's videos - not just for 2018, but before. She has said it isn't as if she doesn't like earlier choices - she just adds new ones.
I like Hero Arts Shadow Inks a lot. Ranger Archival are nice. Lots of others. I don't discriminate much - have everything from Studio Calico to Mama Elephant, though no full sets except for Oxides, because color has been more important to me than brand.
I have become quite enamored of both Distress Oxides and Versafine Clairs (have most of the former and about ten of the latter). I also really like Hero Arts Shadow ink. I have most of the SU! colors in DIY mini cubes and refills for them, but I'm going to get these little bottles to put some ink in, then gift the larger bottles to my daughter (who also has a set of DIY minis). I don't use them all that often, but it's handy to have small versions when I want them. I probably won't keep all of the colors, though. I also have Ranger Archival Black and Memento Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, and London Fog, just because they are neutral and versatile.
I love using multi-step stamps, so I love Altenew's range of inks for that. I no longer suffer from the full-set syndrome, so I have a few Gina K Design and WPlus9 ink pads in colors I love. Maybe I need to clarify that last sentence: I do have full sets of Distress and Distress Oxide ink pads. But I consider those in a class by themselves. My favorite blacks: Memento if I'll be using Copics; otherwise, Versafine Onyx black.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
Memento inks for Copic coloring (black, rich cocoa and London Fog). Versafine Onyx black or the Versafine Clair Nocturne (my new fave) for dark black, crisp stamping. Ranger archival for water coloring. For colors, I think my Distress and Distress Oxides are my favorites. I'm considering getting rid of my SU inks.
__________________ Claudia Splitcoast Fan Club Member
I currently love Distress Oxides and Distress Inks. I love how easy they are blending. I want to get a few Versafine Clair inks as well to use with silhouette stamps.
I love my distress oxide ink pads. I love the finish you get on your card when using them. They are so fun to blend, and the colors are so vivid. I still have SU pads from 15 plus years ago and have added new colors over the year, but I frankly do not like the way the pads are on them anymore. I invest in reinkers and blank pads now because it saves money, space, and with the liquid inks, I can watercolor and do a variety of other things.
I am sure there are lots of fabulous inks out there, but I have been at this for so long, it just seems most practical to use what I have for the most part and replace as needed or try one I hear is new and great.
__________________ 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