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Stampin Spots or Full Size...opinions needed please!
I have the Rich Regals Spots and the Earth Elements Spots. I also have the Classic Black Full Size Stamp Pad.
I want the Soft Subtles. Now that I know I want to keep on Stampin, should I start collecting the bigger pads or could I just buy the soft subtles in spots and re ink?hem. I just don't know if I should start investing in the larger pads?
Thanks for your input gals. It is my hostess month so I am planning my spending.....:rolleyes:
I would invest in the larger pads. The spots are nice to travel etc with but they really are tiny! So they take a lot of work to ink up even a smaller stamp!
I've got all the spots and have been slowely getting the full size pads, the spots are great but are to tiny to easily ink any larger stamps and they need to be reinked more often than the larger pads. they are great for travel though so I will be keeping mine for that and there are a few techniques that they are great for.
Forget trying to ink a background stamp with them though that is what made me decide to invest in the full size pads.
__________________ "I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every second of it!"
I decided to go for the larger pads as I really love larger stamps and backgrounds. I am just buying them slowly and getting what I love/use the most for colors.
I'd say save for the full size pads. I agree, the spots are so tiny and as your interest grows you will probably show interest in techniques that use backgrounds or need to ink a larger area.
I managed to get all mine by asking for one color family for my birthday or Christmas. My mother-in-law loves gift ideas and it worked out well. :-D
I say buy spots and then buy full size pads that you know you love and will use a lot, if you find the spot in that color isn't big enough for you. I love my spots and have very few full size pads.
I got the full sized pads in the Classic Inks (I'm still working up to having all the colors) and I got the Craft ink in the spots. Using clear embossing powder, I can emboss in any of the 48 colors I want using the craft spots! That made it so worth it to me.
Amy
On another thread, a lady mentioned that she buys the spots. Then, when it comes time to refill one she goes ahead and buys the full size pad because she figures she must use that color a lot. Sounds like a smart way to go if you are trying to get all the colors and can't afford to do it all at once.
Having said that, I am slowly getting the full size classic pads and have some craft spots...
i have found that for the soft subtles especially the full size pads are better as they are lighter colors and not sure why but mine tend to dry out faster then the other colors I have. Weird I know, but it just seems that way, the SS need reinking more frequently then the other spots.
__________________ Lisa C., Mom to 3 great kids, 3 super dogs and an cat that thinks she is a dog! My Gallery
I would say to invest in the larger pads of the colors you love and use often!! Between my mom and I we have all the spots. I have just started buying the larger ink pads individually on the colors that I love and I use often. I like the spots if I am trying to ink up only a portion of the stamp and they are convenient. I think it's good to have a mix of both!
I have all four families of spots. I'm slowly gathering the full-size ink pads. I bring the spots wherever I go, though. They're much easier for traveling.
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Ashley former SU! Demo, taking a break. but i'll be back soon enough.
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I say buy spots and then buy full size pads that you know you love and will use a lot, if you find the spot in that color isn't big enough for you. I love my spots and have very few full size pads.
I agree, it is good to have the spots in the color families so you can have all the colors available. After a while you will know which colors you will use the most often and you can add those to you collection. Of course, it is good to have the reinkers for them all also, so you can reink the spots And have them to reink the pads you own.
I started with a few large pads in the EE. Then started buying the spots. I have all the spots in both the classic and the craft. I love having every color and yes I have purchased larger pads in colors I use a lot. I don't mind inking up a background with a spot. Yes, it takes more time, but chances are I have that color in a large pad because I use it a lot. If I need to ink a BG for a color I don't have in a large pad and don't want to use a spot then I'll use versamark.
Good luck in your decision.
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~~~ Barbara~~~ ~~Case me if you please~~100% great trades~~
I have the spots in all the colors and I use them all the time. I would also buy bigger if I find I use one particular one more than the others. I enjoy having them to use when I travel. I have not found them to dry out so that has been a good thing. I like that you can ink a small portion of your stamp with ease. I think they are a great!!!! Carol
I have all four sets of spots and just a few full size pad. I have had them for 2 years and only a few have started to dry out. So I bought refills. For back grounds I use versamark most of the time. If I were a demo I'd sure use full size, but I have found spots to work just fine for me.
I got the full sized pads in the Classic Inks (I'm still working up to having all the colors) and I got the Craft ink in the spots. Using clear embossing powder, I can emboss in any of the 48 colors I want using the craft spots! That made it so worth it to me.
Amy
I hadn't thought of this but it is a great idea to get the craft inks and use clear to emboss in a lot of colors. I had been wanting some embossing powder to match some of my colors but you only get 4 colors for about $16. I can get 12 craft ink spots for just a little bit more. This is great!
I have the Rich Regals Classic ink spots. I figured I can see what colors I actually use the most and then instead of buying reinkers I will buy the full size pads as I use them up. I have started buying some of the Earth Color Classics in full size pads because I know some of the colors I use a lot. I buy one or two a month.
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I have most full sized pads and all the spots. I prefer the spots. Only when I mass produce cards, like Valentine's Day cards for the kids classes, do I use the larger sized pads. So, my vote is get all the spots and then buy the few full sized ones you truly use a lot. That stategy saves $$ and space.
BTW, I store my spots in a medium stamp box. Two color families fit per box.
Mine stay nice and inky. I assume it's the box that helps. HTH.
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Bridget
Proud to be a former SU Demo & forever USC Gamecock Fan!
I purchased all the craft spots and purchased classic and craft in the large pad if I use the color a lot. I like the spots when I am using small stamps such as a flower where I can use a green shade for the skinny stems and other colors for the flower petals. Spots do not work for background stamps -- takes too long and also can see the square shape. I also agree that if I am doing a production such as Christmas cards the spots are way too time consuming.
Just my recent experience.... the Soft Subtles spots were the last of the box sets I bought and I did not like them. They are too watery. I don't know if it is just this box I got or if they are all like that due to the light color. I'm glad the other three groups are fine.
BTW....I found the colors to be different between the classic and craft for Tempting Turq and So Saffron.
I have all the ink spots ... and then I have bought full pads of the colours that I use the most. This works for me. I have inked up many backgrounds with my ink spots. It just takes a little longer to get ink everywhere, but it does work!
Also if you want the craft spots just to emboss with, I just ink my stamp with versamrk then with classic ink and emboss works like a charm the vesamark keeps the ink from drying to fast and it does not smear like the craft has a tendancy to do, I only own one craft pad and after using one at a workshop I haven't even opened mine and probably won't ever use it.
__________________ "I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every second of it!"
LOVE my spots, not a whole lot of work to ink up larger stamps (BG),they are cheaper. They are hardly a storage issue and they travel easily. Wish they would have made the IN COLOURS in spots. Those are the only full sized pads I have. Go with the spots.
...she buys the spots. Then, when it comes time to refill one she goes ahead and buys the full size pad because she figures she must use that color a lot. ...
This is how I finally decided to go. I only have 4 full size SU pads and no spots yet. I got the full size ones so I could see if I even like the ink. Now I'm going to buy all the craft spots (I like the richer color on colored cardstock) and then invest in the full size pads of the colors I use the most. I decided spots are easier to store, easier on the pocket book and a way I can get all the colors faster. I also joined my demo's buyers club so buying one color group a month will satisfy that commitment.
__________________ Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
I have the dye inks in the larger pads, and I am working on getting the craft spots in all the color families. I wanted the craft spots when the chipboard came out. Makes changing the color of the chip much easier.
So I guess if you are counting votes, I would go for the large size dye ink pads. HTH
I would get the spots, and when you see what colors you use the most buy the full pad in those. There are alot of colors that are nice to own but if you dont use them often....
I have all of the color families of the spots. In reality, I mainly use a full size black, and then I color in using pencils and gamsol. This is my favorite technique. Also, I don't have any problems using the spots to ink up background stamps.
I went with spots-
1) do you have the storage space for all the full pads? if not, definitely continue with your spots. 2 families will fit nicely into a background stamp case.
2)figure out how many reinkers you could purchase to go along with your spots compared to buying that other family of full pads. I liked that I could get a full family and a couple reinkers to boot for the cost
3)is the smaller size of the spot bothering you? if so, you might go for the full size pads. It does take a bit longer to ink up a background, but I'm finding that I'm not using the backgrounds as often as I use patterned papers.
oops- one more thing to consider. I like that with the spots I can ink a portion of the stamp more easily (such as with flowers- stems green, and blossom a different color). I dont have markers so using a corner of the spot is a nice substitute
I only have 6 spots from SU, they came in the punch boxes. I use them like sponge daubers. I like the control I get with them.
I don't own any full size SU pads (although I have all the CTMH full size). The SU are very, very big. I definitely agree that getting the spots to start and then full size of any you use a lot is probably best. Or, perhaps your demo has an ink pad club where you buy for so many months and end up with all the pads? Just a thought. I have done that with a couple groups of ladies for CTMH.
oops- one more thing to consider. I like that with the spots I can ink a portion of the stamp more easily (such as with flowers- stems green, and blossom a different color). I dont have markers so using a corner of the spot is a nice substitute
I so agree! I love my spots! I have no problem inking large stamps. I do have a few full sized pads and I'm not crazy about they way they indent in the center over time - really bugs me.
i was thinking about getting spots myself but as a babysitting reward i am getting the marker set and i think that would also be a good idea to have all the colors available.
Stampin Spots or Full Size...opinions needed please!
Stampin spots
spots then full size
