msupea
Full Member
Posts: 419
Aug 21, 2020 13:12:25 GMT
|
Post by msupea on Oct 20, 2021 12:34:00 GMT
I'm slowly building my distress oxide collection, but my dye inks (I have a bunch of Jenni Bowlin inks !!) are old and I need to start replacing.
What are your favorites? I've been using some archival inks (mainly black and grey) and want to grab some basic colors for my stash. I think I have a couple SC inks as well. I'm not married to a particular brand.
What brands do you like? Bonus points if they are available at ACOT or scrapbook.com
|
|
|
|
Post by cbet on Oct 20, 2021 14:12:32 GMT
I have all the Gina K inkspots and I do love her ink. I also have some of the Pinkfresh pads - those are available at both the shops you mentioned. I vaguely remember some youtuber saying that most dye inkpads are really similar and you should go for the colors you want instead of being married to a brand - that Pinkfresh, Gina K, Lawn Fawn, Simon Says Stamp, Altenew are basically the same formula. Can't vouch for that, but I use my Gina K's with my Pinkfresh and haven't noticed any big difference. I also really like my Simon Hurley inks, but I've only really used those for blending so I can't vouch for the stamping part  I've also got quite a few Memento brand, which I've liked for years, but there were colors that I wanted that they didn't have available. I have heard good things about Catherine Pooler inks - hers are different than the others I've mentioned because they have a foam pad instead of felt. I only have one of those, which was a free gift sent with an order. I've stamped with it a bit and I like it MUCH better than the Stampin Up foam pads. Don't know why it would be different, but it is. I haven't tried ink blending with it, though - I'm afraid that the blender brushes will start chewing up the foam pad. So I'm kind of hanging back until they've been around for a while to see if anyone starts reporting problems with them. |
|
|
|
Post by kmage on Oct 20, 2021 16:36:33 GMT
I haven't tried ink blending with it, though - I'm afraid that the blender brushes will start chewing up the foam pad. So I'm kind of hanging back until they've been around for a while to see if anyone starts reporting problems with them. I too am interested if there are any issues with CP ink pads getting torn up due to blending, either with brushes or with the foam applicators. It's kind of prevented me from buying them-I don't want to spend that kind of $$ if they are fragile. |
|
|
|
Post by cmpeter on Oct 20, 2021 19:00:10 GMT
I’m a big fan of the Gina K inks. They smooth out so beautifully when blending
|
|
|
|
Post by curiouscrafter on Oct 20, 2021 19:49:02 GMT
I love Concord and 9th inks but I don’t use them for blending, strictly stamping.
I also have Pink Fresh and use for stamping and blending.
I really like both sets.
|
|
|
|
Post by marg on Oct 20, 2021 20:05:52 GMT
I too am interested if there are any issues with CP ink pads getting torn up due to blending, either with brushes or with the foam applicators. It's kind of prevented me from buying them-I don't want to spend that kind of $$ if they are fragile. I have the Catherine Pooler inks and have had no issues with them regarding blending brushes, etc. I also have The Stamp Market ink pads, as well as Stampin' Up!, which are all foam, too, and same thing - no problems at all. I don't use foam applicators, though, just blending brushes (from AliExpress and Simon Says Stamp). I love the Catherine Pooler inks, they're so vibrant and the pads are nice and juicy. I prefer them to my SU inks. The Stamp Market ones are also good but the colour palette is more limited - its gorgeous, though. |
|
|
|
Post by janamke on Oct 20, 2021 20:23:47 GMT
The Jenni Bowlin inks were THE BEST! Chicken Feed!
I'm a fan of my Gina K cubes. They stamp beautifully.
I need see a video of someone using Pinkfresh inks, wow gorgeous colors. I'd use either of those brands.
|
|
msupea
Full Member
Posts: 419
Aug 21, 2020 13:12:25 GMT
|
Post by msupea on Oct 20, 2021 20:31:32 GMT
The Jenni Bowlin inks were THE BEST! Chicken Feed! I'm a fan of my Gina K cubes. They stamp beautifully. I need see a video of someone using Pinkfresh inks, wow gorgeous colors. I'd use either of those brands. I have Chicken Feed! They still work, but I can't even remember how old they are. I will look into these suggestions! I do have a bunch of distress inks for blending, etc. So clear stamped images are a priority. |
|
kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,369 
|
Post by kitbop on Oct 20, 2021 21:41:58 GMT
I too am interested if there are any issues with CP ink pads getting torn up due to blending, either with brushes or with the foam applicators. It's kind of prevented me from buying them- The foam isn't open foam - like the old chalk ink pads for example. It's a smooth surface, just soft to press into. The Stamp Market and Concorde and 9th are very similar in pad. I'm a convert to this type of ink pad. For ink blending, I often press my pad onto my glass mat, then pick up the ink on my brush from that, instead of rubbing across the pad - it helps me control how much I pick up. And, I suppose, decreases the wear on the pad??? I do love the vibrancy of my Catherine Pooler inks. I think they stamp wonderfully. I also love my recent Stamp Market and Concord and 9th inks but their palattes are more limited. I'd love to try Gina K's inks - she says there is a "smoother" in hers that makes them better for stamping (but less good for watercolouring with). Not really sure if they are that different from the other dye inks, but honestly, I'm not that fond of my Hero Arts and Simon Says stamp inks compared to others, so I'd love to believe that the Gina K ones are superior! However, I'm pretty close to being done with ink collecting - I think I have a good colour assortment and duplicating colours just to try different brands is not something I want to spend money on! |
|
|
|
Post by stormsts on Oct 20, 2021 22:56:42 GMT
I love CP inks. I have not had any issues with the foam pad from ink blending. I now use her inks almost exclusively.
|
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Oct 21, 2021 0:42:21 GMT
I love the CP mini inks, so juicy and vibrant and I love the colors and being able to buy in coordinated bundles, plus the minis are not so small as the cube inks other people offer which I don't think hold a lot of ink. I use the soft makeup brushes (like the Picket Fence ones but cheaper) and domed foams for blending and haven't noticed any issues.
They stamp very clearly, can be embossed if you're quick, and are also water reactive and great for blending so at this point I'm questioning whether I even need more oxides. I like that if you blend over stamped images you don't lose the outlines the way you do with oxides (I know that's a feature too, but for my purposes it often gets in the way of what I want to do). I think you can also let CP inks dry and then go over them with another layer to do subtle layered stamping with fewer inks.
Ardyth Percy-Robb is the one who really convinced me about CP inks even though I first saw Justine Hovey using them. Ardyth does so many things with hers, including blending them together to create new colors.
|
|
|
|
Post by refugeepea on Oct 21, 2021 1:37:00 GMT
I love the CP mini inks, so juicy and vibrant and I love the colors and being able to buy in coordinated bundles, plus the minis are not so small as the cube inks other people offer which I don't think hold a lot of ink. I use the soft makeup brushes (like the Picket Fence ones but cheaper) and domed foams for blending and haven't noticed any issues. They stamp very clearly, can be embossed if you're quick, and are also water reactive and great for blending so at this point I'm questioning whether I even need more oxides. I like that if you blend over stamped images you don't lose the outlines the way you do with oxides (I know that's a feature too, but for my purposes it often gets in the way of what I want to do). I think you can also let CP inks dry and then go over them with another layer to do subtle layered stamping with fewer inks. Thanks for the review! I haven't done any blending or embossing, but nice to know they would work. I have a bunch of mini SEI ink pads. The ink is mostly good, but the foam pads are beat up on a few. |
|
PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,272
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
|
Post by PaperAngel on Oct 21, 2021 6:10:08 GMT
...So clear stamped images are a priority. Since I'm not a cardmaker, art journaler, etc., I only use inks on occasion for minimal mixed media (e.g. basic stamping, stenciling) on layouts. I prefer pigment ink, specifically VersaFine Clair (link to Blink Art Materials website), for non-splotchy/crisp images/words & saturated/intense color (that is still embossable minutes later). HTH. |
|
|
|
Post by kiwikate on Oct 21, 2021 8:27:21 GMT
I have just swapped over all my Su inks for Catherine Pooler. They are amazing! Love everything about them & feel I don't need any others. (Except the Gina k neons to relive my 80s - days!) I got the refills also e have used them for watercolouring. They blend beautifully with a blending brush. Customer service was also top notch.
|
|
|
|
Post by scrappypeanut on Oct 21, 2021 13:00:19 GMT
...So clear stamped images are a priority. Since I'm not a cardmaker, art journaler, etc., I only use inks on occasion for minimal mixed media (e.g. basic stamping, stenciling) on layouts. I prefer pigment ink, specifically VersaFine Clair (link to Blink Art Materials website), for non-splotchy/crisp images/words & saturated/intense color (that is still embossable minutes later). HTH. Agree!! If you are looking for pigment inks versafin Clair are the best! I hate my scrapbook.com ink pads. Avoid those. |
|
|
|
Post by marg on Oct 21, 2021 19:45:44 GMT
I have just swapped over all my Su inks for Catherine Pooler. They are amazing! Love everything about them & feel I don't need any others. (Except the Gina k neons to relive my 80s - days!) I got the refills also e have used them for watercolouring. They blend beautifully with a blending brush. Customer service was also top notch. I have the Gina K neon inks, too - I love them, they're so fun to work with. I definitely get nostalgic for my teen years when I use them! |
|
I've also got quite a few Memento brand, which I've liked for years, but there were colors that I wanted that they didn't have available.
