What Ink?

This is a question we get asked frequently in classes and we agree for the starting out stamper there are lots to choose from and confusion as what to use for what project. Here are some hints and tips to help you choose the right one for your project. If you would like a PDF version please email us on lovininklots@gmail.com.

Stazon - solvent based - perfect for paper, card, acetate, shrink plastic, fabric - comes in a range of colours is fast drying and permanent. Can be used for watercolouring as is colour fast once dry. Remember to keep the plastic extra lid with the pad so the ink does not dry out. re inkers available but not widely stocked in all stores.

Momento - fast drying dye ink perfect for use with alcohol based markers such as copics and promarkers. Comes in a range of colours in full pad size and dew drop size. Not suitable for watercolouring.

Archival - made by Ranger this is the only ink that will dry well over alcohol inks. Comes in a range of colours, is quite fast drying. It is great for watercolouring and gives good detail to intricate stamps. It is oil based but is a different formula to....

Versafine - Comes in a range of colours, dries quite fast, is oil based, gives excellent detail. Comes in full pad size or small square cube size. Excellent for watercolouring.

Versamark - clear watermark stamp pad excellent for forms of resist and heat embossing. Has a sticky glycarine formula that grips embossing powder, chalks and pearl powders until you set them. Comes in standard pad and small pad sizes. reinkers available too.

Perfect Medium- made by Ranger this is brilliant for use with perfect pearls. It can also be used as a water mark and for embossing in fact all as the above versamark just a different brand. Reinkers available too.

Brilliance- Pigment ink - comes in a variety of colours and as with all pigment inks has a spongy pad. Comes in small dew drops or standard sized pads and can be used on glossy surfaces, vellum, tissue, wood and other porous surfaces. It can also be used with embossing powder as its a slow drying ink.

Remember to keep the plastic extra lid with the pad so the ink does not dry out.

Dye inks

Adirondack - comes in a variety of colours with shades of lights, brights and earthtones that work well together - excellent for detail stamping but equally fabulous for stencilling, brushing, blending, brayering and watercolouring.

Stamping up - stunning colour range these work as the adirondacks above and have re-inkers which can be purchased to top up your pads. These also come in large pad size or small "stamping spots".

Whispers inks also work just as adirondacks and stampin up inks.

Dye inks work well for copic and promarker colouring as they do not bleed with alcohol pen application.

Distress inks - also a dye ink but with a different formula which reacts with contact with water. Lovely colour palette different to any of the other dye inks. Lots of fun to blend, watercolour with, stencil, brush with in fact very much a Lovin' ink favourite ink!

Adirondack - Also do the same colour palatte as dye inks or pigment inks. The pigments work just like the brilliance above.

Hope you find this useful - any other brands you have seen will fit into one of the above categories if in doubt please leave us a comment and we will answer asap