Custom Color Ink Pads:Tips & Techniques: The Stampin' Place: Rubber Art-Stamps, Accessories & Custom

using Cut n' Dry Felt Stamp Pad

Cut n' Dry Felt stamp pad material:

This sheet of 8” x 10” triple laminated dry, rubber stamp pad felt has a fine cloth top and a protective “non-skid” foam backing. It accepts all types of dye ink, solvent or water-based. Use Cut n’ Dry Felt to develop custom stamp pads. Keep them big or cut them to any size. This sheet provides up to 80 each 1” x 1” pads. Create your own rainbow pads or colorize pads for specific stamps. The foam backing will help to protect your work surface while providing slip resistance for ease of inking and stamping. When you are finished crafting, store inked pads in a resealable bag and reuse as needed. If pads dry out, rewet to revive. Should they not soften, discard.

CREATE A CUSTOM PAD FOR
A SPECIFIC STAMP DESIGN
This is especially nice when you are stamping many cards, for example at Christmas time or for an invitation or announcement.

1. Cut the stamp pad material to match the size of the stamp. (See Fig. 1)

2. Stamp the design onto both sides of the felt surface with black Memories ink. The image on the felt side of the pad will be your template for adding colors. On the back, the image will serve as an index, since the image will not be easy to distinguish once the pad is loaded with ink. Blot with a paper towel. (See Fig. 2)

3. Use bottled dye-based re-inkers or Cut n' Dry Brush Tips to apply a generous amount of ink to the stamped design on the felt side of the pad, placing various colors exactly where you want them. Make sure to cover the entire image with ink overlapping the outer edges. (To use the brush tips, drop re-inker ink onto a plastic palette. Set the nib next to it to ink it up or rub it onto a juicy inkpad. (See Fig. 3)

4. Position the pad so the top of the image is facing up. Line the edges of the stamp up to the edges of your new custom pad. Tap the stamp to the pad several times. (See Fig. 4) Check the stamp to see that it is fully inked. Repeat if necessary. You can stamp a multitude of multi-colored images with your custom pad, and it can be re-inked as often as desired. (See Fig. 5)

5. If you plan to re-use the custom pad, print an extra image on scrap paper. Label the colors used. Store this image together with the pad in a zip-lock bag.

The custom stamp pad can be cleaned with soap and water to be re-used for a different project. The use of pigment-based ink, paint, glue, etc. is not recommended for the felt stamp pad material. Use the foam type of stamp pad material for these. We do not carry this product at this time.

We are sure that the addition of this product to your stamping accessories will add new life to your artwork and give you lots of new ideas! Stock up on Memories re-inkers so that you will be able to create custom pads, as well as keep your regular pads inked up.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5 • click for larger version

MAKE YOUR OWN RAINBOW PAD
Use dye-based re-inkers to create rainbows in the size and colors you wish to use. Make a "puddle pad" using dots, curves, swirls and lines with various colors. Don't be afraid to use lots of ink. The advantages of this custom pad over a conventional rainbow pad: you are not limited to straight line areas, and you can choose your own colors. The colors used will bleed together, forming new shades and variations. If, over time, the colors bleed together so much that they become muddy, just wash out the ink and re-use the pad.

FIGURE 6 shows a "puddle pad" and some samples of stamped art created with it. Use the pad for solid stamps, backgrounds, shadows or detailed designs.

Figure 6 • click for larger version