Hi, all! Back with my latest Odd Brain project. I've been debating which inks I prefer and which colors I prefer and decided that - as with most things in my life - I CAN'T CHOOSE! The answer to this dilemma was, of course, to get all of them! Knowing myself and my preference for as-compact-and-consolidated-in-as-small-a-footprint-as-possible, I knew that full-size pads of all of those inks would be WAY, WAY too much to deal with, as well as cost-prohibitive.
I recently purchased some "spots" - little 1" cubes - of Hero Hues Shadow Inks, and decided that "spots" of all of the other inks would definitely be do-able, on the size front at least. I started pricing reinkers and uninked cubes and decided that by the time I bought the reinker and the uninked cube I wouldn't be saving any money at all, just space. What's a girl to do?
My answer: I have a whole whack of little boxes that look like this:
They came as part of this deal:
I bought mine at Walmart, but you can find them online, too. I use all the little boxes to store my embellishments (or, at least, I did - I'm regearing there, too - stories for another day). I have four or five of these... There are several sizes of small boxes included, and the ones I decided to use are the "mini" - they're approximately 1 1/4" square. I got my Inkssentials Cut-N-Dry foam felt:
Edited to add: I initially used the foam, but found that it was really "squishy" and even seemed to sort of break down over time. I re-did them March 2016 with the felt and I'm much happier. Thanks to Sandi for her comment that reminded me that I needed to add this edit.
and cut it into 1 1/8" squares using a rotary cutter and quilting ruler:
and stuck the square to the lidof the box with regular old Scotch brand double-sided tape:
Then I got some reinkers and added some to the foam. To use them, I just flip the lid open and hold it like this to tap ink onto my stamp or project:
Ignore the inky old lady hands, please - I've been playing with ink and foam all day... I wanted to identify which pad had which ink, so I got some label dots and stuck them to a non-stick sheet (the backing from a self-laminating sheet that I saved) so I could swipe ink on them, then write all of the names:
I then stuck the stickers to the appropriate lid. To protect the stickers a bit and to ensure that they stayed stuck, I also cut squares of packing tape and put them over the stickers. How much space will I save this way? Here's ALL of the Stampin'Up! Subtles colors in their boxes next to ONE full-size Stampin'Up! ink pad:
I've come up with a storage plan for all of the wonderful ink spots that I will have, and I'll share that a different day when it's actually complete and not just a thought in Odd Brain. Oh - and I'm aware that you're supposed to use felt for dye ink and foam for pigment ink, but I was using what I had on hand, so there! If it's problematic down the road, I'll just switch it out, since I have all of the reinkers :) Obviously, according to the edit, that's exactly what I've done...
I'm buying "groups" of reinkers to accomplish the acquisition of all of the colors/inks I want. I (obviously) started with SU! Subtles. Next up will probably be In Colors or Brights. There are Close to My Heart colors that I covet, as well, so I'll probably get some of those in the near future, too. And that's that! I hope your weekend is lovely so far - thanks for stopping by!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing this, Sue...I can't afford every color in full size either so this is genius! If dye ink is supposed to be felt then SU has some "splaining" to do since they went to all foam...or is theirs not dye ink?! Maybe I'm the one that's all wet! lol
Posted by: Kathy H | February 08, 2014 at 06:17 PM
This is genius! Super clever! I also have to figure out storage though for my mini ink pads. Have one of those Stampin Up black carousel type inkpad holders. Have already filled up the top cups with reinkers, and am buying more still ... although there's still lots of room for reg size inkpads in the slots. Organizing is not my forte!
Posted by: Debra | February 09, 2014 at 08:04 AM
Such a clever idea and I've seen first hand that they give great coverage! Sue you are one very creative gal and I love that you share so generously with us all of your organizational ideas!
Posted by: Sherry D | February 09, 2014 at 10:52 AM
Clever to put the foam on the lid so it is stored upside down!
Posted by: Arlene D | February 10, 2014 at 06:14 PM
Just came from the SC thread ... Lordy Bee this is great advice, Sue! I use my ink pads when I do 'whole card varigated color' (my term--hee.) Here is an example of a card on which I used my technique:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2406918?&cat=500&ppuser=214947]
Sometimes, pads like SU or even Ranger di are just too darn big to swipe to get the effect I want, even w/masking (which results are not what I'm looking for either.) It has been frustrating so I haven't been using this technique much anymore. I have used my SU spots but as you said, they are no longer available. I tried two of my PTI cubes, however, after two or three swipes, the pad came right off which was a bummer. I don't want to use a piece of sponge, a dauber or a TH blending tool, just the pad. YOUR method is clever, compact and convenient. Perfect for my need! I was even thinking to keep the ink downwards, you could slip the cubes back into the original container and store it on it's side with the inky pad facing down. I guess if one did store them this way, a color index on the side would be helpful. Because of the way I intend to use the cubes, I may improvise w/another small container I have to see if the double-sided tape will hold it or I'll have to use a different adhesive. Anyway ... THANKS very much for sharing this info. :)
Posted by: Gabby | February 12, 2014 at 03:16 AM
Brilliant! I have been bemoaning the loss of the spots also. This is such a fantastic solution. Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Tammy P | February 12, 2014 at 05:13 AM
You are a genius! Thanks a bunch for sharing this great idea!
Posted by: Carole RB | February 12, 2014 at 08:12 AM
Thank you so much. I was devastated when I realized that the spots were gone. I love mine. I will definitely be trying this.
Posted by: Hyde N Seek Creations | March 06, 2014 at 08:00 PM
How funny that I found this! I had just ordered some re-inkers to do this very same thing. I have to fine some tiny little boxes to make the ink pads still. But I had decided the same thing. The re-inkers are much cheaper than the pads in some cases unless you get them off of ebay. I have ordered many pads from there and got a better deal but the re-inkers were cheaper on Stampin Up. So I have my ink now I can get my tiny boxes! You say Walmart.. I will check them out. I was going to go to Hobby Lobby and use there coupon. Are they cheaper at Walmart?
Posted by: Tammy Dameron | April 20, 2015 at 01:31 PM
The only place that Ive seen that particular case is Walmart, but anything that is a size that works for you should be fine. I used those boxes because I already had them on hand...
Posted by: Sue | April 20, 2015 at 01:49 PM
Great idea...thanks for sharing
Posted by: Susan | September 02, 2015 at 05:49 PM
Absolutely brilliant!
Posted by: Melissa | September 03, 2015 at 12:02 AM
I've been looking all over for how I should make ink pads that are compact and less expensive than the larger ink pads by Stampin Up. I love your idea and my brain seems to think exactly as you do. I want every color and I just can't afford all of what I want. I want something that does not take up so much room as well. I can't wait to try your method. Thank you so much for you!
Posted by: Sandi | May 21, 2016 at 09:35 PM
You're most welcome, and thanks for your comment! And thanks, as well, because it reminded me that I needed to edit/update this post! I've done so, now, and all is right again in the Sue-niverse! ;)
Posted by: Sue | May 22, 2016 at 10:13 AM
Thanks for this brilliant idea. Another option is to try the set of Recollections mini ink pads from Michaels (about $5 for 12 and use a 40% off coupon for a better deal). You may replace the pad with the inkssentials pad (which is a better quality), or simply rinse out the ink from the pad, dry, then add your own ink. I tried using the stampin spots and they worked well after I washed and dried them. But the ink pads from michaels are certainly cheaper.
Posted by: just_another_stamper | August 10, 2016 at 10:21 AM
Found you from splitcoast and hopped over to see what you did. Now I have one question, since it has been a long enough time do they dry up quickly or do you get a nice amount of time out of them? Curious minds need to know....LOL
Thanks for sharing everything you did with us.
Posted by: Jeanne | November 26, 2016 at 05:28 PM
They seem to stay juicy for quite a while, actually. I've added a few drops of reinker to a few of them, but over all I've been very pleased.
Posted by: Sue | November 26, 2016 at 07:56 PM
Stampin'Up! has started selling the ink spots with no ink in them, so you can get them and use any reinker that you want to (SU! or another brand). I understand that they are the old felt style, rather than the new foam that SU! uses now.
Posted by: Sue | November 26, 2016 at 07:58 PM
Thank you Sue. Can't wait to try this.
Posted by: Jeanne | November 26, 2016 at 08:55 PM