Life-span of ink?

OK, this is sort of a mega/multi question/topic...

1. What brands are we using?

2. Are you true to only one brand or company? If so, why & please share!

3. How long do they usually last you?

4. Do you ever re-ink your pads? If so, why?

5. What colors do you tend to use the most?

6. How many ink pads do you actually own? (Question that I've had after seeing some of the most recent storage & custom-made shelving in the gallery! = Wowzers!!)

7. Optional - Can someone please explain or link 'the science of ink', if there is such a thing that exist? (Ie. alcohol, powder, pigments, water-based, etc.) From first glance, many of them seem the same, but I suspect that I'm missing exactly what is what!

Thanks In Advance!!

here is the Types of Ink and their Properties link
http://www.scrapbook.com/tips/doc/32019/209.html

1. I use several kinds: Memento, Colorbox, Papertrey Ink, Ranger, CTMH, Stampin Up!, Stazon, Bazzill Basics, Versamark, and more
2. Nope
3. Some have lasted years and years! If their cases are well made and they don't come apart while they're stored, most inks last a long time. I do go through the "cat's eye" ink pads quite quickly though, they're tiny.
4. Yep, I re-ink my black pads because I use them so much. I've re-inked a handful of others as well.
5. Black, browns,pinks, blues, greens, yellows, reds
6. About 45 including the small ones
7. http://www.scrapbook.com/tips/doc/32019/209.html

1. What brands are we using? Tim's Distress Inks, StazOn inks, Colorbox, Martha Stewart, Autumn Leaves.

2. Are you true to only one brand or company? If so, why & please share! I love Tim's inks of course, I love everything distress!!!

3. How long do they usually last you? Certain colors like walnut stain, vintage photo, and aged mahogany I have already run out after 4 months. But other than that I still have all the inks I have bought so far.

4. Do you ever re-ink your pads? If so, why? Yes! But only the Distress Inks. It's way easier (and cheaper) than buying new pads.

5. What colors do you tend to use the most?

6. How many ink pads do you actually own? wow, I don't know and I suspect I don't want to count... I'd say about 30.

Sorry, no clue about the science of inks... Hope this helps!
~Liz

I just pulled out some CTMH inkpads after three years and used them today, AMAZING!

also SU pads, i love good stuff.

Before I begin I just have to say that I am cheap/frugal so I haven't tried to too many different ink brands mostly due to the price and I generally use my inks for distressing. I'm not too big on stamping.

1. What brands are we using? I know for sure I love the Tseiduniko, whatever their name is LOL, inks. That is the brand I generally buy. Mostly because they are good and I get 4 in a pack. Since I use them for distressing I need them to fit in my hand well and they do. Caution: they do tend to fall apart in layers, but I glue back on the pad with some Beacons and they keep right on workin'. I do not like the cat eye inks they seem to dry out too fast. I have a coffee bean brown ink pad from Rubber Stampede that is four or more years old and it is still kicking. It's falling part LOL, but it is still going and I refuse to retire it because the brown is perfect.

2. Are you true to only one brand or company? If so, why & please share! See above.

3. How long do they usually last you? I've had most my ink pads for two years.

4. Do you ever re-ink your pads? If so, why? I don't and only because I don't want to bother. I do reink my white Stazon.

5. What colors do you tend to use the most? Brown, black and pinks (and in that order).

6. How many ink pads do you actually own? (Question that I've had after seeing some of the most recent storage & custom-made shelving in the gallery! = Wowzers!!) About 30

7. Optional - Can someone please explain or link 'the science of ink', if there is such a thing that exist? (Ie. alcohol, powder, pigments, water-based, etc.) From first glance, many of them seem the same, but I suspect that I'm missing exactly what is what!
I did read about this a few years ago and I don't remember much. I just remember enough to know that I stick with pigment inks because they do not fade, are permanent and archival. I make cards with dye ink because the image is more "crisp" than the pigment inks. Pigment inks take longer to dry so they are best if you are going to emboss. Dye inks dry very quick. Stazon is good for slick surfaces like transparencies, ceramics, glass, metal etc. It is also good if you plan to color or paint because the ink doesn't "run". Sorry I couldn't help out more. I distress everything, but I don't think I have a lot of ink experience.

I am the type that will spend money if I know it will save me money in the long run.

I have been scrap-booking since 1999 and in 2004 I found Stampin' Up. Since then I have been very loyal to them because I know that their products last. I also Love that all their colors (paper, ribbons, markers, etc) all truly match. I have not re-inked my pads at all, they all seem to be great!

The only other brand I own is StazOn. COLORS: Red, black, blue, yellow, purple, green, and brown.

5. What colors do you tend to use the most?
Black, and then it depends on what project I am working on.

6. How many ink pads do you actually own? At least 30 may be more!

Hope it helps.

1. What brands are we using? I use distress inks and tsukineko inks (versamagic and brilliance)

2. Are you true to only one brand or company? If so, why & please share! I distress with distress inks and stamp with tsukineko versamagic or brilliance inks.

3. How long do they usually last you? I don't know. I have only been collecting inks for a year.

4. Do you ever re-ink your pads? If so, why? No. I have only run out of ink twice (in my little tsukineko dew drops) and I just bought new ones.

5. What colors do you tend to use the most? Browns, definitely.

6. How many ink pads do you actually own? (Question that I've had after seeing some of the most recent storage & custom-made shelving in the gallery! = Wowzers!!) Around 30?

7. Optional - Can someone please explain or link 'the science of ink', if there is such a thing that exist? (Ie. alcohol, powder, pigments, water-based, etc.) From first glance, many of them seem the same, but I suspect that I'm missing exactly what is what! If you use acrylic stamps, you need to use non-dye/water based inks (i.e. don't use distress inks . . . do use tsukineko versamagic or brilliance inks).

• kariyava Said:

Actually, many stampers use dye inks on clear stamps. If you look on Splitcoast Stampers, most of them use Memento inks and other dye inks (Stampin' Up, etc) often.
I have mostly dye and hybrid inks that I use for stamping and have good results.
For instance, these were stamped with dye inks.
Grandma Cassel close up By Here Kitty

The Sky is the Limit By Here Kitty

Distress inks will also work with clear stamps - they give a bit of a different look.
I used Fired Brick distress ink to stamp the damask background on this card.
Merry Christmas Angel By Here Kitty

I used them on the damask on this card as well.
Christmas Joy By Here Kitty

1. What brands are we using? I use Close to My Heart, Tim Holtz distress inks and Memento.

2. Are you true to only one brand or company? Nope!

3. How long do they usually last you? So far, so good...a couple years for most of them.

4. Do you ever re-ink your pads? If so, why? I will when I need to.

5. What colors do you tend to use the most? Black, brown, pink, red and green. (holiday colors)

6. How many ink pads do you actually own? (Question that I've had after seeing some of the most recent storage & custom-made shelving in the gallery! = Wowzers!!)
30-40
7. Optional - Can someone please explain or link 'the science of ink', if there is such a thing that exist? (Ie. alcohol, powder, pigments, water-based, etc.) From first glance, many of them seem the same, but I suspect that I'm missing exactly what is what!
I am interested in this answer myself.

The types of ink and their properties article will help you out.
http://www.scrapbook.com/tips/doc/32019/209.html

Ditto what Herekitty said...dye ink can most certainly be used with clear stamps.

Everyone in my stampers club uses Stampin Up dye inks and Memento all the time and I love to use distress inks with clear stamps too.

I've had some inks pads for 5 years, they still work good.

1. What brands are we using? I have (in order) Holtz Distress ink pads, Versa, Staz-on, Stampin Up.

2. Are you true to only one brand or company? If so, why & please share! Only because of availability.

3. How long do they usually last you? I've had them for 6 years most are still ok.

4. Do you ever re-ink your pads? If so, why? yes, they dried up.

5. What colors do you tend to use the most? black, brown, teal.

6. How many ink pads do you actually own? (Question that I've had after seeing some of the most recent storage & custom-made shelving in the gallery! = Wowzers!!)Probably 6 dozen or so.

7. Optional - Can someone please explain or link 'the science of ink', if there is such a thing that exist? (Ie. alcohol, powder, pigments, water-based, etc.) From first glance, many of them seem the same, but I suspect that I'm missing exactly what is what! That has been done above.

I just wanted to say, Thank You So Much Ladies for all the wonderful info & ink experience testimonies! I'm soaking it all up and printing this page out as we speak!

I appreciate it!!