Do You Use Stamps/Ink Pads In Your Art Supplies?

[countrymom]

I had stamps but I found that the ink pads where always dry.

but really, I had a kid who instead of doing it on paper decided to do his face with stamps, omg it was so funny. The parents thought it was funny too. Just like last week when another child found the glue stick and it all starts of innocent till he decided to do his face because he thought it was chapstick. Mom thought it was so funny.

[spud912]

I have a variety of stamps that coincide with our themes. These stamps have the ink in them already, although next year most of them will be on year 3 and will most likely be pretty dried out. We also have large foam blocks that have different shapes/figures on each side that are used for stamping. Up until recently, I would spread a thin layer of washable paint onto a paper plate and let the kids stamp.

A few weeks ago I finally got around to getting washable stamp pads. I purchased the extra large ones, which are great because the kids use them for the stamps and they can also fit their entire hands onto the pads (probably their feet too). The other day they "decorated" white butcher paper to be used to wrap the father's day presents with the stamps, their hand prints, markers and crayons. They did this for literally an hour ! I actually had to pull them away so we could go outside! But then again, my group is really really into arts and crafts lately and would do it all day if I didn't have other things planned.

[Blackcat31]

We use stamps a lot. I bought a huge set from Lake Shore years ago and we still use the same ink pads.

I purchased a "re-inking" set at the same time. The "re-inking" set includes colored ink and a special solvent that is needed to keep the pigment from doing something weird and not spreading out over the pad. (LOL!! I can't remember how they explained it) but you HAVE to have solvent WITH ink to refill them. If you use just ink alone, they won't work as long and you'll end up having to toss them out a lot sooner.

Another thing is storage. You HAVE to store them in a closed/sealed container. I keep all my ink pads in zip lock baggies.

This is what the directions/instructions included with our ink pad/stamoing set says:

Foam ink pads are different from felt ink pads.

Keep your foam ink pads (which are usually pigment inks) stored upright with the lid facing upwards, like you would use them.

Felt ink pads (which are usually dye inks) should be stored upside down with the pad facing downward. This helps keep the ink on the pad surface so it doesn't dry out as quickly.

Keep ALL ink pads (no matter what type) in a sealed container or zip-lock type bag.

Hope that helps!

[Laurel]

I have 100's of stamps from all my years of scrapbooking and card making but my favorites to use with the kids are the "kid" stamps (animals, smiley faces, etc.) with the ink in the cover. The ink dried out years ago but they love to stamp them into play-doh. The imprints come out beautifully and there's no inky mess everywhere. We still have our stamp and ink days, but this fulfills their need to stamp when I don't feel like cleaning up after them.

Great idea! I'm doin' it....thanks. I had never thought of doing that.

Laurel