In addition to the awesome Color Revamp, which begins with the new catalog on June 1st, Stampin' Up took the opportunity to see if they could make our original, patented design ink pads even BETTER than they already were. They came up with several improvements including stackability, bigger labels with larger fonts, and an easier way to open and close the case–all while keeping the best features intact!
I've put together a little "photo tutorial" of the new pads with fun info you'll want to know. Enjoy!
First, the ink pad itself (inside the case) hasn't changed. It's still extra large, raised so you can catch the edges if you want to ink just part of a stamp or phrase, and totally refillable. Stampin' Up was able to reduce the amount of plastic used in the case, which is awesome for the environment, too.
One .5 oz refill bottle will refill a pad 6-8 times, easily, stretching your investment many years beyond when you've had to throw other companies' pads in the trash. And bonus–after June 1st, all ink refills will have a new defoaming agent designed to reduce bubbles on the surface of the detailed stamps. That was a genius idea!
Not only are the cases and fingergrips streamlined and sleek, a special raised dot in each corner allows them to stack, since they're now totally flat on the bottom. You can fit about 10 of the new ink pads in the same space that 8 of the old style take up.
The flatness does mean they don't fit well in the Color Caddy, so that organizational storage tower is being discontinued. Watch for a fun new storage option coming soon! And no, I have no sneak peeks of that!
My stampy friends with sore or arthritic hands and wrists are going to love this next feature! There's no more push-swing-pull-push. You just snap the lid open and closed like a powder compact. You can just use it with the laid open, or slide it back into the case (photo below).
At first they may seem a little tight, but they'll loosen with a few uses. They're actually designed to fit very snugly, to reduce moisture loss through evaporation. Juicier pads for a longer period of time–nice!
They kept the two best features of our pads intact–the pad is actually in the lid, so the ink is always ready at the surface of the pad when you open it–and the lid is attached to the base, so you never misplace it in the rubble on your stamp table.
Oh don't smirk at me, missy. It's not like you've never lost anything on your craft table!! I need all the help I can get keeping track of things. Not to mention I need tools that take up as small a space as possible on my surface.
My personal favorite innovation has been the addition of a little channel where a color-identifying sticker now goes INSIDE the pad. It's the little things, ya know? That way you always know what color you're stamping, even when the ink pad is open and all you can see is the Firm Foam pad. Nifty!
How to get the NEW colors and ink pad cases: Order between now and May 31st and you'll still get the old style cases and colors. Order after June 1st and you'll get the new cases and colors. So whether you want to finish up your collection in the old cases that fit in your Color Caddy, or you want to make sure you are getting the new design, that's the cutoff!
The only exception is the special Share What You Love sneak peek bundles–the Grapefruit Grove ink pad in those is a brand new color and will be in the brand new case style.
Ok! Now we all know what's up with the ink pads. Did you learn something from our little lesson today? Still have questions? That's what I'm here for! Email me at Lyssa@songofmyheartstampers.com or leave a comment below with the name of a product, tool or special offer that you'd love to see a photo tutorial about!
