Inky Images: More Information About the Firm Foam Ink Pads

I am loving the new Stampin' Up! Firm Foam Ink Pads but I thought it would be helpful to let you know more information about them. I'm sure some of you may have had some of the same questions or concerns and hopefully today's post will help. One of the main things to know is that five of the ink colors underwent formula changes to improve their functionality and the color stability with the new firm foam pads. These colors are

Basic Black
Basic Gray
Marina Mist
Perfect Plum
Tempting Turquoise

Stampin'Up! does not recommend using the old ink formula for these five colors in the new firm foam pads. Below are some questions that Stampin' Up! has addressed.

Q: Before I use my firm foam pad, do I need to tap it and massage the ink around?
A: No. The firm foam pads are ready for use immediately. The best stamping technique with the firm foam pad is light tapping.

Q: My pad is too wet. What should I do?
A: We suggest using a paper towel to remove some of the ink. The amount of ink in each pad is carefully monitored in production to ensure the two-year shelf life.

Q: The firm foam on my lighter color pads looks blotchy. Is this normal?
A: Yes. The blotchiness is caused by the characteristics of the pad material. It does not affect the stamped image.

Q: When I first stamp with certain colors, my images seem a lot darker. Why is this happening?
A: When stamping with your old pads, you had to work hard to get even ink coverage on your stamp. With the new firm foam pad, the stamp gets a lot more ink on it so when you stamp, your image will appear darker. Once your stamped image dries, the color will look normal.

Q: When I compare the firm foam pads to my felt pads, some of the colors don’t seem to match. Why is this?
A: The firm foam and felt will not match exactly. Ink reacts differently to different materials. We have quality checked each ink color to ensure that the stamped ink color is true.

Q: What is shelf life of the firm foam pads? How long will the pad last before I need to re-ink it?
A: Shelf life is two years from the manufactured date, which means if you do not use the pad for two years, it should remain well saturated. If you use the pad frequently, the pad may need to be re-inked before the two years.

Q: What is the best way to remove the color labels from the bottom of the ink pad?
A: Start at the right bottom corner (just above the barcode) and slowly peel the corner up by removing both layers.

Q: Which end of the case do you apply the label to?
A: The label goes on the end where you open the case.

Q: If the ink pad becomes saturated with ink or liquid, will it cause the label to fall off?
A: No, the label should not be affected. However, like most labels, if you pick at it or try and remove it, it may start to peel up.

Q: What are some additional features of the new firm foam pads?
A: * The firm foam is nice and flat and will not become wavy.

The firm foam material does not imprint on the stamp images like the felt pad sometimes did. However, because the firm foam material is a foam base material, the stamp image can momentarily leave an imprint on the pad, which can transfer to a second stamped image. By inking your stamp on different areas of the pad or waiting momentarily for the ink to rise back to the top, you can easily avoid this situation.
The firm foam material is soft and has a nice bounce to it. It’s not hard like the felt is.
The ink lay-down (how the ink is absorbed into the card stock) is even, not blotchy, and dries quickly. It has an increased opacity and stamps solid images beautifully.

Q: Will the ink color collections include the newly formulated five colors (Basic Black, Basic Gray, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Tempting Turquoise) during the preorder in May?
A: They will include the new formulations of Basic Black (Neutrals) and Marina Mist (Subtles). However, if you are planning on purchasing the Neutrals, Subtles, or Brights ink color collections, we recommend you wait until June 1, at which time the new ink formula will also be available in Basic Gray, Perfect Plum, and Tempting Turquoise.

Q: Will Stampin’ Spots use the new firm foam pad?
A: No. Stampin’ Spots will remain the same.

Q: Can I use the reformulated ink with my Stampin’ Spots?
A: Yes.

Q: Can I use the reformulated ink with my Stampin’ Around Wheels?
A: Yes.

If you would like to order the new Firm Foam Ink Pads, visit My Online Store today! And don't forget to take advantage of My Frequent Shopper Program.