I'm thick into nursing classes and clinicals right now (today I'm home on an intensive homework day) but took a little time to answer this email from a new stamper. It was such a good question that I thought that I would share it here.
She wrote:
I'm a new stamper, haven't even started yet.....should I get the ink pads or the spots??? I don't have money to waste, so even though the spots are less expensive, I don't want to buy them to find out that I wish I would have purchased the pads!!!
Any advice???
Thanks.
Personally, I prefer the larger classic pads for most projects. The spots that I do use are the craft spots that I wouldn’t suggest getting until you have stamped a little longer – many people stamp for years without using craft ink. The style (solid vs line art) and size of stamp that you use will also make a difference in how well the spots work for you.
1. Larger stamps are more difficult to ink well with a inkspot – especially if they are solid images.
2. If you want to stamp anything larger than a 3/4” image several times its much faster to ink it with a full sized pad.
3. You will need refills much sooner for a spot than you will with a pad.
4. You need to buy the spots in groups, whereas you can hand select the colors with the pads.
5. You can also use markers to ink your stamps: slightly more time consuming than inking with a spot but the markers are more versatile, since you can also color with them and purchase them individually. When I first started I used my kids’ washable markers to expand my color repertoire beyond my small collection of pads. That helped me determine colors I really liked to use versus colors I wouldn’t use much.
6. You may be able to choose just a black pad(especially if you like to color) and 3-5 other colored pads to start with. As a beginner it may be good to work with a limited palette as you buy/scavenge other accessories such as cardstock, ribbons, buttons, brads, found items etc.). You’ll find that things go together better.
Did you find my email off my blog? If so, maybe you have seen some of the cards I did with my Playful Palette (Black, Real Red, Ballet Blue, Summer Sun, Green Galore).
Chris
There is also a photo album with just pictures of cards with this color combo.
Of course the spots can be fun to use ... and they are cute! Here's a little out of the ordinary use I found for them a while back: Autumn Plaid.
What 4-5 colors would you start with if you were just starting out?
Happy stamping and thanks for checking my blog!
