Make Ink At Home! Ink Pad Recipe Bonanza!

DIY Ink Pad Recipe Bonanza!
Sponsored by Lava® Soap. Find Lava soap at Walmart, http://bit.ly/LavaSoap_Walmart_TFC and other fine retailers. Visit http://lavasoap.com/ to learn more and find a store near you. For money saving coupons click here: http://bit.ly/LavaSoapCoupon_TFC. Follow Lava Soap on Facebook for more tips on how to clean up after craft projects:   / lavasoap  

*Keep in mind the best practices for keeping your ink pads in good working order is to use the appropriate reinker: http://shrsl.com/1i0pt I make sure to have a reinker for any inkpad I rely on. Sometimes though a company doesn't offer reinkers or they discontinue a color but you still have the pad. Or you are in the middle of a project and neek ink ASAP in which case we have you covered!

Protect your workspace! I use these super cheap teflon mats than can be cut up to convenient sizes. You get 3 huge ones for $7 on amazon: https://amzn.to/2O0BmxO *They are $25 each or more at the craft store!

Reinking a dye based ink pad. I have to say that for dye ink pads that adult stampers use your best bet is to buy a commercially prepared reinker. Most dye based pads are similar and you can cross brands. I have used Stampin Up reinkers to ink of other brands pads with no issues. In face many popular companies all have their inks made by the same company. I like juicy ink pads to I keep adding ink to my pad until it stops absorbing ink.

DIY Dye Based Ink Recipe:
Liquid watercolor : https://amzn.to/2F8iZUK
Vegetable Glycerin: https://amzn.to/2W3f01J

*For childrens ink pads mix liquid watercolors to desired share and drip on inkpad.
For adult stampers ink pads add 1 drop glycerin to every 2 drops liquid watercolor (mix to achieve the correct color) and apply to inkpad. If the inkpad stamps splotchy or seems to juicy leave uncovered for a few hours and do a test stamp. That will allow excess water in the watercolor to evaporate.

DIY Embossing ink: Glycerin: https://amzn.to/2W3f01J

DIY Ink Refresher: Fill a 4oz spray bottle with water and 1 Tablespoon of glycerin, shake and spray on dried out dye ink pads.

DIY chalk ink:
Drugstore Isopropyl Alcohol or distilled water (in a spray bottle)
Chalk pastels: https://amzn.to/2u6iN2j
Spray some rubbing alcohol (or distilled water) on a teflon mat and scribble the select colors of pastel chalks to match the inkpad you wish to reink. You will make a cream consistency slurry or ink. Use your chalk inkpad to sop up the ink. Easy peasy and with 64 colors in the $10 chalk set you probably won’t have to mix colors!

DIY Ink Pads
For Dye inks you need Cut and Dry Felt: http://shrsl.com/1i0pr (more expensive on Amazon) https://amzn.to/2O3MERP
For pigment or chalk inks you need Cut and Dry Foam: http://shrsl.com/1i0pp (more expensive on Amazon) https://amzn.to/2O8Ufip
A shallow container such as clamshell packaging.

Directions: Cut the felt to size and ink up with the appropriate ink!
*This is great for making custom rainbow and ombre inks. For a disposable option you can add reinkers to a baby wipe.

DIY Pigment ink:
Gouache: https://amzn.to/2TzSWif
Glycerin
A palette knife or spatula for mixing

Directions: Take a pea-blueberry size dab of gouache and add 5 drops of glycerin, mix well with a palette knife and apply to dry pigment inkpad. If the ink feels too thick spritz with distilled water or drugstore alcohol.
*For metallic ink use metallic gouache or Pearl Ex (see below)

Pearl-Ex Ink pads

Pearl Ex mica powder: https://amzn.to/2TCCFJm
Glycerin
Directions: Add ½ teaspoon of pigment powder to the inkpad. Drop on 10 drops of glycerin on top. Spread out with an old gift card. If it feels to dry spritz with alcohol.
*This will also work for old Mica Magic Ink pads, this is great on black paper!

Staz-On Ink refresher (alcohol ink pads)
Denatured Alcohol https://amzn.to/2XUIr7O Apply to dry or sticky stazon pad. I use about 15 drops and let sit an hour before using. If your inkpad is used up you will get a faint impression but if it is just dried out this will reconstitute the ink. I alternate using Staz-On Reinker and Denatured alcohol because if you get too much reinker on the pad it feels sticky. *You can also use denatured alcohol to revive dried up alcohol pens. Do not spray apply denatured alcohol!

Don’t forget to use Lava soap to clean up your hands afterward! Happy crafting!

*This post may contain affiliate links