The inks here are Hero Arts red royal and pool. It's pretty clear that the pool did a lovely job for the holly and Christmas stamps, but the Happy isn't so happy, now, is it? Generally speaking, I like the performance of my Hero Arts inks (and the colors are fabby!), but this was a disappointment.
So I pulled out my closest colors in pigment inks (Memento Luxe love letter and VersaMagic Aegean), which normally work great with detailed stamps. The shades aren't as nice, I think, as the dye inks (love letter is candy-apple rather than rich red, and Aegean is more gray than blue), but the impression of Happy is certainly crisper.
The problem with pigment inks is that the thickness of the ink can fill in the fine details (you see a bit of that on the H in Happy). I recently bought a couple of Ranger Archival Inks, just, you know, to try out. (No, I don't have a problem. Do I?)
Anyway, here's the Happy stamped in Archival leaf green.
I was VERY impressed with how the Archival ink preserved so much detail. Apparently, these inks have an oil base, which allows them to keep detail better than other dye inks, which are water-based.
My 50th birthday is this year. Perhaps the full line of Ranger Archival Inks is in my future....
We shall see. A girl never can have enough ink. Right?
Supplies
stamps: Clearly Besotted Happy Days, Papertrey Holly Jolly
ink: listed above
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: rhinestones, craft foam, glue, silver metallic marker
Have you tried any Versafine inks? They are great for detailed stamps.
ReplyDeleteI have heard that. My versafine black pad didn't work for me at all, though, so I never tried others. It's amazing to me how relevant the phrase "individual results vary" can be regarding ink.
DeleteI think versafine are great for fine detail - but I also have the black archival - and that is very good too but not tried the colours - good luck with the wish list - you need to leave large wishlists around the house as a not so discreet hint !
DeleteGreat idea, Debbie!
Deletedon't give up entirely on versafine. as you know, i hated it -- a gooblyy mess, but now I love it (I have the cube). The ranger archival, though, is fantastic. hard to clean off anything but a great ink (i only have the black and may "need" more. oh, great card!
ReplyDeleteI know you are thorough with your experimenting, so just wondering, did you experiment with less pressure or less time on the paper?? I have been having issues with this also and am still playing around. Sometimes I think it is the design of the stamp that is actually at fault.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Catherine. Yes, I've experimented with pressure. The HA ink looked great at first, but on the porous Papertrey white card stock, it sort of spread out as it dried, resulting in the poor detail. I wonder if I used it on Gina K white (which is coated, not porous) if it would spread out so much. Something to try. And I think you're right. Sometimes, no ink I have works with an ultra-fine detailed stamp. Very frustrating.
DeleteI am so cracking up here. Then to find that you are near my daughter's age. She turns 50 Sept 2nd. I turned 70 yesterday! (Daughter made me a beautiful necklace from an antique Victorian Glass Ball Button w/Lime Green Overlays.. lovely and got me a beautiful card of green Bakelite buttons and an Antique glass owl button. She did good). Back to inks! I have so many inks and have shared some that I didn't need with young friends beginning. Since I do Stampin' Up and have lots. I soon will know how many as I just ordered the Tower to store them in as I continue to get my craft room back in order after new carpet. I have had good results with all of theirs except the new Basic Black. I have ordered and received their new Archival black ink pad. Yet to open it. All of the other colors in the new inks I have liked. I loved your card and what a great combo of colors. I need to get going on Christmas cards soon but might approach my autumn thankful ones first. Keep us posted on your ink tests!
ReplyDeleteOh, I wish you'd share a picture of the necklace!
DeleteThanks so much for sharing your experiments - the good and the bad results. It's been very helpful for me. I have also had problems with ha inks. I've done a lot of experimenting with different paper, pressure, etc. (I have problems with pigment inks too.) I have been happy with ranger archival. As a new stamper, I'm glad to know it's not just me. Thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteWhat was the problem with your Versafine black pad? Too wet? Not wet enough? I tend to use the Versafine black as my go to black ink pad. It stamps crisply and picks up fine detail. The only time I avoid using it is when the stamping surface has a coating or is non-porous - the ink doesn't dry very well on this. I have a few of the other colours and they are great too.
ReplyDeleteI imagine it was too wet. That was a long time ago.
DeleteLove the card. The color combo is lovely. Am I remembering incorrectly or didn't you used to sing the praises of Stampin' Up's Real Red ink? I think it is one of the best red shades around, especially for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWith the new squishy ink pads SU uses it can be tricky not to get too much ink on your stamp, especially a detail stamp. But I used it successfully on a large-ish "MERRY" last year that was mostly solid with polka dots cut out of it. I think I saw it here on your blog but can't recall the manufacturer right now.
You should try Real Red if you have it. I think the shade is nicer than Love Letter.
I still love Real Red. But the Hero Arts red royal is slightly darker, and for now, that appeals to me. Real Red is WAY better than Memento Luxe love letter in shade, but I don't have the pigment pad of real red, only the dye ink pad.
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