Saturday, 5 March 2011

Story of an Ink Pad

Many years ago, I bought the most gorgeous ink pad, I remember not where from. I think it was probably at a show somewhere. It's called "Splendor", a rainbow pad with twelve narrow strips of pigment ink in lovely pastel shades.


As soon as I saw that the challenge for Week 5 of Less is More is to use pastel colours, I knew just which ones I was going to choose. All of them!


This must be one of the quickest cards I have ever made! I used the ink pad as a stamp and simply pressed it gently down on to the card. I stamped the butterfly (Penny Black) and the sentiment (Clarity Stamp, I think, it was a freebie at a show) and that was it.

The Splendor ink pad was made by Tsukineko. It has been well used over the years, and a few years ago I emailed Tsukineko to ask them what colours I would need to re-ink it, as it doesn't say on the pad what the colours are. Sadly, I never received a reply. I've never seen any similar pads, and I guess they are long discontinued, but I was hoping that their current range of Versacolor inks would have equivalent colours. I could probably guess them, but the shading from one colour to the next is so delicate that I would hate to spoil it by getting the wrong colour.

I've just emailed Tsukineko again, although their website seems to be unavailable at the moment. I haven't heard of any problems with the company, so I will just have to keep my fingers crossed.....



48 comments:

Chrissie said...

This is an inspired card!
The ink pad had a wonderful effect and the butterfly is a lovely touch!Thanks so much for joining us and we'll see you next time!
Chrissie
"Less is More"

Kathyk said...

Quick and simple? and yet it doesn't LOOK like either - very nice indeed

Kathyk

Jen said...

Wow, fantastic idea to use the pad, lovely card.
jenjoy x

Linda said...

What a clever use of this ink pad. Truely inspiratonal.

Mandi said...

What a super card, that stamped panel is just FAB
Love the black butterfly

Thanks for joining us again
mandi
"Less is More"

lisa said...

What a beautiful ink pad, Lynne. I love looking at colours arranged like this and the way you've used it to create you card is inspired.
Hope you are having a good weekend.
Hugs Lisax

Stamps and Paper said...

Love those pastel colours..a great idea and a lovely card.

Anne

Diane said...

Looks so simple but SO effective! xx

Sandra said...

Just love it its so inspirational.
Sandra

Lisa Jane said...

what a wonderful ink pad and a brilliant effect on your card .. i do hope you get to know how to re ink it
Lisa ;)

mamapez5 said...

Clean and simple and very beautiful. My very first ink pad was a color-box rainbow though the colours were darker than yours. Amazingly, after about ten years, it is still usable! You have inspired me to have another look at Clean and Simple. I keep thinking about it but I am known for being afraid of white space! Kate xx

Purl said...

Truly beautiful

Frieda said...

Uiiiiii, was für eine gute Idee !

Und wie schnell muss das gegangen sein ? Toll !

Auusserdem schauts auch noch sehr gut aus!

*daumenhoch*

lg Frieda

judith@poppy cottage said...

Beautiful Lynne, I just can't take on another challenge right now, I'm meeting myself coming in the opposite direction as it is! This is a great challenge, and you've made some fab cards, Judith xx

Jan said...

Beautiful card love the colours I so need that ink pad xx jan

Suze Bain said...

Gorgeous colours.

Caroline Hallett said...

What a clever idea and well done - pastels in an instant - love it

Pauline said...

Love the effect you have made with the pad, an instant rainbow!

Lynne said...

What a brilliantly simple effect and what a stunning result. Super!
Lynne xxx

Susan said...

Lynne, this is simply beautiful! I love how you used the ink pad...genius!

Maureen said...

Brilliant, you have given me inspiration - I have a coloured pad so off to have a play.
Maueen...........x

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

For a non stamper this would make me want to stamp, this card is ingenious.

Netty said...

Am so loving your idea, the results are gorgeous. Annette

Michelle said...

Wow love your idea, a really nice card. xx

Lexxie said...

Absolutely stunning!
Love Sarita xx

Tara Cardwell said...

I love the ink pad effect and you're right about how delicate the shading is - hope you get a reply from tsukineko!

Esther said...

This is just a beautiful card, and what a great ink pad...Esther xx

Sharon Traynor Designs said...

Wow! Sensational. What a truly brilliant and clever idea, and that ink pad works perfectly.
Sharon xx

craftimamma said...

What a brilliant inspired idea Lynne and what a beautiful inkpad. I can certainly see why you love it so much as the colours are the prettiest I have seen on one pad. I do hope you get a favourable reply to your email eventually.

Your card is absolutely stunning.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

chris said...

It looks Fabulous Lynne, I could do with a few quick cards, I have a blue selction that is very simular.
hope you are ok, so looking forward to our day. hugs chris xx

Viv said...

How lovely this is... and what a fab ink pad!

Marlou McAlees said...

stunning!!! what a fab idea!! you could frame this :) x

Katalytic said...

Great idea for using that ink pad!

pinky said...

That is a gorgeous ink pad Lynne and what a stunning creation you have made. The colours are so beautiful:)

Joey said...

Lynne this is absolutely stunning such a clever idea!Joey x

Anonymous said...

Great idea really clever use of such a lovely ink pad

Kathleen said...

What a great idea, looks really effective, lovely card,

Kath x

Jules said...

Hi Lynne

What a brilliant finished look this lovely card has.

Great idea and very inspirational.

The colours look gorgeous on the stamp pad .. I hope you manage to re-ink it as it would be a shame to lose your lovely ink pad.

Hope all is good with you.

Love Jules xx

kingstonmama said...

That was a brilliant idea. I love the look of it!

Grenouille Greetings said...

Very clever use of the inkpad! Inspired! Warmest wishes, Lesley

Vicky Hayes said...

What a great plan to use the rainbow pad directly on your card front! The butterfly finishes the card perfectly too!

Anonymous said...

super! very effective

ali x

Paper Paradise said...

Hi Lynne. Have to say the effects the ink pad has given is amazing! A great card for Less is More! Also I had to just thanks you so much for the lovely comment reagarding my canvas frame on Crafty Individuals blog. It really is appreciated. Sue x

Paper Paradise said...

Hi Lynne. Have to say the effects the ink pad has given is amazing! A great card for Less is More! Also I had to just thanks you so much for the lovely comment reagarding my canvas frame on Crafty Individuals blog. It really is appreciated. Sue x

Anonymous said...

How cool is that? I love the colours laid down by the ink pad. Pairing it with a butterfly was a lovely choice too.
Heather T

Julie said...

Clever!!!!! :)

Shaz said...

What a beauty. Just love your card, and such a clever idea. x

Toulouse said...

What a great use of an ink pad! I will have to try it. Thanks for your comments on my Less is more card, I really appreciate your kind words and visit :-)