Re-inkers 101: Re-inking Your Stamp Pad

Probably my favorite thing about Close To My Heart products is that they match...the cardstock, ink pads, accessories, etc, and that includes the re-inkers. Customers ask, "When do I need to re-ink my stamp pad?" There is no standard answer. It's going to depend on how often you use a particular color, in what ways you use it and other variables (like, did you forget to close it overnight?!). Sometimes I'm not even aware that my ink pad needs re-inking until someone else uses it or I use someone else's and notice a difference.

• If, in spite of seasoning your stamp, using the "squishy thing" or versamat as a stamping surface, and standing up to stamp, you still can't get a good, clean, crisp image, you may need to re-ink your stamp pad.
• If you recently made 100 Christmas cards with Cranberry or Wedding Invitations with a solid stamp, you may need to re-ink your stamp pad.
• If you are a consultant, and have a lot of people using your stamp pads, you may need to re-ink.
• If you do a lot of sponging or direct to paper with the same neutral color, you may need to re-ink your stamp pad.

So, how DO you re-ink a stamp pad? 

1. Double and Triple check that your ink pad and re-inker are the same color. 
   
2. Check that the lid is tightly on your re-inker bottle and gently shake. 
3. You do not need to use a whole bottle of re-inker to revitalize your ink pad. It may only take a small amount.
4. Lightly (don't flood it) and carefully go over the pad in small amounts and various directions. You can add a few drops at a time or, I like to draw a fine line left to right, top to bottom and/or zig-zag, etc. Watch as the ink soaks into the pad...if it sinks in quickly, keep going, if it seems to take a while to soak in, maybe it wasn't as dry as you thought. You can always add more.  
   
      
5. Put the lid back on the reinker.
6. If possible, close the ink pad and let it set for a bit, even 5 minutes, for even distribution. Side note...our patented ink pad design allows gravity to keep the ink on top of the stamp pad. Back in the "old days" we stored our flip top pads upside down

Next:  Re-inkers 201:  The Spray Pen...