Artnic Ink Pads and Paper Compatibility

Artnic Ink Pads and Paper Compatibility

The very first time I ever used a rubber stamp was in the second grade in elementary school. I still remember when my teacher, Mrs. Stoddard let me use her stamp on my paper. The feeling of the bouncy rubber being immersed into the juicy ink and then making the impression of a bear on my paper was so fascinating and satisfying to me. That one experience became the start of my obsession with rubber stamps and ink pads.

Fast forward many years later after trying an endless variety of ink pads, I would say that water-based ink pads are my favorite. Specifically, I have grown really fond of Ttsukineko Artnic Ink Pads (also known as: Versacolor). The ink pad is acid-free, archival safe, non-toxic, and behaves exceptionally well with most papers. In addition, it is available in a vast array of beautiful colors that can be mixed and blended to create a truly unique vignette for any creative project. 

Much like the majority of the love for analogue community, I really enjoy using stamps and ink pads mostly for journaling, in my planner, and snail mail projects. We thought it would be a fun idea to put the stamp pad (in a dark and light color) to the test with the most frequently used papers to check for any feathering or bleed-through.


1. For Journaling


- MD Paper [ MD Notebook, Traveler's Notebook Inserts ]

MD paper by Midori can be found in many Traveler's Notebook inserts along with MD notebooks. It is known for providing a pleasurable writing experience without feathering or bleed-through with most writing utensils. This was also the case when using the Artnic ink pads with the MD paper as it supported the colors of the ink beautifully without feathering or bleed-through. The user can also expect that there will be little to no ghosting when using the proper amount of saturation of ink to the rubber stamp. The ink pads make a really amazing and fun tool for journaling in your Traveler's Notebook and MD notebooks.


    Artnic Ink Pad with MD paper 
 
Back of MD paper stamped with Artnic Ink Pad


- Tomoe River Paper [ All Hobonichi Techos, Jibun Techo Regular, TN Refill 13 Lightweight ]


All versions of the Hobonichi Techo along with the Jibun Techo Regular and TN Refill 13 Lightweight consist of the exquisite and smooth Tomoe River paper. It is a favorite among fountain pen users as it is highly resistant to feathering and bleed-through. It was no surprise that the Artnic ink pads reacted so well with the Tomoe River paper. It did not exhibit any feathering or bleed-through. However, the Hobonichi showed slight ghosting whereas the Jibun Techo Regular did not. You can expect the ink pads to work exceptionally well to add bits of color in either scenario. 



 Artnic Ink pad with Tomoe River paper: Hobonichi 5 year Techo
 
  The back side of Tomoe River paper stamped with Artnic Ink pad: Hobonichi 5 year Techo
 
 Artnic Ink pad with Jibun Techo Techo Regular
 

  The back side of Jibun Techo Regular with Artnic Ink pad

 
- Jibun Techo BIZ (Kokuyo Mio Paper)

Kokuyo Mio Paper can be found in select notebooks produced by Kokuyo but most notably the Jibun Techo BIZ. It is another beloved choice for many planner enthusiasts because not only is it extremely compatible with any type of pen; but it also is archival safe and PH neutral. Due to the slick nature of the paper, I was expecting the ink to take longer to dry. I was surprised to discover that the paper soaked up the ink effortlessly without compromising the structure of the stamp image. There was no bleed-through or feathering with only very minimal ghosting. Since the paper and ink are both archival safe, you can expect your work to last a very long time with this pairing.



 Artnic Ink with Kokuyo Mio Paper: Jibun Techo BIZ
 
The stamped back side of Jibun Techo BIZ with Artnic Ink pad

2. For Snail Mail

- Regular Postcard Paper
Sending snail mail via a postcard is an easy but thoughtful way to let someone know you are thinking of them. Many of us enjoy adding meaningful dashes of color with stamps. The Artnic ink pads worked very well with standard postcard paper with no feathering or bleed-through. Although those are important criteria, for me the most important factor when selecting an ink pad for snail mail is to ensure that the stamped images are not ruined during transit. The impressions can be smeared by water (rain) or being touched by many helpful hands until it is delivered. One of my favorite parts of the Artnic ink pads is that they are water and smear resistant once the ink has completely dried. This means that you can be assured that your snail mail art will not smudge once it has reached its destination. Just remember to pair it with a water-resistant pen! (Traveler's Company brass ballpoint pen works well).


 Artnic Ink Pad with a standard non-glossy postcard
 
Since Artnic ink pads are water resistant, you can also watercolor over the stamped image


A few extra pointers:

- Artnic Ink Pads work best on non-coated surfaces. (This means it is not ideal for stamping on glossy paper or washi-tape).


- To avoid bleed-through it is best to use light tapping motions on the stamp until it is evenly coated with the ink instead of pressing hard and saturating the stamp with too much ink.


- Due to the ink pad being water based you should wait about 1 - 2 minutes to ensure that it has completely dried.


Stamps and stamp pads will always be one of my favorite tools. I hope this inspires you to add some fun dashes of color to your analogue systems and creations!






Texts and Photographs by Eunice

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