Storing your ink pads

As promised, here is a first in a serious of challenges we are hosting over on the Yahoo site Scrapbooking rooms.  This month we will focus our efforts on creating and organizing an Inky Station.  For our purposes an inky station includes supplies used to color alter other items.  Here is the first of such items: 


Ink Pads
1. Something you should know.  Prevailing wisdom tells us that we should store the ink pads flat, of course, but also upside. According to the folks at Scrapjazz, “this is especially important for dye-based ink pads, as this ink is thinner than some other inks and will migrate through the pad at a faster rate. Ink pads containing thicker inks, such as pigment ink, can be stored face up.”

2. Sorting your pads.  Before you to out and buy a new storage system, it is important that you take stock of your current inventory. This will prevent you from buying a system that is inadequate for your needs. Then consider how you want to organize your ink pads. 

• By color
• By manufacturer
• By ink type
• By size

For a more detailed report please visit Scrapjazz

3. Storage options
So now that you know how to lay the ink pads and decided on to sort them, let’s talk about a few storage solutions. This is not meant to be an all inclusive list.  Instead I am presenting you with a few options for storing your ink pads.

• In a drawer

• Old tape cassette holder -- A popular option is to use an old tape cassette organizer to store the pads. Some manufacturers have customized the design to include storage for re-inkers. Be mindful of the size of your ink pads when buying one of these organizers. You may not be able to fit some of the chunky ink pads in the slots of some of the old tape cassette holders.

 I like the model pictured below because it provides additional space for re-inkers and markers.

 

If desktop space is at a premium for you perhaps you can wall mount a smaller unit like Angelina did with hers.  



Photo courtesy of Angelina



A custom made cabinet

Stampers Storage

·        Ink caddy – there are several popular options in this category.  Unlike the units above that can be wall mounted, these models are made to rest on your desk.  So if desktop space is an issue in your room this may not be viable option for you. 

Photo courtesy of Stampin' Up

Photo courtesy of Triple the Scraps

·        Cat eye ink storage

Photo courtesy of Kanary

Now comes the fun part . . . organizing your ink pads. :-) I plan to temporarily store my ink pads in a drawer until I finish the closet and remove my Scrap Rack from the Inky Station.  Depending on how much desktop space I have I may then organize the ink pads in an old cassette player.

Leave me a comment and tell us how do you organize your ink pads? 

As always, thanks for stopping by . . .

Yoli