Follow-Up : Using Other Brands of Ink with Silhouette Mint Stamps

[@timothymathetes]

Thanks again for doing the research for us. Your work and effect is very much appreciated. This is so very helpful. Adebo (Tim's wife)

[@susanneascue2876]

Please test out inks that can be stamped onto fabric. Especially ribbon. I would love to decorate totes and make tags using my mint.

[@chorei1663]

Love this review. It was very thorough which gives us a good basis to go on in terms of which inks we want to use.

[@anjawieland216]

Loved both of your ink testing videos and have to say that you have a lovely voice. You sound very much like Therese Plummer - she speaks on a lot of Audible books. Back to the subject: Thank you for your time and resources. Your videos helped me a lot!

[@amortocreatecrafts]

Love the prior video, and this too. Thanks for sharing!

[@kdotbecca]

Thank you, Betzy's Designs! I'm glad that you enjoyed the videos. :)

[@bradbeer3071]

Hi K.becca! Just wondering if you have any recommendations on a white ink pad that would work with the Silhouette Mint Ink Pads?

[@loulousmum]

Hi Kristen, brilliant videos, you must have spent hours doing them, I can hear everything youre saying too which is great as I'm partialy deaf, I'm just wondering if you think these stamps could be used without the bases as I would want to use them on the Misti stamping board really, many thanks again for all your hard work xx

[@kdotbecca]

Thank you, loulousmum! I'm so glad that you're enjoying the videos. That's a really good question about using the stamps without the bases. I don't have a Misti, but I tried putting a Mint stamp on a regular stamp block, and it didn't "cling". However, I'm sure you could add some non-permanent double-sided adhesive to the back to make it stick. As far as actually stamping using the Mint stamps with the Misti, I think that would be possible. The Mint stamps are thinner than regular red rubber or photopolymer stamps, but as long as the hinged door on the Misti swings down to meet the paper you should be good. The only thing that I would be concerned about would be stamping out the excess ink at the beginning. You could always move a piece of scrap paper around under the stamp after each stamped impression until you're getting nice, clean impressions and then stamp onto your good cardstock.

[@loulousmum]

Hi Kristen, thank you for replying so fast! would the ink still need to 'soak' into the stamp or would you treat it like any other stamp and just dab the ink on? could cling mounting foam be a solution to the lack of cling? its a huge investment to buy this machine and not be able to use it as we want to, also I'm not sure its cost effective with the cost of new sheets being very high here in the UK, I don't have a Misti either thats another very expensive machine that could be very useful or not!! is there any chance you could do a video or maybe just test the results of stamping on a regular stamp block as that would decide if I buy one or not, I understand its not as simple as just a 10 minute job of course lol thanks for listening and helping everyone with your great videos xx

[@kdotbecca]

loulousmum - yes, I think that you would still need to allow the ink to absorb into the stamp in order to get good results. Cling mounting foam would be an excellent solution for the lack of cling! And I completely understand where you're coming from with regard to cost. These machines are all an investment, and you want to be sure that you can do what you want to do with them if you pay that much money for them (and their related supplies). I've actually been looking into purchasing the We R Memory Keepers Precision Press, the Hampton Art Stamp Perfect, or the Tim Holtz Tonic Craft Stamp Platform (this one is available later this year), which all cost less and seem to have similar functionality to the Misti. I don't know the price or availability of these in the UK, but they're options that are worth considering. I think this is a great idea for a video. It might take me a little time since I'd really like to be able to test the Mint stamps with one of the stamping platforms, but I've added it to the list of videos that I want to make. Thanks, loulousmum!

[@loulousmum]

Hi again Kristin, I bought the We R Memory keepers precision press just before christmas and didnt like the fact that the paper can get picked up with the paper after stamping so not 100% that you'll get it back in exactly the same place for restamping so I sold it at a loss and have now ordered the Tim Holtz one as it looks better, your ink testing has proved very useful and will contribute to whether or not I buy a Mint, many many thanks again and looking forward to your future videos x

[@kdotbecca]

Thanks for info about the Precision Press, loulousmum. That's helpful to know!

[@keithengwer5316]

Thanks for all your work in researching these products for us, Kristen. Very thorough. Too bad the Blue Raspberry ink was so faint when stamped, as I rather like the color. Razzleberry is gorgeous too, especially when you have a whole "pool" of it on the ink pad. Admittedly, this just is a matter of aesthetics, and has nothing at all to do with the product's overall quality. Still, that aspect most appeals to an utter amateur (me),

[@kdotbecca]

It was my pleasure, Keith! And I completely agree, the Blu Raspberry and Razzle Berry are both such gorgeous inks. I'm going to have to retest the Blu Raspberry sometime to see if holding the stamp on the ink pad for longer might yield stronger results. It could just be that the lighter inks need more time to absorb.

[@ebarner1813]

Thank You! This is so helpful. Have you tried the reminder of SatzOn?

[@Carlitaczt18]

HI! great video. I have the Mint machine but I haven't tried any other ink with the stamps. The stamps won't work on cardboard boxes for some reason, Im not sure if is the ink or the stamp itself. but work great on paper or cardstock... Have you tried stamping cardboard boxes with the inks you tested? thanks!

[@TheThreebucks]

I have a question: what are the cardboard boxes you tried to use the mint stamp on slick or rough? White coated cardboard or brown shipping cardboard?

[@chameray]

I just tested staz-on white opaque ink and it didn’t absorb into the stamp at all, and the ink didn’t wipe away easily when I was prepping it for stamping.

[@kdotbecca]

HCBC - Hand Crafted by Chameray - Thanks for sharing! There could be some sort of pigment or additive in the StazOn white ink to make it opaque, which might explain why it didn't absorb into the stamp. Pigment type inks don't tend to do well with the Mint stamps.

[@HelenGullett]

Kristen, did you clean the stamp every time you change ink? If so, what do you use? Can we use cleaner pad? or will it ruin the stamping film? Thanks a bunch!

[@kdotbecca]

Hi, Helen! Ink tends to stay in these stamps, and I've found that using a cleaner pad and stamp cleaner often just reactivates whatever ink is left in the stamp. Some inks, including the Silhouette Mint brand inks, actually don't dry out even if the stamp is left with the cover off for weeks and sometimes months. If you change ink, I recommend either staying within a similar color range or just using black. The exception is if you're testing an ink that does dry out quickly / completely or never really absorbs up into the stamp. I either use stamp cleaner and a cleaner pad or a paper towel with rubbing alcohol on it to clean off any residual ink, and then I use another ink.

[@lorrainepateman8158]

Hello I'm considering buying a Mint machine but need to know if there are food safe inks that can be used for stamping on cookies and if you have tried any. Maybe Americolor gel colors would work??

[@kdotbecca]

Hi, Lorraine! My main concern about this is that the material used to make the Mint stamps isn't food safe. I emailed Silhouette America to ask about this and just heart back from them. They confirmed that the material isn't food safe, so I wouldn't try anything food related with these stamps.

[@ruthsteapotdesigns]

fantastic reviews!! I was wondering how they would work after replacing the lid and coming back to them like you can do with the mint ink or whether you find they dry out too much?

[@kdotbecca]

Hi, ruthsteapotdesigns! It really varies from ink to ink, but most of the non-Mint inks that I've used dry out much faster than the Mint brand inks.

[@amkarei]

Kristen, How might it work if you inked the SPONGE below the Stamp with a Re-Inker? Granted it might take a few stampings to get the ink to come through to the surface, but, with the cap on, it may stay juicy longer. Just a thought.

[@mintydollies8714]

Very helpful!

[@leighshell1784]

Kristen, can I do a custom (REVERSED) negative image? I need to stamp something that is a black circle with white text within.

[@kdotbecca]

Hi, Leigh! I haven't yet tried a stamp that has a large area of ink like a reversed stamp has (great idea for a future video!). You may need to do some testing with different inks, but I think that you should be able to get a good result. You'll also want to be careful about the font/font size of the text within the ink area. Have you watched my video about font sizes and Mint-made stamps? You can check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJ6um5qXZ6lml9E

[@leighshell1784]

Kristen Magee Thanks for your reply! I CAREFULLY watched your video on font sizes because I am transferring small signatures to metal for etching. After trying all toner transfer methods and it taking FOREVER, I am going to try this on the Mint, bearing in mind that I can't go too small. :)

[@kdotbecca]

I hope that it works out well, Leigh!

[@mariap.6282]

Hi, have you found any gold ink that can be used with the Mint? thanks

[@kdotbecca]

Hi, Maria P.! Unfortunately, I haven't yet found a metallic ink that can be used with the Mint. To be fair, I've only tried the Delicata brand, but I tested both the inkpad method and with a reinker ( you can see results for the reinker here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boCZlXSEaduJrdk ), and the metallic ink was just too thick to absorb up into the stamp.

[@mariap.6282]

Kristen // k.becca 😔 let’s wait for a metallic Mint ink then. Thanks!

[@gt4800]

Have you tested Stazon reinker ? Or do you feel the pad would be the delivery method?

[@kdotbecca]

Hi, Johnny Vegas! I haven't tried the StazOn reinker since I've gotten pretty good results with the inkpad, but the reinker application method is similar to how you apply the Silhouette brand Mint inks, so it may give you even better results, plus it's more hands free than the inkpad method.

[@gt4800]

Thank you. One more question that I haven't found yet... the silhouette brand ink work on rubber or plastic? Or it's more for paper crafts? Thanks again for being the SME on this product.

[@kdotbecca]

I haven't tried stamping the Silhouette brand ink on rubber, but I have tried it on acetate (both laser and inkjet), acrylic, and vellum and it smears and never really dries, not even after you leave it for a while. So, it does seem to be formulated mainly for stamping on paper and cardstock.

[@savagetwin52]

Excellent in all ways! Have shared both your videos on this topic on splitcoaststampers.com Thank you! Now on to your other videos!

[@kdotbecca]

Thanks so much, Rosetta Jenkins!

[@savagetwin52]

Kristen // k.becca Just emailed Tim Holtz, Tonic, and Ranger Ink. Now to hit Facebook😁

[@kdotbecca]

Wow, that's great! Thanks so much, Rosetta! :)

[@SanchezOKelly]

Do any of these inks work well with fabric?

[@kdotbecca]

Hi, SanchezOKelly! I don't have any firsthand results since I haven't tried any of these inks on fabric, but I did a little googling around and the two inks that are listed as fabric-friendly are the Versafine Onyx Black Pigment Ink and the Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink.

[@SanchezOKelly]

Thanks, I'll give it a test run.

[@ratebalzeer334]

Colop Ink pad will work with this?

[@kdotbecca]

Hi, Rateb! The formulations for the black inks that I tested should be the same for any color of ink in that line so, yes, different colors from the Versafine Pigment, Staz On, Ranger Archival, etc. lines should work, as well.

[@ratebalzeer334]

Kristen from k.becca Hi kristen, mmm i didn't mean colors i meant the brand name (colop) as this is one of the inkes that i was able to fine near me. Actually i managed to try (MODEST) Endorsing ink, this is not oil based ink and it worked fine.

[@kdotbecca]

Sorry for the misunderstanding, Rateb. Colop brand ink is one that I hadn't heard of before now, so I haven't had a chance to test it out. If you do and it works for you, please let us know about your results. :)