How do you tell the color of your opened ink pads?

Stampin’ Up! ink pads, Classic and Archival Stampin’ Pads, have a large label on the top showing the color and labels to add to the ends. But, how do you tell the color of your opened ink pads?

Let’s say you’re making my Watercolor Wings card and have three ink pads open for the three ink colors you need to complete the butterfly. Can you easily tell one color from another when open?

I can’t. More times than I care to admit I inked up my stamp in the wrong color. It’s a big “ugh” when it messes up a project and a bigger “ugh” when you get dark ink into a light pad. Out comes a paper towel to remove the darker ink, taking some of the lighter color ink with it. Thank goodness you have the ink refill for the pad. Right?

Godby (God-be) With Us Stamper Pat Mullins shared a tip she had just learned that will help us all from inking up in the wrong color. It’s so easy, you’ll be wondering why you didn’t think of it.

There are four labels in the color of the pad on the bottom. You remove the one of your preferred language and place it on the end of your ink pad. It was great when Stampin’ Up! changed it to the color of the pad instead of just the name. Your eyes scroll through for the color instead of needing to read every ink pad label.

Here’s what we’re going to do with one of the other labels. Remove it and cut it in half.

Then place each half inside the lip of the ink pad.

Now, you may not be able to identify the color by reading the label, but you’ll certainly be able to identify the color and avoid those “ugh” moments.

With Pat’s tip, you now will save yourself from messing up a project, messing up a lighter color ink pad, and extend the life of your ink pad!

Here’s my question for you. We have two more ink pad color labels. Do you have a clever way to use them? If so, please share your tip with me! What may seem obvious to everyone is not necessarily so. Send you tips to shelly@stampingsmiles.com.

Stamping Smiles,