Up next...INK!
We have received such an enthusiastic response from all of you regarding our new cardstock! I am so thrilled that you all are as excited as we are. Continuing on with our Perfect Match line of products, today I will be focusing on our NEW ink!
Many of you are already familiar with the Palette Hybrid Ink pads that we carry. We have worked extensively with the manufacturer to bring you the same quality ink in Papertrey's exclusive colors!
A little about Palette Hybrid Inks.
They aren't classified as a "dye" or "pigment" ink, because they have features from BOTH categories. Which is one of the reasons they are among my favorites! It basically eliminates the need to ask yourself if you are using the appropriate ink for your stamping surface. Pretty much the only thing you can't do is heat emboss with it. (It will not stay wet enough to cling successfully to the powder)
Palette works on pretty much everything!
It is a non-solvent ink so it doesn't have any bad smells associated with it. It dries instantly on paper and porous surfaces, but requires just a slight heat-set on glossy surfaces or fabrics (think baby onesies!). I just LOVE this stuff!
It is also acid-free, archival and non-fading.
So it is perfect for scrapbook applications. Another thing I love about it is the vividness of the color it produces. A perfect example of this can be found with lighter colors. Sometimes I struggle with lighter dye inks being vivid enough to truly be useful. I own several dye-based yellows & baby pinks that hardly show up, even on white cardstock.
With Palette inks, no matter how light the color, the vibrancy remains very strong.
If you have never tried Palette ink before, I would highly recommend at least trying it once to see how you like it. The first impressions I had when I first tried it were very good. Palette ink provides really good coverage on clear stamps. They require a light touch when inking. I have found several light taps to be the perfect inking method.
I have noticed when first stamping the image, it can appear somewhat blotchy. Here is a photo depicting an image freshly stamped with Spring Moss Hybrid ink.
This is an "after" photo. As the ink dries on the paper, you can see the color absorb and even out. It is almost like magic! I have tried to capture the transformation here so you will not be alarmed the very first time you ink up!
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The actually ink pad will be exactly the same as the original Palette Ink pads.
The only difference being the artwork on the lid. This is an example of the design that will be silk-screened on the lid of the ink pads in a similar color to the ink itself. ( I don't have a finished ink pad to show you because they are in a truck en route to our warehouse!)
One thing I learned recently was that you can use the lid as a handle! If you look carefully at the back of the ink pad, you will notice a groove following the inside edge of the lip.
The lid fits perfectly in this groove.
Once you have done that, you can have a great hand-hold to ink up a large stamp or do some direct to paper distressing. Notice the finger grips built into the side, too. It's such a comfortable ink pad to hold.
So how about the price? $6 for a full-size ink pad and $4 for the ink refill. We will not be offering the small ink cubes, at least in the beginning, but perhaps if we get enough requests, it might be something we could do in the future.
So, do you want to be one of the first stampers to experience our new ink colors?
Tell us which characteristic(s) of Palette ink color intrigue you the most in the comments section of this post. I will pick one lucky winner who will receive one Palette ink pad in each of the new colors, Aqua Mist & Spring Moss. (two ink pads total) The contest will close tomorrow (02/09/08) at 12pm (EST). The winner will be announced that evening.
Tomorrow I will be telling you all about our NEW fabulous ribbon! You will not want to miss all of the luxurious details! Our ribbon is nothing short of the best and I'm anxious to tell you why! See you tomorrow!

Not only do I love that these will match the new cardstock and ribbon, but having used the Palette inks before, they are truly my favorite because of the crisp image they give. I'm so glad to see them in new fresh colors!
Posted by:Skye | February 08, 2008 at 12:05 AM
I really love the Pallette ink and use it all of the time. I most like that it is a mix between dye and pigment and that it is archival. SO happy to see you used it to make your great new colors!
Posted by:Laurel | February 08, 2008 at 12:06 AM
The best feature of the ink pads is that they perfectly match the PTI cardstock and ribbons. I can't wait to try them!
Hugs,
Colleen
Posted by:Colleen | February 08, 2008 at 12:06 AM
I am really intrigued by the fact that they inks are sort of a middle of the road between pigment and dye. This seems especialyl exciting since I'm often looking for more coverage than your standard SU classic pad, for example, but really dont' like to work w/ messier "pigment/craft" inks. The handle feature looks way cool as well since I'm often using bigger background stamps. I can't wait to own everything you've shown us so far...!!!!
Posted by:Jessica | February 08, 2008 at 12:06 AM
Very exciting! I like that it is a hybrid ink. I only have black, but I like it, and can't wait to get your colors!
Posted by:Kristin O | February 08, 2008 at 12:06 AM
I am already using Palette inks that I bought from your store so now I'm excited that there will be matching ink and c/s. I love the tip about the handle - never would have noticed. Again, you never cease to amaze me!
Posted by:Heather J. | February 08, 2008 at 12:06 AM
I already love Palette ink because it is waterproof. I do lots of water coloring and I love using the black. I have few colors but cannot wait to get more!
Posted by:Donna | February 08, 2008 at 12:07 AM
I have several of the palette ink pads and love them, so am thrilled you will have them to match the cardstock, wow, you have outdone yourself, congratulations.....
Posted by:shari | February 08, 2008 at 12:07 AM
I've tried out the Palette Noir and I love it! What intrigues me is that the lighter colors will be just as vibrant. I also have problems with my lighter pinks/yellows showing up on paper. Can't wait to try them out!!!
Posted by:Sus | February 08, 2008 at 12:08 AM
So Cool! I've never tried Hybrid ink before and can't wait to try it!
Posted by:Cheryl Penner | February 08, 2008 at 12:08 AM
I love the fact that the vibrancy will remain strong, even if it's a lighter color - that is very appealing. I can't wait to try these inkpads. And what a great price!
Posted by:Andrea | February 08, 2008 at 12:10 AM
I love that they will match the card stock and the ribbon, too. I haven't used palette ink pads before and anxious to give them a try.
Posted by:Judy | February 08, 2008 at 12:10 AM
I love how the ink "magically" absorbed to make a clean image. I think I will need to try it!!!
Posted by:Maren | February 08, 2008 at 12:10 AM
I love how the ink "magically" absorbed to make a clean image. I think I will need to try it!!!
Posted by:Maren | February 08, 2008 at 12:11 AM
I don't own one of the light colors of the Palette ink pads (though I love the dark ones), so I'm really excited to hear that the light colors are vibrant, yet soft. Can't wait to see the PaperTrey colors :-)
Posted by:Barbara S | February 08, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Thanks for the tips on using the ink container...I had no idea. The best thing about the ink is it will match your color line "perfect match" but still have the great Palette quality. Yep, it does keep getting better and better! Can't wait for more!!!!
Posted by:barb schram | February 08, 2008 at 12:12 AM
This is so exciting. I haven't tried the Palette pads before but I've heard great things about them. I'm loving that you are having these to match the cardstock and I can't wait to try them out.
Posted by:Lynn | February 08, 2008 at 12:12 AM
I love the image clarity the Palette Inks provide so can hardly wait to try these new colours!
Posted by:lorraine | February 08, 2008 at 12:14 AM
I like the fact that they have both elements of dye and pigment, and can be used on so many different types of surfaces. I am SUPER excited that you will have colors that will match your new cs, ribbon, etc. Papertrey is amazing!!! Mwah!!
Posted by:Dotty | February 08, 2008 at 12:14 AM
OMG!!! Your new inks are custom Palette Hybrid colors??? That's awesome... I love how quickly they dry and are truly waterproof and work great with Copics too. Can't wait to add them to my Palette collection!
Posted by:Kiko | February 08, 2008 at 12:15 AM
I am slowly but surely collecting all of the Palette colors and there are several reasons. First, they provide the vibrant, fade resistent coverage of a pigment ink while they have the dry time of a dye ink. Second, when used with acryllic stamps, you receive the same crisp image that you expect from quality rubber stamps. Third, they will work on any surface that I have tried from paper to transparencies. And now, the cherry on top of it all, they will coordinate with PTI new colored CS and ribbon. Pure bliss! Thanks for this awesome opportunity!
Posted by:Beth | February 08, 2008 at 12:15 AM
I can't wait to play with it. I have never used the hybrid ink before but it sounds like the best of both worlds. The great coverage of a craft ink with the quick drying of a classic ink. I can't wait!!!!!
Posted by:Rebecca | February 08, 2008 at 12:15 AM
This is so exciting! I really love that you are having the ink pads to match the cardstock. Looking forward to trying them out.
Posted by:Lynn P. | February 08, 2008 at 12:16 AM
This is so exciting!! I have always loved Palette inks & now that I will be able to buy them in an exact match to the new cardstock is an absolute dream!! I like that you will be releasing 2 each month, that way I can easily build up my collection month by month!!
Posted by:Nancy Gagnon | February 08, 2008 at 12:17 AM
Have not ever tried your Palette inks but am excited about the idea of stamping on so many different surfaces without worrying about whether I'm using the correct ink for my projects.
Posted by:Vicky Tsutsui | February 08, 2008 at 12:18 AM