Hi crafty friends!

Today, I am going to compare two black ink pads.

*Anything written in this post from here on out is my express opinion and nothing more. No one offered me compensation in any way, shape or form. The only LINKS that are my affiliates: the Memento Tuxedo Black ink and the Unbounded Love stamp set.

Black ink is very important for any stamping. You need a crisp outline for coloring that won’t bleed, and you want very clear sentiments. I have used Stampin’ Up! brand inks, Distress Ink and Gina K Designs ink.

To be very honest, I’m disappointed that Stampin’ Up! Doesn’t offer black ink. I love their inks and their trademark pads. However, for black, they carry Memento Tuxedo Black, which is widely available in craft stores and online. I have never liked this ink as much as the Stampin’ Up! brand inks, and I find myself constantly having to reink it (good think I got the reinker!). I don’t know if that has anything to do with living in the Denver, CO area (super dry!) or not. Please comment if you think that’s a possibility!

Editing to add: I mainly use Stampin’ Up! Pebbled Path for my “black” outlines and sentiments. It’s a nice, deep gray and I like the look of it.

I’ve been intrigued lately by Gina K Design’s videos. She has her own line of inks, so I tossed caution to the wind and ordered her Onyx Black ink pad and a cool, round stamp block.

Here’s the side-by-side, which I took with my Samsung Galaxy S24, natural lighting:

Cases are both easy to open. As you can see, the cases are about the same size, but the Gina K ink pad surface is larger. It’s a full half inch loner and a quarter inch taller. The thickness is the same (about 1/4 inch).

I used a simple Happy Birthday sentiment from the Unbounded Love set, stamped on Stampin’ Up! Basic White card stock. The Memento Tuxedo Black needs a second stamping; the image just doesn’t have the oomph I want with a single stamp. I don’t always want to break out the stamp positioning tool for a simple sentiment and multiple stampings. The Gina K Black Onyx has a wonderful, deep black color with only one stamping. The image is clear and really stands out.

What I loved:

• The ink is great! My outlines and sentiments are all crisp and clear, and all in one application
• Cost: at $7.99 for the ink pad
• Dries fast!
• Can be used for all techniques
• Refill available, $5.99

What I would like better:

• If it had a foam pad
• If the pad was a bit bigger, but it is bigger than the Memento
• If it had a nifty all-in-one case

None of those “better” things, however, are deal breakers. I much prefer the Gina K Designs Black Onyx ink over the Memento Tuxedo Black. The Gina K will be my absolute go-to black in for the foreseeable future.

What is your favored black ink? Is there another one I should try out? let me know in the comment section!

Next product comparison: that groovy round stamp block 😉

Thanks for popping in, and, as always. blessings to you!
Barb

Barbara Haropolous, Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, USA