Vendor Spotlight: EK Success Brands - Stamping with Inkadinkadoo

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Reported by Heather Strenzwilk

I recently had a very happy mail day when I received two mounted rubber stamps, three unmounted clear stamp sets, an acrylic block and mini clear stamp set by Inkadinkadoo, and an EK Success border punch. I have used Inkdadinkadoo rubber stamps for over 10 years, and EK Success punches for several years (I reviewed them in January 2008). Both of these well-known brands are available online and in independent and chain craft stores.

Gem Stone Halloween set was perfect for stamping my own backgrounds

Inkadinkadoo's Fall line includes: Filigree Fall, Trick or Treat and Gem Stone Halloween. All three sets that I received were very well coordinated and represented a variety of styles. Filigree Fall is perfect for Fall or Thanksgiving projects, and I really like the "So Thankful For You" image with the bold tree. Trick or Treat was a semi-cute Halloween set featuring distressed style images such as a group of trick or treaters. I thought a few times that the images had skipped as I stamped them before realizing it was the distressed style. Gem Stone Halloween features bolder, larger images outlines with small circles. I used a white gel pen to highlight the stamped images by filling in the circles.

This black and white (with a touch of beige) color scheme was perfect for highlighting the elegance of Filigree Fall set

Additionally, I recieved the clear mini stamp set called Cornucopia Thanks. I really like mini stamp sets, and since the word "Thanks" is separate from the cornucopia image, I'll be able to use the sentiment year round. The accompanying clear mini block was only 1/4-inch thick and was awkward for me to hold. I am much happier with my own 1/2-inch thick blocks.

White webbing spray plus a white gel pen highlight the stamped images in conjunction with Moon n Stars border punched accent strips

Like most clear stamps, these tended to repel (bead up) when ink was applied to them. I rubbed them lightly with a white artist's eraser, lifted the residue with Scotch tape and then they inked evenly and stamped very smoothly. The stamps worked with Versafine, ColorBox Chalk, and Memento inks equally well. Sometimes ink stains clear stamps, but these Inkadinkadoo clear stamps had very little (and in some cases no) staining.



One of the mounted stamps I received was Fall Corn. This is a very detailed image in deeply etched rubber. Like my other Inkadinkadoo rubber stamps, it stamps very well, leaving behind crisp, clean images.
EK Success Moon 'n Stars Edger Punch is a new generation of border punch, utilizing their Paper Shapers thumb punch technology for easy punching. The punch creates a two inch border, and when finished, the punch can be locked shut and stacked for easy storage. This was my first punch using this technology and it is great to easily store it in a drawer.

I really liked the pattern of this punch because it lent itself both to Halloween and baby themed projects. From the first punch on lightweight cardstock, it punched crisp and clean borders. Unfortunately however, the punch jammed while I was using it to punch Sheer Heaven art surface. This particular punch pattern had many small cutouts and sadly, despite numerous attempts, I have been unable to clear the fragments jamming the punch. Medium weight cardstock worked the best for me with this punch (and I wish I hadn't used any other type of paper!)

Inkadinkadoo stamps are perfect for decorating Halloween treat boxes

Despite my disappointment over the jammed border punch (due to operator's bad paper selection), I still believe that Inkadinkadoo and EK Success offer quality products in a variety of styles. The Fall line of stamps is fun and the unique styles lend themselves to a variety of projects.

Pros:

• Wide variety of designs and styles
• EK Success border punches can be locked to store flat and can be stacked to save space
• Stamps are easy to clean and did not stain like other clear stamps

Cons:

• EK Success border punch jammed badly with heavyweight vellum
• Acrylic blocks are only 1/4-inch thick

Have you used Inkadinkadoo stamps? Have you tried an EK Success edger (border) punch? (If you have unjammed one and care to share your expertise, you can earn the undying gratitude of this reporter.) Seriously- please share your experience with Inkadinkadoo stamps and EK Success border punches with our readers.

EK Success has generously donated some of the products featured in the weeks reviews to give away to our great readers! Please leave your comments on this article to win a set of Mindscape Halloween Clear Stamps from EK Success. You have until Sunday, October 18 at Midnight to enter.