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I heard that you can actually make your own VersaMark refill ink.
I am a special education teacher and one of the things I like to do is take some of my stamps and pads into class for my kids to make special cards for holidays, b-days, get well cards, etc.
I have my good VersaMark pad and an old VersaMark pad but no refill ink. I thought I would try making some ink up for at school.
Sorry, Bobbie, I think Heather's right. Not that I'm expert, but in 9 years I've yet to hear about a do-it-yourself versamark recipe. You probably are thinking of the blender fluid recipe...would be nice though, wouldn't it?
I thought the basis for Versamark ink was glycerine (available at most drug stores and soap/lotion/perfume supply stores), but there may be more stuff in it, like rubbing alcohol or something.
I know the little bottle of refill might seem pricey compared to buying glycerine in bulk, but it is easier than gushing the ink on the pad and making a mess with a different applicator--and there are LOTS of "doses" in the refill.
I recently realized that when my Versamark pad was not sticking to my stamp, it probably needed a refill application. It was sufficient to leave a watermark and to emboss with, but not for chalks.
__________________ "I like work. . . I can sit and look at it for hours. I love to keep it by me: the idea of getting rid of it nearly breaks my heart." J.K.Jerome
I thought the basis for Versamark ink was glycerine (available at most drug stores and soap/lotion/perfume supply stores), but there may be more stuff in it, like rubbing alcohol or something.
I know the little bottle of refill might seem pricey compared to buying glycerine in bulk, but it is easier than gushing the ink on the pad and making a mess with a different applicator--and there are LOTS of "doses" in the refill.
I recently realized that when my Versamark pad was not sticking to my stamp, it probably needed a refill application. It was sufficient to leave a watermark and to emboss with, but not for chalks.
Thanks and you are probably right about the "mess" and refills in a bottle.
Bobbie
I have often thought Versamark pads were mainly glycerin. Glycerin is also good to clean and condition stamps. I think if you purchased the Glycerin and used it in your Versamark stamp pad that would do it. This is what I found on one site under Techniques and Tips:
http://members.tripod.com/ozstamper/id37.htm Glycerin
Glycerin
Works great to condition stamps, is in the refill recipe for the Dove Blender pen, can be used as embossing ink, is great to add to homemade bath salts.
I have often thought Versamark pads were mainly glycerin. Glycerin is also good to clean and condition stamps. I think if you purchased the Glycerin and used it in your Versamark stamp pad that would do it. This is what I found on one site under Techniques and Tips:
http://members.tripod.com/ozstamper/id37.htm Glycerin
Glycerin
Works great to condition stamps, is in the refill recipe for the Dove Blender pen, can be used as embossing ink, is great to add to homemade bath salts.
Not sure if I would be willing to try to recipe with Vaseline--it is a petroleum based product and I'm thinking it probably wouldn't be very good for rubber or acrylic. Just my opinion.
I am definitely no expert but a long, long time ago back in the "70's" before acrylic we used glycerin and vinager on a 50/50 ratio (or as I do) just enough vinager to the right consistency. Been using this forever!
Hope this helps!!!
"Happy Crafting"
I have a Versamark refill. It will last me a lifetime. I also have a glycerin pad. I just use straight glycerin on that pad.
A couple months ago on another group a friend & I were talking about Corn Husker's lotion. It reminded me way back in the day I would use Corn Husker's lotion to make my own embossing ink. It worked really great. The other day I was surfing around and I found another girl who used Corn Husker's lotion to emboss with. I don't remember where I saw it though. I am sorry.
Does anyone else use Corn Husker's or has used it?
You can emboss with anything even water as long as it stays wet. I checked out the link and I think I'd smear vasaline on a paper towel to use as a make shift stamp pad before I'd put that homemade ick on one of my stamp pads. Better yet I'll spend the $4 and treat myself to the real deal that I know won't ruin my stamp pads or harm my stamps. I like to reink my versamark pads every couple of uses and a reinker usually lasts me more than a year.
I purchased a bottle of blender pen fluid 11 years ago for under $8. I refill the pens I use for classes and workshops and it's still 1/2 full. If I needed a gallon of it I'd make my own otherwise it's not worth the bother. The homemade version would save me about 20 cents per year.
I'm all for saving money and cutting corners but some products just aren't worth making.
I am sorry for bumping this very old thread up, but I couldn't find a more recent discussion of this topic anywhere and maybe someone has perfected their recipe in the last decade ;)
I have this large unfilled (newer used, dry) stamping pad and would like to make my own Versamark pad with it. I think my pad is linen covered felt (I have attached a photo) while the original Versamark is felt only.
I am trying to decide whether I should fill my pad with glycerin (and water?) only or the water-glycerin-alcohol mixture I have seen in some threads, does anyone have experience filling linen covered pads?
Thank you for reading. I am excited to be part of this community!
I am sorry for bumping this very old thread up, but I couldn't find a more recent discussion of this topic anywhere and maybe someone has perfected their recipe in the last decade ;)
I have this large unfilled (newer used, dry) stamping pad and would like to make my own Versamark pad with it. I think my pad is linen covered felt (I have attached a photo) while the original Versamark is felt only.
I am trying to decide whether I should fill my pad with glycerin (and water?) only or the water-glycerin-alcohol mixture I have seen in some threads, does anyone have experience filling linen covered pads?
Thank you for reading. I am excited to be part of this community!
Welcome to Splitcoast! To answer your question, I don't think VM ink/glycerin will work with linen pads. VM pads are foam, as are most other pigment inkpads. I think the glycerin would just sit on top of a linen pad and be a goopy mess.
Enjoy the forums! The folks here are very helpful, and they might have more suggestions for you.
VersaMark refill ink recipe. . .
