What stamp stuff "goes bad"?

[Paper Kissy]

I hesitate to buy stuff that will go bad and that I won't use up before it does. I have made assumptions but maybe I'm wrong about some products. Can you tell me about stamp supplies that you bought that went bad in 2 years or less?

For instance, stickles, smooch, shimmerz, some inks, ink refills, glues? Mostly wet stuff I assume will go bad, am I right or wrong?

Thanks

Erin

[jpmayo]

I have Stickles i've had for more than 2 years and they are still fine.

My Real Red ink pad from SU! strangely enough was greyish/red colored and chunky...the other day when I opened it...I have had it since I started stamping a few years ago and probably hadn't used it in months...maybe 6 or more, but it went BAD...it's so gross.

But that's the only thing so far of my stamping supplies that i've noticed went bad.

[deb_loves_stamping]

Ny red SU ink pad and my brown SU ink pad did the same thing as Jimmi ... I bought new ones ... oh, and I use them all the time. I know my demo said that her red pad did the same thing too. Funny thing is, I used my red Staz On pad a few days ago and it was doing the same thing, but all the other colours were fine. Weird.

Yup, Stickles seem fine ... had them for a few years also.

I find that gel pens dry up with non-use ...

[armadillo]

liquid applique, heat and stick (or whatever it's called). I found that shimmerz will dry up but you can always add a tiny little bit of water to it.

[cuccicoo1002]

Quote:

Originally Posted by armadillo

liquid applique, heat and stick (or whatever it's called). I found that shimmerz will dry up but you can always add a tiny little bit of water to it.

I've had the same jar of heat and stick for a quite a few years now, and it still works great...I think what happens to it (and other embossing powders too) is that it gets clumpy. I read somewhere that if you stick one of those silica gel packets in the jar, it helps with the moisture, and they don't get as clumpy...

[STAMPINGODDESS]

You need to watch how you store your cardstock. I have some that I bought awhile back and the edges have faded from the light.

[bettyjoanes]

Subbing. Great question. I am also interested in answers to this.
I am wondering about my SU tape runner right now. It doesnt seem to be as sticky as it was when I opened it. Maybe I do't use it up fast enough.... lol

[Allistamps123]

I just used my real red SU pad today...and I don't use it a lot and it's in great shape. I think I've had it about three years. I'm not sure why some would go bad but I'd be really sad if mine had been yucky!! I've been waiting for some four year old ink pads to dry up but they never have yet...all SU. I've never reinked. I only make a few cards a month. I do plan to get ink refresher that I heard about on a thread instead of inks once mine start drying up.

[mztamela]

I thought I read on here somewhere that some of the Real Red ink pads had gone bad and they contacted SU and got a new one. Not for sure, though. Mine seems to be fine and I'v had it 4+ years.

[ldsk34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by STAMPINGODDESS

You need to watch how you store your cardstock. I have some that I bought awhile back and the edges have faded from the light.

Yep this has happened to me too.


To OP; If you are worried about a shelf life check the product itself it it has one is should say so, KWIM?

Good luck

[jemur]

I had some gold embossing powder that seemed to loose it's shine.

[MSBetsyZ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemur

I had some gold embossing powder that seemed to loose it's shine.

Yup...metallic powders do tarnish over time. Still, sometimes that's a good look, too...

Let's see...I have had bottles of Dove Blending refill solution go bad (mold, gross!). Glue sticks dry out. Patterned papers lose appeal when you purchase large quantities of your FAVORITE stuff and look at it 2 years down the road. ("WHAT was I THINKING???")

[cuccicoo1002]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSBetsyZ

Yup...metallic powders do tarnish over time. Still, sometimes that's a good look, too...

Let's see...I have had bottles of Dove Blending refill solution go bad (mold, gross!). Glue sticks dry out. Patterned papers lose appeal when you purchase large quantities of your FAVORITE stuff and look at it 2 years down the road. ("WHAT was I THINKING???")

LOL - guilty as charged

[buggainok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSBetsyZ

Yup...metallic powders do tarnish over time. Still, sometimes that's a good look, too...

Let's see...I have had bottles of Dove Blending refill solution go bad (mold, gross!). Glue sticks dry out. Patterned papers lose appeal when you purchase large quantities of your FAVORITE stuff and look at it 2 years down the road. ("WHAT was I THINKING???")

Oh my yes - especially the BIG stack packs that I got because they were so big and half price!

But not to worry, I can turn the patterns inside and make fancy envelopes......some day.

[peeps321]

Guess I've only noticed ink pads that dry up and are NG (no good). On that note let me say that I use Versafine most of the time and have had many of those ink pads for years without them drying up..well worth the $. I can identify with the patterned paper going "bad" and it has nothing to do with mold or anything like that..the patterns seem dated, old...unpopular.

[Leslie30]

I opened a Xyron refill that I bought several of when a scrapping store was going out of business. Guessing they must have been old then and I've had them for two more years. It was not sticky on one side and gooey on the other.

[lutheran]

I have thrown away gel pens, metallic embossing powders, liquid applique, old petal point ink pads (completely fell off the plastic as if foam was deteriorating!) and no-brand sticky strip (the liner wouldn't peel off, it was about six years old). Most stuff can be pulled out and used for a long time with no problems. Thank goodness!
Mary Beth

[StampinMelis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSBetsyZ

Patterned papers lose appeal when you purchase large quantities of your FAVORITE stuff and look at it 2 years down the road. ("WHAT was I THINKING???")

When good paper goes BAD... a new reality show on Fox!

[shellpole]

Stickles will go a funny colour as will Dimensional Magic and your Versamark pad....but the funny colour does not impede the usage of those products.

Left out in any sunlight, paper will tarnish around the edges, brayers will crack usually at the edges (not making for a good look).

Stamps need to be conditioned every now and again or they will dry out and crack...once actual cracking is there they may as well be thrown out.

Lumiere paints will dry out as do glue sticks. I do find, though ...If I have the lid on really well this discourages this activity.

Liquid Apllique and Marvy Metallic Markers, Krylon pens all need to be shaken every once in a while....get that little metallic ball making music and just knead the LA tubes....and don't even bother buying the silver Marvy Metallic AT ALL....I have tried three brand new ones now and all don't work from the get go....let along going off in my cupbaord!

Just off the top of my head...sure there would be lots of other things to be aware of too.

[shellpole]

So funny....

and so true!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSBetsyZ

Yup...metallic powders do tarnish over time. Still, sometimes that's a good look, too...

Let's see...I have had bottles of Dove Blending refill solution go bad (mold, gross!). Glue sticks dry out. Patterned papers lose appeal when you purchase large quantities of your FAVORITE stuff and look at it 2 years down the road. ("WHAT was I THINKING???")

[mcscrappy]

Lesley-30 about a year or two ago, Xyron had a huge batch of x-refills that was bad. Lots of scrappers had them. They e-mailed the company and got replacements. So perhaps it wasn't just "age" . I have no idea if it's too late to contact Xyron but it might be worth a try. HTH

[Bellegirl]

subbing....what an awesome thread!

[Happy Heart]

I was surprised to find that an unopened magnetic roll was no longer the least bit magnetic when I went to use it! It was a couple of years old.

[jennik]

So far, so good, with my stamp pads. About 10 years. The only casulty were some pens that have dried out. Well, they can't live for ever.

Great thread.
jennik

[Leslie30]

That's interesting to know about the Xyron refills. Thanks for letting me know. I have several others I'll have to check and contact Xyron if they are bad.

[craftydolls]

If Stickles lose their color, should I be using it in a scrapbook album? Just remember, whatever paper you are putting in a scrapbook will be around a long time-at least, we hope so! Better choose carefully.

[brunosmom]

Gel pens! White, silver and gold...how frustrating, to really have to make a trip to Mike's LOL.

[kelliannie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by armadillo

liquid applique, heat and stick (or whatever it's called). I found that shimmerz will dry up but you can always add a tiny little bit of water to it.

I have a tube of liquid applique that my mom bought 10 years ago and it works great still, I used a few weeks ago actually.

[Sis]

The stick glues...no matter who makes them seem to dry out over time. Great post.

[scrappintlc]

Doesn't a lot of this also depend on conditions its stored in and temps?

[toodlesyall]

If you have the Luminarte Twinkling H2Os, make sure you leave the lid off until they have dried COMPLETELY. Otherwise, they will mold. Don't ask me how I know this. Yuck.

[sophmad]

I used a roll of glue dots last night that would not come off the liner paper they come on. Very frustrating. But my stamp room is also pretty cold so I don't know if that was part of the problem.

[cyndiestamps]

I have had white embossing powder turn yellowish (cream color), although it might not happen in under two years. I replaced it with the same item and when you look at the two side-by-side you can see a huge difference. So now I have white and cream!

Cyndie

[Lilliann]

3M foam mounting tape. I use it for making shaker cards. That will discolor than lose its stickiness and a very short time period.

[mrsjllove]

I had Shimmerz paints "go bad." The paints were fine but the smell about knocked me outta my chair. Bleh.

[JulieHRR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrappintlc

Doesn't a lot of this also depend on conditions its stored in and temps?

Yes!

And, whether or not any "bacteria" somehow got into the container (that might cause mold growth, etc.)

[KathiR]

I used to love the MasquePen, but I've had three bottles of it go bad. It gets completely gummed up, stinks, and changes color completely.

It's not cheap, so it's a bummer.

They replaced one bottle for me. It, too, went bad within a year.

Now I'm looking for a liquid masking agent that doesn't have to be used with watercolor paper and doesn't require cross-ventilation.

[jazzytobi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpmayo

I have Stickles i've had for more than 2 years and they are still fine.

My Real Red ink pad from SU! strangely enough was greyish/red colored and chunky...the other day when I opened it...I have had it since I started stamping a few years ago and probably hadn't used it in months...maybe 6 or more, but it went BAD...it's so gross.

But that's the only thing so far of my stamping supplies that i've noticed went bad.

i have heard that this is because alot of metallic ingredients go into the formula of the red ink and this, in time, goes bad.

[shellpole]

Pity noone told you this when buying them. We were lucky enough to be informed at the point of sale.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toodlesyall

If you have the Luminarte Twinkling H2Os, make sure you leave the lid off until they have dried COMPLETELY. Otherwise, they will mold. Don't ask me how I know this. Yuck.

[shellpole]

Sure does...but even kept in the best possible conditions some things just don't last.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrappintlc

Doesn't a lot of this also depend on conditions its stored in and temps?