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Home / Craft Product Reviews / Comparison of Stamp Pad Inks on Fabric

Comparison of Stamp Pad Inks on Fabric

September 21, 2011

Here’s another post inspired by the “which one is best?” question. I like to stamp images on fabric postcards, art quilts, and even ribbon for paper crafting. So I got to wondering which stamp pad would work best on fabric (providing a nice, clear image) and which, if any, would survive a washing.

The best Stamp Pads for Stamping on Fabric

Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links that support this website and add no extra cost to you!

 

 

The contenders in this comparison are:

  • A. Inkadinkado Dye Stamp Pad
  • B. Archival Brilliance Dew Drop by Tsukineko
  • C. VersaMagic Dew Drop
  • D. India Ink Black
  • E. Ancient Page by ClearSnap
  • F. Memento by Tsukineko
  • G. Archival Ink by Ranger
  • H. VersaCraft
  • I. Staz On by Tsukineko
  • J. Distress Inks by Ranger
  • K. Color Box by ClearSnap
  • L. Powder Puff Chalk Pad by QuickQuotes

Using the same bee stamp by Anita’s Inque Boutique, I stamped each pad on a piece of 100% quilters’ cotton (ivory.) Use the alphabet chart above to reference what ink is which.



After looking at all the samples in natural light, I thought the stamp pad inks that provided the sharpest details and the least amount of bleeding included H) VersaCraft, K) Colorbox, and L) PowderPuff.

However, I note in the photos that J) Distress Ink also looks great!

Then I pressed the fabric with a hot, dry, iron to “set” the inks a bit….and then ran it through a warm water wash, and cold rinse using regular detergent and fabric softener. How did they hold up? Well, take a look:

After warm-water wash.

After warm-water wash.

There was only one disappointment- the A) Inkadinkado sample washed right off. Also, the J) Distress Ink faded quite a bit.

Amazingly, the rest of the stamp pads faired very well!

 

I’d have to say that the H) Versa Craft Ink Pads– which is labeled for wood, fabric, and paper- was the clear winner- still sharp and vibrant after the wash.

But as you can see, many of stamp pads you probably already have in your craft box- like the Archival Ink pad, Staz On, or Brilliance Ink pads- will also do double-duty on wearable fabric crafts!

There you have it- stamp on with your crafty fabric selves!

 

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Posted in Craft Product Reviews, Fabric, Needle, & Quilting Arts, Paints, Inks & Dyes | 53 Comments

Comments

  1. Debbi Glennie says

    September 21, 2011 at 13:33

    Jenny, I think you must be telephathic – I want to stamp on a cotton apron and have been thinking over the last couple days about what inkpads I should use – so thankyou for this and I’ll give it a try
    Debz
    xx

  2. Victoria Sturdevant says

    September 21, 2011 at 14:00

    Great comparison! One hint is to always pre-wash with no fabric softener. Stamping with acrylic paint is great, too.

  3. Jen Clark says

    September 21, 2011 at 15:05

    Wow – I’m actually surprised so many of them did so well! LOL I am very surprised there was any Distress Ink left at all – given that it’s a water-reactive ink. Distress Inks always bleed when I use them on paper and put water over the top – even if they’ve been heat set. I never would have thought to try it on fabric…but I kind of like the washed out look, and it might be fun to layer it with a more permanent ink…so now I’m wondering…would it continue to wash out, or do you think it would stay put after the first washing? Hmm…

  4. Terri - Hawaii says

    October 1, 2011 at 18:41

    Wow, thanks so much for doing this. I’ve always wondered of all the stamp pads, which would be the best for most media I would want to stamp on. As far as washing before and after, I think the main point was made to show us which held up the best on fabric after washing and even with fabric softner. Most sewers/crafters know to wash fabric before using : )

  5. MoMo says

    February 4, 2012 at 23:45

    I am just getting into the hobby of creating gauze/muslin baby wraps, washcloths and burp cloths, what a great comparison as I went to my local craft store who stated they weren’t sure why ink would work on fabrics without bleeding. This is great!!

  6. Jason says

    August 23, 2012 at 17:39

    Super helpful – we’re about to stamp 200 wedding napkins. Looks like we’ll be going with VersaCraft!

  7. Jenny says

    August 24, 2012 at 10:53

    Glad it was helpful to you- and congrats on your wedding! : )

  8. Patti Romano says

    August 30, 2012 at 12:59

    Thanks so very much for this information! We’re about to stamp 500 muslin bags for our Field Trips in a Box and were looking for the best fabric stamp pad. Am about to order right now!

  9. Brenda says

    November 3, 2012 at 16:38

    Thank you for doing all this work. I ordered a versacraft pad and have successfully printed on muslin without it washing out. It looks very nice.

  10. PJ says

    December 10, 2012 at 18:50

    THANK YOU for this comparison test! I was set to invest in some VersaCraft pads but am finding that they’re less and less available (if not actually Discontinued(?)) .. I have read that the VersaMagic pads are replacing the VersaCraft pads and are allegedly as good in terms of opacity and surviving washing – I see that you used the VersaMagic dewdrop (stamp “C”) but in both initial stamping and post-wash it seems significantly Less crisp than the VersaCraft stamp (stamp “H”) – would you agree with this (or am i confusing a not-true-black-color initial stamping with actual opacity both pre and post wash)?

  11. --ginger. says

    February 19, 2013 at 16:02

    THANK YOU. I’ve been looking for an answer to his question forever. Yeesh. Totally appreciate your post.

  12. Katrina says

    March 8, 2013 at 18:38

    You have just saved the day. Thanks so much for this post – I have been hunting and hunting for economical self-printing solutions for fabric and this hits the nail on the head. Thank you!

  13. robin says

    April 1, 2013 at 11:27

    I’d be interested to know what inks lasted after many washings, nit just one.

  14. Jessica says

    May 17, 2013 at 12:17

    Thank you for this great info! I’m using VersaCraft to stamp some drawstring bags and decided to search and see if that was the best thing to use and it looks like it is!

  15. Lisa says

    June 5, 2013 at 22:39

    I tried using the Versacraft with a stamp on a cotton napkin and it’s coming out really light? Is there any way to get it darker?

  16. Jenny says

    June 6, 2013 at 10:49

    Lisa- it’s hard to help you troubleshoot without seeing your stamp and results so far. Maybe post a pic on our FB page? Could be that the stamp you are using is not bold enough, or that you need to re-ink the stamp pad. Good luck!

  17. Darlene says

    July 17, 2013 at 16:20

    thank you for all your work to get this information out for us crafters . . . I am wondering if anyone has results of stamping on silk?

    Best,
    Darlene

  18. Robin says

    October 7, 2013 at 17:24

    Thanks for doing the work for me! I suspected some of your results- my jeans have a dropped-ink-pad stain from a Ranger Archival pad I dropped months (and many hot water washes)ago. Still pretty dark.

  19. Teresa says

    November 12, 2013 at 07:15

    THANK YOU sooo much for posting this research project. I’ve been trying to stamp on fabric for a few days now and have had no luck with fabric paints and some stamp pads. Yippy…you’ve given me hope.

  20. Roche says

    May 2, 2014 at 14:23

    Thank you soooooo much for this experiment which you documented so meticulously and still helping people like me,till today! You rock! Please keep documenting!

  21. Rachel says

    June 29, 2014 at 12:57

    I was trying to figure out what ink pads would work best on cotton fabric and came across your post, which proved to be very helpful, so thank you. I wanted to point out, though, that while I was in the craft store looking at some of these brands, the Staz On actually says “Not recommended for use on fabrics.” right on the back of the pad. Versacraft and some of the other brands were not available to me, so I ended up purchasing MementoLuxe, which is an archival mixed media ink. It can be used on many surfaces, including fabric. I have yet to use it, but I will keep you posted!

  22. Jenny says

    June 29, 2014 at 23:17

    Rachel- Staz-On may not be recommended for fabrics, but- the results will speak for themselves~ !

  23. Lisa C. Brooklyn says

    August 8, 2014 at 13:23

    Oh…how I wish I could put you in my pocket as I shop for art/craft supplies. Often times instructions for a product are not explained throughly. Although not a writer, I do know if you do write something, write for the reader. You do this and more….thank you. I am getting into different crafts and often times I buy a variety of the same product and do my own comparison. This can be very time consuming and expensive, not to mention stressful. I love the fact you show each product, its recommended use and the result, following through with general care and maintenance. I cannot express to you how relieved I am to know “common sense know-how” is available on your site. Thank you again for your time, talent, and expertise. I know in the grand scheme of things (the world, life) creativity may seem trivial in comparison, but sometimes its these simple joys that make everything else tolerable. Your work adds to that joy, again thank you. (P.S. I am not a comment writer, but you deserve the recognition).

  24. Lynnsey says

    August 24, 2014 at 11:19

    Thank you so much for this!

  25. Laila Bianca says

    November 14, 2014 at 12:10

    Thank you Jenny!!! It was exactly what I was looking for. Hugs, Laila

  26. Monica says

    November 19, 2014 at 15:17

    I was looking for this exact info, thanks so much. I already have the staz on and memento, so off I go stamping some fabric!

  27. Nufinity Skin serum says

    March 29, 2015 at 21:03

    Link exchange is nothing else but it is simply placing the other person’s webpage link on your page at proper place and
    other person will also do similar for you.

  28. Es says

    October 26, 2015 at 11:03

    What kind of stamp did you use? Can i use a wood hand stamp w/ rubber?

  29. Jenny says

    October 26, 2015 at 11:22

    I used a red rubber stamp mounted on wood. You can use any kind of stamp you like- it really doesn’t make a difference.

  30. camilla brown says

    November 9, 2015 at 21:45

    Hi and thank you so much for doing this experiment and sharing the results!! Great help! I am wondering where do i order this Versa Craft Ink Pads for the best deal?? I need to stamp about 600 imprints, and was thinking of getting at least 5 pads and 5 inks to add (bottle refills). Any suggestions??

    Many thanks in advance. Ps, i see that Jo-ann’s sells for about $2 but there are another kind of same make/name for $6…what is the difference here!?

  31. Nancy says

    November 11, 2015 at 17:25

    Thanks so much for sharing your results! Excited to use this info for my next diy project!

  32. Jenny says

    November 15, 2015 at 11:26

    Ok, so without more detail I’d suggest that you not buy five pads (why??). If the ink runs low, just re-ink it. Five pads and five refills seems excessive, even for 600 images. (Seriously, one pad and a refill or two should be sufficient. This stuff goes a long way!) Next, in stamp pads the name brands count. I would not go generic. Lastly, you can google search for the best price in your area/online. Good luck!

  33. Josey says

    December 2, 2015 at 10:17

    Thanks for the comparison. That is very helpful!

  34. Marie says

    March 15, 2016 at 19:13

    Hello

    I am wanting to print my wedding invitations on cotton handkerchiefs and am on a tight budget. I’m thinking of getting a stamp made up that says my wedding information (the same as what you would read on any wedding invitation) so it will be a fair amount of wording.
    Do you think this would work? If so, do you know who may be able to make such a stamp for me to print on the hankies?
    Thank you in advance.
    Marie

  35. Jenny says

    March 16, 2016 at 09:12

    Marie- you could absolutely stamp on hankies with this pad. As for a custom stamp, I’d Google “custom stamp {your town}”. I’m sure there is a service somewhat locally for you. Good luck and happy wedding! 🙂

  36. Linda says

    April 18, 2016 at 09:00

    Thank you! You saved me a lot of experimenting time, that I can now dedicate to art. I appreciate your sharing your results!

  37. Irmgard says

    July 24, 2016 at 12:12

    Though this post is some years ago, it’s nevertheless still useful – thanks especially for the results after the wash. GREAT! This is an immense help to choose the right pad, thanks a lot!
    best wishes, Irmgard

  38. Grégory Prybys says

    August 22, 2016 at 06:14

    I intend to mark fabric with ink for my new project.
    Very helpful comparison test. Thank you very much!!!!

    My point is textile I am going to prepare won’t be washed, then I am wondering if test is adaptable to non washed use of textile: will those tested inks behave the same on a non whased item; just stored on a lightless place(no ultra violet rays). Just vanishing itself with time??? How long? months? years?
    Kindest regards.

  39. Jenny says

    August 23, 2016 at 10:19

    There is really no way for me to know-you’ll just have to gamble with it.

  40. Erin says

    September 23, 2016 at 16:01

    THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!!

  41. Debbie, UK says

    October 20, 2016 at 08:51

    Brilliant!!! Just what I needed to know!

    Thank you Jenny!!!!

  42. Jennifer says

    October 20, 2016 at 23:48

    Thank you this was very helpful!

  43. Heather says

    November 11, 2016 at 16:02

    Hi Jenny- I had custom stamps made of sayings. They work great and I am stamping on t-shirts using the stamp pads that you recommended. I ink the stamps really well and the stamp surface is level and I really press hard and long to transfer the ink. However, frequently some areas of the stamp are not as dark as the others. Any idea why this might be happening and also how to repair the ones I have stamped? I really need to darken up the light areas in order to sell them.
    Thank you for your answer!
    Heather

  44. Jenny says

    November 17, 2016 at 14:23

    I think the issue may be the stamping of T-shirts- it’s an unstable knit. First, I’d try stabilizing the fabric by ironing freezer paper on the wrong side, and stamping on top of a foam block to get a better image. You would probably get better results with screen-printing t’s rather than stamping- you can control the results better.

  45. Kim says

    January 12, 2017 at 16:26

    This is exactly the information I needed today. Thank you!!

  46. Daniel Naracci says

    February 17, 2017 at 06:19

    really useful blog, thanks very much. I was looking for a solution for the best ink to stamp T shirts. Also found that the staz on ink works great but tends to fade by the 3rd or so wash. I will try the versa fine one and see how well that does.

  47. Kim Case says

    July 6, 2017 at 13:41

    this was soooo helpful!! thank you!

  48. Robbie says

    September 21, 2017 at 15:07

    I tried stamping on pre washed t shirts using color box ink pad but once it was washed it all washed away what did I do wrong? Please help

  49. Jenny says

    September 22, 2017 at 10:02

    Well, you used the wrong stamp pad. I also recommeded you heat-set the ink before washing. And always wash/dry cool.

  50. Maria Hanerfeld says

    March 17, 2018 at 22:26

    Most helpful thank you so much

  51. bunny byrne says

    October 19, 2018 at 09:54

    So helpful, thank you!

  52. Gloria says

    December 19, 2019 at 18:01

    I tried mine on t-shirt fabric and they faded a lot across the board : (

    Have you tried on apparel fabric and what were your results?

  53. Jenny says

    March 30, 2020 at 17:19

    I did not test on fabric knits, only 100% cotton.

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Hi! I’m Jenny, the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS and the Head Dummy behind CraftTestDummies.com where you’ll find craft product reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news.

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Jenny Barnett Rohrs is Head Dummy and Pied Piper behind CTD, which focuses on reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news. Jenny has appeared on HSN, Scrapbook Soup PBS series, and is currently the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS.

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