Welcome! I’m delighted to be in the CLASSroom today sharing information about the recently released Mama Elephant pigment inks. In Detail is a new feature in the CLASSroom in which we’ll be reviewing and analyzing products sold at Ellen Hutson with the goal of educating the consumer. We want you to know how the products work and in what situations they’re best suited. My focus will be providing samples showing features about the products, rather than designs with the products. Please check out the fabulous projects here in the CLASSroom from our other teachers focusing more on design.
Featuring a special-formula, faster-drying pigment ink, the Mama Elephant “Creative Color” ink pads were specifically created to work with clear stamps for beautiful, crisp impressions. Currently, the inks are available in twelve colors - Apple, Blush, Bubblegum, Eggplant, Hazel, Lollipop, Mojito, Ocean, Orangeade, Smoke, Sunshine, and Winter. They are listed as acid-free, non-toxic, and embossable.
Let’s get to the review! I chose Smoke, Lollipop, Blush and Ocean ink pads for my tests. Smoke is one of the two neutrals, and I thought it would look best with the pinks.
For my first card, I stamped images from the Mama Elephant Party Kit set and a sentiment from Tree Friends on Neenah Solar White cardstock. I chose the balloon stamp to illustrate stamping a solid stamp with the ink and the sentiment to illustrate stamping something more detailed. I also wanted to test what the inks looked like when they overlapped.
[To note, when inking the stamp, I stamp the stamp with the pad, rather than place the stamp into the ink pad.]
The colors overlapped nicely, especially the two shades of pink. Although the coverage for the sentiment was adequate, I’d be more likely to stamp the sentiment with VersaFine Onyx Black or Hero Arts Black Dye Ink. I’m interested in seeing a darker gray or black in the Creative Color line for a better comparison.
I heat-embossed the Lollipop ink using Ranger Super Fine Clear Embossing Powder. After stamping and embossing, I cut the image with the matching Mama Elephant Creative Cuts Party Kit die.
The results with the Super Fine embossing powder gave better results in terms of coverage than when I embossed with the Ranger Clear Embossing Powder. The heat embossing also seemed to increase the vibrancy of the ink. [Please note: the sentiment and balloon string were stamped with Hero Arts Black Dye Ink in the above image.]
Next, I tested the inks on Neenah Desert Storm cardstock. Although the colors show up, their impact is faded on the kraft.
Finally, I tested the inks on a small muslin bag, which I heat-set with an iron before running through the washing machine. [The unwashed bag is on the left, the washed one is on the right.]
Based on these results, I wouldn’t use the Creative Color inks for stamping on fabric that I was planning to wash.
Want more information about inks in general? Check out Ink Pad Comparisons from the CLASSroom library. Interested in hearing about another recently released pigment ink? Julie Ebersole used Memento Luxe inks on this Hello, Monday card and talks about the inks.
We’d love to hear from you to find out what you’d be interested in learning more about. Feel free to leave topics for future In Detail segments in the comments.
