How to Ink Paper Edges

Some people like their scrapbook layouts clean and others like to junk them up by inking the edges of their paper (and sometimes everything else in sight). Depending on the mood I'm in, I may use a lot of ink or only a little ink, but over the years, I've found that even the slightest bit of ink helps to bring definition to a scrapbook element and really helps it to jump off the page.

So, how to do you ink paper edges? First, it's important to keep in mind the type of ink you're using. Most scrappers will use one of two types of ink to edge their paper – dye ink or pigment ink.

Pigment ink is created using a color compound, so the ink is thicker, stamps the same color as the ink pad and dries slower than dye inks. As a result, pigment inks are great for embossing and are very fade resistant.

Dye ink has a thinner consistency than pigment ink and, as a result, will not stamp the same color as the ink pad (check the ink pad cover for the actual color). Dye ink is also not as fade resistant (color won't stay true) as pigment ink, so scrappers tend to prefer pigment ink for their scrapbook pages.

Now, if ink pads typically come in two types – spongy or stiff – and the type of ink pad will affect how you ink paper edges. If it's a sponge-like ink pad, you can press the pad against the paper's edge to get a little bit of color. If the pad is firm (more like an actual pad as opposed to a sponge – think Tim Holtz Distress Inks), then you can drag the ink pad along the edge of the paper. For just a little bit of color, drag the ink pad along the edge at a 90-degree angle. To get a messier look with either type ink pad, drag the ink pad along the edge at a 45-degree angle using short, quick strokes.

As you can see, learning how to ink paper edges isn't difficult, it just takes a little willingness to try something new and "junk up" your scrapbook pages.

Happy Scrapping!

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