Ink & Card Stock Swatch Books

When I first started stamping several years ago, I faithfully created a "stamp book" as an inventory and reference. I have found it to be very helpful when I'm trying to decide on a sentiment and/or image I want to use on a card or photo album. I also created a set of PTI card stock swatches but always found it too small to be useful. (1 inch squares just didn't work for me!)

Recently, I decided to update by making a little 'flip book' for my card stock and then a second one for my growing ink collection. I used a number of ideas that Lisa Johnson suggested in this post.

In the past, I would take out all of my card stock packages in order to find the right colour and then try to find a colour of ink that would match.  I grouped the card stock and inks into colour families, so everything I have in the "green family" is together. With my new booklets I can see at a glance what colours I have and how they can work together.

Card Stock

When I first found Papertrey Ink, I purchased  a card stock sampler so that I could see the various colours. I also have a few packages of card stock from Stampin'Up, Close to My Heart and Michaels. I've included all of these in my book. 

Each page was die cut with PTI's Library Card Tag Die and labelled on the back with the company and colour name.

 In some cases I have purchased the matching colour of PTI's new ink formula, so I have stamped an image (Botanical Silhouettes) on the white label and on the coloured paper. This quickly shows me the coordinating colours that I have in my stash.

The front and back of the book is made with several layers of cardboard (from cereal boxes) and card stock. I decorated the front of the booklet by stamping the square block from Quilter's Sampler and then gluing squares of PTI card stock in various colours. The title was stamped with DJ Whimsy Alphabet (All Night Media). On one side I added CRAFT WORTHY (PTI: Button Boutique) and the date (PTI: Library Ledger and LL Additions)

On the inside of the booklet I stamped the sentiment PINK (C.C. Designs); chirpie KETTO  and dragonfly KETTO  (Stamping Bella).

On the back cover I added the image and names of the colours that came with my first PTI card stock sampler. I also stamped some butterflies (PTI: Butterfly Dreams) and polka dots with my 'new' PTI inks!!  I just received the newest card stock sampler, so will soon update with the additional colours.

I have also included a listing of all of the PTI colours with the Copic Trio markers. I have highlighted the copic markers that I already own, so it's easy to see if I have the right markers to recreate that hue when colouring an image. I can also use this to help make a list of markers that I will need to add in the future.

Inks

When I first purchased inks, I got a variety of pads and cubes from Close to My Heart. Over time I added a few more from Stampin'Up and Michaels. Since the new inks from PTI have been introduced, I have some of these in my stash as well.  I made this little flip booklet for all of my inks using the Angled Label Die from Label Basics. The front cover was stamped with CTMH Polka Dot Alphabet in PTI's Autumn Rose.

I labeled each stamped image with the company and the colour name. Now, when I'm looking for a colour match for patterned paper or card stock I can quickly pull out my ink swatches and check to see if I have a good match.

 I have some CTMH inks that are a fairly good match to the PTI card stock colours, so I will  continue to use these rather than purchase a new ink pad. (Orange from CTMH is a good match for PTI's Orange Zest).

 I'm so glad that I took the time to make these booklets. They sit on my desk now and are used regularly. They have saved me time and frustration when trying to coordinate ink and paper colours.

Thanks for visiting.
Karen C.