8. Ink Pad Storage

*This page has been updated – See how I store my Ink Pads in 2015 by clicking here.*

Ink pad storage is probably one of the most frustrating issues that stampers and scrapbookers face when it comes to storage and organization.  There aren’t enough products available in this industry for this commonly used item and so crafters have had to be creative and either make their own or purchase from smaller companies whose custom built wood organizers can be quite pricey.  If you are lucky, you can find an old cassette tape storage unit at a thrift store and use that, but even that does’t fit all types of inks.  There are distress inks which are shorter and taller than most ink pads, then Stampin’ Up ink pads which are thinner but longer and wider than others.  Each brand has its’ own shape and size of ink pad, making it difficult to organize and store.

I’ve tried everything from DIY foam board (fell apart), DIY chipboard on the Silhouette Cameo (not sturdy enough), cd case storage hung on the wall (unattractive and inconvenient), Napa Valley cassette tape organizers that I found at Goodwill, (which I must say worked the best of all of my attempts at ink pad storage, l but I didn’t care for the look of them and they took up a lot of space width wise on my table/wall).  I have finally come up with a solution that works for me and wanted to share it with you.

Remember how I said that I used to use the Napa Valley cassette tape holders to store my ink pads in?  Well I found them at Goodwill for between $1.99 and $3.99.  I turned around and sold them on eBay for $24.99 each, plus shipping, and used the money I made to pay for two of these babies.  They are the Best Craft Organizer – PortaInk Dual Swivel Travelers which spin around and has storage on top for reinkers, etc.  It costs $47.99 when it’s not on sale.  (Which by the way, is a lot to me), but it takes up very little space and holds 48 ink pads!

You can also store distress inks in it if you purchase the little inserts that go inside.  They are called Portaink Standard Ink Pad Inserts and costs $9.49 for a set of 24 (you need two packs if you are going to fill the organizer with all distress inks).

So in the end,  I paid no more than $10 or $20 out of pocket for each of these storage solutions because of my goodwill finds and sales on eBay.  (anyone can do that!)  I realize that buying this product outright may not be an affordable solution for those of you on a budget (like me) but you can do what I did by getting creative to find a way to make the money to pay for them because they totally ROCK! I love them!

*Update 5/15* I now have two of these Best Craft Organizer – PortaInk Dual Swivel Travelers and use them to store all of my ink pads except for my distress inks.  I found the pretty little wood unit i the photo below at a local thrift store for .75 cents and that now holds all of my distress inks.  (The photo shows the unit storing my Memento Luxe ink pads but I have since changed this).  (See second photo)

I’m not sure what it was originally unless it held VHS tapes or something but the little dividers slide in and out and I just love the way it looks and how many distress ink pads I can fit into it.

So to sum up this post on ink pad storage, if you are on a budget I recommend finding a wooden cassette tape holder at your local thrift store (You may have to look for it frequently because they sell quickly when they get them in), check craigslist, yard sales/garage sales, etc.  You can paint them to make them prettier and they hold *most* ink pad sizes.  It is the least expensive way and they hold a lot of ink pads.

Secondly, get creative and if you know how to work with wood, build your own or have a friend or husband do it for you.  I didn’t have that option available to me so my third idea is to find something like what I have above at a thrift store with the right measurements and be creative to make your own solution.

Lastly, you do something like I did and make the money to buy what you want. If you want to buy something outright, here are some other ink pad storage solutions available commercially.

Hobby Lobby (and possibly other stores) sell this little “Ink Pad Storage Rack” made by “Advantus” for $9.99 and if you use a coupon you can get it for 40-50% off!.

My Second Choice:  I debated long and hard about getting this next ink pad holder but in the end, the Best Craft Organizer won out.  Wisconsin Stamp Supplies has “The “Quad” Stamp Pad Holder” for $59.95 and it holds 60 ink pads and spins!  (It also holds a roll of paper towels in the center!  This one is worth checking out if you are going to spend the money…If I had to choose another ink pad holder besides the one I got, it would be this one!

These next two storage units are basically the same thing as the wooden cassette tape holders you can get at Goodwill/yard sales, etc., but the prices START at $52.95 and up.

Organize More.com has this 48 Ink Pad Storage for $52.95

Stamp-n-Storage has this 48 Ink Pad Holder for $55.95

There aren’t a lot of choices, especially affordable ones but I hope that this post helps you in your search for ink pad storage.  If you have any questions or comments, please leave them by using the comment form below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!