Having a complete set of some supply is often a goal of crafters, especially papercrafters. Complete sets of inks, for example, or embroidery threads for stitchers. This can be problematic when you consider the size of most ink pads. Space, you know. And, of course, you may not actually like some colours, and then they just sit there taking up valuable space in your craft room. Or corner, if you’re like me and don’t have a whole room to yourself.

For the small-space crafter, like me, items have to earn their space.

I do have a full set of Memento inks, it’s true, but I have them in the Dew Drop size. I also have a bunch of Dew Drop VersaMagic chalk inks, and I’m building a collection of the regular Stampin’ Up! inks in the “spot” size. The mini pads which come with the kits. It’s being a slow process collection, because it depends on the kits available (and how much I like the kit). Having small ink pads, however, means a complete collection is more feasible. Not that it is complete yet.

And, restricting myself to the small versions of ink pads helps to get over any FOMO I might feel about colours. If it’s not available in the size I require, then it’s not available. I find this with the Distress Oxide ink pads, which are only available in the full size version. No space, can’t have. I’ve tried them before, anyway, and didn’t really get on with them.

The wonderful thing about my little ink pads is that the storage system I use – found on eBay – fits quite nicely along one edge of my desk, hooked neatly onto the pegboard to stop them falling over (by Laser Crafts, if you’re interested: highly recommend).

I do have a few full size pads. A large Memento Tuxedo Black, because that’s a useful colour to have. A large embossing ink pad. A silver and a gold from my early days of collecting supplies before I worked out what I really wanted (they aren’t very good quality ink pads, either; I probably ought to dispose of them).