Cat's Eye Fluid Chalk Colorbox Ink Pads by Clearsnap: Product Review

Cat Eye Fluid Chalks are tiny ink pads that are useful for paper crafting, rubber stamping, scrapbooking, altered art, and mixed media. These ink pads measure less than two inches long, and their unique shape allows them to be used for inking the edges of most papers, even papers that are die cut, scalloped or irregularly shaped.

When you apply Fluid Chalk ink to your project, it will add a lovely matte layer wherever you use it. The name "Fluid Chalk" is definitely appropriate; these inks give the same kind of effect that you could expect from artist's chalks, only Fluid Chalks are more permanent and less prone to fading. Chalking has been a popular technique with scrapbookers and paper crafters for years; with these Fluid Chalk ink pads, you can take the "chalked" effect to the next level.

The reverse side of the packaging on each Fluid Chalk ink pad says "Pigment Brush Pad". These are water-based pigment inks. You won't need special cleaners or solvents to clean up after using them; you can use ordinary soap and water if you accidentally get this ink on your hands.

This ink behaves much like a dye ink would; it can be stamped, blended, and applied directly to papers, fibers, and embellishments. However, I prefer Fluid Chalk over dye inks for many of the projects I do. I sometimes have a hard time getting dye inks to stamp cleanly when used with certain brands of clear acrylic stamps. The same stamps stamp beautifully and cleanly when inked with Fluid Chalk. In my opinion, Fluid Chalk is ideal for use with clear stamps.

This ink is versatile, and it can be used on paper, shrink plastic, and polymer clay. It dries quickly and is easy to work with. The ink can be heat set to make it more permanent and more fade-resistant.

The ink pads are made of foam, and they are delightfully "squishy". They are ideal for using with detailed stamps. They hold an amazing amount of ink, especially considering their small size. It takes a long time and a lot of use before they dry out. Even if you use them enough for them to dry out, re-inkers are available.

Fluid Chalks are available in a variety of gorgeous colors. In my opinion, the available color palette is outstanding. My favorite colors of Fluid Chalk are Rouge, Olive Pastel, Creamy Brown, Wisteria, Dark Brown, and Burnt Sienna. As you can see from my photos, my own Fluid Chalk ink pads have seen a lot of use. I can find a use for them in practically every project I create.

Projects Featuring Cat's Eye Fluid Chalk Ink Pads:

Click here to see a mini album that was embellished with Fluid Chalk.

Click here to see handmade greeting cards that utilize stamping and inking with Fluid Chalk.

Click here to see a scalloped circle greeting card that is hand stamped and inked with Fluid Chalk ink.

Click here to see a 12x12 scrapbook layout that features hand stamping with Wisteria Fluid Chalk ink.

Cons:

The only real drawback that I am aware of is that, with time and repeated use, Fluid Chalk ink pads are prone to coming off their plastic base. Please take a look at the second photo I've included with this article, because the photo will give you a better idea of what I am referring to. In my opinion, this is really not that big a deal; if you are gentle with the ink pads and use them carefully, you should hopefully get quite a bit of use out of them before this happens to your ink pads.

Conclusion:

In my opinion, Cat's Eye Fluid Chalk ink pads are well worth the money. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $2.00, which is completely affordable, even for crafters on a tight budget. I own many Cat's Eye Fluid Chalk ink pads, and easily got my money's worth out of every single one of them. I am delighted to recommend them to other crafters.

Thanks for reading this review. I hope you found it helpful. I welcome your comments and feedback. Happy crafting!