Quick Tip #4: Leaky ink pads?

Are your ink pads leaking? Do they end up with ink on the insides and outsides of the cases? There could be a simple reason for this: fibers tend to fray at the ends of the pad, allowing the ink that is on those fibers to rub off all over the case. They could end up looking like this... (although the center of this case I used to watercolor with, so it's a little worse than normal).

  Here's what you need to do: Grab a pair of Craft & Rubber scissors (or any others if you don't have them...but NOT your paper snips!) and give your ink pad a trim. Cut off any loose fibers hanging over the edges.

Then, take a paper towel and wipe away the excess ink. Follow that up with an alcohol wipe to get all of the dried ink off.

This is what it'll look like when you're done. Practically a NEW ink pad. Use a little re-inker if your pad seems to be inking unevenly.

  What about those scissors that are now covered in ink? I like to use a new alcohol wipe and give them a quick wipe as well. They'll look like new when you're done too!