Did you know that you can only use a manufacturing mould a limited number of times before replacing it? The moulds for the iconic Stampin' Up! stamp case were about to expire and a decision needed to be made whether to order more of the same moulds or improve the design. Stampin' Up! chose to innovate! The new Classic Stampin' Pad design will debute in the 2018-2019 Annual Catalogue on 1 June 2018...

Firstly, what features are staying? The stamp pads will still have the same patented flip-top design that stores the inking surface upside down, so the pad surface stays moist, and will have the same firm foam pad for superior stamping. Here's a visual comparison, showing the old design on the left and new, sleek design on the right...

So what's new?

Opening the new stamp pad case is now more simple and intuitive. Just insert your thumb in the lip at the front of the case and lift to open, like opening a compact. Then slide the open stamp pad into the lid.

To close, turn the stamp pad so the tray is closest to you, grip your fingers in the lip and slide stamp pad towards you until fully extended, then flip the lid closed.

The new design has a tighter fit between the lid and the base, which means that the lid doesn't accidentally become disconnected. In the beginning, sliding the stamp pad open and closed may be firm, but will become easier with use. If you are having difficulty sliding a new stamp pad open or closed, then you could prime it with some wax on the inside track. A birthday candle works perfectly!

The new stamp pad design is stackable! There are nubs in the bottom corners of the stamp pads that fit nicely into the dimples on the top of another case. This new design element means that your stamp pads will be compact when storing and easy to transport.

Since the stamp pad case had a new design, Stampin' Up! also gave the packaging a makeover too! The front label has been redesigned with a cleaner, bolder design and a larger colour swatch for easy ink colour identification. Stampin' Up! are continuing to include colour stickers for naming the end of your stamp pad, but have added a blank colour sticker for you to place on the inside of the pad to easily distinguish the ink's colour when the case is open. Brilliant!

But Stampin' Up! haven't stopped there. They've improved the ink as well! You may have noticed that the old ink would sometimes bubble (especially on new stamp pads and with lighter colours), which can give uneven stamping. So, Stampin' Up! have added a defoamer to the ink ingredients. This will reduce ink bubbles, giving you an even coating of ink on a stamp, resulting in a smoother, solid stamped image.