Tsukineko VersaColor Neon Ink Review & Ink Pad Swatch Tutorial

Create neon ink swatches with the Ink Pad Swatch Stamp Set and explore Tsukineko Versacolor Neon inks in this step-by-step guide.

This post will show you how to create informative and beautiful ink swatches, explore the versatility of neon inks, and help you organise your ink pad collection for future projects. I’ve filmed a short reel showing how I created these neon ink swatches — scroll down to watch it in action!

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What is the Ink Pad Swatch Stamp Set?

The Ink Pad Swatch Stamp Set is an A6, high-quality red rubber stamp that comes pre-mounted on cushion foam — ready to use with stamp blocks or platforms.

• Fully modular design: rearrange the elements to create swatches that work for you.

• Great for all ink types: neon, dye, pigment, or hybrid.

Why I love it: It gave me the freedom to design swatches that suit my workflow, saving time and helping me understand my inks better.

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Testing Tsukineko VersaColor Neon Inks

I stamped my swatches on smooth white cardstock and tested multiple techniques to see what these vibrant inks could do.

See the neon inks in action in my short reel below! I demonstrate stamping, blending, embossing, and watercolouring techniques step by step — perfect for your own swatch experiments.

Can’t see the video? Watch the full swatch tutorial on YouTube here

1. Heat Embossing

Neon inks stayed wet long enough to emboss beautifully. Even blended inks worked when adding embossing powder.

2. Layered Blending

Using a blending foam, neon inks created rich, deep layers, perfect for cards or mixed media projects.

3. Watercolouring

While wet, I used a damp brush to pull colour from the stamped images — from subtle washes to opaque layers.

4. Stamping

Neon inks performed perfectly with solid stamps, delicate sentiments, and silhouette images.

5. Alcohol Markers

Note: VersaColor inks are not suitable with alcohol markers, as the outlines may move.

6. Extra Testing

I’ve also tried these inks on a Gelli plate and Japanese-themed card projects — more posts coming soon!

FAQ: Neon Ink Swatching

Q1: Can I emboss over neon inks?
Yes! Neon inks stay wet long enough to emboss, even when blended.

Q2: Are VersaColor Neon Inks suitable for watercolouring?
Absolutely — use a damp brush while wet to pull colour, or add water for opaque washes.

Q3: How should I store my ink pad swatches?
Ring-bound swatches on a rack work well, or keep them in a binder for easy flipping and reference.

Q4: Can I use VersaColor Neons with alcohol markers?
Not recommended — the stamped outline may move when using alcohol-based markers.

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Organising Your Ink Collection

Creating swatches is not just fun — it helps you:

• Know exactly what each ink pad does.

• Prevent wasted time and product on unsuitable combinations.

• Explore the full potential of your collection.

I’ve started organising my swatches on large rings hanging from a rack, but I’d love to hear your storage tips!

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Next Steps

I plan to repeat this process with:

• Other ink pads (Stazon, VersaCraft, etc.)

• Different substrates: vellum, acetate, coated card, watercolour card, kraft card, black card

Knowing how inks behave on different surfaces saves frustration and inspires more creative projects.

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Testing and organising my VersaColor Neon Inks with the swatch stamp set has been both fun and informative. I now know how to get the most out of my ink collection, and I can’t wait to show you the neon card and Gelli plate projects that came from these tests.

Pin this post to your craft inspiration board, save it for future reference, and share your own swatch tips in the comments — I’d love to see how you organise and experiment with your inks!

Until next time, take care,

Lou
xxx

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