VersaCraft Soramame: Fingertip Ink Pads in 9 Sets
VersaCraft Soramame is a set of four tiny ink pads from Tsukineko that you wear on a fingertip to dab color onto a stamp, so one stamp can print in several colors or a gradient. Eraser-stamp artist Tomoko Tsukui produced it. The ink is VersaCraft, a water-based pigment ink that can be heat-set on fabric.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Tsukineko VersaCraft Soramame four-color ink pad set (VKB-401 to VKB-409)
- Brand
- VersaCraft
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- Not stated*
- Material
- Water-based pigment ink, acid-free (Tsukineko)
- Price range
- $$$5–20 per stamp or ink pad
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by Tsukineko Co., Ltd. (Japan); sold in the US under its Imagine name. Country of manufacture not stated: Tsukineko's Japanese product page and Yoseka's listing don't name a country of manufacture. One marketplace listing we found says Japan, but it is supplier-entered data, so we don't rely on it. Price: example listing.
- How we test and disclose samples: How we test stationery.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- Tsukineko lists each case at 90 × 35 × 23 mm (3.5 × 1.4 × 0.9 in) with four pads 14 mm (0.55 in) across.
- There are nine four-color sets, VKB-401 to VKB-409, each at ¥990 (about US$6.30) with tax in Japan.
- Tsukineko rates the ink best on cotton and linen, says it won't survive washing on polyester, and sells no re-inker for the Soramame.
- Tsukineko says to heat-set fabric with an iron at the cotton setting for 15 seconds or more; Yoseka says the lowest setting for no more than 15 seconds at a time.
- Yoseka listed each set at US$10 on October 29, 2026, in our $$ band ($5–20).
What is VersaCraft Soramame?
It’s a strip of four tiny ink pads that you wear on a fingertip to color a stamp by hand. Tsukineko’s Japanese page says you just slip it on a finger and tap, so overlapping colors and gradients are easy, on eraser stamps as well as stencils and decorations.
Tomoko Tsukui, a well-known Japanese eraser-stamp artist, produced the line, Tsukineko says. “Soramame” means broad bean, a fair description of the pads.
What are the specs?
A 90 mm case holding four 14 mm pads of fabric-safe pigment ink. All figures are from Tsukineko’s Japanese page.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Case | 90 × 35 × 23 mm (3.5 × 1.4 × 0.9 in) |
| Pads | 4, each 14 mm (0.55 in) across |
| Ink | VersaCraft: water-based pigment, acid-free |
| Drying | Air-dry; heat-set on fabric |
| Surfaces | Fabric, unfinished wood, paper, washi, vegetable-tanned leather, terracotta |
| Re-inker | None for the Soramame |
| Price (Japan) | ¥990 (about US$6.30) with tax |
Yoseka gives the pad as 0.5 in (13 mm), a touch smaller than Tsukineko’s figure.
How do you print one stamp in several colors?
Ink each part of the stamp with a different pad, then print once. Yoseka explains that you put your index finger into the small inverted cup on a pad and dab, which is more precise than pressing a stamp onto a big pad.
Tsukineko adds that tapping colors so they overlap gives gradients. Yoseka says each set comes with color label stickers and double-sided tape, so you can join several cases into one strip.
Which color sets are there?
Nine, each four traditional Japanese colors that Tsukineko picked to go well together. It says the colors are the kind seen in kimono, grouped for people who find matching colors hard.
| Set (code) | Tsukineko’s four colors, translated |
|---|---|
| Goldfish Bowl (VKB-401) | Vermilion, siskin green, hydrangea, yellowish brown |
| Yoyo (402) | Rose, pale ink gray, lemon, jade |
| Umbrella (403) | Plum purple, pine green, turmeric, eggplant navy |
| Butterfly (404) | Dawn pink, peacock, mustard, sooty bamboo |
| Kiriko (405) | Iris, ivory, light indigo, warbler green |
| Camellia (406) | Deep scarlet, leaf-back green, daffodil, brushwood |
| Modern (407) | Crimson, Shinbashi blue, canary, ink black |
| High Collar (408) | Lotus, sprout green, yellow ochre, indigo |
| Retro (409) | Sappanwood red, pale blue, bitter orange, pine needle |
How do you set the ink on fabric?
Iron it, through a cloth, once the ink is dry. Tsukineko says to use the cotton setting, generally 180–200 °C (356–392 °F) but follow the fabric’s care label, for 15 seconds or more; lower heat weakens wash resistance.
Yoseka’s page gives different advice: the lowest setting, no more than 15 seconds at a time. We’d follow the maker on cotton and test first on delicate fabric.
On wood and terracotta, Tsukineko says a hairdryer improves water resistance; Yoseka suggests about 10 minutes. Leather should air-dry or get a hairdryer, not an iron.
Which fabrics does it work on?
Cotton and linen best, polyester worst. Tsukineko rates each fabric for printing, water resistance and washing.
| Fabric | Printing | Water resistance | Washing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Linen | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Silk | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Rayon | Good | Excellent | Fair |
| Polyester | Good | Excellent | Poor |
How is it different from other Tsukineko pads?
It’s a multi-color tool for small stamps, not a full-size pad. Tsukineko’s Brilliance and VersaMagic pads are 99 × 68 mm and made for paper, with re-inkers. For permanent ink on glass or metal, Tsukineko’s StazOn is the solvent option.
If you carve your own stamps, our Speedball Speedy-Carve block guide covers a material many beginners start with.
Where is it made, and what does it cost in the US?
Neither Tsukineko nor Yoseka names the country. Tsukineko is a Japanese company.
Yoseka listed each set at US$10 on October 29, 2026, in our $$ band. In Japan they cost ¥990 (about US$6.30) with tax.
For the larger fabric pads, see VersaCraft S and L.
Frequently asked questions
How do you use a Soramame ink pad?
Slip a fingertip into the little cup on the back of a pad and tap it onto the stamp. Tsukineko says this makes overlapping colors and gradients easy, on stamps, stencils or decorations.
Can you refill VersaCraft Soramame pads?
No. Tsukineko says there is no re-inker for the Soramame. Its full-size VersaCraft pads are a separate line.
Is VersaCraft Soramame ink permanent on fabric?
On cotton and linen, once heat-set. Tsukineko rates both top for washing after ironing; silk is a step down, rayon weak, and polyester won't hold up to washing.
Can you heat emboss with VersaCraft Soramame?
On paper, yes, according to Tsukineko's specification.
What does soramame mean?
Broad bean. The name fits the small, bean-like pads; Tsukineko writes it in Japanese and Yoseka keeps the romanized name.
Who designed the Soramame sets?
Tomoko Tsukui, a Japanese eraser-stamp artist. Tsukineko says she produced the line, and Yoseka notes she began carving eraser stamps at 15 and now teaches workshops.
Is VersaCraft Soramame made in the USA?
Not as far as we can tell, but neither Tsukineko nor Yoseka states the country. Tsukineko is a Japanese company.
Sources
- Tsukineko Japan (Japanese): VersaCraft Soramame (Tomoko Tsukui; uses; heat setting at cotton temperature 15 seconds or more; fabric ratings; nine sets VKB-401 to 409 with color names and JANs; ¥900 plus tax, about US$5.70; 90 × 35 × 23 mm case; 14 mm pads; no re-inker; read October 29, 2026)
- Yoseka Stationery: Tsukineko VersaCraft Soramame Ink Pad, Set of 4 Color (nine sets, surfaces, ironing and hairdryer notes, about the creator, US$10; read October 29, 2026)