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 ~crisann~ AncestralPea PeaNut 302,923 March 2007 Posts: 4,143 Layouts: 47 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA.
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 5:59:58 PM
Good evening ladies!
This week we're going to be organizing stamps.
Here are the links to wookiemouse's blog and the two peas thread from the original challenge.
Question of the week (especially for artist-ju and scrappnbee): How many individual stamps do you have?
[will add the links for the past weeks] |
organize your stuff challenge (master thread).
dysfunctionally-functional
and yes, he did use the ladder...
"some day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful." -sigmund freud
there are some things that you should just not have to hear for the first time on facebook.
"our lives at times seem a study in contrast... love & hate, birth & death, right & wrong... everything seen in absolutes of black & white. too often we are not aware that it is the shades of grey that add depth & meaning to the starkness of those extremes" -ansel adams
crisann
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 artist-ju PeaNut PeaNut 310,234 April 2007 Posts: 348 Layouts: 29 Loc: saskatchewan ,canada
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 6:07:46 PM
Too funny!
I've been staring at my stamps all day. For the most part they are organized, at least the wood mounted ones are, they are in Scraponizer cases by theme, its the acrylic ones that need to be put in a different order. The biggest and most daunting task is my inventory catalog
QOTW: I really won't know until I'm finished my cataloging |
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 artist-ju PeaNut PeaNut 310,234 April 2007 Posts: 348 Layouts: 29 Loc: saskatchewan ,canada
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 6:11:05 PM
Oh, the last count I did was in 2008 and then I had 1369 which included each individual letter (909 without adding individual letters just the set as a whole). |
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 KathrynPea StuckOnPeas PeaNut 376,370 May 2008 Posts: 2,266 Layouts: 2 Loc: Las Vegas, NV
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 6:27:44 PM
How many individual stamps do you have?
I have one tin of wood mounted stamps, one tin of 7 gypsy self inked stamps and one sterilite drawer of acrylic stamps. Since I don't make cards I don't have as much of a use for them. They are already organized but I will go through this week and cull the ones I don't use. | |
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 Just me in MI Jeepers PEApers PeaNut 178,994 November 2004 Posts: 2,432 Layouts: 0 Loc: MICHIGAN
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 6:37:28 PM
Way to call out those two, Crisann, lol. Do they win a prize for the most stamps? lol Maybe more stamps, hehe...
My stamps are organized already, I put all the acrylic in a binder and the rest are in drawers. I gotta admit though I don't have an awful lot of stamps. I love that you are doing this challenge for all of us. Thanks!
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 artist-ju PeaNut PeaNut 310,234 April 2007 Posts: 348 Layouts: 29 Loc: saskatchewan ,canada
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 8:21:55 PM
stamp catalog
I made these pages on my computer to stamp all my stamps for my inventory catalog. I do have an old catalog but the manner in which I organize them has changed. This is the part I'm not looking forward to because its a lot of stamping and cleaning, stamping and cleaning and so on.
I'm not looking for prizes, just maybe affirmation that I'm not the only one out there with a crazy amount of stamps, that others are out there.....somewhere.... |
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 Just me in MI Jeepers PEApers PeaNut 178,994 November 2004 Posts: 2,432 Layouts: 0 Loc: MICHIGAN
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 8:30:01 PM
Jen, That's an awesome way to do your cataloging and I was just teasing about having so many stamps. I'm actually jealous & wished you lived near me so you could share, lol | |
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 Nantini Ancient Ancestor of Pea PeaNut 274,935 August 2006 Posts: 5,099 Layouts: 8
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 8:38:57 PM
Well, I already have them in document boxes so I guess I'll make some kind of way to organize them at a glance. Or maybe not. I'm feeling overwhelmed plus my sb room looks like a tornado hit it.
I have no idea how many I have, but it's nothing like the numbers of some people here!
Looking forward to seeing some inspiration to get me off my butt. |
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 artist-ju PeaNut PeaNut 310,234 April 2007 Posts: 348 Layouts: 29 Loc: saskatchewan ,canada
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 10:20:29 PM
So this is what the printed out pages look like stamped. I wrote in the corners whether it was wood mounted or acrylic and where it is found, I've seen a few Peas use this system and I think it is a really good idea.
Just me in MI, its all good, I'm having fun with this challenge and enjoying doing it with all of you. |
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 Nantini Ancient Ancestor of Pea PeaNut 274,935 August 2006 Posts: 5,099 Layouts: 8
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 10:55:05 PM
Jen, I love your organization! |
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 weaser StuckOnPeas PeaNut 25,393 December 2001 Posts: 2,921 Layouts: 55 Loc: Texas
 | Posted: 3/25/2010 11:30:45 PM
Is it time for a new challenge already??? My stamps are mostly organized, but I have no idea how many I have. I did start a catalog a couple years ago and got maybe 2/3 of my stamps cataloged.
I have since acquired a "few" stamp sets plus the ones that didn't get cataloged originally. And since our move a year ago, not all the stamps are located in one place. I guess it's time to corral all of them and start counting.
Here are my storage baskets for my stamps. I have 6 total, but my stamps don't all fit in the 6 baskets. I guess it's time to purge my stamps too.
ETA - I just noticed my pea title - Jeepers PEApers. I wonder how long I've had that and how long it will last. |
Leisa - GO VOLS!
Completed 2010: 85
Completed 2011: cards - 16; los - 70
Completed 2012: cards - 26; los - 36
Completed 2013: cards - 0; los - 4
Apr goal: cards 0/4; los 4/4
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 elinemom BucketHead PeaNut 164,531 August 2004 Posts: 855 Layouts: 46 Loc: Among dust bunnies
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 1:14:14 AM
Stamps was the week I stopped participating in the last challenge. I had just found the challenge in week 10, or something.
I have to say - having all the other weeks under my belt and your company have made all the difference!
Jen, loved your index templates!
Leisa, your baskets gave me an idea - I have been thinking about storage without reaching a conclusion.. I have similar baskets I used for stamps earlier. I'm considering using them again to get my stamps out of the big plastic box they live in now.. (No wonder I haven't used them in a loong time..)Seing the picture reminded me how easy it was with stamps in baskets like that. Thanks!
Tonight I'll finish my stamp index. Last time I made this totally complicated system with multiple cards of one stamp and cross-referencing. Overwhelming!
This time I stamp all my stamp sets together and individual stamps randomly on letter size paper. The paper will go into a binder eventually. I have some stamps, but not so many that it's difficult to find what I look for. And, it's great for browsing.
Here's a question for you knowledgeable people:
-I have some acrylic stamps I haven't used before making the index. I have mostly rubber stamps, and was mystified by the ink forming droplets og the stamp. Even after stamping, the image looked "blotchy", not clear and crisp. Is it not a god idea to use water-based ink on these? Or is there a technique I don't know of?
oh, and apologies for the "wordiness"
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 pitje PeaNut PeaNut 320,472 June 2007 Posts: 231 Layouts: 214 Loc: Netherlands
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 4:21:46 AM
My first question was do I count my alpha's individualy? Artis ju did so let's go for it. Luckely I do not have that many stamps like some of you My counting took me about 15 minutes.
I have a total of 491 alpha stamps and 195 other stamps.
Most of my stamps are acrilic.
For organisation I have my stampsets in plastic envelopes that fit in 1 ring binder. I also have an magnatic alpha stampset that I store in an empty candy tin that still needs to be spray painted.
I do not need to have an index for my stamps but if i did i like eline moms idea to stamp the hole sheet of acrilic stamps all at ones instead of each stamp seperate..saves alot of time so that makes sence, right.
Happy counting, stamping and cleaning for all you girls who have a room full of stamps. try not to get (take a sheet at the time...)
stamp organisation |
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 KittyKatz Queen of Cats-a-lot PeaNut 113,725 October 2003 Posts: 8,970 Layouts: 152 Loc: Southern California
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 4:32:55 AM
Just stick the bamboo shoots under my fingernails! but don't make me go count how many stamps I have! It has to be a few thousand if you include all those little Studio G stamps.
I have been dreading this week. |
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 ~crisann~ AncestralPea PeaNut 302,923 March 2007 Posts: 4,143 Layouts: 47 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA.
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 7:07:49 AM
wow! you ladies were really busy while i was sleeping...
so, i'm kind of thinking of either organizing acrylic stamps into cd cases or into a binder, if i can find some kind of thick plastic sheets to stick them too... any suggestions?
either way, will update later. |
organize your stuff challenge (master thread).
dysfunctionally-functional
and yes, he did use the ladder...
"some day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful." -sigmund freud
there are some things that you should just not have to hear for the first time on facebook.
"our lives at times seem a study in contrast... love & hate, birth & death, right & wrong... everything seen in absolutes of black & white. too often we are not aware that it is the shades of grey that add depth & meaning to the starkness of those extremes" -ansel adams
crisann
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 ASTORIA150 PeaNut PeaNut 101,788 August 2003 Posts: 79 Layouts: 4
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 8:01:35 AM
i love the idea of taking the wood mounted stamps and removing them from the wood. that would save so much space. i will have to look into doing that. but i am still unsure how to mount them on a clear stamp block when i want to use them. | |
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 AvonPooh BucketHead PeaNut 308,156 April 2007 Posts: 838 Layouts: 0 Loc: Midwest
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 8:19:55 AM
Yea one I have finished! I only have 2 wood mounted journaling block stamps, and the rest I only buy CTMH in the clear envelopes. I have them in the carrying boxes with the handle and the wooden ones on my slatwall on a shelf. So excited I actually completed a week! | |
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 Kris74 PeaFixture PeaNut 218,999 August 2005 Posts: 3,544 Layouts: 36 Loc: Ontario, Canada
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 8:22:18 AM
Haven't finished reading everything yet ...
Hilde - For your new acrylic stamps, maybe try cleaning them before you use them the first time. Or using a white eraser on them. Sometimes there's a film on them from manufacturing that comes off with some pre-use. HTH | |
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 Kris74 PeaFixture PeaNut 218,999 August 2005 Posts: 3,544 Layouts: 36 Loc: Ontario, Canada
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 8:26:28 AM
Crisann - What if you punched holes in transparancies and stuck the acrylics to it and put it in a binder??
I have my acrylics in a binder, and the smaller sets are still in the packaging. I just put the pack of stamps into a page protector. The smaller sets (Studio G) are put into baseball card plastic sleeves (from the dollar store) and added to the same binder. It's definetly not fancy, but it does the trick for me.
I'm pleading the 5th for # of stamps .... I have approximately 8 shoe boxes full, 2 small totes about the size of 4 more shoe boxes (Christmas only) and several drawers full.... I definetly need to purge more!! | |
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 ASTORIA150 PeaNut PeaNut 101,788 August 2003 Posts: 79 Layouts: 4
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 9:21:45 AM
i watched the video on how to unmount rubber stamps. so i get it now. i just need to go buy some cd cases to put them in. it sure will save some room. i have 6 drawers full (12x12 plastic drawers) of wood stamps. just think what i can put in them when they are empty. tons of new storage space. LOL as far as taking the time to do it. i watch tv in the evening after i get home from work that is, so i can do this while i watch tv., | |
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 artist-ju PeaNut PeaNut 310,234 April 2007 Posts: 348 Layouts: 29 Loc: saskatchewan ,canada
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 9:37:09 AM
crisann, I go to Staples and buy a big box of overhead transparency sheets, there is 100 in a box, then I transfer my acrylics onto a sheet(usually by theme) I put another transparency sheet over top and finally slip it into a page protector and into a binder. I like this method because you can put a lot of stamps onto one sheet, therefore taking up less space
You can also stamp the image onto the transparency with stazon ink so there is always a spot for that particular stamp. |
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 pitje PeaNut PeaNut 320,472 June 2007 Posts: 231 Layouts: 214 Loc: Netherlands
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 9:40:23 AM
crisann i read on the past thread of laminating a peace of white cardstock and stick them on there. |
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 ASTORIA150 PeaNut PeaNut 101,788 August 2003 Posts: 79 Layouts: 4
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 2:59:17 PM
well i went to target and got the cd cases to put my unmounted wood stamps in. i got 5 of the stamps done already, LOL. can't wait to get this all done. i put my little $ stamps in the baseball card holders. | |
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 Dewryce GO SPURS GO! PeaNut 229,914 November 2005 Posts: 8,353 Layouts: 0 Loc: Turn right, watch for ducks.
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 3:21:04 PM
A heads up about using CD cases. Mine started to crack when I put the Studio G dollar stamps on them. Well, when I'd try to remove them because they were so sticky! Has anyone else had this problem?
I love the idea of using 2 transparencies in a sheet protector. When you lift up the binder do the pages sag? I have so few stamps I could fit them all in one not huge binder if I unmounted them. Hmmmm, something to think about. | |
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 Dewryce GO SPURS GO! PeaNut 229,914 November 2005 Posts: 8,353 Layouts: 0 Loc: Turn right, watch for ducks.
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 3:21:04 PM
A heads up about using CD cases. Mine started to crack when I put the Studio G dollar stamps on them. Well, when I'd try to remove them because they were so sticky! Has anyone else had this problem?
I love the idea of using 2 transparencies in a sheet protector. When you lift up the binder do the pages sag? I have so few stamps I could fit them all in one not huge binder if I unmounted them. Hmmmm, something to think about. | |
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 artist-ju PeaNut PeaNut 310,234 April 2007 Posts: 348 Layouts: 29 Loc: saskatchewan ,canada
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 3:29:30 PM
Dewryce , they are a bit awkward if you have them in too large of a binder, I keep mine in 1.5" binders and don't seem to have any problems. |
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 angel97701 BucketHead PeaNut 280,758 October 2006 Posts: 606 Layouts: 4 Loc: High Desert of Central Oregon
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 5:06:52 PM
I would definitely give artist-ju and scrappnbee a run for their money on the number of stamps owned . . . I've been a stamper for about 16 years, and have a ton of wood mounted, red-rubber unmounted, and now of course acrylic stamps. I do need to do some re-organizing, and need to seriously consider a rolodex file to index everything that I own. Let's just put it this way, I have 5 storage boxes that are 15 x 26 x 6 full of wood mounted stamps, a legal size file box of unmounted on 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of images, and another of about 400 words. My acrylic collection is in page protectors and baseball card holder sheets and fills about 2 notebooks that are 2 1/2". Yikes . . . I am so behind in some areas, and doing OK in others!
It doesn't help that real life keeps going and that I've been sick w/ a nasty virus for 16 days now! My left eye was swollen and fused shut with debris yesterday morning--so finally went to a doctor! The ophthalmologist said it was just a virus fortunately, but unfortunately they were seeing it last 7 to 21 days! Today it involves a little stomach issue as well, | |
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 Nantini Ancient Ancestor of Pea PeaNut 274,935 August 2006 Posts: 5,099 Layouts: 8
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 6:01:56 PM
Well, I guess I didn't have enough stamps because I just hit up M's and they were marking a lot of them down. I somehow convinced myself I didn't have enough. I can barely be in the same realm with most of you here!
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 Dewryce GO SPURS GO! PeaNut 229,914 November 2005 Posts: 8,353 Layouts: 0 Loc: Turn right, watch for ducks.
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 7:16:11 PM
Thanks Jen! | |
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 ScrappnBee PeaAddict PeaNut 448,241 December 2009 Posts: 1,122 Layouts: 10 Loc: Somewhere outside Seattle
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 8:16:02 PM
artist-ju/jen- I love your catalogue idea! ...more work... grumble...grumble...!
I store my wood mounted on a VHS rack. Most of my acrylics are in $1 CD cubes from walmart...
Angel! you just might have us beat! Off to count stamps.... |
-Amanda-
...Acording to the laws of Physics a bumblebee cannot fly. Her wings are too little to lift her into flight. However, somebody forgot to inform the bee!...
OLW 2011: EMBRACE!, 2012: JOURNEY
Goals:
Complete Organization Challenge: my org challenge blog
Scrap last month by the end of this month...all year
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 artist-ju PeaNut PeaNut 310,234 April 2007 Posts: 348 Layouts: 29 Loc: saskatchewan ,canada
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 9:23:19 PM
nantini, I'm really really hoping I don't get tempted like that until way after I'm done cataloging.
angel, I think you should count them |
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 weaser StuckOnPeas PeaNut 25,393 December 2001 Posts: 2,921 Layouts: 55 Loc: Texas
 | Posted: 3/26/2010 11:48:52 PM
I finished counting my stamps tonight. I came in just under 1,000 at 986. We will NOT share this new-found information with dh!
I'm really curious how many you other stamp collectors have. It think that is a lot, but I'm sure some of you have way more than that.
And I am placing an order on Sunday for SU Sale-A-Bration - that might just push me to the 1,000 mark.
Now to work on that stamp catalog.... |
Leisa - GO VOLS!
Completed 2010: 85
Completed 2011: cards - 16; los - 70
Completed 2012: cards - 26; los - 36
Completed 2013: cards - 0; los - 4
Apr goal: cards 0/4; los 4/4
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 KittyKatz Queen of Cats-a-lot PeaNut 113,725 October 2003 Posts: 8,970 Layouts: 152 Loc: Southern California
 | Posted: 3/27/2010 3:14:28 AM
You can also stamp the image onto the transparency with stazon ink so there is always a spot for that particular stamp.
I like the idea of using "sandwiched" transparencies for acrylic stamps, but I've read that Staz-On is very bad for acrylic stamps even if you clean them well.
I'm really curious how many you other stamp collectors have. It think that is a lot, but I'm sure some of you have way more than that.
I have 6 6-drawer Iris carts three-deep with wood stamps, 4 4-drawer Target cubes with unmounted rubber in cd cases, 7 Technique Tuesday binders with 20-24 pages each of their stamps, a 2" binder of Studio G stamps in baseball card holder pages, and three more drawers from a 4-drawer cube of other acrylic stamps stored in cds, and an Expedit shelf of foam stamp sets. And yesterday I scoured 9 Big Lots looking for more acrylic stamp sets! I have a *little* problem with collecting stamps and I want to learn how to use them better on my pages. However, this addiction goes back 15 years and we used to have a store on e*ay.
My DH is never to know about this post btw! |
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 elinemom BucketHead PeaNut 164,531 August 2004 Posts: 855 Layouts: 46 Loc: Among dust bunnies
 | Posted: 3/27/2010 4:54:43 AM
Wow, those are some impressive stamp collections!I haven't counted my stamps yet, but I don't have anywhere near a thousand stamps. No matter that DH thinks I have a lot of stamps - I'm not claiming victory in this competition.
Kris 74, thanks for the tip! I tried it this morning, and it seems to be working.
Most of my stamps are SU sets and I like the feel of wood mounted stamps. I'm not ready to make the leap to unmounting. So, I guess I'm having to find a great way to store them. I'm going to IKEA today, anybody want anything?
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 punchaddict PeaAddict PeaNut 98,857 July 2003 Posts: 1,089 Layouts: 8 Loc: FL
 | Posted: 3/27/2010 9:31:18 AM
I have my CTMH and CD cases all in a bread basket by Longaberger. My wood mounted ones are in plastic storage with three drawers in each one that I got a few years ago at BL. I have each labeled by theme on the outside so I can find what I need. I am not unmounting. |
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 KatyLouWho You Wanna Peas of Me? PeaNut 249,656 February 2006 Posts: 4,986 Layouts: 94 Loc: New York
 | Posted: 3/27/2010 10:09:02 AM
I'm busy unmounting my home mounted stamps. I haven't decided if I want to unmount the ones purchased on blocks. I am taking off the ones that I mounted myself because I like the ability to do some better placement of images and when I started we didn't have stamp positioners so I have my home mounted stamps that are in the shape of the image that is on the block.
I started stamping in 1983 seriously. Back then it was mail art. I have a lot of very weird stamps in my collection, and have more mail art than I know what to do with. I even have mail art that I've exchanged with Ray Johnson. I need to do some archival storage for the mail art. I still struggle this day to make cards, I never tried to justify my hobby as a card making thing, it was more of a mail art thing.
I don't know if it's a proud thing or not, but I have 4 wood storage units, 18 24"x36" poster frames, and several elfa baskets on wheels full of stamps. The amount of stamps that I have, not including individual alaphas is over 10,000. I am not going to count again to get a more current estimate.
Just recently after going through a divorce, and several other emotional messes, I've started playing with my stamps again. There have been a few moves and in those moves my stamps have gotten jumbled. I'm going to take at least 6 months to organize and foam mount my stamps so that I can use them better.
What a fun hobby though! |
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 sleepymom PeaNut PeaNut 434,726 August 2009 Posts: 54 Layouts: 0 Loc: Georgia, USA
 | Posted: 3/27/2010 10:36:02 AM
Here's an idea to catalog/index your stamps. It may be obvious but took me years to figure this one out!!!! Instead of having to ink EVERY stamp you have to index it, just put a bunch on your scanner and print that out! When I realized this, I was so happy. I was dreading inking and cleaning ALL of my stamps. Would work for wood mount and acrylic. | |
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 aufait BucketHead PeaNut 32,675 March 2002 Posts: 943 Layouts: 30 Loc: PA
 | Posted: 3/27/2010 11:25:43 AM
I have this old ugly honky big map drawer thing...a true 'found' item. The drawers are only about 4 inches deep and 3' x 4' big (said it was honkin') Every drawer is labeled on the front with themes...yes some themes have their own drawer and alphas have 2...so everything has it's place...I just don't know exactly what is in there...
I thought about the rolodex idea but some stamps are big, wont fit, and seeing only a portion wont work or me. Liked the idea of the booklet, but stamping EACH stamp made it so much less appealing! SCANNING!!! now I never thought of that!!! And I could cut apart the sets for the booklet. When this is all over and done I might remember that in one of the 'happy birthday' sets is the cutest little bird!!! and so on and so on....
number of stamps? who knows...multiply the number of 3'x4' drawers times 15, factor in little acrylic sets that stand up on end in the drawers, add the 2 small binders of unmounted alphas...I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW!
Hey Dad...got a easy sit down job for you!!!!
Val | |
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 ~crisann~ AncestralPea PeaNut 302,923 March 2007 Posts: 4,143 Layouts: 47 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA.
 | Posted: 3/27/2010 7:50:37 PM
i have not even 2 shoe boxes full of stamps-1 half full of wood-mounted stamps/1 full of acrylic stamps... maybe, i'll just leave them as is...
nah, that'd take all the fun out of it...
like i said a few weeks ago, this challenge is making me realize how much of some things/how little of other things i have... |
organize your stuff challenge (master thread).
dysfunctionally-functional
and yes, he did use the ladder...
"some day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful." -sigmund freud
there are some things that you should just not have to hear for the first time on facebook.
"our lives at times seem a study in contrast... love & hate, birth & death, right & wrong... everything seen in absolutes of black & white. too often we are not aware that it is the shades of grey that add depth & meaning to the starkness of those extremes" -ansel adams
crisann
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 clbrownlee PeaAddict PeaNut 217,817 August 2005 Posts: 1,029 Layouts: 56 Loc: Gilbert Az
 | Posted: 3/28/2010 5:09:59 AM
I had my studio walls covered with my handmade stamp racks. They worked well until I started buying Expedits and my wall space disappeared. You can see photos of my stamp racks in my Gallery. Now I need to figure out how to store my wooden stamps in the Expedits. | |
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 Martine-peatime PeaNut PeaNut 311,657 April 2007 Posts: 103 Layouts: 1 Loc: Netherlands
 | Posted: 3/28/2010 9:01:09 AM
Hello all!
It has been a while since I've been posting, do prepare for a long post....
First, Angel97701 I hope your eye gets better, even slowly.
And then for stamps week. I really thought I had not that many stamps. I've several clear stampsets, a couple of woodmounted ones, a bunch of unmounted rubber thingies, some cling, a random number of selfinkining stamps, quite a few foam ones and some rolling stamps. And they don't take up a very large amount of space. Counting would be a piece of cake in my twisted brain. Seeing the amount of stamps mentioned in your post I thought I was a nicely behaving girl with a decent stash, maybe even a small stash.
Well, after counting all individual stamps from every clear set and the loose clear stamps, my total was already a stunning 448.
My woodmounted stamps: another 166
My cling and unmounted rubberstamps: another 86
Add to that 20 selfinking stamps, 17 rollerstamps (including selfinking), 20 foamstamps and 46 foammounted rubber stamps and the picture becomes clear. That's already 803 stamps...
There was this calender clear set that I had not count in with the others and that gave me another 38 stamps.
Then I had to count the alphas too... There where a total of 5 sets with in total 255 stamps (that makes 1096 so far)
At that point I realised there where three foamstampsets from making memories lurking in my rolling tote. So the flower and shape set gave me another 48 stamps. The other is a dubbel sides alpha set, so I counted just one side: another 43...
And that ladies, gives me a staggering total of *drumroll* 1187 stamps... WHAT? 1187? And that is without the three letterpress type of alpha sets that have several stamps of the same letter. I just will NOT count them in...
Never thought I had that many stamps. Counting all the stamps in the sets made me aware of all those tiny 'all occasion' stamps in each set. I definately have to make a inventory to make the best out of all this. And I was thinking like sleepymom too: scanning, cut and paste in a document and than split up in categories. Duplicate some images when there are more categories a stamp fits in. When I have that done, I will probably print all out and make some indexholder/ rolodex cards so I can flip through in real life.
Told you it would be a long post!
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 Martine-peatime PeaNut PeaNut 311,657 April 2007 Posts: 103 Layouts: 1 Loc: Netherlands
 | Posted: 3/28/2010 9:38:18 AM
Uhm.. are you all still there? Forgot to tell about storing all of this...
I used to store my clearstamps in cheap pageprotectors in a binder. Didn't worked well. The sets were too heavy for the protectors. And the smaller sets and loose stamps didn't get in there the way I would like them to be.
I now have them standing up in a box, so I can flip though the sets easily. Hoarder me had kept most packaging, so most sets are back in the original packaging again, some are in the protectors. The larger sets are standing in a cd-box, the smaller ones are standing in a smaller wooden holder. The acryl blocks are with them. I hope this works.
My unmounted stamps/ cling stamps are in these boxes too, when I still had the packaging.
The other unmounted ones I have bought some day in a factorysale. They sold the rubber without the foam/ wood/ cling mounting. Just the image. I bought a lot, mount them on easy mount and had them in a zip-lock bag. I have come up with a system to store them better, but I'm not sure it is what I love. I stamped as much images I could fit on a paper, themed. Then I laminated the paper. The stamps cling on to the laminated paper very well. I made a couple of holes and they fit a 2 ring binder. They have to stay there for now. Maybe I will make new ones but smaller so they will fit in the cd box storage thing also...
All the other stamps have been put in stackable containers that are meant to put prepared meat products in. (I do not know if that is the correct translation... sliced meat to put on your sandwich...)
It workes for me, so they stay where they are.
I used to store the Christmas themed stamps apart, but decided to work them in the systems I have. With the upcoming index this would be more efficient 'cause these stamp sets have stamps that can be used more often, like stars.
All the stamps (except the MM ones) are fitting in just one of the cubes of my Expedit. I use them on almost every project, so easy acces was a must!
Another long post, sorry about that. Have a nice Sunday!
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 elinemom BucketHead PeaNut 164,531 August 2004 Posts: 855 Layouts: 46 Loc: Among dust bunnies
 | Posted: 3/28/2010 3:31:34 PM
I went to IKEA yesterday (it's only 15 min away, but feels like a huge trip, because we don't have a car). Well, this weekend we had a rental
It meant a trip to IKEA (and several other shops - the car was full and the wallet empty afterwards ).
Today I put up a Billy book case and proceeded to fill it up with unorganized junk... On the other hand, my book case for scrapbooking stuff and my desk is looking very nice! Just need to avert my eyes until the Billy book case is organized...
My stamps are now purged (meaning my daughter snatched them and put them in her room ), organized, indexed and put away! I'm THRILLED!
For the index I simply stamped all stamps on white letter sized paper, organized by set. Then I put the papers in a repurposed 3-ring binder in page protectors. I have the binder within reach from where I scrap.
I have kept all alphabet stamps in a basket for easy access.
I realized I had quite a few stamps for making journaling spots. They're now living with my paper journaling spots.
Stamp sets are tucked away in a closet. I might want to change this, but for now I'm happy to have them out of the way. They're wood mounted and BULKY.
Foam stamps and acrylic stamps I put in old Target $1 document holders and placed on a shelf in my book case.
Final tally: 309 stamps plus 11 alphabet sets ( refused to count them... lazy...), so about 600 all in all? And now I might actually use them
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 artist-ju PeaNut PeaNut 310,234 April 2007 Posts: 348 Layouts: 29 Loc: saskatchewan ,canada
 | Posted: 3/28/2010 5:56:34 PM
All right, I couldn't stand it anymore, I had to know. I was going to count them as I cataloged them, but I'll probably be cataloging into next year so here is the number........wait for it.......wait for it........ and.......ok, its 2404! Not as bad as I thought, I thought I had at least 3000, but I'm sure it won't take long seeing as I acquired over 1300 in two years!!! well I'm not really shocked as I love stamps. Have I really used all of them? No, but now that I've refreshed my memory I probably will and once I have them together where they are supposed to be they will get more use. So there you have it, its not as many as some people, cough, KatyLouWho, cough, (just kidding, I'm just jealous) it is definitely a lot to catalog. |
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 leighanne1941 Ancient Ancestor of Pea PeaNut 288,236 December 2006 Posts: 6,962 Layouts: 225
 | Posted: 3/28/2010 6:50:03 PM
I don't have a ton of stamps but I rarely use the ones I do have because they are spread all over the house. I've been looking forward and fearing this week all at the same time LOL. I plan on doing the stamping in my notebook that I keep all my ideas in. It's going to take a while but I plan on starting tomorrow as long as I don't go into labour tonight |
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 LilacGal PeaAddict PeaNut 44,256 August 2002 Posts: 1,128 Layouts: 13 Loc: Mooresville, NC
 | Posted: 3/28/2010 7:56:53 PM
Stamps are one area I never got as into, so I don't have very many. I have all my acrylic ones in a 12x12 drawer in my Isis cart. The few wood mounted I have (4 maybe plus one bitty alphabet set) are in a small drawer on my desk with my acrylic stamp mounts. My ink is the exact same way. Because I have so little, this storage system actually works quite well for me so I don't think I'll change it. | |
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 Just me in MI Jeepers PEApers PeaNut 178,994 November 2004 Posts: 2,432 Layouts: 0 Loc: MICHIGAN
 | Posted: 3/28/2010 9:03:05 PM
WOW, You all have a bunch of stamps. I am pea-green with envy, lol, for having alot to choose from, NOT, for having to sort them though. Good luck finding solutions. | |
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 elinemom BucketHead PeaNut 164,531 August 2004 Posts: 855 Layouts: 46 Loc: Among dust bunnies
 | Posted: 3/29/2010 11:28:06 AM
Oh, Leigh Ann - how exciting! Even stamps need to play second fiddle to such big events!
I stamped the images for my index while watching TV. My simple index didn't require thought, so mixing stamping and TV worked well. As for alphabets, I din't need an image of all stamps, so I just stamped a, b, and c upper and lower case and 1, 2, and 3 if the set included numbers. Just enough to remind me of the alphabet's style and size.
Jen - lol, we needed to know, too. I was awaiting your count |
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 artist-ju PeaNut PeaNut 310,234 April 2007 Posts: 348 Layouts: 29 Loc: saskatchewan ,canada
 | Posted: 3/29/2010 11:58:49 AM
Good idea Hilde, not stamping all the letters, glad I didn't start that yet or else I probably would have stamped them all. Would you stamp the punctuation marks though? |
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 Nana Pam Make a Wish! PeaNut 88,439 May 2003 Posts: 240 Layouts: 0 Loc: Suburbs of Atlanta, GA
 | Posted: 3/29/2010 1:56:39 PM
Hi Ladies,
I am not actually part of this challange but I have been lurking, admiring your work & trying to find time to work on mine. I just wanted to jump in for a minute & warn those of you who are looking to store your stamps with Ez-mount foam in CD cases. Do not put the cling mount directly on the CD case. There is some kind of chemical reaction that happens over time that can decrease it's stickiness. It happened to a few of mine & I've read about other people having the same problem. The folks at Sunday International, makers of Ez-mount actually sell a liner card that fits in CD cases to protect against this. Like many of you I had too many sets to be able to afford these liners. I got advice from stamper on another forum though so I thoought I'd pass it on. I went to a stationary store a bought a ream of 80 lb glossy cardstock. I found that I could get 2 full size liners and 2 smaller liners for small sets out of each sheet. Problem solved plus I have plenty of glossy cardstock left over for future sets or stamping projects.
I hope this helps you avoid future problems, I wish I had done it a litter sooner but I'm good now, just not as organized as I'd like to be. I have my rubber unmounted stamps in CD cases in M's 4 drawer cubes. I have acrylics in binders but I am not happy with that because they are too bulky & I tend to forget about them. I am planning on moving them to CD cases & filing them with my other unmounted. I started an index when I first started stamping but did not keep up with it so I have a lot of work to do there.
Good luck with your organizing.
Pam | |
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