How do I organize my stamps??????

I think this is the question of the year!  I get many emails about "how do I organize my stamps?"  Well, here are a couple of VERY inexpensive solutions!

Option 1:

First, I'll show you how I've been doing it....which in the beginning was fine, but now there are so many stamps I can't remember their names to find them!  My beginnings were in a plastic drawer from Walmart!

Option 2:

Many people put their stamps in CD cases and store them on racks.  This can be a very nice system if you have the table or counter space for these.

Clear Dollar Stamps has made this system a little more appealing just this month!  Starting with January 2009 stamp sets (this will not be done for stamps released prior to January of 2009), CDS is sending a paper copy of your set, as well as a sticker sheet to adhere to your cling sheet or cd case!

You receive the sticker sheet, baggie, paper copy of stamp set, and the stamp set on a cling sheet.  When put together, they look like this:

Now, the problem becomes:  How do I know what stamp sets I have and keep them organized!  Well, I will share with you this very inexpensive system that I am switching to for 2009!

You are going to create a catalog for your stamps!

Supplies:

• 3 RIng Binder that you can decorate (or create one with your Bind-It-All), preferably one with the clear plastic cover that you can slip a decorated page in to.

• Plastic page inserts for three ring binders that 8.5x11 pieces of paper fit in to.
• Cardstocks and coordinating papers that make you feel happy!
• Punches or Nestabilities - If you have some fine, if you don't, don't worry!  Just use what you have and create a cover for your 3 ring binder that is appealing to you!  You can create a page tab with anything!
• Card Categories Stamp Set

..................................................................................................................................

1.  First I decorated my binder cover and slipped it in the front.  I just typed Clear Dollar Stamps in my Word document and printed it out for my cover.

2.  Make your page tabs.

 

a.  Punch out a scalloped circle and a coordinating circle that fits nicely inside the scalloped circle.

b.  Score (or fold) the scalloped circle down the middle and fold in half.

c.  Cut your white circle in half.

d.  Tape or sew the white half circle to your green tab piece.

e.  Stamp your category from Card Categories on your tab.  If you like your handwriting you can write it!

 

Both look perfectly fine! 

 

Next, use some kind of double tape (I used the Scor-tape 1/4 inch) to adhere mine to the plastic page insert.

3.  Make your catalog pages.

You will need:

a.  Envelopes or CD cases.  I am choosing these envelopes, because I don't have a lot of room to store cd case holders or cds, plus the envelopes allow you to store them in a file cabinet, portable file box to take to friend's houses, and is less expensive!

b.  Permanent marker and tape.

c. Copy paper or cardstock to create your catalog page on.

 

Take your paper insert that comes with your Clear Dollar Stamps stamp set and tape it to your catalog page.  Assign the stamp set an envelope or CD case number and letter (if you are putting multiple stamp set in one envelope).  Write the number and letter by the stamp set paper.  Write the number and letter with permanent marker on the plastic baggie the stamp set comes in.  Slip the stamp set in the envelope or into the CD case.

 

 

If you are using CD cases, write the number on the CD case and store in a rack in numerical order.  If you are using the envelope system.  File your envelopes in numerical order in a file cabinet or a small file box that you can store in a closet, under a bed, and take with you everywhere you go!

 

What if you don't have papers to tape to your catalog pages?  Make your own!

 

Take some two sided tape and tape your entire cling sheet to a block.  Ink it up as usual and stamp, creating a perfect replica of your stamps!  If you don't have a block large enough, lay the stamp set on the cling sheet face up, press your ink pad on the top of your stamps, lay your paper on top of that, and press with the largest block you have (moving the block around until you have covered all the areas)....does that make sense?  Or you can do it one by one, oh my!

What are the benefits of your catalog system?

• Your friends, and you, can easily look through your stamps without dragging them all out.

• You can take your book with you to plan your next stamping project as you sit at the doctor or your kid's events. 

• If you use the envelope system, you are highly portable!

• You can place sample cards by your stamp sets to inspire you later and remind you of what you have created!

I hope this helps with your New Year organizing endeavors!

Hope your day is filled with blessings and stamping galore!

Lori

Comments

[Kathleen]

Love this idea - whaen I get a spare month I might actually embark on it!
Can I ask what you do with your wood-mounted stamps re storage? I have lots of these and they are currently stored in plastic boxes in a rather higgledy-piggledy fashion.
Kathleen

[tamera]

Instead of a 3 ring binder, I stamp the images in a bound scrapbook that I purchased for no more than 3$ at a local "Big Lots" store. I do not have to worry about pages tearing or binders that take up too much room. It is 8"x8" and fits nicely on the bookcase with my stamps.

[Debbie]

I just got a vertical cd rack from Collection etc. to organize my clear stamps in cd cases. At the same time I am making a binder with images of all my stamps. I have so many stamps and can't remember what all I have. This way I can go throught the binder to get ideas and I can also take it with me when I go shopping, so I don't buy two alike. It is taking time to get this done. But will be so worth it when it is done. Had a binder years ago. Used it all the time. Some how I let it go and didn't keep up with putting images of the new stamps I was buying in it. Or removing those I sold or traded.

Debbie

[Jacqueline]

I was going to try storing some UM stamps in CD cases but they won't stick. Maybe I'll give this system a try.

[Cindy Fowler]

I have been working on cataloging all of my stamps and was excited to see that so many other people are doing this right now! I have been keeping my stamps in lingere boxes and am now creating a binder with stamped images of all my stamps. Then I had my husband create a searchable database so that I could enter a description of each stamp! Very exciting!

[Gena Porter]

This idea is great! Although I haven't organized the stamps yet, i did with the help of my daughter stamp out all the images and catagorized, so now I at least know what stamps I have. Truthfully, until I did this, i forgot I had most of the stamps I have. Now onto organizing!!

[Debbie Warwick]

This is absolutely brilliant! I'm going your route for sure & thanks so much for solving MY dilemma!

[Becky Sorensen]

Cool idea.

[Debbie Fisher]

I just found this blog and joined. Love the ideas!

[Diane Noble]

Whoo-hoo! So timely! After my last order of Clear Dollar stamps, I discovered I was organizationally challenged. Can't find what I'm looking for with so many. This is a great idea. Love the notebook plan over the CD case plan...like seeing the stamped out images. Perfect. Thanks for sharing

[Marilyn]

What a clever and decoartive idea!

Thank you... storage space is always a problem for all stampers... now I will have a neat and tidy workspace.

Lori, you rock gal! Marilyn

[Jan Hunnicutt]

What a neat way to organize your stamps, I think I like the binder the best! I have mine in 4"x6" plastic boxes that are labeled. I think the binder you made would be a neat idea for cataloging all our stamped images so we didn't have to look through the piles of boxes.

[Cassie]

This is so awesome and incredibly helpful! Just yesterday I was trying to figure out the best way to keep all my sets organized. Thanks so much!