Here at Anything But Cute we love to see all the seasoned and expert mixed media artists, but we also want to encourage those who are just getting their feet wet. Our design team will always be on the lookout for these exceptional artists, and you just never know when we might be giving out something special to a talented mixed media newcomer.
Make sure to put 'newbie' after your name in the linky so we know who you are.
(new refers to 'new to mixed media' NOT 'new to our challenge')
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Thursday, November 26, 2015

Spotlight Artist - Niki - Stamp Storage

Hello all you wonderful crafty people! Niki here, I would like to show you a practical way to store some of your unmounted stamps. I know there are many websites, videos, and DIY's out there about stamp storage but wanted to share my inexpensive way of storing stamps. We want to make room for any Christmas art supplies you receive from Santa right? I hope you enjoy and may be share how you store your stamps as well. Lets begin!

Supplies Needed: Unmounted Stamps (of course!)
                           3 Ring Binder
                           Card Stock (any light colors will work)
                           Hole punch
                           Clear Trading Card Binder Pages (like how Baseball cards are stored)
                           Clear Sheet Protectors
                           Black Archival Ink


I started with a white 3 ring binder because I have numerous ones from college. The trading card binder pages were purchased at Staples on sale (I think it was $3.99).


I also had the sheet protectors on hand because of my college classes as well. These are not expensive to buy though if you don't have any on hand.


We all have Cardstock in our stash, so that should be an easy item. I used pale green for this binder. You can use black but then the stamps won't really show up unless you use white ink to stamp with.

Now to put it all together. I started with the Clear Trading Card pages for the single stamps I have. Just slip the stamps into the slot and you are done! Easy peasy! I leave the clear plastic covers on the stamps because a lot of them have the design of the stamp on one side. You also have the choice of using a piece of your cardstock to stamp the image onto and slip that into the sleeve as well so you have an easy visual of your stamps in their slots.


Now for the Clear Page Protectors. First, pick out what stamps you want for this "page" of your stamp storage book. I used BoBunny's butterfly stamps and Gates. Using your black Archival ink, stamp all of the images onto your cardstock piece. Make sure you stamp the images in the place that you want to keep them, so that your stamps line up with the stamped image when the page is turned (this is the green page that you see in the picture below).  

Hole punch your cardstock so that it fits into your binder. Now we use the page protector-I cut 2 sides of the page protector, leaving the side that has the holes intact. This allows you easy access to your stamps without having to dig to the bottom of the page protector and have to pull the stamp out. Attach the clear plastic backing from your stamps to the inside back page protector (I used a clear tape gun, you can see the white strips in the picture below.


Than attach the pre-stamped clear plastic backing to the inside front of the page protector.


When you close this page, you should have 3 parts-the front of the page protector, your stamps, and the back of the page protector. Then your cardstock page with the stamped images.


Now you have your first page done and your stamps are easy to get to, as well as being organized! Pat yourself on the back! You can categorize your stamps if you would like. I don't have a huge amount (yet), so I just kept the stamps together by the company.


Keep adding pages and watch your stamp collection get organized in a relatively short amount of time! I did this binder while watching TV. The part that took the longest was stamping the image onto the green cardstock.


This is the stamped image on the green cardstock. I did cut out the make/name of the stamp set and glued it to my cardstock. I did this because it will be easy for me to remember where the stamp came from in case I need a new one.


Now your binder is full and ready to go! This also makes it easy to take your stamps to crops, or a crafty get-together with your friends. Win, win right?


I hope you enjoyed this post and maybe learned something new. We all have our ways of storing art supplies so feel free to share how you store your stamps! Hugs and Carpe Diem! ~Niki

Remember to check out our current challenge, It's Ornamental, hosted by the lovely Cec! Now that your stamps are organized and easy to get to, you know what Holiday stamps you have. Happy Holidays!

20 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this super storage and organizing idea!! Love it!
    Samra

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  2. Great ideas there Niki, well done! Hugs, Valerie

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  3. What a great post, Niki! I've always thought I would like to keep my clear stamps in a binder, and have seen lots of ways to do this, but none like this with the protectors open. What a great idea to keep your stamps really handy. ( I hated the thought of having to slide them out of a page protector.) I have one of those Inkadinkadoo binders and my stamps always get stuck in the the sleeves, so those stamps never get used. And I have 2 other new binders that I never used! Poor resource management! Currently the ones I DO USE are in original packaging standing upright in boxes by manufacturer, and I just flip through them. (I'm a flipper; almost all my storage is in a flip system). I'm going to give this a try, though with all my "stray" sets--yardsale finds! Would you mind coming over and helping me out???

    Seriously informative post, and clear instructions! Well done, my friend! Hugs to you, Punkin! Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. I'll come over! Haha! We might not get much done though. Too many laughs are a good thing and work the ab muscles. :)

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  4. Terrific storage idea

    Love Chrissie xx

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  5. It's always great to see tips on storage. TFS.
    Julie x

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  6. Haha, I had to laugh at 'yet' lol, you do make me giggle hun! And boy this is genius!! Mine are all thrown in a box and it's a lucky dip usually. I love this and I'm now thinking I may have to some organising come Christmas, thank you so much for sharing this tip. Hugs, my lovely
    Georgie
    xx

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  7. This is such a fantastic idea Niki and your 'how to' is explained so well! At the moment I keep mine in Manufacturer order in boxes but I do like your idea much better - now I just have to find the time to give it a go! Great idea and great post! Hugs, Anne xx

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  8. Fabulous idea Pamellia, now if I could only find a few spare weeks with nothing to do but organize my HUGE stash of stamps that would be good. By the way I did get your thank you message. I'm sorry I have been a bad friend lately but I have been up to my elbows in samples for the next Woodware catalogue. I hope that I am forgiven.xx

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  9. Great idea, Niki!! You are so smart to have the manufacturer noted.... wish I had known that when I started last year! Great explanation also.... after you are done at Sara's, can you swing by my place, lol?!! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving - xxx Lynn

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    1. Thank you Lynn. I'll just swing by everyone's and do it for ya. Lol! Happy Hokidays!

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  10. I don't do stamping or crafts, but I love to organize and this idea is awesome! Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. :)

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    1. Thank you Linda! Warm greetings (well cold because the snow is thick here) from the USA! :)

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  11. This is such an amazing idea Doc!! Mine are all stuffed in boxes and for the most part, don't get used because I have no idea what's in there!! This will certainly fix my stamp problem. Now if I were to send you photos of my entire craft room, could you please fix everything else for me!! haha!! Great post Niki, I love seeing storage solutions. hugs :)

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  12. Great post and a wonderful idea to store your stamps, Niki! I am definitely going to visit my local office store to find some page protectors. Thank you so much, dear, it will help me a lot to organize my stamps! Hugs! x

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  13. Ooh, I really enjoyed this post, a great idea and a wonderful recycling too, thank you very much Niki!!!
    Coco xx

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    1. You are very welcome Coco! My DH is an avid baseball player and he had a sheet of the trading card pages in the office so I had that light bulb moment and knew my small stamps could work in those trading card pages.

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  14. Clever stuff! With lots of stamps, it's always good to see new ideas for frugal storage!
    Alison x

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  15. What a fabulous tutorial and such a good idea! I have to admit mine are all chucked in a box (how bad is that!) Cxx

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  16. Great idea Niki! I might have to get on board with this as I have stamps all over at present!! Thank you! ")

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