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As you know, I love to use stamps in my art journal! But, like any supply, they're difficult to use if you can't find what you're looking for. Today I thought that I would share how I store and organize my stamps. Like any organizational system, you must customize it to fit the way your brain works or it won't work for you. This system is based on how I think about my stamps.
With some exceptions (notably alphabets) I store my stamps by type:
- Foam
- Silicone
- Rubber on Wood Block
- Unmounted Rubber
- Hand Carved
- Wood
The smaller collections, like silicone — or even wood mounted — just get stuck in a drawer.
The larger collections, like hand carved, get further sub-divided. First, there are three major categories:
- Text
- Icons
- Pattern
Then there are a million minor categories. These minor categories are the ones I use for labeling my storage containers:
I use a lot of plastic boxes of all shapes and sizes to store my stamps. And I make sure to label every single box clearly so that I can easily grab what I'm looking for. I also use some unconventional storage, like Altoid tins, for small collections.
I would never tell anybody to store their stamps the way that I do. My stamp storage system has evolved over time as a reflection of the way I work. When I'm creating, what am I looking for? I say things like:
- I need that flower stamp I carved a few years ago.
- I want to create a background pattern.
- I need some text here.
Therefore, this system makes sense. Stamps are stored based on my thought process and how I mentally catalogue what I've got in my stash. Whatever system you have has to work the way your brain works, otherwise you'll never find anything!
If you don't have weekend plans, how about getting out your stamps and using them in your art journal?!
Just a thought.
Thanks for stopping by!
Julie, I read that hand carved stamps (the pink ones) can stick to the plastic used for plastic containers, drawers, etc. (some chemical reaction happens) I lined my drawers, but I see you have stamps in plastic boxes. Is what I read just wrong?
Julie, I read that hand carved stamps (the pink ones) can stick to the plastic used for plastic containers, drawers, etc. (some chemical reaction happens) I lined my drawers, but I see you have stamps in plastic boxes. Is what I read just wrong?
Julie, I read that hand carved stamps (the pink ones) can stick to the plastic used for plastic containers, drawers, etc. (some chemical reaction happens) I lined my drawers, but I see you have stamps in plastic boxes. Is what I read just wrong?
Julie, I read that hand carved stamps (the pink ones) can stick to the plastic used for plastic containers, drawers, etc. (some chemical reaction happens) I lined my drawers, but I see you have stamps in plastic boxes. Is what I read just wrong?
Julie, I read that hand carved stamps (the pink ones) can stick to the plastic used for plastic containers, drawers, etc. (some chemical reaction happens) I lined my drawers, but I see you have stamps in plastic boxes. Is what I read just wrong?
Julie, I read that hand carved stamps (the pink ones) can stick to the plastic used for plastic containers, drawers, etc. (some chemical reaction happens) I lined my drawers, but I see you have stamps in plastic boxes. Is what I read just wrong?
Julie, I read that hand carved stamps (the pink ones) can stick to the plastic used for plastic containers, drawers, etc. (some chemical reaction happens) I lined my drawers, but I see you have stamps in plastic boxes. Is what I read just wrong?
I would assume whatever you read is correct, but it hasnt happened to me yet. #fingerscrossed
I would assume whatever you read is correct, but it hasnt happened to me yet. #fingerscrossed
I would assume whatever you read is correct, but it hasnt happened to me yet. #fingerscrossed
I would assume whatever you read is correct, but it hasnt happened to me yet. #fingerscrossed
I would assume whatever you read is correct, but it hasnt happened to me yet. #fingerscrossed
I would assume whatever you read is correct, but it hasnt happened to me yet. #fingerscrossed
I would assume whatever you read is correct, but it hasnt happened to me yet. #fingerscrossed
Nan – I learned that years ago also, but I believe they were talking specifically about the clear, acrylic boxes/trays – sometimes they are sold as photo frames. THOSE have to be lined, at least on the bottom, with some sort of paper or cardstock. The acrylic, I was told and the white and pink vinyl (?) that we carve stamps from react to one another chemically and the vinyl will eventually soften up to the point of sticking to the acrylic. Hope this helps.
Nan – I learned that years ago also, but I believe they were talking specifically about the clear, acrylic boxes/trays – sometimes they are sold as photo frames. THOSE have to be lined, at least on the bottom, with some sort of paper or cardstock. The acrylic, I was told and the white and pink vinyl (?) that we carve stamps from react to one another chemically and the vinyl will eventually soften up to the point of sticking to the acrylic. Hope this helps.
Nan – I learned that years ago also, but I believe they were talking specifically about the clear, acrylic boxes/trays – sometimes they are sold as photo frames. THOSE have to be lined, at least on the bottom, with some sort of paper or cardstock. The acrylic, I was told and the white and pink vinyl (?) that we carve stamps from react to one another chemically and the vinyl will eventually soften up to the point of sticking to the acrylic. Hope this helps.
Nan – I learned that years ago also, but I believe they were talking specifically about the clear, acrylic boxes/trays – sometimes they are sold as photo frames. THOSE have to be lined, at least on the bottom, with some sort of paper or cardstock. The acrylic, I was told and the white and pink vinyl (?) that we carve stamps from react to one another chemically and the vinyl will eventually soften up to the point of sticking to the acrylic. Hope this helps.
Nan – I learned that years ago also, but I believe they were talking specifically about the clear, acrylic boxes/trays – sometimes they are sold as photo frames. THOSE have to be lined, at least on the bottom, with some sort of paper or cardstock. The acrylic, I was told and the white and pink vinyl (?) that we carve stamps from react to one another chemically and the vinyl will eventually soften up to the point of sticking to the acrylic. Hope this helps.
Nan – I learned that years ago also, but I believe they were talking specifically about the clear, acrylic boxes/trays – sometimes they are sold as photo frames. THOSE have to be lined, at least on the bottom, with some sort of paper or cardstock. The acrylic, I was told and the white and pink vinyl (?) that we carve stamps from react to one another chemically and the vinyl will eventually soften up to the point of sticking to the acrylic. Hope this helps.
Nan – I learned that years ago also, but I believe they were talking specifically about the clear, acrylic boxes/trays – sometimes they are sold as photo frames. THOSE have to be lined, at least on the bottom, with some sort of paper or cardstock. The acrylic, I was told and the white and pink vinyl (?) that we carve stamps from react to one another chemically and the vinyl will eventually soften up to the point of sticking to the acrylic. Hope this helps.
I have found that the stamps stick together if I don’t wrap them in wax paper.
I have found that the stamps stick together if I don’t wrap them in wax paper.
I have found that the stamps stick together if I don’t wrap them in wax paper.
I have found that the stamps stick together if I don’t wrap them in wax paper.
I have found that the stamps stick together if I don’t wrap them in wax paper.
I have found that the stamps stick together if I don’t wrap them in wax paper.
I have found that the stamps stick together if I don’t wrap them in wax paper.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I’ll surely try to implement them yourself.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I’ll surely try to implement them yourself.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I’ll surely try to implement them yourself.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I’ll surely try to implement them yourself.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I’ll surely try to implement them yourself.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I’ll surely try to implement them yourself.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I’ll surely try to implement them yourself.