Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
I have been going back to school for the past few years in MIS (Management Information Systems) and have been wanting to lean more towards programming, but do not have the experience necessary to get a job doing this. So, I am looking to create a software program on my own as a way to get some experience. I figure if I am creating something, it should be something that I would use in real life.
I am contemplating creating a stamp inventory database that would allow me to keep track of all my stamp sets and query based on certain characteristics that I am looking for. This would especially be beneficial since my stamps are stored in different places based on their packaging/company - my SU sets are all stacked up on shelves, my Unity kits are unmounted and stored in binders and my CTMH stamps are stored in their very handy little carrying case, and I might even have more stamps laying around than that.
I would like to inventory my stamp sets so that I am able to produce a quick list of all the stamps sets that have birds, or birthday cakes, or a "thank you" sentiment. That way when I make a project I don't have to dig through all my stamp sets, because as you might have guessed, I have too many to remember them all.
I am envisioning being able to track Stamp Set Name, Company, Price, Current/Retired, as well as categories such as Images (birds, flowers, trees, balloons, etc.), Greetings/Sentiments (birthday, thank you, friend, scrapbook quote, etc.), Season/Holiday (spring, fall, Halloween, Christmas, etc.). I would like to make the categories flexible so that each user can change the subcategories to meet their needs. I am also contemplating the ability to upload a photo for each set.
I am looking for some feedback:
1) Is this a program that you as a stamper think would be beneficial?
2) Are there other features/functionality that you would like to see?
3) Is there another type of software that you think would be more beneficial?
Thanks in advance for your help.
__________________ Angie
[FONT="Microsoft Sans Serif" color-"Navy"]Visit my website[/FONT]
It's a nice idea but I'd never use the software because for me I wouldn't want to take the time to enter in the information. I'd rather stamp than spend time managing/maintaining it.
A lot of stampers have excell speadsheets where they store their stamp inventory - you should consider allow importing of their existing spreadsheets. Of course their format would have to meet your format but that would be a big benefit for those that already have their information stored.
I break up my sets so even though I wouldn't use the suggested program I would need to be able to cross reference by individual stamp to the original stamp set.
I currently have a binder with all the images stamped or sticker sheets copied... With close to 500 SU sets alone (and still growing) not to mention many other sets from other companies, it can be quite time consuming to page through the binder when I am looking for an image or sentiment.
I have thought about uploading pics to one of my photo editing programs and adding "key words" so if I was looking for say a butterfly or birthday sentiment... it would pull up the list with a pic of each set that has that "key word" tagged. It would be time consuming to get them entered but soooo worth it and time saving once they were all entered, and then easily updated as I acquire :rolleyes: more sets .
I have all my stamps inventories in a database I created in Works. It was very time consuming to do it originally but easy to maintain. I input all my new stamps and can do a search by stamp name, company, image, etc.
One could take a photo of each set and save the images to Evernote, with the name of the set as the title. Multiple tags could be set for each stamp set including manufacturer and categories and attributes such as "butterfly" or "bird." I think it allows for up to a hundred tags.
I've used Evernote for a couple of years for recipes, quotes, stamping tutorials, documentation w regard to mother, tax related receipts to save for tax prep, genealogy to-dos w documentation for follow up. It's cloud based so I can access it from my iPad or laptop and it's available for other mobile platforms. It's also free w a premium version available.
I have no relationship except as a satisfied customer.
I have this program...I have been running the Organized Expressions by LNS Software Solutions for several years and I love it...I feel it needs a few updates because of new product lines, but it does everything right down to attaching a picture of the product...
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
I have every stamp I own stamped in a binder. I have SU separated and then basic categories like flowers, characters and animals, sayings...etc. Just recently, I cleared off my book case and put white stickers behind every single name of my sets. I would stack them as close to a category (almost impossible) as I could and then put them on the shelf. I then made an excel spread sheet with the title and the shelf they're on. Saves me a lot of time by narrowing down the shelf LOL. If I'm not sure of the name, I consult my stamped image book first. I tell all of my friends beginning to stamp to keep track of their images, either by scanning before they mount..etc. I wish I had the guts to unmount all of my stamps..but I just can't imagine it. I won't tell you how many SU sets I have........I'm a stamp junkie..
anything i used would also need to have a spot for year the stamp/set came out..price..retired/year..clear/wood mount...like the database i created in excel...and a way to total the original cost of my stamps...for insurance and what have you
__________________ That's not gray hair...it's brain cells escaping! Kari E-R
Databases are wonderful things once they're set up and all the data has been put into them. In other words, getting there is not half the fun. Excel is so much more sortable than it used to be, and much more user-friendly than true databases such as Access.
I keep my SU! and other wish lists in Excel, updating the spreadsheet when new catalogs come out or I'm in need of something(s). One column I added that I don't see on your list is which punches coordinate with which stamp sets; if you were to include DSP in your records, you might want to include the colors that are in each style.
I give you props for attempting this. Even thinking like a database or spreadsheet helps me keep things in order.
anything i used would also need to have a spot for year the stamp/set came out..price..retired/year..clear/wood mount...like the database i created in excel...and a way to total the original cost of my stamps...for insurance and what have you
I agree with the cost idea! Although I think for insurance, might we need 'replacement value' too? Maybe one column for each, for those of us who shop sales?
There are people who like, for example, stamp designer Kim Hughes. Some of her stamps are Paper Smooches and others are Cornish Heritage Farms. Could "Designer" be a separate designation from "Brand"/"Manufacturer"?
I would love something that ran well on my iPod Touch. This means I can have my whole stamp inventory with me when I go shopping. I have tried a few database programs, with not much success, but I will look into the ones people have suggested here.
Not bad for the cost, I was expecting it to be more expensive but I think they have gotten it just right.
And on that unless the OP is able to make something significantly different, I would think the time and effort could be used for something else.
My biggest suggestion is that I would prefer to have a one stop fill in the blank so look up the picture on the database and that completes the fields in my personal inventory.
I have all my stamps inventories in a database I created in Works. It was very time consuming to do it originally but easy to maintain. I input all my new stamps and can do a search by stamp name, company, image, etc.
Diane Would you be willing to share that database template? I need help in getting this started.
Thanks
As a spreadsheet queen I would love something like this. Access makes it easy to do a query too. This seems right up my alley! Going to go check that Organized Expressions Software out!
This is the message I got today when I tried to look up the link for the Organized Expressions Software today: lns-software.com expired on 06/01/2013 and is pending renewal or deletion. I just may have an old link. I just looked up Organized Expressions in my browser and found it! Here it is.
__________________ Gillian W.
St Louis Missouri
Last edited by Jill with a G; 06-29-2013 at 06:33 AM..
Reason: found new link
As a spreadsheet queen I would love something like this. Access makes it easy to do a query too. This seems right up my alley! Going to go check that Organized Expressions Software out!
I agree with the cost idea! Although I think for insurance, might we need 'replacement value' too? Maybe one column for each, for those of us who shop sales?
Oh my gosh! You're a Trip Sigma? I'm a Trip Sigma too!!
I wasn't sure because I did want to see a tutorial first. I couldn't get the tutorials to work, so I looked for reviews. I found this review and it was very positive.
I have put it on my shopping list. I know it would take some time to get the data loaded, but it always takes time to get the data loaded at the start of every project. Knowing that, this might be a great organizational tool if you like databases for organization.
As to the original poster of this thread: If you are learning to create your own software from school, this would be a great project or assignment, and could be a plus for your own stash and inventory. You win either way. Getting an A on the assignment because you're creating something you know a lot about first, and then creating your own software, and having a great way to organize your inventory!
Yeah it is very basic db. The tutorials are written instructions. I kept going in circles until I clicked the correct one and then it took me to the one for quilting but it looked quite straight forward.
I have a lot of my information on Excel already so was hoping to avoid having to re-enter the info.
There are a lot of peeps looking for the database. I just posted tonight and have already had 10 women saying, yes yes yes! I want the database to cross reference and allow me to insert pics. Tell how to download@! Jn
A bit late to this topic, but there's a program which tracks stamping supplies and projects. Would probably work just as well for scrapbooking too. Not too expensive, plus you get to try it all out for free first. Recommended.
Stamp Inventory Software
