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Hey everyone! I have this question from a site member that needs your input:
Quote:
I was wondering how you store your wooden stamps that are in the plastic boxes like you would have from Stampin' Up? I have a large collection of these type of stamps and am trying to find a new way to store them.
I don't have many SU sets, and I haven't kept them in their boxes, so I'd love your help in giving her lots of ideas. Thanks!
I use the Artbin hinged, locking, boxes. Get them from Hobby Lobby with 40% off coupons and they are 13x13x3 maybe?.
The bins stack on top of each other, 3 high on the shelves, and are numbered 1, 2, 3...and then in Evernote the wood block stamps are catalogued "SU-wood1-Just a Line 6" meaning it's an SU stamp, wood mount box 1, Just a Line is the name and it has 6 stamps in the set. The evernote entry has a picture of each of the stamps.
Depending on the size of the stamps I have anywhere from 30-60 stamps per box. On the side of the wood block I write the name of the set and number of the block like 1/6, 2/6 and so on. I don't keep them separated by set - takes up too much room.
Having said all that - I only buy sets I love and don't usually sell them. They actually get used or I give them away so I'm not trying to keep everything original and pristine. I have, on occasion, sold older sets I didn't think I would use again and they sold well even without the original boxes and with the name written on the wood block so I just don't worry about it the way a demo who wanted to make her money back out of them might.
Something similar for me too, I use the Really Useful Box that's deep enough to take two layers of mounted stamps, and label the sides. Two deep means it's easy to pick stamps out without too much fuss...though the Peanuts one is like a jigsaw to fit them all back in.
I don't have any stamps that are mounted on anything, but I've seen people use this type of acrylic frames to store their wood mounts: Acrylic Box Photo Frame, Set of 6 - Walmart.com. They are apparently exactly the right depth, and they just stack them or use them as drawers. I linked to one size, but there are many sizes available, and I've seen them at dollar stores, as well...
Wow, Marge. That is quite a collection! Can I ask what the labels are on your shelves? Are they categories?
I have begun the process of unmounting my wooden stamps. They just take up too much room. I’ve been stamping for about 15 years I’ve not sold any yet, so I doubt I ever will. The clamshell cases were really difficult to store as my collection grew. Some of those have gone in the recycling bin, and I mailed a bunch off to someone on SCS for the price of postage. I bought a case of CD cases, and am almost ready to order a second case. I am amazed at how much space is opening up in my craft room as a result.
In a different home, I had a similar set-up. It was so easy to retrieve and replace items. I couldn't duplicate it but it is a requirement for any future home!
I decided when I moved a year and a half ago - to keep my absolute favorite SU wood mount sets in their original clamshell cases and store them on a bookshelf. There is a picture below (3rd Pic). At first I had them stored by category - but now I just keep them stacked by box size. All the little size containers stacked together, the medium ones, and so on. I take all my SU background stamps out of the clear containers and stack them. I write the name of the background stamp on the side.
I wanted to save space, but do not want to un-mount my SU wood sets, so I bought the 1 inch "stufftainers" and moved multiple SU wood sets into each container, and put a label on the side of each box with the name of all the sets in it. You can see those in the cube shelving below. Originally I broke apart sets and did those by category - but quickly regretted it, and spent a ridiculous amount of time piecing sets back together.
All of those individual clamshell cases for the SU wood sets just became way too much to handle as my collection grew and grew. And some of those clamshell cases, had so much spare room in them. Plus all the different sizes of them drove me bonkers. So now, in each one of those "stufftainers" stacked in the cubes, each has between 3-4 sets full SU sets inside it. I wanted to make sure I didn't have "layers" of stamps on top of one another to go through, I wanted them all stored in a single layer. These save a lot of space. I'll snap a picture tonight of what one of the Stufftainers looks like with the wood mount stamp. For both SU sets grouped together and then other brands.These pics are from over a year and a half ago - but what I do now is similar.
Last edited by Catherine773; 04-18-2018 at 01:27 PM..
Wow, Marge. That is quite a collection! Can I ask what the labels are on your shelves? Are they categories?
I have begun the process of unmounting my wooden stamps. They just take up too much room. I’ve been stamping for about 15 years I’ve not sold any yet, so I doubt I ever will. The clamshell cases were really difficult to store as my collection grew. Some of those have gone in the recycling bin, and I mailed a bunch off to someone on SCS for the price of postage. I bought a case of CD cases, and am almost ready to order a second case. I am amazed at how much space is opening up in my craft room as a result.
I was an SU demo from 2000 - 2007, so yes I have a lot of stamps!
The labels on the shelves are categories. Such as Floral, Nature, People, Occasions & Holidays, Vintage, Backgrounds, Sentiments, etc. One entire bookshelf (the whole bookshelf) is sentiments and alphabets. I get good use of those in mixed media creations.
My non-SU stamps are also stored in the SU cases (bought from someone on SCS who unmounted their collection). And a whole shelf is Stampscapes. The other non-SU ones are in mixed cases at the end of the category (for example, floral). They "masquerade" as SU because of how I store them.
I also store some embellishments, paper scraps, etc in the SU cases. They work great; don't be too quick to throw those out.
I have never unmounted. I like the feel of the wood block in my hand.
I was an SU demo from 2000 - 2007, so yes I have a lot of stamps!
The labels on the shelves are categories. Such as Floral, Nature, People, Occasions & Holidays, Vintage, Backgrounds, Sentiments, etc. One entire bookshelf (the whole bookshelf) is sentiments and alphabets. I get good use of those in mixed media creations.
My non-SU stamps are also stored in the SU cases (bought from someone on SCS who unmounted their collection). And a whole shelf is Stampscapes. The other non-SU ones are in mixed cases at the end of the category (for example, floral). They "masquerade" as SU because of how I store them.
I also store some embellishments, paper scraps, etc in the SU cases. They work great; don't be too quick to throw those out.
I have never unmounted. I like the feel of the wood block in my hand.
Thanks. I’ve saved a few boxes, but have gotten rid of way more. For once, I’m getting rid of stuff. Feels good! Embellishments are a good idea though. Maybe I’ll see what I can figure out.
Also, I love how the cd rack is holding cases in dead corner space. DH was trashing a rack like that. I rescued it and hid it in the back of my car. Then I bought a new car, temporarily put the rack in the garage, and he cleaned the garage before I rescued it. I think it may be in the shed. Trying to figure out how to check without him knowing.
Last edited by lynnewithane; 04-21-2018 at 07:45 AM..
I don't have any stamps that are mounted on anything, but I've seen people use this type of acrylic frames to store their wood mounts: Acrylic Box Photo Frame, Set of 6 - Walmart.com. They are apparently exactly the right depth, and they just stack them or use them as drawers. I linked to one size, but there are many sizes available, and I've seen them at dollar stores, as well...
Here's a pic of (some of) my stamps lol. The upper shelf in the pic is the product I was talking about.
I've been accumulating these cases as sales/budget allow because I really like the quality. Most importantly, for me, is the ease of retrieving and replacing the items. Stacks do not work for me (no place to put the ones removed to get to the one I want, too lazy - I admit it, but - to put it back in the proper order, etc.). Most drawers are too deep and it feels wasteful to only store one layer so the stacking issues arises.
An added bonus for me is that they can be easily transported.
SU stamp storage ideas
