what to do with all that wood?

[kaloso05]

I've just started unmounting my stamps... love it!!.. and now I find that I'm getting a wonderful collection of little wooden blocks. I really don't want to throw them away because I'm convinced that as soon as I do then someone will come up with a wonderful use for them. So my question is, has anyone come up with that wonderful use yet or should I just bite the bullet and throw them away? After all, one of the main reasons I'm unmounting is to save space!!

[pdunbar9255]

Funny, I have been thinking about the same thing. Since it is illegal and immoral for me to throw away ANYTHING that is not garbage we all have to come up with a good idea so anyone and everyone out there, put on the thinking caps?? Michael STrong will come up with something, he is the recycle king !!

[barbcowan]

For the ones that I removed the stamps, the blocks go into our burn pile. For the ones that never saw rubber, just collecting in the basement.

[brightrachel1008]

okay, i unmounted my stamps and it was very easy for me to get the sticky icky off. just throw them in a bucket with detergent and let them soak for 20 minutes, or until you feel like dealing with them. then come back and scrape it off with a butter knife, or a regular knife, anything metal will work. you really don't have to scrape, it comes off very easily. i'm using some for handles, for alcohol ink pads. just sealing the wood and adding velcro, then you can attach your felt pieces. i'm also going to use it again, with velcro for my homemade stampin spots. maybe you can alter a large one into one of those picture holders that you just clip a photo to. or maybe a paper weight for your crafting desk. give a bg stamp block to a friend to use as a "husband tenderizer" gotta get me one of those.

[identicaltriplets]

I have seen some people sell them because people do use these. I wouldn't recommend throwing them away. Edited to add that I think if they are large enough, some preschools, daycares, churches, etc., might like to have them for crafts or for the kids to play with and build.

[ilinacrouse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by identicaltriplets

I have seen some people sell them because people do use these. I wouldn't recommend throwing them away. Edited to add that I think if they are large enough, some preschools, daycares, churches, etc., might like to have them for crafts or for the kids to play with and build.

I agree, don't throw away , there may be other people who will use them and other organizations i.e. pre-school, churches for the children's ministry etc. If they are new you can even sell them on ebay, people are looking for wood mounts for their unmounted stamps

[Kiko]

People are always looking for wood blocks. Post them on the Buy/Sell/Trade forum, even if you just price them enough to cover your postage costs. I could even use a few myself, so there's almost always a demand for them. Great way to recycle!

[jones_susan1996]

My boys love playing with mine! Building and stacking and lining them up to make roads and...

[LaLatty]

I would sell your wood blocks. I know I have purchased 'lots' of SU wood blocks off of ebay in the past. I use the wood blocks to remount any stamps that I purchase that are heavily stained or that are not mounted the way I like them. Just a thought

[craftyteaspoon]

I listed mine here on the swap/trade/sell spot and gave them to someone who could use them. some I kept and attached velcro to use with alcohol inks -- a square of felt is cheap and works great to apply the ink. Some I gave to a pre-k teacher for the kids to use as building blocks. And my DS used a bunch for a school project; he had to make a 3-D model of a Mars research station. The blocks made perfect little buildings. I'm also attempting to stick a couple together and make a mini photo ledge thing.

[stampinfrog]

I have let my grandchildren use them to play with. They build,stack and run their cars and trucks over them.My granddaughter even made a tower for her princess doll.But of course the dragon came and knocked it down(her Little brother)!

[ktdid]

The art teacher at my school uses them for projects. Just a thought if you don't want to deal with selling and shipping them.

[kaloso05]

hmmm... great ideas ladies! I think I'll put them into a bin and let my 2 year old use then for building blocks. That way I don't have to feel guilty about throwing them away, and they'll be out of my scrapping space.

[kitkate]

What a pity that SU don't give an option to purchase sets without the wood instead of us having to find a way to dispose of it. I wonder if they know their wooden blocks are used as building blocks, art projects, etc. Without the wood it would be cheaper to buy too. I wonder why they don't give this option? More and more people are going for UM's because of space.

[Stamp Guru]

Donate them to a school!! I'm a teacher (1st and 2nd grades) and know first hand any kindergarten or preschool teacher would love to have a box full of them!

[SandyKayd]

Yes, I sure hope SU gets the message - they are behind the times! My grandson uses some of the blocks to build with and make "roads". I gave the ones with sticky on them to a friend who has a little fireplace outside to use for kindling. I kept some of the un-used ones in case I sell any and the person actually wants the wood! I just sold a set and that was the case.

[lacyquilter]

PLEASE don't throw them away!!!

I LOVE my wood mounted stamps and when I occasionally purchase unmounted rubber, am looking for blocks to put it on. Please contact me if you have wood blocks (all sizes) you want to get rid of. I am happy to pay for shipping. I have also purchased blocks in the past if the price is right. Thanks a bunch.

[tina van-eick]

OK, I love unmounted stamps...however, like many crafters I don't want to throw anything away. Including the excess rubber that I cut away from the stamps that I buy from Stampin' Up. So what do I do? I use the wood that comes with the stamps and use the excess rubber to create hand made stamps on that wood. It's fun, it's extra 'free stamps', and it's a blast! The new stamps are especially great for backgrounds. Have fun - get creative!

[charming]

alter them the same way you would alter the perfectly cube shaped ones...
as an example:
add m, e,r,r,y to 5 of them
and c,h,r,i,s,t,m,a,s, to 9 more and
VOILA!
home decor display just standing on the shelf
or put in some eyehooks and make a wall hanging or individual ornaments

glue behind a coaster to make it stand up
saw a slit in them and use for displaying photos or cards
or for use as placecard holders if they are tiny.
decorate to suit...

seriously... the burn [email protected]#[email protected]#!%$#%!

I almost fell off my chair!

[sprtchick]

recycle bin

[rockfestqueen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by charming

alter them the same way you would alter the perfectly cube shaped ones...
as an example:
add m, e,r,r,y to 5 of them
and c,h,r,i,s,t,m,a,s, to 9 more and
VOILA!
home decor display just standing on the shelf
or put in some eyehooks and make a wall hanging or individual ornaments

glue behind a coaster to make it stand up
saw a slit in them and use for displaying photos or cards
or for use as placecard holders if they are tiny.
decorate to suit...

seriously... the burn [email protected]#[email protected]#!%$#%!

I almost fell off my chair!

I totally agree...alter them!! Then show us what you did, of course

[stampingwriter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitkate

What a pity that SU don't give an option to purchase sets without the wood instead of us having to find a way to dispose of it. I wonder if they know their wooden blocks are used as building blocks, art projects, etc. Without the wood it would be cheaper to buy too. I wonder why they don't give this option? More and more people are going for UM's because of space.

I couldn't agree more!

[charming]

I forgot I posted here
when I checked my subscribed threads list,
.....the title made me fall over laughing...
I was just at a "gfriends only" bridal shower on the weekend
( no old ladies or moms to keep us polite...)
so my mind is still in the gutter!
woohoo!
juvenile but funny!

[Londonblue]

contact your local childcare resources..they have a recycle bin that daycare homes can come and get stuff from. They make excellent toys. Kids can't get enough blocks for building towers

[sweetiepeas]

What about making alphabet blocks. You get to do some crafting and they get to do some learning.

[greatgrammy]

I gave a bag to a friend who is the den mother for her son's scout troop. They cleaned up the sticky mess and used them for a woodburning project.

[Cyndi Evans]

I was on this team for months and I told them they should offer people the option of get their stamps in unmounted. I know that the D.O.T.S. (they have a new name) only has their stamps in unmounted as well as T.A.C. I have most of my SU stamps on wood still. AS it is I have over 150 cd cases full of ums. I have been stamping for over 15 years. I have a new MOTTO this summer. USE WHAT I HAVE NO MORE BUYING... Cyndi PS I belong to several YAHOO groups and when I have gotten rid of SU wood (I often don't mount the smaller sayings or background stamps as I cut them up) ..I offer them to the first person that emails me ...for free except for the shipping. IT is a nice thing to do especially for a new stamper...

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandyKayd

Yes, I sure hope SU gets the message - they are behind the times! My grandson uses some of the blocks to build with and make "roads". I gave the ones with sticky on them to a friend who has a little fireplace outside to use for kindling. I kept some of the un-used ones in case I sell any and the person actually wants the wood! I just sold a set and that was the case.

[southsider]

I've been out of the loop for awhile, obviously, cause I don't know why everyone is unmounting their stamps. Please enlighten me!

[Ldyglfr62]

Most people unmount their stamps because they take up less space than wood-mounted stamps. I currently have over 200 SU sets. 200 CD cases take up a whole lot less space than 200 SU clam shell cases.

Quote:

Originally Posted by southsider

I've been out of the loop for awhile, obviously, cause I don't know why everyone is unmounting their stamps. Please enlighten me!

[cowgirlwil]

I don't want to sound dumb but I am pretty new to stamping. If you unmount your stamps how do you use them? I am assuming you use them on the clear blocks. If that is what you do then how do you make them stick to the block? Thanks for any info. I have so much to learn, but I love every minute of it.

[snowcountry311]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lacyquilter

PLEASE don't throw them away!!!

I LOVE my wood mounted stamps and when I occasionally purchase unmounted rubber, am looking for blocks to put it on. Please contact me if you have wood blocks (all sizes) you want to get rid of. I am happy to pay for shipping. I have also purchased blocks in the past if the price is right. Thanks a bunch.

same here ! I WOULD LOVE THEM.WILL PAY SHIPPING

[glitterbabe]

I made blocks for my 2 yr old granddaughter. I stamped a different image on each side, colored it in and printed the ID on it (e.g. cat, boy, girl, etc.) I used some puff paint on some for extra texture. She just loved it. When she stopped playing with them, I sold them at a garage sale - and they went, too!

[twinwillowsfarm]

Bonfire! Grab and marshmallows and hotdogs... woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sprtchick]

ohhhhhhhhhh twinwillowfarm...I love your way of thinking...

[Leanne in Hawaii]

Quote:

Originally Posted by charming

alter them the same way you would alter the perfectly cube shaped ones...
as an example:
add m, e,r,r,y to 5 of them
and c,h,r,i,s,t,m,a,s, to 9 more and
VOILA!
home decor display just standing on the shelf
or put in some eyehooks and make a wall hanging or individual ornaments

glue behind a coaster to make it stand up
saw a slit in them and use for displaying photos or cards
or for use as placecard holders if they are tiny.
decorate to suit...

seriously... the burn [email protected]#[email protected]#!%$#%!

I almost fell off my chair!

On the backside put different letters so you have them on display all year long. Put eye hooks on the top and tie ribbon or add some greenery.
Make the letters spell out your last name or any word that makes you happy.

Glue magnets on the sides and make them into train cars for the kids to pull along.

When you go to your next craft fair, find the people that do wood crafts and offer the blocks to them for their crafting.

Decorate and then mount a photo and some ribbon to hang it by as a gift for Gramas (or whomever). They can hang it on their wall or set it on a table.

Decorate or paint a bunch of them to match. Stack them up and drill a hole through the center. Thread a lighting kit through and make a bedside lamp for your childs room.
Decorate each block and put one letter of your child's name per block and then hang them above their bed or above their doorway to personalize thier space. If you also put eye hooks in the bottom, you can hang necklaces, beads, butterflies ect.

Use a stencil to make a drawing (like an animal) on both sides and then carve or whiddle the animal. The blocks are the right thickness and usually carve pretty easy. This would be a great Boy Scout or GIRL Scout project for another badge.

Use the same stencil idea, but this time you're only going to carve the front of the block. Use a design that matches your wallpaper or some other architectural design and use it as a corner piece for window trim, decorative corner on a door frame.
If you look at your local Home Depot or other home improvement store, they sell the corner decorations for bucks. Let those be an example of what to carve.
I say carve but you can use a dremel just the same.
The possibilities are only limited to your own creativity.
Have fun!

[barbcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by charming

seriously... the burn [email protected]#[email protected]#!%$#%!

I almost fell off my chair!

Sorry, but I unmounted close to 250 sets & didn't have the patience to "unstick" all the blocks. Only the sticky blocks made it to the burn pile for our fireplace. I still have a whole boatload of pristine virgin blocks that even I won't burn (since there must be something I can use them for)

[campstamper03]

There is the possibility of using the new rubon vinyl letters, that SU is coming out with, on some of the big blocks, just a thought.

[Pipergirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by identicaltriplets

I have seen some people sell them because people do use these. I wouldn't recommend throwing them away. Edited to add that I think if they are large enough, some preschools, daycares, churches, etc., might like to have them for crafts or for the kids to play with and build.

I let my 3 year old play with them as building blocks- he loved all the different sizes too. I also wrapped a few up as mini X-mas presents to decorate under a small X-mas tree.

[backerma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdunbar9255

Funny, I have been thinking about the same thing. Since it is illegal and immoral for me to throw away ANYTHING that is not garbage we all have to come up with a good idea so anyone and everyone out there, put on the thinking caps?? Michael STrong will come up with something, he is the recycle king !!

I forwarded this thread to Michael, and he has already worked up something that he will show me tomorrow when I see him. I'll post after I get home from seeing it.

[stampin_in_atlas]

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbcowan

For the ones that I removed the stamps, the blocks go into our burn pile. For the ones that never saw rubber, just collecting in the basement.

Agh! The Burn Pile? In today's day in age of recycling and reusing and conserving resources??? Oh dear!!

I think the ideas of how to reuse them for projects are a much better option. How about drilling a hole halfway through and putting a swirled wire in them to make a picture holder. You could alter the block somehow. It would be cute...