YOUR INPUT NEEDED! what table do you stamp on and why!
 

I finally decided to clear out the "guest" room that was only filled with junk, and move all my stamping stuff in there.
We painted, I cleaned the carpet, and started moving stuff in. I have what I feel is a lot of stamps and papers, and its only a 10' by 12' room. There are 6 plastic carts, one 3 high bookshelf, and now a Billy bookcase (think tall) from IKEA full of stuff. I am wanting a table to stamp on. The local stores have the plastic white banquet tables, which are OK, but big. I usually stamp solo, but 2 -3 times a month a few (1-2) girls come over to stamp with me. I was thinking of a "gateleg table" that could be expanded when others come, or folded down if we need to move an air matress for the kids to sleep on when company is in their bed. I am worried that it won't be steady or sturdy enough to stamp on. Wobbles and shakes are not good for your stamping! I can live with the white plastic banquet table if that is what works best, especially since it can be taken down if need be, but love the idea of a small table that expands. I wanted to have it in the middle of the room when stamping, I don't like looking at a wall when stamping, but put it to the side when not in use. Was considering a gateleg table from IKEA, they have 2 styles.
SOOOOOO - give me your input - what do you stamp on and why do you like/dislike it???

I use my DH's big old kitchen table that he got at a yard sale for 15 bucks 35 years ago. You need something that won't wobble and is sort of even.

I use a composite table with legs that fold up(the table top is one solid piece) that I bought at Costco about 5 years ago. I just set it up in the middle of my stamp room/guest room and then put it away in a closet if we have guests staying that need the futon in that room. It works great for dual-purpose craft rooms and it's a pretty heavy solid table(no shakes or give to it).

I use a 100 year old antique Butcher's table that is 6ft long. I got this table for free from a building being torn down 21 years ago. Every thing I own in my craft room and my house is antique, so my table works great and takes the abuse.

I use a table from Ikea. The top is glass so it wipes down easily with a bit of Windex. The legs are A-frame with storage on 2 shelves each to hold boxes of dies and such.

It's on my blog if you want to see it. :)

I have this custom made table--

http://www.traceystables.com/products/

I am very short--4'10"--and I need something that I can work at comfortably. Regular tables just kill my back from the poor ergonomics. These are not cheap, but my back is worth it!

I also have a piece of scrap countertop about 8 feet long that is mounted against the wall at sitting height. There is an electrical outlet strip mounted a few inches above the countertop, with 5? 6? electrical outlets about a foot apart. When I have crafting friends over, we can all have heat guns/glue guns/sewing machines/etc. plugged in and ready to go.

I use a 6 foot banquet table and I love it. I got mine at sam's club and they had a 4ft one exactly like it but I wanted the bigger one with lots of space :D.

I use a drafting table. Mostly it stays in the flat position, but I do like to raise it up when I'm doing alot of coloring. It's much easier on my shoulders/back than hunching over.

My table was made for me. I wanted it to roll so I could reposition it to clean. Not that that happens much. It's made with a formica countertop piece from Lowes and has shelves underneath. I also put towel racks on the sides to hold punches.

I have a desk with a formica top that DH's dad made about 35 years ago. It's BIG and I love it! It's also VERY solid and I get good impressions, unlike those plastic tables that aren't smooth in texture or the top is uneven. I like those brown folding tables better than the plastic ones--they even come in 4 ft. sizes.

My room is only 11x13, and I didn't want to stamp looking at a wall either. Plus, I have a weird thing about having my back to a room--even in restaurants and such! I put the side of my desk against the wall and it sticks out into the middle. That way i didn't waste floor space either! Anyway...If you want to see pix of how I arranged things, look here: http://thesmilinstamper.blogspot.com...raft-room.html

I use this table from IKEA. It's a square about 35", and has two pull-out leaves that extend the length to 66" if needed. Love it!

BJURSTA table

When we redid my craft room last fall, hubby built a desk area with cupboards underneath-I think this is where I am suppose to stamp lol- but I have a tendency to have too much out- so I stamp/scrap at my table witch is two 8 foot counter tops put together (purchased at Ikea- with table legs as well) it was more affordable then the table I wanted! lol- and in the long run- will most likely never get damaged. I can show you a photo if you like.

I use a drafting table too. I like to stamp standing up so I needed something that could be made taller or shorter depending on how I wanted it that day. Mine also has legs that fold up so that it can be folded up and put out of the way if I need the space for something else.

I use a counter-top...I am always moving around and didn't like the lower desks where you have to sit down...I do have stools there in case I want to sit a while, but mostly I stand.
I have a dining table behind me in case I have friends or for games, etc. since it's part of the family room...but I usually end up cluttering that up with scraps and always do my *work* at the counter. It's easy to clean, a good depth, very solid and durable. :)

I have pics here: http://papercanoes.blogspot.com/2009...ping-room.html

My desk is about 7' wide. It was a scrap from our office when they tore out their built-in desks. I use Ikea desk bases under it. But then again, I craft solo, so that might not help you.

I use my mother-in-law's old dining table! I also will use my dining table. I quoted you as I found it funny that you also used a "dining" table.

My best suggestion is to get a table that is HARD and EVEN. And, if you're worried about scratching, then get one you won't care if you damage!

My stamping room is small also so I bought 2 of the 4' folding banquet tables and placed them in a "L". I use one to keep my ink pads, punches, ribbons and markers and the other is my main working area. And when I need it to teach classes, it folds up easily so I can bring it downstairs!

My wonderful dh purchased a large conference table at a used office supply store a couple years ago and it works great especially when I have friends over to stamp. I also have countertop space to work on which was installed when we moved to a different house and installed cabinets and countertop. Yes, I am spoiled.

I went to KMart, and hubby bought me a camping table...6x4'. It's in the sports section, and it was all of $38!! Works great!! Karen

I have two tables: one is a banquet table from Sams, it is 8 feet long and folds up in the middle so if I need the room for a guest room all I have to do is dig out (LOL!!) and the other is actually an old kitchen island that I rescued when my mom remodeled her kitchen. I like having the option of working either seated or sstanding.:)

Awesome feedback everyone! Cdjksss - a question on the BJURSTA table - is it sturdy? I LOVE the idea of expansion but "small" when not in use!

I wouldn't recommend the white plastic folding tables you can get at Sam's etc. they tend to be flexible and it is hard to stamp on. I bought one to use when I have more than 4 people stamping and it just didnt' work, so we squeeze at the kitchen table now.
in my craft room I have an old wooden bedroom door on top of two two drawer filing cabinets.

That's good to know about the white plastic folding tables. That is exactly what I was thinking of getting. I know we've trid using my card table, but it has foam under the vinyl and it gives.
I need to get something that I can put up and take down. Not sure what to get.

Suggestions welcome!

i'm no help here. i have an old maple antique desk that i refurbished and sit at, um, facing the wall. but the wall is my friend...he holds lots of my supplies that are within reach!! here's a couple of pics (don't mind the mess):

I use a small dining room table - it's about 3x5, maybe? It's my friend's old table. I kept bugging her to get a new set so I could buy this one off of her. It's as perfect as I predicted :)

I stamp on my buffet table only because we didnt have room in the kitchen. I also use a cutting mat that I usually have for my quilting on there. So I dont scratch the table.

Kitchen table for me. I purchased one of the plastic folding tables and I never use it anymore. I found that the surface was not really even or sturdy enough to stamp on. almost like the plastic was heated and it bowed. I do still use it however, to store my things on... it's great for when I have to do a quick clean up but know I'll get back to stamping after the company is gone ..

I have the 6ft plastic buffet type table but mine folds in half... I know my warehouse store has a 4 ft size as well.

I stamp on this FANTASTIC desk from IKEA. It's the Vika Blecket top with Vika Artur trestle legs. It retails for $159.00
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20103605
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40134371
The desk is a great surface with a light box on the right side. The trestle legs allow for storage plus they enable the desk to tilt (my preference for coloring) or to raise up /down. I have been thrilled with it for the past year now.
Good luck in finding what you're looking for.

DH used to work for HON (they make/sell office furniture/file cabinets/bookshelves/etc.) and he could get damaged goods for next to nothing. For a while the man was like a crack addict, bringing things home left and right. I stamp on an 8 ft. table (of which we have 5 more) that has a wood laminated particle board top. I guess you could call it a banquet table. Due to his addiction, I have a 3-drawer lateral, a 4-drawer lateral and a matching bookcase for storage in my craft room.

I have a cheap office desk which I work on - the pull out keyboard tray is where I keep my paper trimmers when not in use, which saves a lot of space on the desktop. I also like the side cupboard and drawers to keep all the double sided tape etc in, again off the top of the desk.
When friends come for a card making session we decamp to the dining room table which I just cover with a plastic protector.
I think at the end of the day what works best is what you're comfortable with and what fits in with your crafting life.

Best wishes

Sue
http://www.cardmaking-companion.com/...lishments.html

I stamp on a wood desk. Plastic tables will give you problems with good impressions. That has been my experience anyway.

Sue I find that quite brilliiant. I would never have thought of using a computer desk and the key board tray.
why I love this site.

I figured this out last night. I was cropping at a store that mostly caters to scrapbookers, so they had those white plastic tables. I ruined so much paper trying to get a good impression. I finally gave up and went over to the counter where they kept the die cut machines to stamp and it worked beautifully.

I think you really do need an inflexible surface to stamp on.

I used to stamp on a table that I made with a 6' x 24" wide shelf and table legs. When my LSS closed I was able to to score 2 of their tables that are 8 x 24" with a back splash. They had really ugly bottoms so I took my table legs off my old table and attached them to the new top. I use the other table top to sit on my tall iris carts for a counter.

I love how sturdy they are and they don't bend in the middle. Also the laminate doesn't scratch or stain. Best of all, the laminate is the same as my computer desk so it all matches.

A friend of mine bought the glossy white tables from Ikea and although they are really pretty, they are very easy to scratch. My very first stamp table was a long folding table that had too much give. It was awful.

absolutely.

I relocated from our dining room to a corner of our unfinished basement.. I'm now located in a corner with a folding, camping table that I HATE!!!! It is plastic, too small and 'gives' when I press down to stamp. I would NOT recommend getting one of those tables.. not to mention I have to take everything off of it and put it on the floor when we go camping...uuugh!!
I also am on the hunt for the perfect stamping table, and am leaning to finding an old dining room or banquet table from yardsales....
I love some of the Ikea tables, but we don't have an Ikea here, I'd have to travel to No.VA...
Keep the ideas coming...

Oh, and did I mention that the lighting in the basement sucks as well...:rolleyes:

Do you have those icky flourescent light fixtures so common in basements?
I have the long tube lighting fixtures in my studio, but I use Sylvania Sun Sticks instead of the flourescent lights. They are "true color" lights and well worth the extra few bucks. Many companies have their own version of true color tube lights.

No, I simply have the one lightbulb in the 'contractor socket' (as I call it, don't know the accurate term)... I didn't know there was such a thing as sun sticks. Do you purchase them at a place like Lowe's or Home Depot? I'll have to lookin into it, thanks for sharing..:-D

WOWSA Sus.. I LOVE your bright, cheerful space!

Thanks for all the tips on tables! We are working on redoing our hobby space to combine us into one room and have just started to look at table and/or desk options. We use the plastic tables at Craft Night at church so I knew that was what I did not want. It is so hard to get a good impression and they aren't quite as sturdy, if someone one is working at the same table it gives too easily.

Off to check out some of those links!