5 Days to an Organized Crafty Stash: Stamps

This week the My Favorite Things Design Team will be focusing on getting different areas of your crafty stash organized!  I'm looking forward to seeing all the different suggestions from the team this week as we focus on a different area each day, and we hope these solutions will inspire you to get organized as well.

You know we couldn't have all this fun without there being something in it for YOU!  There will be a different prize package offered each day -- just check the MFT Blog for all details on what you need to do in order to be eligible to win that day's prize package!  You'll also find a list of all the designers participating in today's hop HERE on the MFT Blog.

Today's area of organization is near and dear to every stamper's heart: Stamps! Knowing what you have goes a long way in allowing you to maximize your limited crafting time. Do you know what you have and where they are though? Today, the Design Team will share their systems with you!

My clear stamp sets are stored in an InterDesign Double Fridge Binz clear plastic container (measures approximately 12" wide x 15" deep x 4" tall and can be found at Bed Bath & Beyond, The Container Store, or Amazon which I've linked above). Many thanks go out to Jennifer McGuire, my organizing idol who turned many a stamper on to this great storage system!

Above, you can see how the size of large stamp sets compare to the white plastic dividers I already had (which measure 9" tall x 5-5/8" wide and are, unfortunately not being made any longer). My dividers are catagorized pretty much the same as the MFT store, with a few additions I reach for most often: 

Divider Categories:
Alphabets/Numbers, Backgrounds/Borders (Fillers-Patterns), Birdie Brown, Die Companion Stamps, Florals/Nature, Laina Lamb Design, Lisa Johnson Designs, Miss Tiina, Pure Innocence, Sentiments.

I used my label maker for the category dividers. The stamp sets are stored in MFT's Clear Storage Pockets, both Large (left) and Small (right):

Above is what a large and small stamp set looks like in the each of the storage pockets. Below shows how I trim down a very large/tall stamp set to fit into the Large Storage Pocket. When I have the retail package, I just trim that down a little to fit inside the pocket:

For my design team stamp sets (we receive first run samples of the stamp sets, before they are packaged for retail), I print out the stamp set image from the website (adding the name to the top left corner) onto inexpensive heavy (110 lb) white cardstock (Georgia-Pacific from WalMart), trim that down and insert it into the front of the package (example shown in the top left of the photo below). Alternately, you could just ink up the entire stamp set at once and stamp it onto the cardstock.

The top right of the photo below shows the back side of the stamp sets in their Large Storage Pockets. There is plenty of room for the coordinating Die-namics, extra die cuts, and stamped images behind the white cardstock insert:

The photo below shows the Small Storage Pockets and smaller stamp sets. There is still plenty of room in the back of the pocket to store the coordinating Die-namics, masks, extra die cuts:

This stamp bin sits on top of my white IKEA Alex drawer unit, between my desk (left) and IKEA Expedit black storage unit/table (right), for quick and easy access from my desk:

My larger MFT cling rubber Background Stamps (which measure a generous 5-3/4" square and won't fit into the double stamp bin above) are stored in another size of the InterDesign Fridge Binz -- the singe wide measuring approximately 8" x 15". I made divider categories here, too:

Divider Categories:
Chevron, Dots, Floral-Frilly-Patterned, Geometric, Stripes, Squares, Texture, Text/Words, Wood/Nature/Animal

In the front of the bin (lower left of the photo above) I store extra stamped backgrounds.  I label the backs of my background stamps with the SKU sticker from the retail package, when available. Otherwise, I use my label maker:

For my monthly MFT design team stamps and dies, I keep myself organized with a file box that sits on my desk, divided into each Release Countdown Day, Launch Night, Release Rewind, Monthly Challenges, etc.  Wouldn't you like to see what's behind that Next Month divider?!!  :)  Check back next Friday, January 30th!

Thanks so much for joining us today ... I look forward to seeing you each day this week, as we tackle and help you organize different areas of your crafty stash!

.

InLinkz.com

Comments

[Treece]

1.

A great craft room and storage is the key to keeping it "workable". TFS!

[doudou2106]

2.

Love your craftroom!!great organization

[Donna Polley]

3.

Great ideas.I think I can do some tweaking in my craft room.

[Marie]

4.

I love the binz idea for storing stamps. I use origami boxes I got from Target. They are just as pretty, convenient and a little less expensive. I can't wait to see what other ideas you have!

Thanks for sharing.

Blessings,
Marie

[Robin]

5.

I just started this method of organizing and I love it! Don't have as many pieces as most...but enough to keep me busy!!!

[yvonne]

6.

I use basically the same system. Works great.

[Rhandi D.]

7.

After watching Jennifer McGuire's video for organizing stamps, I now store mine the same way. It's great. After seeing this I will now get some of those smaller stamp storage envelopes for my smaller stamps from MFT. It is so helpful in letting you keep track of what you have. Thanks for your helpful ideas. I am looking forward to all the organizing ideas you will be sharing this week.

[Jen Naus]

8.

Great organization tips! I need to collect all my stamps, they are spread out everywhere.

[Debbie B]

9.

I have some of the mft storage pockets and I love them. They are great quality.

[Maria]

10.

This is something I will try,it's look fab and so tidy.
I keeping my stamps at the moment in a large folder on
stix2anything but it's very heavy and the smaller stamps
tend to fall out at times. Thank you for sharing.

[Joan VanCourt]

11.

Wow, I guess you would have to be organized to get the right countdown and release set card ready. Fantastic organization. Thanks for the tips on the divider categories.

[Sabine]

12.

love how you used the space to organize and store! awesome!

[Brenda Lee]

13.

Thanks for all the great ideas. Love how you store the stamps and dies together and also how you save the extra die cuts.

[Jennie Harper]

14.

Love your tips and your storage looks great. I definitely think it would help to individually label my sets :)

[PARKER O]

15.

Neat storage room, and I appreciate the stamp storage tips.

[Susan White]

16.

I have struggled for so long to get organized. I love this idea, it is similar to my current storage solution. I definitely need to get some storage bags.

[Kristy Carpenter]

17.

Organizing tips are always welcome! My products seems to be always in a state of flux - trying one thing then another. Thanks for sharing!

[Marilyn Cruz]

18.

This is my resolution to be organized before I buy more stamps. Has it worked. ...well at least it was a plan. But for real I need to start.

[Donna Hitz]

19.

Love how you keep your "countdown" file on your desk to keep you organized! Love your Ikea storage shelving. Unfortunately we don't have IKEA yet!!

[KIM A]

20.

So loving all the amazing storage ideas! I soooo need to make a run to IKEA after seeing everyones amazing ideas!

[Sarah]

21.

I'm so glad you mentioned printing out the image. I have a collection of free with $60 stamps that have been driving me crazy. Problem solved, thx!
God's blessings,
Sarah :)

[Jessica H.]

22.

Gorgeous organization pictures!! LOVE the idea of printing out the images instead of stamping them! Much easier without the fuss of cleaning them up! Also love how you cut up the larger stamp sets to fit into your storage pocket! Thanks for the tips!

[Barb C]

23.

I'm in the process of organizing so I like all your ideas!

[CardsCookiesCarrotCake]

24.

Great craft room organization ideas. Thanks for sharing.

[Gretchen Wilson]

25.

Yes Jennifer sure did turn a lot of stampers around when it came to storing them. You have done a wonderful job sharing ideas for not so packaged stamps that don't always fit. TFS Sharon

[Marcia Taylor]

26.

What FABULOUS organization!!! Thanks for sharing.......and a special thanks to MFT for doing this very timely series!

[Marcie Smith]

27.

Love the fridge storage bin idea. Sure beats shoe boxes which is how I am storing my stamps now. These look so much more tidy, Great idea!!!!
Marcie

[Wendy Bond]

28.

I am so loving this idea! And giving me some initiative to get mine organized!