Storage Solutions: Stamps

I have received a number of questions recently about my storage choices for the scrapbook room, so I thought it would be helpful to address them here.  The first item on the list is stamp storage.  Recently, I was inspired to organize my stamps for the following reasons:

1. to be sure about what I have already purchased

2. so I will use them more

3. for ease of cleanup

*disclaimer* this is not my original idea.  I made some adjustments, but basically I copied Reyanna Klein's system that she shared on her blog.  Go here to check out her adorable video!

First, I began by going to the local Container Store and purchasing various sizes of their "photo storage pages" ($1.99/10).  I purchased one pack each of the following sizes: 3.5 x 5, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, and negative sleeves (remember negatives? HA.)

I also grabbed some off-white cardstock from my stash that comes with my page protectors.  There were two reasons for this.  First, they're not too thick that they will take up too much space in the sleeve.  Secondly, I chose them because I know I will always have some on hand (10 pages come with every set of page protectors).

Let's get to the project now, shall we?

I ended up with the following six sections in my binder:

Section 1: alphas, numbers, sentiments

I made a tabbed divider for each section using various scrapbook paper from my stash.

Section 2: dates, journaling, frames

The circular tabs are from Creative Cafe and the woodgrain letters are these from Studio Calico.

Section 3: images

For this section, I picked up a pack of the baseball card holders from the office supply store.

Section 4: borders

Section 5: backgrounds

Section 6: room to grow :)

Finally, when I had all of the interior pages done, I purchased a cute album from Target ($10 with a giftcard) to hold all of my newly organized stamps.

If you made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read through this!  Please let me know what you think in the comment section.  I will draw a winner on Monday to receive two of each type of page protector that will facilitate the organization of your stamps.

Comments

[Kimberly Garofolo]

Super cool! LOVE it! :)
Thanks for sharing! xx
Loves,
K

[Jennifer Harris]

Great system - can't wait to see everything you organize!

[Rachel Z]

Your book is gorgeous. I would like to know how you did the divider pages . . . chipboard?

[Marina]

What a clever idea, using neg holders for border strips.
I'll have to investigate whether we have all those different sizes of photo holders here.
Love you binder-what a fun project.

[Kizungaa]

Oh how cool! Now I hate I didn't flip through it while we were together...this is a neat idea for my acrylics...what do you have to offer for wooden stamps?
;)

[Jenn]

Angela-I don't own very many rubber stamps. Basically, I make them into cling stamps by taking the rubber part off and using them with removable adhesive on an acrylic block.

Rachel Z.-I made the dividers with two pieces of thick cardstock. The front side is thick patterned paper, and the back side is swiss dot cardstock from Bazzill. They seem to work well, but if the binder were going to be handled by more than one person, I would have sandwiched a piece of chipboard in the middle of the patterned papers and sewn around the edges for more support.

Thanks for visiting!

[www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawmumRXpWqxmxforDkw-ipKxVWuegA1i_dA]

love love love this jenn!! and so need to do this with my ever expanding sc stamps ;o) you clever girl you ;o)

[www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawmumRXpWqxmxforDkw-ipKxVWuegA1i_dA]

oh jenn was going to ask about the bigger sets of sc alphas? do they fit in here? you know noah, natalee etc?

[Jenn]

The larger stamp sets (like the months stamps and alphabets) fit into the 8 x 10 sized sleeves.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1108778146]

This is a great system! I love how cute your dividers are! :) Thanks Rey and Jenn! :)

[jenniferalfonso.blogspot.com]

I love this! Using the negative sleeve pocket is genius! I'm going to start working on organizing my stamps right now. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful project!

[Jackie Ashton]

Love this idea - have got my folders just need to sort my stamps now and find some various size card folders.

[papirdiva.wordpress.com]

I love how you've managed to categorize your stamps. So far, I've only put them in photo pockets and into a binder... Will see if I can find a better way later, but... After not finding photo pockets here in Norway, I had to resort to crop in style's clear pages.

[Kirsty Riach]

I love this and want to start making this straight away....only problem is finding the pages in the UK, tough work! May just have to crack out my new sewing machine to make my own, lol!

[Kimber-Leigh]

super cute jenn! if i ever have to reevaluate my current method, i'll be copying this!

[Sasha]

Awesome ..

[caroline hancock]

i LOVE this and i love the papers you have used too
i really need to sort my stamps out, mine are in a tub on my desk right now

[Vera]

wondering how big your binder is... 8.5x11 or 12x12?

[Erin M]

I've been wanting to do something similar. Thanks for posting--now I know where to begin!

[Jenn]

Vera, it's an 8.5 x 11 binder from Target's school supply section.

[Lindsay]

I love this!