An organizational post ...

Stamp index
I already have a sentiment index that I blogged about here but decided it would be nice to have an index of all of my stamp sets to use with my die/punch index.  I stamped all of my sets onto 80lb card stock that I cut down to 8 1/2 x 5 1/2.  I used a dye ink for easy clean up.  I wrote the name of each set in the bottom right corner and used Martha Stewart plastic dividers.

I bought a gorgeous red shagreen binder from Staples (also Martha Stewart).  It's a mini binder that is 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 and I love the small compact size.

It is easy to flip through and be inspired by the images or sentiments.
Martha Stewart organization products here

Stamp Organization
I use almost exclusively clear stamps and wanted an inexpensive way to organize them.  They usually come on an acetate sheet so decided to make a clear envelope to put the sets in.  I cut acetate (transparency film) with my paper cutter (9" x 7") and then folded it in half and scoring it well.  I used a mini stapler to adhere the sides.

If I bought the set second hand, I have stamped my own image sheet.

If the set is from another company, like Hero Arts, I just kept the cardboard backing and put that in my acetate folder:

 If the set is new, I used the label that came with the set in front of the set, still on the acetate sheet:

I used Post It's tabs to label each set.  Makes it super easy to find a set I am looking for.

 I took larger sized heavy card stock and PTI's journal tabs to separate the categories.

 Here is one of the boxes that I put the sets in and you can clearly see the tabs:

My larger box has stamp sets and my embossing folders at the back.

Die Storage and Organization

So my die collection has steadily grown due to the wonderful offerings out there, in particular from Papertrey Ink.  I originally was just keeping them in the packaging they came in but wanted to find a simple uniform solution that was properly organized.  Nichole Heady posted about her die storage on her blog here:

This inspired me to try something different from what I my haphazard storage.  I didn't find these same boxes she had and don't have enough dies to fill one anyhow but used a similar idea.  I had a plastic container from Yokoyaya, a local dollar store with all products from Japan (similar to Daiso).  This was originally a plastic container with a hinged lid to open for flour/sugar.  I took the lid off and covered the outside with patterned paper.

I used plastic cd cases that have a little flap - these are perfect and will be very durable.  I downloaded the labels from Nichole's post and they worked wonderfully.  I even popped in any extra die cuts or masks I had for the dies in the envelopes. 

I found the cases at my local Staples (Memorex CD/DVD Keepers in colour and clear for only $11.92).  They were a great deal - 50 for that price.  They had clear and also coloured.  If you wanted to buy the coloured ones, you could have different colours for different categories.

I had already made dividers with cardstock squares and simply snipped tabs that I made by cutting apart the scallops from a scalloped punch cut.  Easy!  I stapled each one to the cardboard square and staggered them.

 For some reason, it keeps on uploading upside down but I'll add this pic anyhow.  :)

 Simple easy die storage that is easily expandable.  So far, it is working wonderfully!

Oh, and to make it a little whimsical, I eve added a little bitty bird on the front decorated with black Enamel Accents on the front with a glue dot! :)  Why not, I say!?

Keeping track of your embossing folders and impression plates

Someone posted a link to this blog here that shows how to organize embossing folders and how to index them.  What a great idea!  I was inspired to create my own little index to keep track of what I have.

I used some cheap tags from Staples and wrote the name of each folder/impression plate on the bottom with an S or L for the small or large version of the impression plate as the Papertrey Ink ones have two sides.  I separated them out into Cuttlebug etc embossing folders and PTI impression plates.

By writing the name on the tag first, I didn't have to try and write on a bumpy surface.  I don't have any of those metal rings yet so just used some embossing thread to tie them all together.  (see last pic for updated shot with metal ring)  I alphabetized them and added some extra tags to the end for future ones just in case I can't find the original pack! 

 What a great idea, right?  Thanks so much to brunosmom for posting the link and to Karli for the idea!

Here they are with the metal ring I bought this afternoon.  Will be much easier to add to ...

Sentiment Index - a little organization at last!

Today's post is a little different from the usual.  This is more of an organizational post but thought I would share what works for me. 

Clear stamp storage:
I have organized all my clear stamps in a cost effective and space saving manner - two aspects that I must keep in mind in my small craft space.  I pop each set in a ziploc back (sandwich size) with a cardstock cut to A2 size and keep them all in an organized box with dividers.  On each piece of cardstock, I write the name of the set and this not only tells me what set it is but also adds a bit more stability in the bag.  For my Papertrey sets, I leave the label on its backing and pop that in with the set in the ziploc and cardstock.  I organized the sets by type - alphabets, backgrounds, nature, graphics, dies/labels, nature and sentiments (birthday and thank you are separated out).  This works well for me although I originally had them in a Japanese dollar store organizer with those plastic sheets.  The binder got too large and cumbersome even though it was nice to flip through. Here's what it looked like when I first started out with only a few sets:

 And an open view:

Indexing my sentiments:
I have been inspired by recent posts on a variety of blogs etc to create a sentiment index.  I already have a digital version thanks to a kind soul who had already created one.  That has been indispensable!  Now I have made one I can flip through to look for any sentiment I want and check it for size to use on a card, with a punch or die etc.  Love it!  I used Distress Ink or other dye inks as it is super easy to clean off so that it wouldn't take me years to stamp all the sentiments.  Some of them were stamped in multiple sections as they could go in a few different categories.

For the sections, I have: baby, birthday, Christmas, encouragement, family, friend, hello, holidays, just because, love, miscellaneous, sympathy, thanks and wedding/anniversary.  I stamped each sentiment in a cluster if there was more than one from a set and then wrote the name of the set after stamping them all.  I am so excited to use it!  I popped all the pages into a Japanese dollar store organizer with the plastic sheets.  If you can't find one of those, you could use a binder with plastic sleeves instead.

My front page has my ink colours that I stamped with a simple small stamp.  

I might even get around to doing my embossing powders one day ...

How do you organize your stamps?  How do you keep track of your sentiments, inks etc? I'd love to hear ...