Monday, April 30, 2012

How do you organize your stampin supplies?

One of my co-workers is very pregnant and we are having a baby shower today so I needed a quickie card to give away - so I took a whisper white base card,  found some old DSP to match the  litte onesie I got for her- I think this is from making memories- then I looked for Stampin Up cardstock to match.  Punched a large scallop circle from Old Olve, then circle cut a 2 inch prett in pink CS then 1 3/4 circle was punched in white and then embossed with polka dot EF.  Then I looked around for something I could put in the center and I did not have any appropriate SU image but I found this PTI Baby button bits set so I used the teddy from that and the sentiment and tied the old olive stampin up scalloped edge ribbon and it was a fairly quick and easy card that looks dynamite in person.  But you could put any baby image in the center that you have that you color to match your paper.   I raised the teddy and the scallop circle with dimensionals to add some dimension and used strips of the DSP on plain white bag that I got from a store to match and a custom gift bag and card! 

I have been trying to reorganize my stamping space and I am finding I have to keep all my similar used items together.  I tried doing it by color, companies or style but I keep finding that when I need a baby card, I am looking all around for things and it's hard to remember which company had what.  I do have a corner for all current Stampin UP but whenever I need to make a card for an occasion, I am always scrambling.  I spend more time looking for things that I am sure I have rather than really stamping.  I now decided that I am going to have a stackable drawers or project boxes for everything else- one for BABY and keep all baby things together and keep BRIDAL in another, MASCULINE, BOYS, HALLOWEEN, etc.  What do you think? How do you organize your stamping supplies?

Lynda

4 comments:

Chris Smith said...

I wonder if it is common to reorganize as we face a new catalog year. I was thinking the same thing yesterday as I sorted through current, retiring, and even some already retired sets. I've always kept my sets in their original cases but when I looked at the space the retiring birthday greetings case takes up I'm being sorely tempted to start mixing them up according to theme. I started to mix them up, got cold feet, and then decided my time would be better spent stamping...

PS the baby card is adorable!

Anonymous said...

It takes a little effort and time, but if you start doing this every time you buy a set, you'll always be able to find the stamp you need. Create two 3-ring notebooks--one for Stamp Sentiments and one for Stamp Images. Within each notebook label some dividers with categories you like. E.g. In my sentiments book, I have "Baby" "Graduation" "Birthday" "Thank You" etc. In my images book, I have "Animals" "Baby" "Flourishes" and several categories of "Flowers". Then, one time only, before you shelve your stamp set, stamp each image or sentiment on a sheet that goes in the category that is most fitting. Then write in the name of the stamp set that it came from. Later on when you need a thank you sentiment or a particular image, you can just go to your notebook and see instantly which ones you have on hand and what size they are, so you'll know if they will fit on the card you have planned. Takes some time, but saves more.
Hope this helps.
DonnaBee

Queenie Jeannie said...

I'm a hobby Demo, so perhaps it's easier for me because I don't have to keep things separate!! Some good advice I was given when I first started stamping, is making a stamp book. It's a HUGE 3 ring binder that I stamp all my sets on computer paper, title the set and write the DVD case # for each. (All my sets are unmounted). That way, when I want to do a project, I open up my binder and can easily find the set(s) I'm looking for!

To see my room, go here: http://happy-jeannie.blogspot.it/2012/04/little-before-after-shots.html

Good luck!!

PS: Would you consider removing the word verification?? It's a real bugger!

Unknown said...

Hi Lynda, it's Jennifer Yoon from Virginia. I keep my stamps in clear file box tubs by style category, and the tubs on open shelving 15" deep. My styles are Christmas/Fall, Asian, Baby, Cute, Elegant, Rugged, Words/Labels, and Alphabets. I also keep punches, die, embossing folder, brads/ribbon with the stamps, but only if they can only be used for one style. Ex. snow flake punch or die goes in the Christmas tub. Then I have a wall section for all my other punches, accessories, card stock & designer paper, and all coloring medium including embossing powders. I use 15" deep shelving for everything and 14-15" deep boxes or stacking plastic trays 3" high.

I also keep a card catalog of all my stamp sets and all supplies in one card box. I take a photo of each stamp set, print it out on 4x6 paper, and write the name on top. I group these in the same style category as the stamps. Photo is much faster than stamping each stamp. I update the photo inventory about once a year. I also punch out 4x6 cards with any new punches or dies and add these to my card catalog. I religiously update the card catalog for supplies, such as re-inkers, markers, stamp pad, designer paper, and ribbon/brads. It's so hard to remember what I have for these small supplies, and not duplicate an order. I put a green sticker on a stamp set that I have used and believe I have broken even on it. Thanks for your posts, I love your ideas and enthusiasm.