UPDATE 3/17/23 – I STILL STORE MY STAMPS THE SAME WAY TODAY AS DESCRIBED BELOW.  HOWEVER, I  NO LONGER USE BINDERS WITH PAPER COPIES OF MY IMAGE REFERENCE SHEETS.  I HAVE SINCE SCANNED ALL OF MY IMAGE REFERENCE SHEETS AND THESE DIGITAL “SHEETS” ARE NOW ORGANIZED IN “FOLDERS” ON MY COMPUTER.  (THE FOLDERS ARE THE SAME AS THE DIVIDER CATEGORIES FROM THE BINDERS, AND THE STAMP SETS ARE CROSS REFERENCED THE SAME WAY AS DESCRIBED BELOW.) 

I’d like to share my system for stamp storage with you!

(I’m going to show you the types of containers I use for storing my stamps and my system for easily locating all of my stamps when I need them for projects.  My system is easily adapted for using any containers you either prefer or may have on hand.  Here’s what I use …)

This is the corner of my craft room where all of my stamps are located.  (You can click on the photo to get a larger view.)

I have 4 different types of containers where stamps are stored:  BINDER POUCH, VHS CASE, CD CASE, and BOX (with number).

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The first type of container is a BINDER POUCH filed alphabetically in baskets on the shelf unit.  These binder pouches (actually called binder pockets) are from Staples and are the perfect size for my Gina K Designs stamp sets and for most of the other larger unmounted sets I have.  I use Gina K binder sheets to store my unmounted rubber and acrylic stamps, and they fit in these pouches perfectly  The pouches have velcro to keep the stamps or sheets of stamps from falling out.  I make a label with the name of the stamp set and company for the outside and a copy of the stamp images for inside.  (I would have used all clear pouches, but usually Staples carries more of the colored ones at a given time.)

      

      

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The rest of my stamps are stored on the tall VHS storage shelf or in the media cabinet.

      

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The second type of container is a VHS case filed alphabetically and stored on the tall VHS storage shelf.  (I had more than would fit on this shelf so they continue into the cabinet to the right.)  All of my wood-mounted Stampin’ Up stamps are stored in these cases.  I ordered these cases online where they came with flat interiors (no hub).  I put labels containing the names of the sets on the spines of the cases.

      

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The third type of container I use is a CD Jewel case filed alphabetically in the media cabinet.  I bought these at Staples.  They need to be the standard (thicker) cases, not the slim ones.  The inner part that normally holds the CD in place is removed and the stamps stick to the inside. A picture of the stamp set is copied (and reduced if necessary) and attached to the front.  I put labels containing the names of the sets and the companies that make them on the spines of the cases.  These are for smaller sets of unmounted stamps.

      

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The fourth type of container I use is a plastic box that is often used for school supplies.  I purchased a bunch of these at Walmart when they had all of their back to school stuff out. These boxes have numbers on them.  These contain miscellaneous wood-mounted stamps.  I don’t worry about separating these stamps by theme; I just fill up a box and move on to the next one.

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Here’s how my system works.

All of my stamp images are located in this “Stamp Index” binder.  I’ve divided the binder into the categories I use when looking for stamps.

   

I either stamp the actual image on the page in the binder, or I use a copy of the label or image sheet that came with the stamp set.  I make a note on the sheet of the location  where I store the stamp.

Here’s an example of a page in the binder.

For this one, I copied the original image sheet that came with the stamp set.  I made multiple copies of this sheet and placed them in all of the categories that I would look when looking for these stamps. This particular sheet can be found in the following sections:  flowers, leaves, encouragement/sympathy, and GKD sets (alphabetical).

When I need a stamp, I look in the category in the notebook to find the image I want.  Then I note where it is stored (binder pouch, vhs case, cd case, or box#).  Then I simply find the corresponding container and get to work.

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Here is a card sample and how I would have found the stamps to create it:

If I wanted to make this Christmas card, I would first look in the binder in the Christmas section.  I would flip through the pages until I found the image I wanted to work with.

   

The deer image is on this page.  The sheet tells me it’s in a binder pouch and is in a set called “Christmas Silhouettes” so I’d go to the baskets and pull the alphabetically filed pouch with that label.

In addition to the deer stamp, I also need the sentiment stamp to create the background.  I found that in the Christmas section in the binder as well.

The sheet containing the stamp I want says this set is in a VHS case and is part of a Stampin’ Up set called “Star Santa” so I’d go to the shelf and find it alphabetically.

   

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Here’s another sample card.

This is a birthday card so I’d look in the birthday section for my stamps.  (This owl could also be found in the “Birds” section.)

  

I can see that this stamp set is in a CD case and is called “Birthday Hoot” so I’d find it in the cabinet filed alphabetically.

      

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Another example:

This card required a number of stamps, but if I were just looking for the pumpkin stamp, I’d look in the fall section of the binder.

   

This is an example of an image I stamped directly on the page in the binder.  Next to the image, it says it is in Box 14 so I’d go to the box labeled 14, and this wood-mounted stamp will be in there.

   

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Another one:

This is another Christmas card so I’d look in the Christmas section in the binder.  The santa image is in box 19.  Notice that all of the Christmas stamps on this page are stored in different boxes (which contain non-Christmas stamps as well).  The number next to the image in the binder makes it easy to find this particular stamp regardless of the theme or category.

   

   

To find the greeting stamp, I’d find it in the Christmas section of the binder as well.

According to the sheet, this one is in a CD case.

   

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A final example:

The images on this card would be filed under Miscellaneous in my binder.  (It would also be in the birthday section.)

         

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This system makes it very easy to locate stamps quickly.  Browsing through the binder in each section also helps me to remember what stamps I have.  It does require a little work when I first purchase a stamp or set, however.  A sheet needs to be added to the binder in all of the sections that would help me find it later.  I also need to prepare a label.  However, once it’s categorized and “filed” in the appropriate container, it is easy to locate.

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Thanks for checking out my post!