Stamp Inventory and Storage

I have a lot of stamps from many different companies and many different formats (wood, cling, clear etc) and have some that have never touched ink because I forgot that I had them!
Previously all of my wood mount and cling stamps (mostly SU) were in a Sterlite cart, while my clear stamps were in binders. But then my binder pages started coming out and the wood and cling stamps were neglected. I started to set up a Rolodex style inventory.. but that was too much work to be honest. So this is what I ended up with after going through a lot of blogs and message board posts about stamp organization... and it works for me!

The cover is made out of chipboard that my curtains were folded around and some binder rings:

 

Inside each stamp set is stamped onto a simple sheet of computer paper (cut in half) and labeled with the Manufacturer, Stamp Name, and a number. (click on image to make it bigger)

The clear stamp sets are in CD or DVD cases depending on size (SU Cling come in DVD cases already, so I purchased some extras for my other large sets). The stamp sheets with just a number tell me that they are in CD cases, a "D" before the number stands for DVD case, and a "W" tells me that it is wood mount. The wood mount stamps are in the SU clam cases and also are numbered, with exception of my wood Christmas stamps which are all together in a small bin.

The CD and DVD cases are in these boxes from Amazon and are stored in a closet behind my workspace. I need to get a couple more boxes!

It is hard to see in the next picture, but here is an example of the numbered CD cases

And the wood stamps are in bins on the same shelf of the closet. 

Eventually I will organize the stamp inventory sheets by category.. but for now it is already so much easier to find my stamps, and I have been using the wood mounts more now that I see them with all of the rest of my stamps!

ETA*** I found the link for the stamp organization that mine is based off of! http://sillyleanndesigns.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-process-and-how-my-organization.html

Megan's 6th Birthday Mini Album - Finally!

I started on this mini-album MONTHS ago and just finished it this weekend! I bought a bunch of the American Crafts Dear Lizzy - Spring Collection and started covering a Maya Road mini-album (+ a few extra pages cut from chipboard) with the patterned paper and the fabric "paper". After a few hours spent cutting and adhering I was burnt out and set the project aside. I was finally motivated to work on the album and got pictures and embellishments added! The only supplies NOT American Crafts is the buttons (SU), the "Celebrate" title (KI Memories, scribbles), and misc ribbon from my stash.

 

  

I only took a couple of pictures of the inside pages... this is not all of them.

Mother's Day Gift

Does this count for a Make it Monday challenge if I made it on Sunday? Probably not, but I actually used the Selective Inking technique demonstrated in this week's video! I also stamped inside of my card, though it is not anywhere near as pretty as Erin Lincoln's card.

I purchased these Vera Bradley item's for my Mom for Mother's Day and wanted to make a coordinating card. I used multiple stamp sets (all PTI though) and inks (PTI and Memento) on PTI CS for the floral background. When I was done with the background I was not sure where to put the sentiment...  so I dug through my dies and found the Tea for Two label die (I have never used it...) and it was the perfect size! Then I went through my new stamp catalog (pictures and post on it to come) and found the perfect sentiment, but it was a long one. So, I carefully inked up "Happy" first, when I was done stamping it I cleaned off my stamp real good, and used scotch tape to cover up the "Happy" and "Day" so that I could ink up "Mother's", once the ink was on I peeled off the tape and stamped "Mother's" in the middle. "Day" was easy since it was on the end and I could ink it up on it's own.
Before adding the ribbon and tag I decided that the background needed a little something else, so I broke out my score-tape and some Martha Stewart glitter and made a glitter border around the background. Once the ribbon and tag were adhered, I popped the panel up on SU dimensionals on the card base which was made out of the same PTI CS.
I stamped a little more on the inside of the card and then put everything in a gift bag. I am not really thrilled with how the gift bag turned out, but Mom loved it.

Personality Layout

I can not believe that I forgot to post this last week! I completed another layout using the same layout template as my Sweet Sisters layout. This layout uses the American Crafts: Dear Lizzy Spring Collection from last year

Sweet Sisters

This layout was for two challenges. One a personal challenge to use my stash, and one was for the Two Peas in a Bucket 4x6 Photo Love course for March. All paper supplies were from my stash, purchased a couple of years ago at CKC- Kansas City. I think that it was My Minds Eye. The butterfly stamp is from Inkadinkado, circle stamp from Papertrey Ink, Ink from Momento, Butterfly die is from Stampin Up.

Megan's 4th Birthday Layout - Revised

Thank you all for your feedback on Megan's Birthday layout! I took your suggestions, and added a pearl blingy swirl to the upper right corner. I did not have the right size/ shape in the clear bling, so the pink pearls had to do. I like it much better now. and bonus.. I think that i found the right spot in my craft room for photographing my layouts!

Megan's 4th Birthday Layout

I actually finished a layout this past weekend, but never posted it! I need to figure out the lighting in my craft room, and the best way to photograph my layouts.. but here it is!

I wanted to play around with the clustering look that I love on other people's layouts and this is what I came up with. I made the tulle rosette and added a Papertrey Ink button

And then added more buttons (and bling) next to her name

I think that it needs something else on the top right of the page. It does not feel balanced to me... any suggestions?

Kids craft table

A couple of weeks ago I saw a Facebook post about a local school, that had recently been sold, selling off a bunch of furniture. I swung by while Megan was in ballet class and picked up 2 kids desks (classic metal with laminate wood top/ $2.00 each) and a large kids table for $5. This thing has a solid wood top and two cubbies. I had no clue if the table would fit in my craft room, but if not I was only out $5.

I had to do some rearranging (the dresser that was under the ribbon rack is now in one of the closets) but the table fits perfectly! Here are some pictures of the girls working on Birthday cards for a couple of friends.

The kid's art supplies are in the pink and green bins to the left of their table. I just picked up some round  pink storage ottomans (from Target) that are the perfect height for the girls to sit on at this table and will add some more storage to the room.

Baby Shower Gift

Finally got back in my craft room this weekend in order to make a baby gift for a friend. I stamped these onesies, added some cute little coordinating pants, and made a card. I also gave her a big box of diapers, but you do not need a picture of those! All supplies are Papertrey Ink except for the owl, butterfly and birds stamps.

For the card I used some new dies (Limitless Layers and the Edgers #1 Collection), score-tape and glitter, and layered some ribbon. I wish that I had added something else to the blue layer. Embossing, or maybe some score lines...

 

After I wrote my message on the inside you could see the writing under the edge detail (I only cut the front panel) so I added another layer of blue to the bottom of the card. I liked it better the first way... but I still think it looks nice! Next time I am going to cut both edges of the card at the same time so that I do not have to worry about it.

New Camera!!!!!

I just got a new toy camera, a Canon 60D! We call it the "boyfriend" (my bestie calls her's her husband.. but I already have one of those). So.. there may not be many crafty posts up the next couple of weeks as I learn how to use my awesome new boyfriend, but there should be lots of pictures! Forgive the quality/ composition/ lighting etc as I learn how to use settings other than "auto" on this amazing camera! Eric took the one of Scout.. I took the rest

 

Die storage

Last night while Eric and the girls were at swim lessons I spent some time in my craft room. I had seen a couple of great ideas for storing the PTI (and other) dies and combined them for my storage.
First I started with Tracey's idea of using magnetic vent covers and cardstock in a photo storage box. I still need to label the cardstock though. I plan on writing the name of the die on the front, and on the back I will list all of the coordinating stamp sets and their respective numbers (new stamp storage coming soon...)

After I had all of my PTI dies on the cards.. I was left with the small Cuttlebug and Sizzix dies. I wanted them in the same place, but they did not stick to the magnets. Then I remembered Dawn's storage idea for the PTI dies. I pulled out the clear acetate sheets that come with the PTI stamps, plugged in my sewing machine, and made pockets!

Now, I suppose I could have made the pockets for all of the dies, but I loved Tracey's magnet idea and it is so easy to take them on and off... so I continued. I put my embossing plates and folders behind the dies, and even added the Cuttlebug plates and embossing mats.

For my long dies I added some magnet to the side of the box...

And now all of my Cuttlebug supplies are in one spot, with room to grow.

Mailbox Key

I made this keychain/ tag for our spare mailbox key a while ago. I am not thrilled with it, and may redo it completely... but wanted to post what I made.
The #12 is our mailbox #, and on the back I put our house number in case the key gets lost.
This hangs in our pantry and gets used more frequently than the mailbox key that is on my key chain. Especially since the girls love checking the mail.

I think that I want to try a more grungy, "Tim Holtz" look on the next one... but that is so outside my comfort zone!

Valentines Card

We made up a couple more pencil valentines for some neighbors, and using the same supplies I whipped up this Valentines Card for the grown ups.

 

Pink CS is from my stash, the PP is from K&Co ( I am almost done using the stack!) The heart/ friend stamp and coordinating heart punch is from Stampin Up, and the Inks are Papertrey Ink.

Homework Time

I took these pictures last month, and just realized that I never posted them! All of my girls doing their homework...

Make It Monday #1

Papertrey Ink has started a new challenge called "Make it Mondays", and last weeks challenge was to create a Go-To Sentiment card. Click on the button below to check out this weeks challenge!

 Well.. I did not get this posted in time to qualify for the challenge, but I still wanted to show off my card!
All supplies are Papertrey Ink except for the Patterned Paper (DCWV I think...) and the Heidi Swapp flower.

Valentines

This weekend we made Valentines for Megan and Lauren's valentines parties next week. I did not want to wait until the last minute and end up having to buy them. (ummm not that that has ever happened before...)
So, while the girls were watching a movie I got everything prepped. I used the scalloped heart nestabilities to cut out a bunch (50ish) of hearts from a K&Co Valentines paper pack that I bought last year, and then used the next size down to cut out a bunch of white hearts. I also cut a bunch of white CS down to 5 x 2. These were folded and stapled so that it would hold a pencil. I did not take a clear picture of these unfortunately.
Finally I stamped a bunch of hearts in different colors using a SU stamp that my sister was kind enough to let me borrow and then punched them out with the coordinating punch.  Once all of this was done I gathered some glue, the pencils (Target and Wal-Mart), a small "Be Mine" stamp, and an ink pad (both Papertrey Ink) and got everything set up on the dining room table.

Excuse the tablecloth.. this is our craft and playdough tablecloth!

You can kind of see the folded/ stapled piece in the above picture. This is what the girls wrote the To/ From lines on.

Then they stamped the "Be Mine" sentiment on the white hearts

Then they got to glue together all of the hearts

And then I attached them to the folded backing...

 and added the pencils!