Unmounted stamps - How to store?

[LynneH]

My unmounted rubber stamp collection is growing and I'd really appreciate some inexpensive ways to store them please. Currently I have them in 12x12 boxes but they aren't exactly cheap. My stamps are all on EZ Mount and I understand you have to be careful of storing them on some types of acetate but are they any 12x12 sheets of this that you can use? I could then layer them up. Or is there a better way of storing them.
I have just joined the Graphicus Guild so I'm sure my collection will be growing even quicker. :D
Thanks.

[Phree]

Hi Lynne, first of all I need to say NEVER store EZ-Mount, Kling-On or U-Mount on acetate - over time it will attack the foam. What you can use is laminating pouches - the clear plastic in that does not harm the foam.

As for storage I think I have found the perfect solution - A4 storage boxes made by Tiger - the slim ones. I buy mine from Graphicus. Each box is ONLY deep enough to store 2 layers of stamps with maybe a couple of millimeters of space between when the box is closed - meaning I am not storing air space if you see what I mean.

With theme plates such as Glenda's which come with an index sheet I take one photo copy of that, if I have no index sheet then I stamp one of my own and take a copy. These 2 sheets are laid back to back in a laminating pouch and laminated. I then put that in the storage box with the stamps stuck on over the picture of that particular stamp, and on the outside with the box closed I can see the index sheet so I know exactly what stamps are in there.

Here's some pics which make it easier to see, please excuse the horrid old carpet I have in my craft room ;)

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/Phree_/StampStorageClosed.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c172/Phree_/StampStorageOpen.jpg


Here is the link for the boxes I buy - if you decide to try some make sure you get the slim ones that way when the box opens (like a book) you have one set of stamps in each side and can see exactly which stamp you want, but don't have extra space inside the box where you are in effect only storing air.

http://www.graphicus.co.uk/prodpage.asp?ProdID=2458

I should add, that another benefit of this is you know when a stamp is missing - the space in my box is because that stamp is currently on loan to my freind Jess - and that space works well to remind me where the stamp is ;)

[LynneH]

Thank you Phree that looks perfect. I don't know why I didn't look there. I guess I have been too busy looking at the stamps. LOL!
I love the laminated sheets idea. I will go and look into that as I haven't got one of those.

[LynneH]

It looks like I will be able to get the laminating stuff from WHSmiths. I am going into town on Wednesday so I can get that then. I will order the boxes from Grapicus when I have worked out how many I need.
It looks like I will have a fun day soon stamping, laminating and storing!
Thanks again Phree, problem solved.

[Mrs D]

I think Phree's idea is excellent so I don't know if you're interested in another idea which I use. I have bought some ring binder wallets which my unmounted stamps stick to and which I can put the index sheet in or, like Phree, I stamp my own index sheet. These wallets can be filed into a 4 ring binder (4 is better than 2). The wallets are wide enough to store extras eg additional stamped images or leftovers etc and the ring binders can be filed on a shelf. See the link below for an example of the wallets

http://www.ryman.co.uk/Snopake-Polyfile-Ring-Binder-Wallet-A4-Clear-Single-0450200460.asp

[artysam]

great ideas both, many thanks!!
Can clear stamps be stored on laminate does anyone know?

[Phree]

Clear photopolymer stamps don't suffer from being stored on either acetate or laminted sheets. However be careful about what kind of acetate you use - I have heard of cases where a coating on the acetate came off and adhered to the back of the stamp when the stamp was peeled off the acetate. In the case I heard of the stamp owner was able to wash off the coating and restore the stamps ability to cling.

[LynneH]

Thank you Mrs D that's another good idea.

[artysam]

thanks phree.xx

[LynneH]

I've been into Lakeland and I'm now the proud owner of a laminator. Does anyone fancy a spot of stamping? I think it will take some time. :D

[Phree]

Lynne, I can offer some advice on stamping your catalogue - first of all let me say Jess and I managed to dry out an ink pad doing this! We chose to use a brand new Adirondack dye based ink pad because the ink is so easy to clean off the stamps - the pad was bought specifically for the job - I reckon it was well worth the £4 or so that we paid for the pad.

Ok onto the actual stamping and cleaning - Jess and I got together and set up a wee production line. I stamped onto regular A4 copy paper - not worrying too much if the stamp was perfectly inked as after all this was only for a catalogue image so so long as it was reasonable stuff like smudges of ink caught on the edge of the stamp didn't matter. I then stamped the stamp onto a piece of scrap to remove some of the left over ink.

The stamp was then passed to Jess to clean - she had a cleaning station set up using the lid from an A4 storage box (not the slim tough one, but those deeper boxes I think we all buy at craft events like the NEC where they sell about 5 of them for a tenner) Anyhow in the lid we had placed 2 peices of kitchen towel folded into quarters and then soaked with water till it was really soggy. To clean off the stamps Jess simply stamped the stamp onto each piece of soggy kitchen towel in turn - and then blotted it off on a dry piece of kitchen towel. The first "wet" piece took of most of the ink, so it got dirtyest fairly quickly, and the second took off the last of the ink.

Doing it this way worked a treat - mainly because as I say the Adirondack Dye inks are so easy to clean away with just water.

Even stamping alone you could still set up a similar wee production line and I bet you will be amazed just how many stamps you can stamp in an hour of stamping.

[blarf]

I've seen them stored in blank DVD boxes before too, you can put the stamped images in the plastic sleeve on the outside.

[LynneH]

Thanks for the advice Phree. I've just done the first sheet. I just picked up my black Versafine without thinking and I guess that is a bit of a waste!!!! I have one of those Adirondack pads from an TSV which I've hardly used so I will use that for the next lot.
As for the cleaning I've just bought some alcohol free baby wipes after trying Mum's when I was back home. They are a lot quicker than my usual stamp cleaner.
My first lamination wasn't very successful, it ended up wrinkly with lots of air bubbles. It was using the Graphicus printed image sheet that came with the stamps. It wasn't exactly flat but I thought the rollers would sort that out. So I stamped them all out again onto card. This was much more succesful. I think I should have bougt thicker pouches. Mine are 2x75 micron.
I've ordered some boxes from Graphicus now so hopefully they will be here soon.
I may be able to get a little helper as If hubby gets good news tomorrow he will be in such a good mood I am sure I will be able to get him to do anything. LOL!

[Phree]

Lynn, if you have an Adirondack dye ink pad - don't waste your wet wipes on cleaning the stamps! Oh and btw we used black to get the best contrast for photocopying our stamped sheets.

Just go for the soggy paper towels - honestly it WILL clean off no bother the way I suggested and is much cheaper than using up your wet wipes for a project like this.

[LynneH]

Ok Phree, I will try that tomorrow.
Thanks.

[Prudence2]

I dont't know if anyone is interested to watch this

http://timholtz.com/vid_binder.html

[Jeanette]

I dont't know if anyone is interested to watch this

http://timholtz.com/vid_binder.html


Thanks Prudence, oh to be confident enough just to dab the paint on as freely as he did. I would be freaking out :eek: