Organizing your clear stamps, ribbon, and small colored embellishments

 

 And as a full-time stamper, and someone who has every stamp this company has made (and there are about 35 stamps on the stamp set Fruitful Flourishes I showed above!), I have found a solution that works for me and allows me to...

keep all my stamps in reach

keep them all organized and neat looking

makes it EASY to put them away (a big one for me!)

I keep a Clip-It system with a Clip-It top tier on one corner of a table in my studio.  It literally holds ALL of my clear Inspired Stamps--thousands of stamps!  I take out the paper backing that comes in the packaging shown above (you can leave them in if you have stamps from different companies; most companies use the clear baggies with the top slot so stores can hang them so they will work too;  I only use Inspired Stamps so I'm safe knowing where they came from and what they are called :o):

I sort them 2x2s (see left of this upper photo) which are next to Nature-focused stamps (right of the photo) and all my characters (3x4 size and the 2x3 His Little Ones) fit on the top tier in another third too.  The bottom has all the 4x6 Scripture-Focused sets in one section, and then Words, Shapes, Alphabets, and Sentiments are all in one section.  

To use the set, I open the bottom resealable baggie, take out the set use what I need, then slip it back in.  Inspired Stamps gets our clear baggies from clear bags. com if you every want to get replacements.  I find they are less likely to tear and the sticky back is very restick-able!

Ribbon can be just a mess, so I have learned to buy only the amount that will fit on my wall. I LOVE color so this makes a beautiful display in and of itself, but it's also functional.  You don't use what you can't see...and you don't know what you NEED more of if you don't know you're running low.  Here's my solution followed by the pint size canning jars I use to keep scraps in that won't fit on the wall.  Again, I only allow enough ribbon to fill ONE jar per color and then I have to make something to use some up and make room for new scraps (self-discipline...I'm good at saying 'no' to myself when it comes to ribbon.  Stamps, not so much LOL):

I used a Sharpie white paint marker on these pint sized canning jars to label them directly on the glass. 

Finally, one of my favorite places in my studio is the colored embellishment drawers.  Don't you just LOVE embellishments?!?  And then you take them home and they go in a big drawer and you forget you have them...sigh (been there, done that, got that t-shirt and it's well worn LOL)  This will change your life...your craft life anyway....and it is actually a fun organizational project to sort, too.  You get your drawers and mark them with the different colors:  white for one drawer (i include clear too in mine) , pink another drawer, etc.  

Ok, so you've got them all labeled.  Now you are doing a fun card and need a yellow or orange touch of color....GREAT!  You just go take out that drawer to your workspace and you have all your options before you...tada...

One recommendation for those of you who submit your artwork to card magazines (and you really should!), label the company & product name on each item...otherwise you can't use the item and give credit when you submit. 

Ok, another day and we'll do some more! I hope this post helps someone out there to meet an organizing goal or helps someone to find a new way to find and use their stash more easily! 
Enough cleaning for today, time to go MAKE something!!
Until next time don't forget about our 40% off coupon code to the online store:  www.inspiredstamps.com
blessings,
Antoinette
Shipping most orders the SAME DAY as they are placed (if not same, definitely the NEXT business day!)

Sneak Peek #2: $3.99 new stamp sets!! (Plus 6 giveaways!)

I am so excited that you came to visit the blog today!!  Above you see the 6 new $3.99 stamp sets stamped on 6 empty kraft envelopes (you can click on the photo to see them more clearly!).  

These 6 stamp sets will be in the store with the rest of the Mid-May releases THIS WEDNESDAY May 18th!  And they are the first of the $3.99 stampsets to carry the new packaging---by popular request!!   The $3.99 Stamp sets will still come on their own acetate sheets, but starting with this new group of sets, there will be the laminated sheet you've come to love with the larger inspired stamps.

They will be slightly smaller than the full size sets, so they'll be easier to find if you store them on your Clip It system:

They are so thin, you can store a LOT like this and have easy clean up (just put the stamp on the back of the laminated sheet), see:

I know you'll enjoy the easy storage as much as I do!
How would you like to have one of your own?  It's time for the GIVEAWAYS!!

Easy Giveaway#1,#2, #3, #4, #5, #6:
  I'll be giving away those empty envelopes, with something to put inside them....each will come with a brand new stamp set that matches the envelope's verse!! 

HOW TO ENTER:  Just leave a message on as many of the Sneak Peeks as you can (one message per Sneak Peek).  There is a place to comment under this post where you can leave your comment.  Just let me know what you like about each post.  THAT's IT!  I'll enter your name for every sneak peek you comment on into a drawing (you can have 5 chances to win one of 7 total prizes!).  If you let your friends know about the giveaways, have them tell me when they post you sent them and I'll put your name in 2 times as a thank you! 

Sunday I will have a BIG COPIC/STAMP giveaway, and just by leaving a comment on the sneak peeks, you'll be entered to win it too!!  There will be 5 total Sneak Peeks so be sure to come back each day, or you can leave messages on previous sneak peeks if you can't pop over daily!  I'll announce the winners on Wednesday...you can win more than once!

Have a great night and come back tomorrow to see the fabulous Copic Marker/Stampset giveaway I have for you!!

Be the blessing,
~Antoinette
http://www.inspiredstamps.com/

Great New Storage Idea for your Clear Stamps!!

                                         Hello friends!  Here are two new stampsets that will be coming to the inspired stamps store around the 1st of March!!  I used the black magic technique with these on my last post in the cards I showed and have had many emails asking me to explain HOW to do the black magic technique...It's super easy.  You stamp a solid image (like many of the flowers and flowered scenes you see above in the Be Still Silhouette set and the Friendship's Flowers set) onto black cardstock using white pigment ink.  Heat set it to dry it.  Then simply color with colored pencils!  Easy and beautiful!!

As you can see, I've changed the packaging in our inspired stamps line and I'm super excited about the storage options it gives you!!!

Here is how all of our newest stamps will be packaged.  Notice the laminated, colored insert and the sturdier bag:

When you turn the bag around, you'll find the carrier sheet is the same as before, containing the images in black on the carrier sheet.
So you can store them in boxes or baskets like this:

Or now, with the new laminated colorful sheets you can punch holes to put your stamps in a 3 ring binder OR....
Put your stamps on the back of the laminated sheet (they stick to it!) and put them in a Clip-It system for easy access and SUPER EASY CLEAN UP!!  Here is a visual for you...

See how the stamps stick to the backs of these new laminated sheets?  Here's another photo:

Look how THIN this is when on the laminated colorful sheet:

They take up such little space on this Clip it up system...and clean up is a BREEZE!! 

So many options for more efficient storage now, plus with the images, you'll have a sample of what it can look like colored already there in the packaging to inspire you!!! 

In case you didn't catch it, I gave you a BIRDS eye view of what's coming with my next sneak peek in a couple of days...

Until then, Be the blessing!
~Antoinette 
http://www.inspiredstamps.com/