Nov 20 2008
A Day for Organizing
Today I need to organize my stamping space, so no tutorial today. If you are wondering how I keep track of all my stamps, here is a glipse. I put the stamp sheets in my scanner and print a copy and put the copy in a binder by manufacturer. It’s easier to browse my stamp collection this way. 
I don’t want to leave you with nothing today so here is a funny for you readers that are preparing for the up coming Thanksgiving Holiday.
The Parrot
A young man named John received a parrot as A gift. The parrot had a
Bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the
Bird’s’ mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John
Tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only
Polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of
To “clean up” the bird’s vocabulary.
Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot
Yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and
Even ruder. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him
In the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and
Screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not A Peep, was heard
For over a minute.
Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to
The Freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arms
And said “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and
Actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I
Fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and
Unforgivable behavior.”
John was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude. As he was about to
Ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his
Behavior, when the bird continued, “May I ask what the turkey did?”
Hugs,
Michelle
Ha!!! Very funny T-day joke. Thanks for the laughs. Great organizational tip. Is there a particular manufacturer that is your favorite?
Phyllis asked “Is there a particular manufacturer that is your favorite?”
Oh Phyllis, I can’t be held to one favorite. I can tell you I am very drawn to realistic looking stamps and shy away from very cartoony looking stamps.
Michelle Zindorf
Phyllis, by the way, I love that you chat with me every single day by posting a comment.
I love that Turkey day joke-it is one of my faves. I am wondering though–how many binders do you have?! I bet more than one! Thanks for sharing this wonderful organizational tool. I’m not sure where to begin that task in my moderate sized stamp room.
Hi Michelle,
Very funny joke! It’s 11pm on Thursday night here in Oz and I like to check out your blog before I go to bed…love it!
Your stamp folder is so organised…what are the brands of the stamps in the photos?
Keep up the great work.
Cheers, Angela.
Michelle
I like the binder idea. I keep all of my clear stamps in binders.
I’m wondering how you store your SU stamps. Do you keep them in the clam shell they come in? Where do you store them?
Ange asked “Your stamp folder is so organised…what are the brands of the stamps in the photos?” Basic Grey, Innovative Stamp Creations & Stampin’ Up.
That’s a sneak peek at the Innovative Stamp Creations stamps.
Donna asked “I’m wondering how you store your SU stamps. Do you keep them in the clam shell they come in? Where do you store them?”
Donna, I keep them in the clam shell an store them on book shelfs in alpha order. Check out the tool section of this blog, I think there is a picture there.
Debie asked ” am wondering though–how many binders do you have?! ”
Debie, I only have the one right now, it is a 3″ thick binder and it won’t close any more. I think I need to start another one.
Heee Heee, loved this. All the stamps I own will fit onto one shelf, but I need to organize them now while my supplies are small.
Thanks for the laugh. I needed that! (and it’s only 8:30)
I love your binder. I scan mine, print them and them organize them by subject. i.e. flowers, animals, etc. TFS
Great idea Michelle - it would take me a couple years to get that organized. I try but alas — it’s not to be. Could I ask what maufacturer makes the trees that are right under the orange butterfly. I have a thing about trees and I love those. Thanks!
*LOL*….poor turkey! I need to do a good clean up and organization in my room too. It seems that as soon as I get it done, and then do another project…..right back to a mess!*L* Oh well, I guess we’re all just having too much fun!
Take care,
Trish
LOL! Thanks for the funny:) I use your catologing method and I have to say it’s the BEST thing I’ve ever done. It took me several weeks to get them all logged, but now, I can find what I’m looking for so quickly! Thanks once again for your great wisdom and for sharing it with us!
Thanks Michell, I almost choked on my coffee. That is so funny.
Eveline.
:O) A funny story I can share with my 13 year old DD.
Brenda asked the question I was thinking. What is the name of the tree stamp under the butterfly stamp?
Michelle, I love the idea and may I ask two questions. One is the manufacturer of the group of trees in front and How do you get your white pen do write so well? Thank you.
Looks so pretty and organized! Can I ask…you put the copies of the stamp sheets in a binder…then where do you keep the stamps themselves? In a box? Alphabetized like the SU or…?
Hi Michelle
Would you give us a glimpse of how you organize the rest of your supplies and your workspace.
Thanks
Judi
Wow. Can I come play at your house? Lol.
Those trees under the orange butterfly seem to be a hit. That was the first thing that caught my eye too.
Are those the sneak peek stamps from Innovative Stamp Creations?
You tease!
Karen from Michigan
LOL!!! That was a good one!
I appreciate reading the questions and answers for organizing. Who can’t use a few pointers? I haven’t bought too many of the acrylic stamps becasue I wasn’t too happy with how they stamped compared to quality rubber. But , in reading some of the SCS replies last week I am going to give them another try. I thought they wouldn’t work with the SU ink pads. Thanks again for your sharing your ideas with us, Michelle!
I love that parrot story. I had forgotten it. Thanks
Hi Michelle,
It’s nice to know I’m not the only person who is uber-organized with stamp storage! I’ve unmounted all of my stamps, put cling-foam on the backs, and I store them on slick cardboard panels in file drawers. I have an index in front of each storage sheet with a duplicate index sheet in page protectors in a notebook. I organize my stamps by catagory…women, angels, trees & leaves, Asian, etc. My notebook is 4 inches and pretty well full. My 4 file drawers are also pretty full but I don’t have any more room in my tiny studio! I may have to put a small filing cabinet in another room.
A new organization session is long overdue. If I can move some of my things to use as surfaces for my art, I’ll be able to de-clutter my supplies and get some stuff up off of the floor!
Good luck with your organization!
Raine
Ha! Thanks for the laughs!
I am envious! You have a lot of stamps!!!! Great idea on the organization. Mine are just in this great basket shelf system I got from Ballard Designs split up into categories: Christmas, Holidays, Birthdays & Babies, Two-Step stamp sets, floral, backgrounds, etc. So how do you go from the book you made to the stamp’s actual location in your office? That many stamps I would forget what I had or where I put it. Do you keep them all in Alpha order?
I would surely go help you with your stamps organisation just to play with your stamps and see them all. Wow you have a lot!
Great joke - laughed OUT LOUD! It’s coming with us on our road trip for sure! You are the teaser there with that BIG TREE trunk stamp in the front - got my stampin’ heart beat up just looking at it! Cant’ wait! Thanks for the tips here and YES you have provided great ideas and photos of your storage system in the tips section of the site.
cute joke thanks
Thanks for the laugh today, i needed that! I like how you are organizing, i think i will clean my area and finish my tray favors for the hospital tonight.
Having three parrots I can appreciate the humor in the story…thanks for sharing. I re-organized my work space earlier this week. Is this what is called “nesting??” Love your idea in keeping track of your stamps - it is adoption time with your idea, thanks for sharing!
Sandy
That gave me a chuckle. Thanks for sharing.
Hee hee. Love it !!
Hello Michelle!
I love your blog so much, so I chose you as a winner of the “I love your Blog” Award! I love your ideas, I love your techniques, and I love your funny story! You are a source of inspiration!
I have a catalogue of all my stamps too, I just stamp them onto a sheet and as each sheet is filled up I add it to the catalogue, but I tend to file by theme rather than manufacturers - Christmas, Floral, Nature etc. Thanks for sharing the joke - I needed a laugh today.
I loved the story! I am in the midst of trying to organize everything!! Thank you for this great idea.
I have just begun to touch the acrylic world of stamps. I need more work with them. Your art work is incredible and I really can’t believe you can get it all done so fast. I can take, well, lets just say a long time…to finish a project. I find it needs to be just so…I look forward to your posts, thank you. In my world, I’m looked at as having a lot of stamps they are wood mounted mostly, and SU. I am beginning to expand, almost feeling like a traitor, but the stamps I’m finding are so wonderful. And then there are “enablers” like you who keep us on our toes. I’m checking out the inks, now pens, you use, etc. Anyway, thank you for sharing your creativity!
Michelle,
That joke was really cute. I scan my stamps and then catergorized them like winter, flowers, backgrounds, animals, etc. Of course, I don’t have as many as you, but I’ve been making more cards than ever lately. Love trying to make yours.
Happy Thanksgiving. I’m a turkey baby and a twin at that.
so some questions. do you do the same with your stampin up stamps??? and how do you store your stamps so you can find them once you have looked through your binder??
Laura and a few others asked “do you do the same with your stampin up stamps??? and how do you store your stamps so you can find them once you have looked through your binder??”
My Stampin’ Up stamps are store in Alpha order on shelfs. You can check out tips and tools to see a picture. My unmounted stamps are store by Manuafacture and then Alpha Order in boxes.
Michelle
I do the same with my stamps, makes it much easier to flip through and decide which stamp to use. Due to my very limited space, I have unmounted all my wood mounted stamps and put them on EZ Mount and store them on the EZ Mount panels which I stand on end in a bin under my desk. I write the panel # on each of the stamp images so I can go right to it.
I really love your cards and tips and tutorials! I just visited your blog tonite for the first time. We made my stamp room from my son’s bedroom when he moved into his new home. My son is a cabinet maker so I am lucky! I started stamping about 4 yrs ago and it is therapy for me when things are rough and when they aren’t.
I have adjustable shelves in upper cabinets and I stack my Stampin Up stamps on the
shelves. Each set has it’s own number on each side of the box and I have 79 sets.
I stack the numbers 1 through 19 on one stack and then the 20’s on one stack and 30’s ..you get the idea. Inside the cabinet door I have a list from #1 through #79 and I write the name of each set so I know which set to grab. I was so happy to know about scanning so I have a visual to refer to. My son built a paper rack and about halfway down the rack I store my other stamps on clear plastic frames that fit on the extra spaces I don’t have paper in and I label the front of each frame (Thanksgiving), Christmas, Birthday, Scenery, and so on. I was at a stamp store one day and was ready to check out when I noticed a store display for Prismacolor pencils that was empty and for sale. I bought it for $15. and my husband mounted it up high (out of reach of the Grandchildren) behind the door on the wall. I have markers and pencils in the slots organized by color. I will send pictures of my room if and when I get it cleaned up. haha, soon I hope! I took the sliding doors off the track (the closet doors) and hung an extension shower rod and made a white sheer curtain and slipped it on the rod and had my husband put vinyl shelving in the closet. In the closet I have labeled boxes (adhesives, Photos, embelishments, etc)
I bought some sets of Magic Drawers from QVC and assembeled them on the shelves. They are see-thru which helps. I have a moveable Island in the middle of the room and I covered it with heavy clear tablecloth cover from walmart fabric department and used clear packing tape around edges to protect the white formica countertop..I’m a messy inker. the plastic has some ink on it that won’t come off but at least it isn’t on the formica. The room has U-Shaped counter tops with 4 drop places to sit so friends can come and play. There is a 2-level wood running shelf above the counter tops around the room and I set stamps on edge with the description black markered on the edges. The flooring is white (a big mistake) but I wanted the room to be light, I took a hanging shoe organizer ( plastic pocket type from Lowe’s and hung it on the door and I keep cutters, hand-held punches, exacto knives, (things too dangerous for little hands) up where they can’t reach them but easy for me to see. My ink pads are in an iris cart and on a tiered plastic thing that sits on my work space. My paint brushes are in a woven square divided basket.
( I should have just sent a picture instead of all this rambling)..When I start a project I really get things messy looking and I don’t know which I spend more time doing..stampin or cleanin up! I have trouble throwing things away too..silver coffee can peel-off tops..(maybe punch stuff out of them, Pop can tabs..paint em and use as a slide on a card. It’s probably no news to you-all but I get so excited when I find a use for something that would otherwise get thrown away. I’m not an artist like most people and that’s why I love stamping..(I can’t draw). I have seen pictures of stamping rooms that are Really spectacular and my stamping teacher has been collecting stamps for 15+ years and she stores them in BIG plastic tubs..OH MY!
I have never seen cards as pretty as yours and I’m happy that you have such beautiful talent! Thank you for all I look forward to learning on your blog!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and those you love!