Rubber Stamp Storage & Organization

People are always asking me how I store my rubber stamps & how I keep track of what I have (and believe me, I have A LOT!).  For those of you who know me, or have taken my classes, you can probably tell that I'm a wee bit obsessive compulsive.  Everything has a place.  Everything MUST be put back in it's place.

Let's start with my stamp catalog.  I use the Stamp-A-Log to create a catalog of each stamp I own (click here to see the Stamp-A-Log). 

I've categorized the Master Image section into major themes:  African, Alphabets, Animals, Asian, Backgrounds, Botanicals, Children, Christmas, Fashion (all those trendy shoe stamps), Faux Postage, French, Holiday, People, Phrases, Symbols, Travel, etc.  I also have a few individual companies where the stamps are so unique that the company has it's own category (A Muse Artstamps, Hero Arts & Stampa Rosa Renaissance).

The details for the Master Image sheets are listed on the Master Stamp Listing pages (click on the image for a clearer picture!):

The Stamp-A-Log has additional pages for my inks, die cut systems, embossing powders, etc.  Here's a look at one of my Ink Pad pages (I love the fact that it has a check-off box for re-inkers):

My stamps are each stored in clear acrylic photo frames (8.5" x 11"), that fit perfectly into the wooden crates sold at Michaels. 

When you remove the cardboard box & paper inside the frame, you can fill it with stamps to make it a drawer:

(my Love & Marriage drawer)

(My Backgrounds drawer - I have 7 drawers for Background images)

My hubby drilled holes into the crates & filled them with dowels to act as shelves for the photo frames:

Each of the drawers is labelled with the theme & drawer number -- African 1, African 2, African 3, Asian 1, Asian 2... you get the picture.  Those drawers correspond to pages in my Stamp-A-Log.  Mind you, I have 15 crates of stamps.  (I'm a bit nauseous even admitting that....).  I'm still working to paint all 15 crates (so far, I only have the eight shown painted...  this darned rain is killing me!).  Once they're done, I'll be back to show pics of my stamps in all their glory.

I love this organizational system because I can see all of my images in one (OK, two - I have two Stamp-A-Logs) books.  When I find the stamp I need, I go pull the corresponding drawer.  It also makes it easier for me to see exactly where things need to go when I put them away.  I can't imagine living out of my old Rubbermaid drawers where there were layers upon layers of stamps.  Here, everything is in one layer and I can see the images on paper.  Have questions? E-mail me!

(4/23/09 Edited to Add:  To see part II of this post and learn how to make these crates, click here.)

Comments

[Jeanette]

This system is the best idea I've seen thus far. It makes me want to go to Michaels right now and buy some acrylic frames and crates! I'm adapting this system, although I do not have nearly the collection of stamps as you do!

[carol]

This is ingenious! What a fabulous system. The problem with stacking stamps the way I do is that I sometimes damage the corners of some of the rubber and the image doesn't stamp perfectly. This totally solves that problem. Thanks for sharing this awesome idea. Carol

[Debbie]

I love the sayings on your Romantic stamp sets. Where did you find these!

Love your organization skills. I can do it, but I can rarely keep it neat.

[monica sheldon]

I love this way of doing rubberstamps. what a cool way doing it.

[Ruth]

wow what a great storage system

[Dissertation Proposal]

Blogs are so informative where we get lots of information on any topic. Nice job keep it up!!

[heartartz]

Oh My Gosh! Genius!
This is exactly what I was looking for.
Thank you a bzillion!

[Richard D Parker]

Saw your neat Bow Easy Mini Bow Maker on your Etsy store. It looks Ideal. Passing this along to my daughter. She make Bows and sells on Ebay. We own a Rubber Stamp and supplies store in Dallas, Texas. Texas Impressions. http://www.TexasImpressions.com Thanks. RP

[Jessie]

I've been looking for an "easy" drawer solution. I found yours and showed my husband what your husband did. (He now says he hates the internet....) I can't wait to buy the partas for him to put together!

[Cathy Moore]

I do love this idea, so organized! I actually saw the acrylic frame idea about 15 yrs ago on Carol Duvall and wondered how it worked in real life. I am in the.process of organizing my stamps. So far I haven't made it to my wood ones, still trying out diff ideas for clear ones. Have spent a fortune already and am still not pleased. I will definitely use your idea for the wood ones.Thanks for sharing. I like your log book idea too.