A warm welcome to all my visitors,

Thank you for taking the time to come and look at my blog, I really do appreciate it. I would love you to leave me a comment, even if it’s just to say Hi. It means I can come visit you!

All my designs are original, so copyrighted to me. If I have been inspired by someone elses work, I have named them in the post, and where able, I have provided a link.

Please feel free to use my designs for inspiration, I just ask you to credit me, and provide a link back to my blog.

Thanks, Shaz XX

Wednesday 29 January 2014

WOYWW #243

Well, not a lot of crafting happening still. As you can see in the last post, I've been trying to reorganise my stamps(again). I've had them all pretty much sorted by theme in the past,but then you have the crossovers, the not quite sure what you class it as, and the randoms.I'd separated out all the phrases/sayings/quotes etc from sets, but they rarely get used because I don't think about them.So I've started going back to sorting by manufacturer/set- but then you forget about a lot of stamps on the same theme as you're working with, because they aren't in front of you. My latest solution is making a new binder index of images on my PC, first off by manufacturer. Then I can reprint the sheets/images by theme if necessary. Its easier to flip through an A5 binder of images, than the A4 binders with the stamps in. I've been finding images of the stamps I have on the net, saving the image, then making up sheets in Photoshop.That falls down when the sets are retired- could not find images for a few of my older Elusive Images/Graphicus stamps. Some I still had the printed sheet they came with, but not all. Those I had to stamp out onto the sheet. So I should (!) end up with a sort of cross referencing- the stamp set,indexed by maker and by theme, and also included in the sentiment or quote section. Also means, that should I ever need it for Insurance purposes, heaven forbid, I'll have a digital record of all my stamps. Which is something else I intend to do. A few years ago, we took photos of all the stuff in the house, in case we ever had to make a claim. No-one would ever believe the sheer number of power tools Beloved Hubby has, and I realised its the same for my stamps-23 A4 ring binders, plus some still on wood, so I think its time for the video camera to get some use. Put the result onto a USB stick, and we have one of those fire-proof boxes for documents- which is completely empty, I might add- and will store it in there. Along with said important documents, when I get around to sorting them out. The reason for this ' What I did at the weekend'?- join us over at The Stamping Ground, where our favourite hostess, Julia will be attempting to keep us in order again, for the last WOYWW of January. Where exactly did that month go?

25 comments:

sandra de said...

Sorting the stamp dilemma is beyond me. But I do admire crafters who develop a system. My stamps are in 2 plastic crates. I rummage for the one I think I want and discover something I forgot about. Have a lovely week.
Sandra @8

sara j said...

LOVE it! What a great idea to have a binder. I tried that once, but I'm afraid I didn't carry through. All the mores the pity. Now, being the good little shopper I am, I have stamps I completely forget about. Sounds as if your system will help in that regard.
Hope you get some crafty time in this week as well.
Sara j #45

Helen said...

A perpetual dilemma for the stamper I feel... hope you come up with the answer to all our problems, lol! Happy WOYWW Helen 9

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

I don't envy you that task, but it looks like you're doing a grand job of it. My SU stamps are easy, lined up on the shelf, in their 'dvd' cases. Clear acrylic (which I rarely use) are all in a RUB and unmounted rubber in another.

CraftygasheadZo said...

Wow that's one big job! I know what you mean though. I have all mine in folders too, but forget them. I prefer digital I think but you can't beat a spot of proper stamping!! I need to sort mine. You've inspired me! Take care. Zo xx 64

Ann B said...

Well done you for trying to catalogue your stamps. I spent a couple of weeks re-mounting and organising mine but I drew the line at making images, just have to rely on my memory. I rough sorted mine into, backgrounds/abstracts, nature, fashion and figs, PaperArtsy/Stampers Anonymous, Crafty Individuals, travel etc. some of the boxes were very, very full.:-)

Happy WOYWW
Ann B
44

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Organizing stamps never ends. Just when you think you have a perfect system down pat, something goes awry or you find a more perfect one. I think you've hit on something with the cross-referencing. I have done a spot of that myself. I have Easter stamps all in one spot along with an index card that I wrote "Remember flowers and bunnies!" because indeed those go well with Easter themed stamps. I like that you have a visual aid as well. Good luck with your project and may you find that you use more of your stamps when you are done!

Krisha said...

Hi Shaz,
This is exactly what I have been thinking about doing, so when your finished how about some help over here? I'll provide a bed, junk food and all the wine you can drink. Pretty please???

Krisha #31

sandysewin said...

Wow, your stamp sorting sounds like a HUGE project, but it will be so useful once you are done.

Happy Woyww,

Sandy #5

Jackie said...

A lot of stamp organising going on this week with us deskers!!!!
I did mine a few years ago with a friend stamping every image into a folder as we went along .... Took three days!
Jackie 33

BJ said...

Don't have many stamps is my solution - LOL. Hope you get sorted and used all your stamps more often as a result. Thanks for the visit BJ#72

Julia Dunnit said...

I cannot answer that. Although I can confirm that it went in a BLUR! Am so impressed by your referencing and storing of stamps,my word, a labour of love. And yes, worth it - when you think you can't get an unmounted for less than a fiver these days! Also super impressed that your fire proof box is empty of paper. Digitalising my life would take me a lifetime!

Julia Dunnit said...

I just wrote digitalising. I can't believe that. Of course, I meant digitising. Really. I did.

Unknown said...

I'm constantly trying to think of a better way of organizing my stamps. Good Luck #3

glitterandglue said...

Oh Shaz. What a huge task. Made me feel quite faint just thinking about you doing it all! I do hope you feel duly impressed with yourself at the end of the task - then Wales is just around the corner... after you have been to Krisha of course - wouldn't like to jump the queue!!
Thanks for your visit earlier. I think I probably got the box for the bobbins years ago from Hobbycraft. It is SOooo useful - saves having them lying around loose and coming undone.
Have a great week.
Margaret #39

Art Joy of Sharing with Peg and Shel said...

That is such a big job. I think I would be too lazy for all that. Sometimes I do drink out stamps I haven't had out for a while just to refresh my memory and play. Peg R -13

fairy thoughts said...

I think stamp organising is a lifetime's chore and not sure if there is an easy solution, I bet you have found some more you forgot about too.
January? puff and its gone ... one month closer to summer though
janet #37

Lunch Lady Jan said...

I think I followed your drift! You are going to be super-organised by the time you've finished :-)
Roll on Spring!
Hugs, LLJ 51 xx

Unknown said...

I hate sorting stamps. I did it 3 years ago according to a catalog of a company I was with. Really need to redo but I probably won't (at least for a long time yet). Happy WOYWW!
Carol N #81

okienurse said...

I started out taking all my wood block stamps off block but I am having problems with separating stamp sets into like items...I just can't break them up and I am looking at a way of cross reference cataloging them so I can go pick them out as I need them. Hope you Have a great week. Vickie aka Okienurse #111

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

ah Shaz having an image folder is much easier must admit I just stamped all mine.. in categories.. and as lot of mine are discontinued circa 1990's not much choice.. mostly unmounted ones are more recent..
... mind you I have one ring folder and about four or five drawers of stamps so no where near as many as you!
Shaz in oz.x #29

Maisie Moonshine said...

Hi Shaz - that's a BIG project on the go! I've catalogued my stamps pretty much from the start of my crafting career so I know you'll be pleased you did the job when it's finished - I hadn't thought about the insurance side of things but you're right we all must be sitting on hundreds of pounds worth of stuff in our craft rooms.

Hope you get finished soon and can get creating again - although if you're anything like me you'll be enjoying what you're doing right now too. MMx

rose AKA Walk in the Woods - she/her said...

I admire your dedication to such organization. It reminds me a bit of myself ~ years ago. I'm more chaotic now. Hope you start creating soon!

Carmen said...

Wow that is a lot of work! Kudos to you though - I often wonder how people with a lot of stamps manage! I have my favourite wood mounted ones on display and then I only have a handful of others so - not a problem for me :)

Thanks for stopping by to see me :)

Carmen #75

Neet said...

My indexing of stamps set off like that but it has gone to the wall over the past couple of years I am afraid. luck with your Shaz, it will be well worth it when you have finished.
Thanks for visiting me
Hugs, Neet xx

An End of an era

An end of an era

I write this with a broken heart, that only time can heal My beautiful, wonderful wifelet Shaz (Silverwolf) passed away peacefully in the ea...