This time I would like to talk about stamp storage, a question that is often asked.
I can't remember how many years ago it was when I first bought clear stamps, but at least 12 years ago, I have a travel album full of memories from a trip I took. I like the value of having so many stamps in one stamp set, and I don't feel guilty about them taking up space because they're so thin, so before I knew it, I had more and more stamps. (I've also started making stamps for Sakurala...)
When I moved from Hawaii, I gave some of them to my craft friends, but I still keep most of the stamps at my parents' house. (It's been a while since I came back to Japan, but I've never opened them...)
I put the stamps I brought home in an IKEA cart ( RASKOG ). However, I found it a hassle to drag the cart from my workspace to the living room and then put it away again after the kids had gone to bed (and I didn't want to make any noise). So I tried putting them in an IKEA wire basket (Pleja) that I'd bought for a different purpose, and to my surprise, the stamps fit perfectly!
I carry my frequently used stamps in this. I've tried various storage methods, such as clear cases to hold stamps and binder-style files, but I prefer "simple storage that can be used quickly and put away quickly" rather than "display storage," so I've settled on this wire basket.
The 4x6 stamps are made of sturdy film index sticky notes, and are roughly color coordinated by category (for example, yellow for the alphabet and hiragana, red for the Nippon series , etc.).
By the way, I cut off the top of the OPP bag and take the stamps in and out from there. I've been doing this since I first discovered clear stamps, and it's so easy to take them in and out! I used storage cases and envelopes for clear stamps before, but I got tired of them halfway through, so I ended up using OPP bags.
It fits a little snugly, but it can also fit 3x4 size. The mount is designed to be used as an index for the Day By Day series! (For more information, please see the article on how to use the index !)
In the remaining space, I put Ziploc bags containing important paper items, stickers, masking tape, etc., and notebooks. Ziploc bags don't look nice, but they're convenient for quickly storing paper materials that can still be used! This lack of tidiness may be the reason why I've continued using this storage method.
In addition, I put the mild liner and ink that are essential for coloring in this empty space and carry the wire basket. All-in-one and convenient!
However, the ink is in a transparent pouch, so although it's easy to see which color is where, it's difficult to take out the ink, so I'm currently looking for a different way to store it.
This is how I store my stamps now. The stamps at home are in a cart, and the ones I use often are in a wire basket. I do switch out the stamps from time to time, but this year I've mainly been using the Day By Day series for memory keeping, so rather than switching them out, I'm getting more and more new ones every month. And the stamps I don't use much, other than Sakurala, are hibernating at my parents' house. I guess I'll have to wait until I have some free time again!?
...It may not be stylish and may not be very helpful, but as long as it suits you and is easy to use, then it's fine! That's what I think.
Well, tomorrow will finally see the debut of the three stamps to be released in April!! We will also be offering our monthly bonus set!!
I hope you can all enjoy stamp time soon. I hope the stamps released in April will be a part of your creative time. Thank you very much.