Hello everyone! This week MFT is doing a blitz that is all about organizing our crafty goodies. Each day this week we'll be focusing on a different product/area and how we contain it all. There will be prizes too!
Make sure to check out MFT's blog for all the info for today, plus links to all the other DT members participating as there is a TON of great ideas!
So today we're all focusing on how we store our MFT clear stamps and background stamps. To be 100% honest up until a few days ago my method of storing all my clear sets was to put them in a drawer. They weren't in a package, had no labels and the only actual "organizing" was that I kept them in drawers by category. I've been meaning to start organizing things properly for months now and this finally gave me the push I needed!
My MFT background stamps have been stored in this wicker basket since day 1 - the only thing that's *new* with them is that they're now labelled (more on that in a minute).
I've had this basket for a really long time - I got it at Superstore (large Canadian grocery store) and it was marketed as a "laundry" basket. The dimensions of it are perfect to hold MFT's background stamps - I have all of them of course and will soon have to start filling a second one!
Now for the labels - THESE got me really excited. It's one of the reasons I've been putting off getting things organized as I have a LOT of MFT stamp sets and backgrounds. It doesn't help that my old label maker but the dust and I still haven't replaced it, that and the fact it would take me forever to make up labels for everything.
Well MFT's taken care of all that and made up labels in 2 different formats that cover their stamps, stencils and Die-namics. All I had to do was download the files I needed (they're provided on the MFT blog in the right sidebar under their printable resources) then print them off.
I lucked out and had these clear labels in my filing cabinet - I don't even know why I had them or when I got them. They've been sitting there for YEARS (one of the few times it was worth hoarding something) - but they still worked so I printed off the stamp set files onto them.
For all the background stamps I simply applied the label to the cling backing - easy peasy.
All the clear sets took a bit more work - and it's still a work in progress! I started off with MFT's clear storage pockets and cut down white card stock to fit.
Then I simply inked up the images from the stamp set (all at the same time - I did it in the same way I ink up and stamp a background stamp - just lay the acetate sheet with the images face up on my desk, ink up the stamps then press the card stock over it and rub it with my hands) with MFT's Grout Grey hybrid ink. I didn't want to use black as it's more of a pain to clean off entire sets, although Steel Grey would have worked nicely, but I went with the Grout Grey. In the pics it looks really pale but in real life I can see all the images stamped on the card stock no problem.
I applied the matching label to the outside of the clear storage envelope, inserted the stamped card stock and the stamp set and that was it! I have dies in some of them as well and I'll go into more detail on those later on this week!
In my first picture I show the clear sets stored in a InterDesign Fridge Binz container. This one is the perfect size to fit these stamp storage pockets, and it will hold a TON. I don't have all my clear sets done yet (I thought I had more storage pockets on hand but I ran out and can't find anymore so the rest of my sets will have to wait until I can get more ordered!), but once they're all stamped and labelled and in their pockets they'll go in the Fridge Bin - LOVE that. I can flip through them no problem and see at a glance what I'm looking for. Much better than keeping them piled up in drawers! ;)
Again make sure you head over to MFT's blog as not only is there a ton of great storage info but there are prizes to be won as well! Good luck!
