muffins for mom, the ick update and my new stamp storage...

by 7am i was up, showered and sitting in mckenna's classroom for muffins with mom.
boy they start school early here!
there is nothing like a blueberry muffin, a 1/2 pint of OJ and a first grade chair and table to eat it at.
mckenna got the chance to show me all of her writing from this quarter and show off, it was fun.

on the ick homefront it appears as if cole's fever has broken and we are all good again...must be a 24 hour ick!

i tried to scrapbook yesterday but i just didn't feel the mojo working, however i did make my acrylic stamp storage binder. it is no frills, but i kinda like it that way. i am hoping to stamp and junk it up over time.

it was super easy to make too, however you have to be willing to think beyond the packaging. first i put all of my packages of stamps off their initial package backing and onto transparencies...yes i mixed several sets together (i realize this might compromise some people's scrapbooking morals...hee hee!). all my unmounted and acrylic stamps are now on transparencies in page protectors.

here's how i made the binder:

1. cut two 9 x 11.5" cardboard  and two 9 x 11.5" chipboard adhere them together to make the binder covers stronger (cardboard on outside and chipboard on inside).
2. cut one 5 x 11.5 " cardboard and one 5 x 11.5" chipboard  adhere them together to make the binder spine stronger (cardboard on outside and chipboard on inside).
3. use masking tape (or gaffer tape) to attach the covers and spine together leaving a 1/4" space between each piece. the space will allow the covers the swing to open and close. i wrapped each space/cover about 3 times with masking tape. i made it messy because i want to alter it later.
4. on the inside of the spine mark the placement for the holes. use the page protector holes as a guide and mark the first column of holes and the last column approx. 1/2" from the spine edge. center another column and add another set of holes in between those to create 5 in total.
5. use anywhere hole punch to punch holes through spine.
6. thread ribbons through page protectors and thread through holes in spine. i have approx. 12 page protectors in each section.

8. double knot and cut to length.

ideas to note:

• i used the last section for stamped images of my mounted stamps as a reference.

• i included extra empty page protectors in each section before binding (cause i know i will acquire more..hee hee!)
• i used only the front of each page protector so i could fill the back with more stamps if i needed.
• i tried to keep like companies together. so for example, i kept my 3 sets autumn leaves stamps i took out of their original packaging on two 8.5 x 11 transparencies.
• i have mostly acrylic stamps so my pages are fairly thin (only 1 page of ezmount, however it will still work)

Comments

[leah]

I LOVE this...I was about to make an ATC binder from garbage and unsure how to connect it all together. WOW. briliant!

[Stacey]

Cool! Thanks for all the explanation and the pictures. I like it a lot.

[Amy W.]

Yay, i knew i was keeping cardboard for something! :> great instructions Donna!

[Jen]

Thanks so much for sharing such a cool idea!

[Jennifer]

You are seriously amazing! That is a great idea for your acrylic stamps. I might just have to try this!

[crazydarla]

That is the COOLIO-EST thing I ever saw! LOVE that idea, totally have to give it a whirl! Thanks SO much for sharing your creativity! :O)

[Cathy]

Donna what a cute ingenious idea!! You should make that a class and teach it or make it a kit to sell. EVERYONE could use storage like this. Thanks Donna!

[jo hannah]

I love it!! I am going to have to try to make one of those keepers for my own stash. One more thing, who makes the acrylic stamp you did show in the last photo? Any good acrylic stamps you can recommend as well? Thanks for sharing!!!

[Jenney]

Donna!!! You ROCK!!!!

I've been wanting to do something like this but wasn't sure how to start!!! You are my hero!!!!! I WILL be doing this ASAP!! Thanks, girl!!!

[Amanda]

that is really an awesome idea! more garbage to treasure stuff.

[Dale Anne]

GREAT looking binder Donna!!!
Just one question - I'm trying to figure out how or why you used a transparency .....is it because of its thickness?
I may have to make one of these!!!

[Sharon]

Great idea about the transparencies. I kept my acrylics that came in larger packages on their original backing, 3-hole punched and put them into a 3 ring binder. I now know how to handle the smaller acrylic packages, transfer them to transparencies. Awesome! I then started another 3 ring binder for my foam stamps. I removed them from their packaging, I put one side of the hook and loop tape on the back of the stamp. Then used a piece of cardboard (the thin yet sturdy ones that comes from paper packs) and put the other side of hook and loop tape where I wanted to put the stamp. Easy to grab, remove and return when done and I know which stamps are missing if I keep them in some order. This travels and works really well. You have reinforced my plan with yours and I know I am on the right track. Now to tackle the mounted stamps. Which I love your idea. Thanks for the photos and instructions, this is incredible and the previous posts are right - there are alot of folks who would love to make something like this for storage, etc. and don't know where to start. You could sell kits easily.
Thanks Donna - You Rock!
~Sharon, Oakland, CA

[Heather]

Hey! I think I like that! I have mostly Close to My Heart acrylics which come in a nice little envelope thingy. But my other ones just aren't stored well. I might start with just a ring binder though... Thank you for the detailed instructions!

[Kim]

I love this idea! I'm a litte bit confused on the ribbon through the page protectors though. Did you just put one ribbon through a section of protectors? or did the ribbon go through all of them? Thanks for the detailed info!
Kim

[Maria]

Brilliant idea! THANKS DD! You are so CLEVER. And cool. And well, just amazing! :)

[Jeanette]

You are simply amazing. Creatively and organizationally. Definitely a trash to treasure type project with the cardboard!

[Michael Ann]

Donna, you continue to amaze me. You are so frickin' smart!

[Colleen]

SOOOOOOooooooo clever. Very cool.

[martha]

WOW - I love this. I like it better then my storage panels in zipper binders. I may have to do this for myself.

[Heidi]

love, love, love your project. How clever!

[cindy]

WOWZERS!! There is no doubt about it: YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!

[suetreiber]

very cool!
now if only they would put themselves away...

[Linda A. (elendae)]

Awesome! Thanks for the "how to", Donna!

[Liz]

WOW! This is awesome!! Thanks for including the directions.

[Jessica K.]

dude, that totally rocks. Now, I just need to get YOU to make me one..ha, ha.

[Dorien]

Thanks for the amazing idea, love it, now I only need more time in a day to make one!!!

[Ulla]

Brillant idea and so clever. Love this!
Many Greetings from Germany :-)

[Sue Mannel]

That's fantastic! See what a blueberry muffin, OJ, a 1st grade chair, and 7am can do ?

Sue

[Nicole]

I've done the binder thing the cheater method (pre- made binder, kept everything in original packs, and slid sheets in page protectors) - however, I love your idea MUCH better. First, it looks cooler, but secondly everything lays flat. sweet!!! I'm motivated to try it out :)

Glad to hear the ick is movin' on out!

[Ashley Schultz]

This is a great idea. Thanks for sharing!

[paper rocks]

What an awesome idea! Is this a protocol of something to come? I might have to try to make one but I'd rather buy one. hint hint

[tara w]

d
that is seriously ingenious.
what a GREAT idea.

[Kathleen Joseph]

So glad the Downey Clan has shaken the ick!! Unfortunately, we are still under the grips of the dreaded ick.

[cindy]

DANG girl, this is BRILLIANT!!!

[margie]

that is totally rad...i love it...you are a freaky smart taco...seriously LOVE cardboard...
kiss kiss
m

[Kristy]

BRILLIANT! While I love storing in my CD holders...it just takes up too much space and I don't see what i have. OK, going to go make this NOW!

freakin' brilliant I say.

[Penny in Missouri]

Donna, I'm a relatively new reader and I love this idea! Thanks for sharing it--can't wait to make it for my growing collection. Glad to hear your family is getting over the ICK. Penny

[Becky]

Love this. Today i was just thinking how my stamps were totally overtaking my room. I'm finding stamps in strange places because of this.

I have a hard time seperating my stamps from their original packaging as well. I must get over that and try this for sure!!

[girlfriday]

love the stamp storage. love the raw cardboard covers ... anticipating the *altered state*.

[notchincorporated]

You are a brillant crafter. I am going straight to my garbage RIGHT NOW!!! Thanks.

[susan opel]

Ouch - 7am for school - that is HARSH! But I totally know what you mean about sitting in a first grade chair!

[suzy]

I like this idea.

[Patricia]

You are just too cool for words, girl! I love this idea! Thanks for sharing!

[casey]

and to think that just yesterday i was asking my friend "what can i put my acrylic stamps in for storage?" you rock my friend! now i'm off to find some naked cardboard...

casey
:)

[Sarah]

Too cool!! Thanks Donna for sharing this with us

[jan williams]

This is such an amazing idea... See this is the reason I pop into your blog.. You are so creative! Thank You!

[Janis]

Wow...I must be the only scrapper on the planet with no Acrylic stamps yet...someday-someday. But if I did have them I would follow your lead. What a great idea!

[Shayla Vokey]

are your acrylic stamps from close to my heart? or do you buy them from another company? i really like this idea!!

[Hummie]

I love this. I did something similar when I first started scrapping. This is so affordable for anyone.

[Angie from ScrapScene]

Cool idea!

[Carolyn]

I love this idea and what a great place to just "test stamp"....right on the cover and pretty soon, instant graffiti art covered notebook! At first, my sense of "neatness" wanted to ask, "Why raw cardboard...why not chipboard on both inside and out?", but when I thought about it (hey carolyn, get OUTSIDE the box!), I realized the potential for just ENJOYING being messy with it! Thanks!

[Tanya Desmond]

Dang it Donna this is so cute. It would make a cute album too. How do you cut the cardboard straight? Mine sometimes comes out too funky. Maybe the chipboard hides it. Maybe I am an over achiever.

[Johanna]

This is awesome! I'm going to make one tonight...thanks.

[Carmelle L. Tremblay]

HI,
I love this idea, thanks for sharing.
I should do one also for my fibers because my other satchel is too full.
Carmelle (Quebec, Canada)

[Amy]

I LOVE THIS!!!! I was feeling so noncreative today until I saw this! What an out of the box idea and it is just fabulous!!!

[Sandie H]

Love your custom made storage for unmounted stamps. Very clever idea. I've been keeping mine in a similar way but in a boring ready-made binder. Guess I'll have to think about making something custom like yours.

[michele]

wow!! what an awesome idea! and so simple to make. THANK YOU!

[Rae]

This is awesome - I have tape, cardboard and chipboard laying around so there's no reason I can't make one of these for my misc clear stamps - woohoo...my mind is spinning now, thinking of how I want to decorate this!

[Patti Martin]

Love your site...I loved the Stamp Binder...Made one similar and am quite pleased with how it turned out. Will be making a sticker/embellie binder next. Its great how you can decorate each one however you want. Thank you for sharing the instructions and pictures. The cost was minimal compared to what the stores have to offer.

Patti (Pattie's passion/CKMB)

[Teresa K.]

I love this, I can't wait to do it!

[Applemimi]

v.good idea, thanks for sharing it with us... i think i'm going to follow your tutorial... thanks !

[Darlene]

WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAYYYYY cool!!! Thanks so much for this!!! I totally have to give this a try and retire my regular 1 inch binders! Thanks!

[Darlene]

Quick question, what kind of transparency sheets/paper do you use to mount the stamps onto? I can't find any that I think may work. Can you guide me into the right direction by telling me which store, or the brand of the product, you bought your sheets from? Thanks!!