Stamps storage

I’m so sorry your system has shrunk - must be the heat! 🤪 Are you familiar with Jennifer McGuire’s system? That or a tweaked version seems to be what a lot of stampers use, including me. It’s basically stamps in pockets in bins, and whether the stamp is tiny or large, they [mostly] all go into the same size Avery Elle pockets. White cardstock dividers are placed into the pockets for stability, and samples or coordinating dies can be placed behind them.

Tweaks

I sort by category instead of manufacturer, since I think “Tree” more often than “Hero Arts.” Working cardmakers need to focus on company; I don’t.

The rare time a stamp set is too big to fit into a pocket, I cut it to fit. 😳 Not the stamps, just the index sheet and around the stamps.

Full coverage stamps, often 6x6, are in different pockets in a square bin. Or sometimes not in pockets.

When a small solo stamp is in a pocket, I stamp it at the very top of the white cardstock so when I’m flipping through it can be seen.

If a stamp set fits into more than one category, using my printer I make a copy of the set, cut it to the size of the cardstock inserts, write a note on the top which category the set actually lives in, and put the extra copy/ies in the other categories. So that tree set with a big happy birthday lives in Trees, but a copy of the set will live in Sentiments under Birthday.

I don’t use the double-wide bins JM uses: they take up too much space and are too heavy if I want to plunk them onto my desk for flipping through.

Here’s one of her videos, but there are others:
www.jennifermcguireink.com/2018/01/mfct-organization.html

I also use the Jennifer McGuire system. I store most by manufacture. Christmas and Words/Phrases have their own category though with a mix of manufacturers.

I have random single word phrase stamps that Lawn Fawn sends with their orders. I keep them all together in one stamp pocket.

I don’t have other small single stamps. They are all generally part of a set. The stamp pockets don’t take up anymore space than the original packaging. They are just more sturdier and uniform.

RedSquirrelUK , is wallet what we call pockets? If so, like cmpeter said, they are extremely thin. I don’t think 25 of them would be 1/2” high. I’ll check. 

For your A4 size, there are clear sleeves/pockets that are just as thin that come much larger than the type in the videos. Are your stamp sheets 11.5 x 8.25? If so, one option is to buy pockets/sleeves for 12x12 patterned paper. They are usually 13” square. 

One side can be cut off with your trimmer to make the sleeve 13 x 9 or 13 x 8.5. Using a good tape, seal the side you cut and you have your pocket cut to size. I’ve seen people modify pocket size that way.

My little individual stamps are either put alone in a pocket and I stamp it on the top of the cardstock insert so when I’m flipping through I see them. Or quite a few in the same category (like Trees) will be in one pocket. The companies’ info and stamp name, if there is one, is in the pocket or on the outside of the pocket. 

I sort by category, not manufacturer. It’s just however you think. Do you think tree or do you think the company name? If I sorted by manufacturer and wanted a tree stamp, I’d have to look in many different sections. Since I sort by category I look in one place - the Tree section. 

ETA Just an example of large pockets that could hold stamp sheets but be cut to size:
www.clearbags.com/12-7-16-x-13-flap-crystal-clear-316x330.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw7IeUBhBbEiwADhiEMbzH6XjMZ9xPCM9QG8wUzhcIeXnnJHcK-xoozoWuWJFnvezlJMA-2BoCCxMQAvD_BwE

But if you decide to go that route we can also look for other sizes - they may be out there, it’s just that A4 isn’t a U.S. size so I’ve never looked.