Organization Tip #2: Dies

When you get a set of dies, especially if they coordinate with a stamp set, make a copy of them while they are still on their original carrier sheet.  (The photo at left is missing one of the dies because I was using it for a project; the copy at right shows all 10 dies.)

Once you've made the copy, cut the paper down to 5"x7" and then slip the dies into the front of the stamp case insert.  That way, you will always be able to see which dies coordinate with your stamp set!

Tip #3 will show you how I organize dies that coordinate with a stamp set by keeping them together.

Organization Tip #1

Happy New Year! Over the holiday break, I have been working on reorganizing my craft room, so I will be sharing tips with you throughout the month.  While I recognize that what works for me may or may not work for you, many of these ideas are things you could easily implement or adapt to suit your needs.

This first tip involves organizing your stamp sets. I personally Don’t like how the words and images are backwards on the carrier sheet in the case, so here is what I have started doing.

1. Keeping the stamps on their carrier sheet, rub them on your arm or with your fingers to start removing the factory residue. (Alternatively, take them off one at a time and see them individually, and then put them back on the carrier sheet. If you do it that way, skip to #3.)
2. Ink them up on the carrier sheet, and then turn them over to stamp on a scratch paper. Repeat several times to season your stamps.
3. Finally, on a 5“ x 7“ piece of scrap copy paper or white card stock, ink up the entire carrier sheet and stamp them onto the 5 x 7 piece.
4. Insert the 5 x 7 piece into the stamp set case over the original backwards printed images.