3 Tips for Organizing Un-mounted Stamps -Crafters Companion UK

As you may already know, I get dozens of emails each week from crafters asking about organizing specific items or asking for clarity on previously published information or videos. Recently it seems that there has been a flood of questions about organizing un-mounted stamps. Here are my top 3 tips for organizing un-mounted stamps – these are true for both acrylic and red rubber stamps.

1. Organize your un-mounted stamps by creating a catalog

Regardless of the number of stamps you’ve got, a catalog is going to help you keep your stamps organized. A catalog will also help you to use them more often.
Creating a catalog is simple. You can use regular sized paper (8.5″ x 11″ in the USA, A4 outside the USA) or 12″ x 12″.
Follow along with the 4 Section System to create your catalog. Of course you won’t have section 4, The Rainbow, but will have the other 3 sections.

2. Keep sets together

I’m commonly asked if sets of stamps should be separated. My answer, “no”. Usually sets of stamps have things in common. Sometimes the stamps all work together, sometimes they are just themes or shapes that could be used together. As an example, a set of birthday stamps might include a cake, balloons, candles, gifts – these will all work together. Another set might include all the months of the year with a coordinating frame(s). The frames will work around each of the month names. The beauty of a catalog is that it allows you to represent all of the stamps in multiple catalog locations without having to take the stamp sets apart.

3. Work in small batches

You’ve heard this tip repeated over and over if you’ve taken any of my classes. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed when taking on an organization project. Work through cataloging your stamps in small batches. The great thing about a catalog is that you can add things to it each time you go to use some items, or when you buy something new. The catalog doesn’t have to be created all at once or in any particular order.