Stamp Storage Ideas

Craft Rubber Stamp Storage Ideas

By: Nona Roberts

While craft rubber stamps may appear indestructible, they are actually quite delicate. A little bit of direct sunlight or excessive heat and the rubber will harden and become brittle. If the stamps are stored in a damp place, the rubber can actually mildew. Using the wrong type of ink can actually break down the rubber as well. With some proper rubber stamp storage ideas, you will ensure that your art supplies are being properly kept and ready for your next crafting adventure.

Rubber Stamp Storage Ideas
Since there are basically four types of card making rubber stamps, each should be dealt with individually to ensure that all of your stamps are taken care of properly. All rubber stamps should be kept away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Some rubber stamp companies provide plastic boxes for the stamps, which is the perfect solution to storage. The plastic boxes can then be labeled and stored out of the way until you are ready for your project.

As all regular crafters eventually learn, when disorganized, the craft suffers. As your love for rubber stamps grows, so will your collection. Soon there will be a mountain of stamps sitting on the desk in direct sunlight, covered in house dust. To prevent that scenario, follow these storage ideas:

Mounted rubber stamps. Rubber stamps that are mounted on wood should be stored in an upright or standing position. While some crafters prefer to leave the stamps out so they are ready at a moment's notice, it's best to store the stamps in tins or plastic containers that can then be stored in drawers or on shelves. This will avoid excess dust accumulation. Some mounted rubber stamps can be stored in bins that have deep, individual compartments, such as bins used by jewelers to hold beads. It's best if all stamps are stored upright, so look for pockets or bins that will accommodate your needs.

Always try to be neat and tidy. If you have a large number of rubber stamps that are themed like Christmas rubber stamps and Easter rubber stamps, separate each theme. For large collections, check with your local pizza shop. Purchase a couple of pizza boxes for storage. Label the rim of the box so you know where each collection is at a glance, and then stack the boxes in the same location. Rubber stamps that are attached to wooden blocks can also be stored in video cases.

Unmounted rubber stamps. These rubber stamps are so thin, they can be laid into CD cases, which can then be labeled and stored accordingly. You can also store these stamps inside transparent compartmentalized sheets intended for business cards. Each sheet will hold approximately eight stamps. This method works well for unmounted rubber stamps, foam stamps and acrylic stamps.

Foam stamps. Since foam stamps are the most delicate of the four main types of stamps, they cannot sit on the desk or thrown into a basket or drawer. Individual compartments are best when dealing with foam stamps. If you don't have time or money to purchase individual plastic containers, save margarine tubs. You can store the entire alphabet in one, numbers in another and Christmas-themed stamps in a third. Because the alphabet and number stamps are small, they will generally not bend or lose their shape.

Acrylic stamps. Because acrylic stamps are thin, they can be stored in CD cases or business card sheets in notebooks. They can also be replaced on the packaging sheets they came on, stored in drawers or in gallon-zippered bags.

Remember that storage is not the only thing to consider with your rubber stamps. While neatly stored stamps help you look wonderfully organized, your storage methods will still be disorganized without labels. For easy access, make sure labels are printed in black marker, are legible and placed on the side of the packaging that will be facing outward.

Store ink pads upright, away from the sun and moisture. Make sure covers are securely fastened, ink pads are on the bottom (with tri-colored ink pads kept level so that the inks do not mix or blend) and that all are stored in a tin or other container that will keep the sun out. Label the tins accordingly and place on a shelf or bin.