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Organizing my stamps has always been a dilemma for me. Recently, I decided to solve that problem! So, I started a huge project. Over the years I have stored my stamps in CD cases. Due to the lack of time most of my sets did not have a index card in the cover of the CD case. So while my son was in the hospital last summer, I spent my time with him stamping images onto cardstock to index each CD. My fingers hurt from stamping...I stamped so many index pages!! (I have over 600 CD cases of stamps!) I even got help from my son's girlfriend who colored some of the index pages for me while she spent time with Jonathan.
My next step was separate each set by subtitles. I scanned each index page into my computer and I placed a number on each index page (those are the hand written numbers you see on each picture). The next thing I did was to make a label for the side of the CD case with the subtitle and the number from the index page. Then I scanned the index card for each CD into my computer. Then using a photo program I created a slide show for each subtitle much like the one you see above. The example above is a very small sample of my TAC Christmas stamp collection.
On the desktop of my computer, I have a folder of all my different subtitles (birthdays, valentines, Easter-Spring, Halloween, etc..). This system allows anyone working in my studio to retrieve a specific stamp quickly. To find the stamp you want, view the slideshow and once you have located the stamp, take the number from the index card and go to the CD shelves and retrieve the corresponding CD case.
This project is getting close to being completed. I will save time by not aimlessly looking thru all my CD cases to find that one stamp I need and it will also help to keep my studio more organized!!
Please feel free to share your ideas on how to store your stamps and index them. It is always wonderful to get a new idea from others!
What a great idea - you took full advantage and used your time wisely with your son in the hospital I spend 1/2 of my stamping time searching for "stuff".
ReplyDeleteI thought I was doing good to get my stamps into cases! LOL I still have several sets to make covers for the cases. You have a great system in place. I cannot imagine owning that many sets! That is a LOT of stamps! LOL I know that with all the sets I have it takes a while to find the one I want to when looking through each case. That is a terrific idea to make a slide show. You go, girl!
ReplyDeleteAngel Hugs,
Bridgett
Wow! Good for you, that is a job and a half!!
ReplyDeleteLove the magnets on the back of the cards idea...never thought of that and it's great that friends can post the card on their frig.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.......Carolyn glein66@yahoo.com
YIKES over 600 CD cases? I hated them and the binders, they took up to much room so I brainstormed and came up with this. scroll down to see picture
ReplyDeletehttp://bettystamps.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html
It added all kinds of table top workspace and keeps all my stamps in each category in one spot. I don't have to waste time stamping and indexing, they are right there in my FABULOUS stamp credenza!
To see how I built it, see this.
http://bettystamps.blogspot.com/2008/08/plans-for-credenza.html
Even with the cost of materials, I think in the long run it will be cost effective since I won't have to try to find the deep CD cases, buy binders or refill pages. I have a feeling that soon those CD cases will be almost impossible to find since so many music ones come in cardboard now too.
wow - that's an awesome system! Will you come organize mine now? lol!
ReplyDelete