Organizing My Stamps…

Welcome Back!

While cleaning out my craft items, I went though my stamps and dies, which I sorted and organized. Jennifer (once again) shared with me how she organized hers and I absolutely loved how the fianl “product” turned out.

This is how “some” of my stamps were stored before organizing. A big unorganized mess. I didn’t use them very often due to not knowing what I really had.

I started with taking each stamp out of it’s original packaging and placing it inside an Avery Elle Clear Storage Pocket.
Avery Elle LARGE Stamp & Die Storage Pockets - 5-1/2 x 7-1/4 inches Set of 50 SS-5001 Preview Image

At times I had to trim the original backing to fit in the pocket.

The stamps that did not have a white backing, I cut a piece of white cardstock to fit the envelope and then added the stamp set.

I had some stamps that were single, random words or shapes.  With those, I cut a piece of acetate and placed the stamps on that sheet. I then used a smaller Avery Elle pocket, cut cardstock to fit the pocket and placed the stamps in the envelope.

You can see the large pocket compared to the smaller pockets.

Some of my stamp sets have matching dies. I first cut a piece of cardstock to fit the pocket. I then placed the stamp set on one side of the cardstock.

Then on the other side of the cardstock I placed the matching die set! What an Ah Ha moment for me and also DUH!!!

Here are all my stamps organized! I now have them placed in a refrigerator bin that fits stamps perfectly! I purchased the bin at target. Now, I just need to label my dividers (which I also made.)

My “thing” as Jennifer referred to it, is planners and planning stamps. So, I organized my planner stamps separately from my “other” stamps. Here are my planner stamps. Love how they all look the same!

I knew I would need dividers for these stamps, so I used my Tab Punch from WeR Memory Keepers to create these tabbed dividers from cardstock.
Image result for tab punch from wer

I first cut my cardstock to fit the container and for a tab to peek above all the stamps sets.

I then used my tab punch. It was SO easy!!

Look how organized they look! Be still my heart!

 And a look from the front. Just need to add the labels!

One last organization task: my dies. These were a little more involved, but well worth a little extra effort! Check back tomorrow to see how I organized my dies in the same manner, but using magnetic sheets.

Shopping…

Welcome Back!

Last Saturday night, we took the boys to the Coldplay concert in Minneapolis. It was amazing! At one point, there where fireworks, cannons shooting confetti, big balloons in the crowd, people dancing around in the aisles…everyone having an amazing time! If you added foam it would have been a college party!

We were all given bracelets that lit up to the beat of the music. Check out the glow of the bracelets in the background.

On Sunday, we went shopping at the Mall of America. Not as much enthusiasm as the night before.

Needless to say, we were all exhausted by the time we headed home and the car ride was pretty quiet for Jason, our driver!

Emmet…

Hello!

Warning: Political Post

Jack has a mini Lego figure named President Business. He is from the Lego movie. In the movie President Business wants to take over the world with his business and has divide everyone by building walls around different groups of people (aka: the Western Legos, the Mid-evil Legos, The Ocean Legos, The City Legos ).

Does he remind you of anyone?
Need help?
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In the movie there is a mini figure named Emmet.
Image result for emmet from lego
Emmet stops President Business from taking over the world, encouraged him to stop building walls and then helped him tear down the walls between the different groups.

I shared this post with Jack and he said,
“I hope there’s an Emmet to stop all that’s going on in the world.”

Me too.

And then we talked about how he (and we) could all be Emmets.

School Talk…

Hello!

Jack is heading into sixth grade (sniff) which is the first year of middle school.  Sam sat Jack down to give him some tips about his school supplies and other important Middle School information.

  1. Never open a pack of gum in a crowd. Everyone will want a piece.
  2. If someone wants lead for their pencil, say, “No.” If you say yes, they won’t stop asking you for lead.
  3. Carry your locker combo with you, but never share it. People will get in your locker and mess with your stuff.
  4. Keep you schedule with you at all times, but scribble out your locker combination if you are going to share your schedule.
  5. I’ll go with you when you get your schedule and show you around…been there done that. (Love!)

I think this is all very wise advice. Especially number one.

Nasty…

Hello!

Sam cleaned out his backpack from last year. Yep. He hasn’t taken anything out of his backpack since the last day of school.

While cleaning it out he says, “I found socks in here!”
Me: Sam that is so GROSS!
Sam: I know! And they aren’t even mine!

Memories…

Welcome Back!

I am so happy to announce that I have gotten all of Jack’s track pictures (from this season) into a scrapbook!! Yay Me!! The extra bonus was that I caught Jack checking out his scrapbook!

Sam wandered in and started checking out his school book!

That is why I scrapbook, so the boys can enjoy memories for years! Which I know they will for years, because I made them promise that they will keep my scrapbooks forever…even after I am gone.