Good day, everyone! It’s Becky, your humble editor. Our fall issue just went out the door this past weekend and we are so excited to share it with you online this Friday! It turned out so beautiful and is definitely one of my favourite fall issues to date.
Are you a hoarder collector of metal dies? Do you hoard amass stamps as if there is going to be a run on red rubber in the not-too-distant future? Then welcome to my world, I’m so happy you’re here!
Seriously, I’m pretty fond of both and what I love even more is combining dies and stamps into my projects. One problem I frequently run into is determining if a die is going to work with the stamp image or sentiment I’d like to use on my project. In the past, I’d grab a scrap of paper and die cut a bunch of shapes to see which one fit best with my image or words. Not only was it a huge time-killer but the quickie die cuts always ended up in the trash. What to do?
Necessity is the mother of invention and this is the solution I came up with. To begin, gather your dies and a pile of cardstock cut into 4.25”x5.5” pieces. Punch a small hole in the corner so you can thread them onto a key ring. I tackled this project by manufacturer, so this is my “Stampin’ Up” sample:
Die cut all of your shapes out of the cards, being sure to note the name of the collection on each one. If that manufacturer also makes paper punches, include those, too.
Pretty easy, huh? And the hard part’s over! The next time you want to pair up a die with a stamp image, sentiment, sticker, paper, or other embellishment, just grab your ring of cut-outs and place the shape over what you want to cut. Like sentiments:
Or patterned paper:
Or stamps shapes:
Hope this little tip makes your hoarding collecting easier to manage and use! :)
This is a brilliant idea.I'm doing this today.Its raining all day anyway.Perfect.
Posted by: Valerie Breingan | September 17, 2014 at 09:29 AM
OK---That is such a brilliant idea!!!!!
Posted by: Laura Turcotte | September 17, 2014 at 09:45 AM
Great tip! I also do this with my embossing folders! I write the name, manufacturer, where the accompanying dies are stored (if applicable), size of folder & my own numbering system i.e. #0120 is written in Sharpie on the sample 4.25x5.5" cardstock as well as on the back of that embossing folder so I can easily pull it out of the folder storage box. Each folder is then embossed onto its cardstock & threaded onto the binder ring. This way I can cycle through all of my embossed cardstock samples until I find the one that works best with my project, then I quickly pull out the folder using the information on the sample! Super quick & easy to do as you buy each folder and now no more time killing for me!
Posted by: Melitta Ball | September 17, 2014 at 10:27 AM
what a terrific idea! :)
Posted by: Jennifer Scull | September 17, 2014 at 10:48 AM
Awesome idea ... definitely will be doing this!
Posted by: Judy Stiles | September 17, 2014 at 10:52 AM
Or make 2 and use one of the negatives to make a really cool card!
Posted by: Beth Williams | September 17, 2014 at 11:10 AM
Great idea!
Posted by: Wendie | September 17, 2014 at 11:17 AM
I have started to do this many times but always get distracted by the die cuts once I get started!! Someday I will make it through without getting distracted!! LOL
Posted by: barbara macaskill | September 17, 2014 at 12:00 PM
So cool and neat teaching!
Posted by: bette | September 17, 2014 at 12:35 PM
Terrific idea! Thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: Judy McMullen | September 17, 2014 at 02:28 PM
Awesome idea!
Posted by: Amy C. | September 17, 2014 at 03:01 PM
So smart!
Posted by: Jean Marmo | September 17, 2014 at 03:27 PM
Definitely going to be doing this.
Thanks for a great tip!
Posted by: Theresa | September 17, 2014 at 04:43 PM
What a fabulous idea!
Posted by: Tona | September 17, 2014 at 04:52 PM
What a great idea for the dies; I have a little baggie of shapes from my punches but had never thought to do anything like this for my dies. Thanks for the tip.
Posted by: Iris Soscia | September 17, 2014 at 04:57 PM
THANK you, so simple but I would never have thought to do that. Great idea.
Posted by: Glenda | September 17, 2014 at 05:42 PM
Love this idea, much easier to create, than a book of filled with a sample of all the die cuts. Love it. And love Melitta's comment about the embossing folders. A great rainy day project.
Posted by: Dorina D | September 17, 2014 at 06:29 PM
That is an awesome idea!!! I will be doing some reorganizing this weekend.
Posted by: Heather Thompson | September 17, 2014 at 06:36 PM
I love this idea and can't wait to tackle my collection.
Posted by: Lynne T. | September 18, 2014 at 10:18 AM
SUPER COOL & CLEVER idea - THANK YOU Becky!!!
I have a gazillion stamps that need sorting and having, just started in the AMAZING world of die cutting, I only have a few dies but I am sure my collection will grow fast, so if I take your tip and get them organised from the start, I will keep on top of things - thank you :)
Posted by: TracyM #6773 | September 19, 2014 at 08:20 AM
Seriously! You are so smart Becky!! When can you come over and help me start organizing my Craft Room? I need to start this ASAP!!!
Posted by: Kathleen Spaeth | September 19, 2014 at 12:06 PM
Love it! I always appreciate these kinds of tips!
Posted by: Terri Burson | September 19, 2014 at 04:19 PM
Love this! I adore organizational projects and finding ways to be more efficient in the long run. I'm totally going to have to do this project sometime soon! :)
Posted by: Mendi Yoshikawa | September 19, 2014 at 04:29 PM
Fantastic! You're a genius! Thanks so much!
Posted by: Sue Abell | September 20, 2014 at 11:48 PM
Oh my goodness, what a great idea! Thank you for sharing this awesome idea!
Posted by: Marilyn E | September 21, 2014 at 10:32 AM