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To answer the OP's question...No, not one regret. I only wish I would have started this method when I bought my first set of SU. I currently have 203 sets still mounted on the wood, a couple hundred misc singles ( hero arts, etc.) and 182 sets mounted on ez mount and stored, indexed and filed in CD cases. I LOVE THIS , I am hesitant to unmount the ones already on the wood, because I'm not sure how I would index them.
I currently scan the index print , log them on the computer and put the copy in a 3 ring binder. I mount the stamp on ez mount , put a label on the spine and store in the CD case. I use the stamps on ez mount much more than the wood mounts only because I can find them easier. I can't imagine ever going back, the space savings is unbeliveable.
Just do a few sets and see how it goes, my bet is you will not regret it.
I'm in the beginning process of unmounting all my stamps. I'm going with the tack 'n peel method. That way I don't have to remove any foam, I can keep the backing on the stamp and can resell if I need to.
I think the Tack 'n Peel is used with bare rubber. It is pretty sticky and the foam might permanently stick to it. I've only tried the Tack 'n Peel with bare rubber and it is pretty sticky, but I'm not speaking from actual experience with the foam and Tack 'n Peel.
Kimberly
__________________ "There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness." -- Dave Barry
Yes, you do need to buy TackNPeel for all of your acrylic blocks. I have found it for $9.99 (regular price). It is a bit spendy, but once you do your blocks you can use it for ALL of your stamps, with nothing more to do to your stamps. If you have some stamps that are on cling, you simply use them on the side of the acrylic block where you do not have the TNP. I have even placed some of the TackNPeel on one of my wheels. I unmounted all of my wheels, but if I ever want to use them as a wheel I have that option too.
To answer an earlier question about the stickers, yes, they peel off of the wood block in much the same manner as the foam and rubber do. I have never microwaved any of my stamps. I just peel slowly. This has worked for both the stamps and the stickers.
Location: keeping my 7 yr old still, while I'm in stampin' bliss!
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Originally Posted by KimberlyinMN
I think the Tack 'n Peel is used with bare rubber. It is pretty sticky and the foam might permanently stick to it. I've only tried the Tack 'n Peel with bare rubber and it is pretty sticky, but I'm not speaking from actual experience with the foam and Tack 'n Peel.
Kimberly
I've actually just taken the rubber as it comes from SU and placed it on the Tack n Peel as is. I haven't removed anything, even the paper backing.
As for the other post, I have about 6 blocks and I bought 3 sheets of the Tack n Peel and cut them to the block size. I make sure and put the clear plastic coating back onto the TnP to keep it clean.
I guess I'll just try this out and see how I like it. Thanks for the replies!
When people ask me if I worry about ruining the value I tell them I have the stamps I want to use. I am not in the resale business. I stamp because I love it and not to make money. It is cheaper to buy a card at Hallmark than to make one. But even those with the great sentiments will not be held as dearly as the ones sent from the heart and made by hand.
this makes me feel so good about my cards and my stamps. I usually feel I should sell my stamps second hand after I have used them a while and then , haven't reused them in months. As soon as I sell a set I miss it. I think from now on I will keep all my sets without feeling guilty.
I am even going to write this saying and put it on my bulletin board!!
PSS: As my sister just pointed out to me today, You can't buy a card from hallmark for less that $3 most are $5.
When people ask me if I worry about ruining the value I tell them I have the stamps I want to use. I am not in the resale business. I stamp because I love it and not to make money. It is cheaper to buy a card at Hallmark than to make one. But even those with the great sentiments will not be held as dearly as the ones sent from the heart and made by hand.
this makes me feel so good about my cards and my stamps. I usually feel I should sell my stamps second hand after I have used them a while and then , haven't reused them in months. As soon as I sell a set I miss it. I think from now on I will keep all my sets without feeling guilty.
I am even going to write this saying and put it on my bulletin board!!
PSS: As my sister just pointed out to me today, You can't buy a card from hallmark for less that $3 most are $5.
Thank you so much for the compliment! It made my very stressful day close on a smiling high!
ok yall..I've been watching and reading for quite some time now...and I did it..I bit the bullet and bought my CD things from Rima - and my EZ mount from Ebay - I've sunk about $100 into beginning the process of unmounting my stamps...so fingers crossed that I love it as much as yall do! I am getting new cabinets in my craft room within the next 2 weeks and I don't want to use all the space up with stamp sets...so I decided since you all loved them unmounted - I'd give it a whirl too! I do have a hot knife too...other than that anyone got any words of wisdom before I begin this project???
Not one regret. After I got everything unmounted hubby said to design myself a stamping room I now have about 1800 sets of stamps in 4 large drawers that roll out. I can find any stamp I own in under 15 seconds! Now that I am buying mainly clear it saves even more space because they are thin enough that you can put stamps on both inner sides of a CD. I have one set with 51 stamps in one CD!
Also, as to the resale issue, I have been able to sell my unmounteds as fast as mounteds if not faster, with the exception of SU sets which just don't sell well at all anymore.
I was taught at a stamp show to just use double stick tape (removable is ok) and the fun foam pad. No more EZmount or TacknPeel for me. this give a very sharp image and is sooooo cheap. Granted, there is no 'sticky' on the back of the stamp for storage but it works for me.
I was running out space and I unmounted my stamps onto EZ mount maybe a year ago; organized the images in a binder by subject, CD case number, etc. It took a fair bit of time to get it done but it was well worth it! The only stamps I don't usually unmount are the ones that are too big for a CD case. Anyway, I have a couple of tips: 1. Make sure you cut out the EZ mount with your hot knife at a 90 degree angle (straight up) so that you don't undercut it. I've had to redo my EZ mount a couple of times on my stamps because I've undercut them. What happens is a small edge doesn't have "support" and sometimes stamps poorly in that one little bitty spot! 2. Words stamps can be really small so I cut the EZ mount bigger around the stamp. After I cut the EZ mount it's exposed around the top and really sticky so I brush it lightly w/baby powder and it's not sticky anymore. And, best of all, my little word stamp is bigger, easier to work with, and has more "area" to hold onto the acrylic block.
What is EZ Mount and where do I find it? I am really running out of room for my stamps.
Also are there any Stampin' Up Demonstrators who use this method? What do the customers think about it? (Not that I am holding many workshops anyway...it's more of a way to support my own hobby! lol)
I might consider doing this with new stamp sets I get!
What is EZ Mount and where do I find it? I am really running out of room for my stamps.
Also are there any Stampin' Up Demonstrators who use this method? What do the customers think about it? (Not that I am holding many workshops anyway...it's more of a way to support my own hobby! lol)
I might consider doing this with new stamp sets I get!
I'm not affiliated with any stamp company.
From what I have read many SU demos that unmount keep their current sets mounted and only unmount their sets they are going to keep. That means their customers get a consistent mounted stamp view of the product (through advertising and demostration)
Personally I use re-positional glue and a stamping mat rather than ezmount, there is also cling that others us.
Most everyone seems to use ezmount. What about just not having any foam at all? Will this be a problem? I think I'm just being lazy...
Not lazy - just frugal with your time :-D
You don't have to use a faom backing but you will need to use some padding when you stamp. You can use an old mouse pad, fun foam, phonebook, stack of newspapers.... the foam cushion gives you a better stamped image.
can you put a stripe of tape on the inside of a cd case to hold the rubber in place?
i like the idea of just rubber, but I want the case for each set. I do not think a binder would be practical for me.
I've unmounted all my SU sets (and I had many!) except the BG stamps, one alphabet/number set and several of the really large sets that won't fit into a CD case. I bought a label maker and added set names to the edge of the CD case. Standing on end in baskets, I can quickly see the names of the sets. I do plan to stamp the images and add them to the CD cases one day, but am just glad the EZ Mount process is completed for now. It freed up so much shelf space that I only regret not doing it sooner. I keep a small basket with the acrylic blocks on my desk and it's so easy to adhere the rubber to the acrylic block when you need it. I kept my single stamps from other companies on the wood blocks for now. It was mainly the SU sets that took up so much room.
__________________
Wanda Cullen ~ Dirty Dozen Alumni, On design team for Papertrey Ink, Designer for Color Throwdown and Fusion Card Challenges Cullen-ary Creations[/URL]...my blogHERE'S MY GALLERY[/URL]
I am in mid-process of um'ing myself and I already know I don't have any regrets. I have stamps that I had forgotten I had because it's been so long since I've used them! It's like getting new stuff all over again. And I never realized just how many great stamps I did have! I've already started using them more now than I ever did since buying them.
My advice to anybody though is to index or catalog the stamps as you go. It takes a little longer, but so worth the time investment. I keep sets together in a CD case, but can't remember what all images are in a set. So, I'm taking some 4x6 blank unlined index cards that I got at WM, stamp images on the cards (as many will fit on a single card) while keeping the cards separated by category (flowers, sentiments, etc.). So for example, if a set has a sentiment and a flower. I stamp the flower on a "Flowers" index card and the sentiment on a "Sentiments" index card. And I just keep adding to each index card with other stamps until the card is full and start a new one. For each image, I make note of Stamp company, set name, and the CD case # they are put in. On the spine of my CD case, I put the cd case #, and set name(s) inside, if applicable. I am then putting my index cards in a regular photo album, the kind with 4x6 slots for photos. I am using the small albums and using one album per category, mainly because I have this really nice set someone gave me with multiple albums in a nice storage cabinet, but really any size would work . When I want to stamp, I will use my photo albums/index cards to "shop" for my stamp, in my notes I'll see the CD case # it's in , go to my CD storage unit and pull that particular case. For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to actually separate sets (felt like separating a family almost, LOL!) so this put this fear aside. Also, if possible, I can put multiple sets in a CD case without worrying about if they are in the same "category" or not, because I will use my index for keeping them categorized.
I hope I'm explaining this well enough to make sense, because so far, it's really working out well for me. I haven't got all of my stamps um'd yet, I'm just doing a few at a time. Besides making the task seem less overwhelming that way, it also never fails that as I stamp for my index, I'll get inspired to use that stamp for making a card and end up 'playing!'
__________________ Tish, a/k/a GaMtnScrap Be who you are. Those that matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter.
I just started un-mounting in the last week. I have only SU stamps, but I haven't amassed more than 60 sets. I've been out of stamping for about 5 years, and I just dug out all my stuff within the last week. A friend of mine is an SU demo, so she pointed me toward this sight. This is where I first heard about UM'ing. My house here is tiny, so I don't have room for what I have now without getting in and out of the attic repeatedly. Since that's not conducive for anyone who thoroughly enjoys this hobby, my interests were certainly piqued by the idea of CD cases, no wood blocks, no clamshells, easy location, and MORE STAMPS! ;) I wanted to find the cheapest way to go with UM'ing, since I'm not working right now while I finish up my degree. So, I chose not to use EZ Mount - it sounds expensive and labor intensive. I read the tip to stick the image sticker to the foam after I removed it from the block and then trim the sticker. Then I'm using Aileen's Tack It Over and Over. (Saw a demo of it on you tube.) I found a great deal on CD cases (200 for 18.99 w/free shipping), bought some CD storage boxes from Wal-Mart (under $10 each), and started indexing and cataloging every stamp in a cross-reference system that will eventually live in a binder (though I'm VERY tempted to do the stamps on index cards or in a rolodex - my mind works better sometimes with one image at a time instead of a whole sheet of images). I think the tip on here to print off the index image in the galleries here at SCS is awesome, btw!
My ONLY regret came this morning when I finally decided to look up a how-to for using the Stamp-a-ma-jig (found a video on you tube; I've been intimidated by the SAMJ up til this morning, because I couldn't figure out how it worked). Now that I know how it works, I immediately got a twinge of regret thinking about all the stamps I've unmounted so far... One of my top two reasons for UM'ing in the first place was for better alignment, especially with the two-step stamps. I bet I can still use a SAMJ, if I decide to get one, with the acrylic blocks, but suddenly I felt like I was wasting my time and stamps. Grrrr! Then I reminded myself the utmost reason for UM'ing was to save space, find what I have, and have more room for more stamps.
So, I guess that's only a partial regret, tho I wanted to kick myself at the time!
My ONLY regret came this morning when I finally decided to look up a how-to for using the Stamp-a-ma-jig (found a video on you tube; I've been intimidated by the SAMJ up til this morning, because I couldn't figure out how it worked). Now that I know how it works, I immediately got a twinge of regret thinking about all the stamps I've unmounted so far... One of my top two reasons for UM'ing in the first place was for better alignment, especially with the two-step stamps. I bet I can still use a SAMJ, if I decide to get one, with the acrylic blocks, but suddenly I felt like I was wasting my time and stamps. Grrrr! Then I reminded myself the utmost reason for UM'ing was to save space, find what I have, and have more room for more stamps.
So, I guess that's only a partial regret, tho I wanted to kick myself at the time!
__________________ "There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness." -- Dave Barry
I'm with you on wondering whether or not UM'ing was a waste; I don't believe it was as I really needed the space since I stamp in the guest room closet, but now I've decided to put all my stamps (about 40 sets) into those clear DVD cases that SU! sells. I've bought about 6 sets so far. I figure if I can see my sets out in front of me I'd be more inclined to use them.
But you know what got me thinking??? There are a few sets that I have (hostess, some sets about 5 yrs old, etc) that I don't use and I regret unmounting those as now I want to get rid of them and only keep "current" or really dear sets around instead of storing and stockpiling them (read: waste of EZ mount). Not sure if trying to sell them is the best or maybe donating them to a school or daycare. Can I write that off on my taxes???? (dream on!)
I guess there will always be a new way of storing stamp sets and once we utilize that, then someone else comes along with a clever new way of storing them. Oh well, what do you do?
I'm with you on wondering whether or not UM'ing was a waste; I don't believe it was as I really needed the space since I stamp in the guest room closet, but now I've decided to put all my stamps (about 40 sets) into those clear DVD cases that SU! sells. I've bought about 6 sets so far. I figure if I can see my sets out in front of me I'd be more inclined to use them.
But you know what got me thinking??? There are a few sets that I have (hostess, some sets about 5 yrs old, etc) that I don't use and I regret unmounting those as now I want to get rid of them and only keep "current" or really dear sets around instead of storing and stockpiling them (read: waste of EZ mount). Not sure if trying to sell them is the best or maybe donating them to a school or daycare. Can I write that off on my taxes???? (dream on!)
I guess there will always be a new way of storing stamp sets and once we utilize that, then someone else comes along with a clever new way of storing them. Oh well, what do you do?
Before you donate, try selling them here on the BST forum. Just include in your listing that they're on EZ mount. You might be surprised at how many of us would be interested in them that way
I have absolutely no regrets going unmounted. I have more room for all my other supplies, my stamps are super organized, they're easier to find, I don't waste time looking for stamps when I want to make something, and I have a place to put everything. It was a huge job and categorizing and indexing all the images took me about 6 weeks (I'm not working right now so that was how I spent the first 6 weeks I was off work). If you want to see pictures of how I indexed and store my stamps, you can check out my July 30th post on my blog.
I also have NO regrets for unmounting. Now - i'm taking the "cheaper" approach. Most of my stamp sets are from the last 5 years and i've been able to salvage about 95% of the foam for them. So i peel the foam away from the block, add the sticker back onto the the foam, and then by suggestion from someone here, using the Sailor 2 in 1 tacky glue over the sticker, letting it dry, and it's tacky enough for my acrylic blocks. I've been stamping non-stop with my newly unmounted sets and have NO regrets. Being that i'm not going to EZ mount route - i did splurge on the SU DVD size storage cases, because i like the uniformed look etc. Every order i throw in another 2-3 sets of storage cases. I did my research here on SCS before going this method - but have been very happy with the result - flawless stamping like the wood blocks, and way cheaper than EZ mount method. And the storage space gained... priceless.
No regrets AT ALL. And I wouldn't worry about reselling, as unmounted rubber/cling stamps are becoming more and more popular all the time. I'd buy them off ya.. heck it would save me the trouble of doing it myself! Now a days, I buy 99% unmounted anyway. If I do see a stamp I like and it happens to only come mounted on wood, I will still buy it if I can't talk myself out of it, but it immediately comes off the wood.
My only regret is that I tore off Elvis' leg. He was a stamp I got a a garage sale on a BIG OLE wood block (I think he was originally unmounted and the lady mounted him on
a homemade wood block.) She used some really strong adhesive.... I feel bad for him every time I use him LOL
__________________ Bev
Organized People are just too lazy to hunt for things!!!
I have only two regrets about the unmounting I did several years ago:
Unmounting some of my teeny, tiny, easily lost A Muse stamps. I was smart enough to keep the blocks, so they've been remounted.
Neglecting to write down the names and manufacturers of all the loose stamps I unmounted. SU sets are easy because they're stored together, often with the original labels, but those random singles are tricky to track down now.
I'm only about half unmounted (SU sets, wheels, new unmounted stamps, and lesser-used singles), but I like that those neglected stamps and sets take up less space.
There's really no "positioning" involved when I stamp. I just slap it on, and because the block is clear, I can see where to position the stamp-- especially since the stamps that I put on EZMount, I stamped the cling side first in StazOn, so I could see the image. It's almost as easy as using a clear stamp that way. If putting several stamps on a block.. to me it's easier to position on the clear block than it would be to line it up just right on the paper, or to have to set up a Stamp-a-majig every time.
Now instead of EZMount.. and stamping on the back, I just take the sticker from the stamp set and stick it directly onto the foam that's already attached to the rubber, then apply a thin coat of repositional glue on the back. If I have any regrets, it's that I didn't find out about that technique sooner and went through the hassle of using EZMount.
If I have any regrets, it's that I didn't find out about that technique sooner and went through the hassle of using EZMount.
I TOTALLY agree with MikiBee. When I decided to unmount, I was fortunate enough to have "fun money" gifted to me by my former boss, so I purchased 5-6 sheets of EZM to unmount my 30 stamp sets. I still have one full sheet left over. But I do wish I had heard of someone using repositionable glue directly on the image sticker before I invested in EZM. Would have been so much less expensive.
Now I use a can of Krylon EZ-Tack spray and have had absolutely no problems whatsoever with this method. I've been using the spray for over a year, even with the new SU! clear sets. Their image stickers don't seem to cling to the clear block that well, so I spray a thin coating of the EZ-Tack on the image sticker and it works like a charm.
the only regret I have is; I haven't had time to do all my sets! Still have a lot to do, 100's. I use the tack n peel method on the blocks. I use a stamp however it is, with or without foam, with vinyl back etc. It works for all. The big time issue is setting up the dvd cases with an index. I would like to firgure out how to catalog my sets too. I am spending far too much time looking through the cases for the stamp i need.
So you don't keen your sets together like they came? I can see where that would work. All of mine are still mounted at this point. But I did something similar with a notebook. All the index sheets were scanned into the computer and I have one notebook that shows the sets as sets and another one where I pulled up the scanned images and separated each individual stamp into one of a dozen different catagories. So that if I was looking for a birthday sentiment I could see them all together and pick the best one for the card. BUT, this is where I am probably missing out on the simplicity - next to the image I have typed the name of the set where it is stored.
It seems like maybe I got halfway to a good idea and then didn't know a better way to finish it.
the only regret I have is; I haven't had time to do all my sets! Still have a lot to do, 100's. I use the tack n peel method on the blocks. I use a stamp however it is, with or without foam, with vinyl back etc. It works for all. The big time issue is setting up the dvd cases with an index. I would like to firgure out how to catalog my sets too. I am spending far too much time looking through the cases for the stamp i need.
I have no regrets at all about going unmounted (I think I posted this sentiment earlier on in this thread).
SuG, you can take a look at my way of organizing stamps. I did a blog post showing how I did it with a couple pictures. It works really really well for me and my storage system takes up so much less space now. Here's a link: Cat's Stamp Storage
I have no regrets. I have so much more space and few containers storing my stamps now. I used CD's and DVD's. Best thing I ever did. A few days ago I really freaked out. I couldn't find the looseleaf I use to index all my stamps. Each stamps is listed with a stamped image, the manufacturer, and the name of the stamp on a numbered page. The actual index just lists what it is, flower, cat etc. Having removed the stamps from the wood I would have no idea who made it. Not that it's a big deal but I like knowing who's stamp I have. It reminds me of companies I've purchased from for stamps I really like and I can buy from them again. Otherwise I'd probably not remember who I bought it from.
