Today I want to share with you how I store my ink pads. Over the next couple of weeks I am going to share with you how I store my different stamping supplies. Last week I posted this picture on Facebook, and someone asked what the numbers on the pads are, well, now you will find out. It’s part of my ink pad storage system! When I received all my new colors awhile back, I decided to make a HUGE CHANGE in how I store my ink pads. For the past 23+ years I have always kept them by color group, in the same order they were shown in the catalog. It was all I knew, and I could easily keep them in order and where they belonged. But it was time for a change. I have decided to store my ink pads by colors, rather than by color groups. All the blues together, all the greens together, etc….. My brain is struggling, but I am really liking this new system.
How I Store My Ink Pads
I keep my ink pads in a holder I purchased from Stamp-n-Storage. They have awesome storage products. If you’d like to see what they have, CLICK HERE to go to their website. (I am not an affiliate and do not get anything for referrals, just want to share these awesome products with you!). This is what the storage unit looks like on my counter. I like that I have the Stampin’ Pad, Marker and Reinker all together!
Here is a better view of the first 2 rows. (I still need to get the new reinkers, so there are a few empty spots!)
Order I Put Them In
Like I said, I wanted to keep the pads by colors, not by color groups. I wanted the blacks, grays and browns on the left, closest to where I stand so I could easily grab them since at least one of them is used on almost every card I make. Next I started with the pinks and reds. Actually I began by putting all of the colors in the order that I wanted them, and then started with the first one at the top of the 2nd column…..PETAL PINK. To fit into 3 columns, I needed to put 11 pads in a row, as you see above. So row 1 has Petal Pink to Calypso Coral. Row 2 started with the next in my order, Pumpkin Pie, and ends with Shaded Spruce. Then I moved on to Bermuda Bay through Blackberry Bliss
And then the final row has the 2 groups of In Colors. I did not want to mix these into the other colors because they will change every year.
Now What About The Numbers?
Once I had them all arranged, I knew I would never remember where any of the pads belonged to put them away. Thus, the numbers! I actually started with Petal Pink and numbered it “1.” And I went all the way through Blackberry Bliss, number “33.” I left the neutral colors in their own little group and numbered them “N1” to “N8.” (don’t confuse this with the “Neutrals Collection” in the catalog). The 2 different In Color Groups were left un-numbered in the right column.
I have been using this for about a month now and love it. Everyday it gets easier, but I love having all the “greens” together, and the “blues” together, etc. It really makes me look at all of our gorgeous colors differently. As I am stamping, it is easy to know where each pad goes on the shelf by the numbers!
What do you think?
If you have any questions about how I store my pads, or anything else, please leave me a comment. I love to hear from you!
Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to my blog, as next week I will be sharing about how I store my cardstock!
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Jackie Bolhuis, Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Since 1995
I LOVE this idea of storing by color!!!
I have this exact same storage case and just last night was switching all the new colors over. Gonna go down and reorganize by color today!!
I love all your ideas and videos. And I use many of them for my small group of customers. Been a SU Demo for 7 years this month.
Very excited about the new colors and catalog. Thanx for freely sharing your creativity! It’s an encouragement to many! Blessings! – Julie B
So. paper/card stock. Do you store that in the same way? I switched all the inks/markers/re-inkers over and sm excited to see how this works for me! Am thinking doing the same for CS is a good idea too. Gotta get my mind out of the “color collection mode” – Thanks for the great inspiration!!!
Thanks for tuning in Julie! I’m glad this was helpful to you and best wishes for you and your customers too.
Stay tuned Julie….I have a post coming this week about storing paper.
Great idea thank you for sharing
You’re so welcome.
What do you do with your retired In Color ink pads.
Do you still use them, and if so, where or how are they stored?
Actually, once the colors are retired I don’t use them any more.
I also store my ink pads by color groups – starting with the lightest to the darkest. This works better for me.
Makes sense to me :)! Happy Crafting!
Thanks for sharing. I love the Stamp N Storage products. I don’t have the product you pictured, but I do have the stamp pad storage and the separate Stamp N Blend Storage. I may switch up the storage, but right now cannot justify yet another storage system. LOL. I also store mine by color but in no particular order. Since I am a hobbyist, I don’t get rid of very much. I removed the retired colors to another storage system so they would be separated but still handy. I am loving the new stamp sets, bundles, and suites.
It seems like I am always changing what I do, but I think I am finally feeling like I am liking things.
Jackie, loved how you numbered your ink pads. I started numbering mine years ago as I was always looking for an ink pad. This way I know I have them all.
Love your work. You are an inspiration. Its a treat in the morning to get creative juices going with your email.
God Bless;
Hi Sheila, glad I can “visit” you each morning and get your day started!
Thank you Sheila, I’m so glad you are here and reading/watching 🙂 Thanks so much for the kind words!!
I have the same storage unit and LOVE it! I’ve color organized since I got the unit just because it made sense to me. I do the same thing with my clothes closet.
I do the same thing, Mary Schwaderer. To have things color organized makes life so much easier. Jackie, I’m always interested in how others store products, so I’m looking forward to your upcoming posts. I found your blog recently and feel inspired by your creativity. TFS. Enjoy your day!
Glad you found me!!! I am all about quick & easy–whether it is storage, and making, cutting or ???
Never thought about doing it for my clothes…..hhhmmm….now you have me thinking!
Organization helps a lot doesn’t it?! 🙂
Great ideas! I have a similar Stamp n store ink holder and find arranging by color family works well for me too! I had never thought about numbering them so I’m going to give that some thought! Interesting idea! Thank you!
You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by today.
Jackie I very thought about doing this with my pads but never followed thru, I think I just might now! Thanks for bringing this idea to all of us!!!! Can’t wait to see what you do with your card stock!!!! Have a great day and thanks for all your creative ideas!!!!
Thanks Linda. I hope you do it now. I really like them this way.
Jackie, I’ve been storing my ink pads by color for a long time, and it makes so much more sense to me. I have one question about your numbering scheme. What happens when SU drops or adds colors, like if they drop 2 Reds, but add in 3 new reds? I realize it doesn’t happen yearly, but will you have to renumber the whole group?
I will deal with that then….I am sure it’ll probably be at least 5 years or more. I like it for now!
Our brains work alike as I have always stored my ink pad the same way you are now organizing yours. Makes life a lot easier for me. I too store in the in-colors as a group and not mixed in with the other ink pads as I like to use them as much as possible as they are only around for 2 years.
Thanks for watching!
That’s the way I’ve always done it—-by color and keeping the 2 In-colors in their each separate row. It’s always worked for me. I don’t use the #’s though as I haven’t had a problem since I go light to dark in each color. (Maybe just lucky tho’).
🙂
Do you store your stamp pads upside down? I’m relatively new to card making and was told the stamp pad should always be stored upside, in order to keep the ink at the top of pad. Is this the correct way or not! I really enjoy making my cards and everyone who receives them really likes them too.
Thanks for any information you can give me.
Hi Arlene! Thanks for tuning in and welcome to card making!!! Stampin’ Up stamp pads are designed so that when the stamp case is closed the ink pad is actually upside down so you don’t have to do anything other than make sure the case is closed tight & properly. If you are worried about pads like Versamark, Memento Black ink pad–those types then you can store those upside down because on those types of pads the ink pad is not upside down when you put the lid on. Make sense? Let me know if you have other questions.
I store my inks in like colors also, rather than in groups as in the book. I think it is easier for choosing a color that I want to work with or blend with. I don’t understand why some of your (the new stamps pads) are upside down. Will we need to do that when we get them?
Hi! I’m not certain I understand what you are referring to. It may appear in the photos that the new ink pads are upside down but I don’t want to confuse anyone. The ink pads, when closed and stored are designed so that the ink pad is upside down. The case, when it’s in the holder may appear like I’ve put it in upside down but I think you are just seeing the front of the case that has a new design. As long as the Stampin’ Up label is on the top when stored then you are storing the case correctly. Does that help explain? Let me know if you still have questions. Thanks!
That is the way I will organize mine! I have been looking at the other ways and I like this best.
Thanks for following me Sue! I’m glad this works for you too 🙂
When I started stamping that is how I did it. It so easy to find my colors.
Thanks for showing us this. I learn so much from all of you that have blogs and YouTube.
Kay
Thanks for watching Kat!