My Journey from Mounted to Un-mounted... Part 1

UPDATE: 3/7/2011 Please see the comments section of this post from my stampin' sister Linda for additional tips for cutting out rubber images.  She also makes a suggestion of what to do with the wooden blocks.  I have a post on that - click here.

For some time now, I've been  been thinking about un-mounting my wooden stamps. Wooden stamps take up a lot of space!  I was recently inspired by my stampin sister Linda to just do it!

There are some images I will choose to keep on wood. For example, I have several that have colored images on the wood - I want to keep those as a color guide. There are others that may be side & top mounted, or that I just like mounted. As I go through them, I'll decide.  One area where I'm moving 100% of mounted to un-mounted -  my largest collection of wood mounted stamps - are my Stampin' Up! stamps.  Sending a BIG SHOUT OUT to Stampin' Up! for adding un-mounted images to their product line!! They call them "clear," however the images are the same good quality rubber as on their mounted version.  You can see through the acrylic block, thus clear. ;o)

For the last couple of years I have not mounted my SU! images. I've placed them on EZMount.  There are two types of cushion - regular and thin.  It's a matter of personal preference. If you like a lot of "cush" when you stamp, pick the regular.   I have my mounted images stored in their cases on a CD/DVD case and my un-mounted images stored in a binder.  Looking forward, they will all be together. I like togetherness. :o)

My journey begins....

1. First I made the decision that I really wanted this change and acknowledged to myself that it will take time and effort. I also wanted the benefit of having all my SU! together in one area. I would not have to try to remember if a set was mounted or un-mounted.
2. Next, I thought about the time table - I wanted to set up a schedule that is attainable.  I received a request that helped me with my time table - it's something I'm excited about. I'll share more about that in a future post. Back to my journey....
3. Because I have so many SU! images, I choose to keep them in alphabetical order.  To get maximum storage on the CD/DVD case, I organized my sets by size, then alphabetical order.  Another driver for this change is that I want to save my energy for creating, not use it on searching. :o)  I started stacking all the As, Bs, Cs, etc....
4. I took the As and put them in alphabetical order.
5. Now comes the tedious part - the un-mounting.  The good news with SU! images is, they come off the sponge mounting pretty easy.  I found three scenarios. (1)  they peal right off without any residue - clean, (2)  they peal of with some sticky residue. It's very similar to Aleene's tack it over & over glue, and (3) they peal right off with a dry coating. 
6. For scenario (1), I placed the rubber directly on EZMount. Scenario (2) I left the residue on and will use as is. It sticks nicely to the acrylic block and does not leave any sticky. Scenario (3) I found I could just rub the majority off with my thumbs. I did have to use a little "elbow grease," but it comes off clean.  If I can not get it off by rubbing, I use an adhesive remover (I use Duck Adhesive Remover).  NOTE: If you do decide to use EZMount for your images, I highly recommend purchasing a hot knife. It makes cutting out your images so easy and quick. You can also use quality craft scissors. You can precondition them with a non stick spray (I've heard some people just use PAM) or you'll have to clean them often.
7. After my images are ready to store, I started placing them in storage cases.  I decided to use the SU! cases. That way, when I buy new SU! images, I'll just stick them in alphabetical order on my CD/DVD case.  Depending on the size of the set, I can get three or four sets in one case!!
8. The SU! cases have a space to slide paper or card stock in so you can label it. Using my PC, I created a template.  I update the template with the name of the sets that will be in that case. I stamp the images in the blank area - using a different color ink for each set.  For the sets where I saved the little sticker with the number in the set, I peel it off and place it inside the new storage case. 
9. What a great reduction in space!!  In the photo I now have 28 sets in the a much smaller space!

If anyone has any ideas on what to do with the wood pieces and all the plastic cases, please leave me a comment.

Now, back to working on the Bs. :o) 

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena      

Comments

[Lee Tucker]

I just started unmounting my stamps, and I focused on my landscape and SU sets. I also use the hot knife after my fingers were getting raw rubbing off the residue and then trying to cut all of these out by hand. I found it was much better to mount the smaller images on the thinner E-Z mount to prevent wobbling. I've put most of the SU blocks on ebay and they sold for much higher than I expected.

I use the SU cases to store and seperate the images I already have stamped. I usually try to stamp several duplicates whenever I stamp, so I can put cards together quickly when I can get people over to help me make cards for Operation Write Home. I also have a lot of scrap papers like metallics or other specialty types stored in them that I don't want in my normal scrap piles.

You've done well to get so many sets done at one time! I usually try to do about 2 or 3 sheets a week. It's going slowly, but I'm loving the space that it's freeing up! Pat yourself on the back for this great accomplishment!

[#trenabrannonart]

Thanks Marge! What size blocks does she need?

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Makeitagreatday!
Trena
Live Life!
my blog: www.trenabrannon.typepad.com
my business: http://thebrannonfactory.com
I design for: Sunday International

[Marge]

Wow Trena, I am very impressed!!

I know someone who wanted some wood blocks for a double mounted set (to make it single sided).

[Shelly Schmidt]

I like your organized unmounting- and I am with you- it saves SO muc space!!! Oh- I took my wood to a local SU demo- she was happy to take it- I had a huge shopping bag full of wood- she shares the wood with her downline........

[Vicki Reynard]

I love that you did this. I have the EZ Mount foam...not sure what I am waiting for LOL Would be be willing to share your template for the cases? My email is vreynard at gmail dot com. Thanks so much Vicki

[Trena in Naperville]

Sandy! You're right and I have been evaluating. I was able to part with three whole stamp sets. :o) The other advantage is, I can review all my individual images in the sets. I have found some really cute ones in sets I forgot I had - some artsy ones!! Thank you!!

[sandy Mayfield]

Trena, you are a brave girl! I can't do it. I have an emotional attachment to the wood. lol. While you are at it, take the time to evaluate your stamps. There may be some you can part with. That will help with the storage space too.

[Linda Selymes]

Great article, Trena, and thanks so much for the link. You are awesome. On the question of hot knife versus the quality craft scissors, here's my put. When I am unmounting a mounted stamp, I use the hot knife because the rubber is already trimmed and the hot knife is soooo fast. When I'm starting from scratch with bare rubber, I use the scissors, so I can trim the rubber and the ezmount in one step. I wonder how long it's going to take us to get it all done??? On the wood pieces, I've seen several tutorials where people are turning them into decorated magnets, by coloring the image on the front and adding magnets to the back after they are all cleaned up.
Long post, but one more thing, thanks for all the links to the products you are using for this job. Very, very helpful. Hugs! Linda