WOYWW 580
Happy Wednesday everyone. I’m managing to keep up with my weekly posting here sharing my creative space as part of What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday, hosted by Julia over at The Stamping Ground. Do pop over if you fancy joining in. Nobody bites (as far as I’m aware…)
This was my desk last night before our weekly Room session. It’s a kit of 2 layouts from a Go Go Getaway so one will be of my boy (now 14, towering over me, and excited about a partial return to rugby training tonight) and the other is 2 little pics of one of our dearly departed rats excitedly snacking on a jar of baby food!
The sorting job I’ve been doing this week was some of my stamps. Look away now if you are easily offended by poorly stored craft supplies.
This is what happens when you think you are using clever storage. I used to have my stamps in a binder on special stamp board but they didn’t always hold and they fell off etc. Also I hadn’t realised that you should only use one side of the card because if you squash 2 stamps together they will gradually re-mould and lose their design. The top left is an example of what has happened to all of my Tim Holtz stamps and I don’t know why. They’ve all gone red, ripped, and started to disintegrate. I’ve got much older, much cheaper stamps that are still in perfect condition so if you have any ideas about this please do let me know!
I’ve got most of them transferred to a stamp binder where they sit in pockets so bits don’t get lost. I’ve had to order another set though and I don’t have many stamps at all, even less now I’ve had to throw a few away!
Finally I thought I’d leave you with a photo of the beach in Wales where I finally managed to visit last week. It was very cathartic and I can’t wait to go back with the children when they finish school. I was sitting up on the cliffs at the Parrog in Newport, Pembrokeshire and looking over towards Big Beach. The car parks were certainly busier by the end of the weekend compared to when I arrived on the Thursday and I hope all the visitors are really careful and also that they spend lots of money to help the local economy. I for one, bought several Cornettos, purely for this purpose…
Please do let me know if you’ve popped by, and if you’re visiting from another blog, pop the kettle on, I’m on my way!
Your selflessness in helping the Pembs economy made me LOL, it’s a tough gig but someone has to step up to the mark! I’m so glad you had such a lovely time, that part of Wales is gorgeous. Give me a bit of warning the next time you come and perhaps I can pop over for a socially distanced cuppa in your garden.
I love the thought of rats eating baby food, bless….
Hugs LLJ 3 xxx
The pic of the Wales beach looks like such a lovely spot to sit and gaze and reflect. Such a pity about the stamps deteriorating. I have kept my stamps in a couple of boxes and usually in their original packets and have noticed that some of the silicon type stamps have not aged well. Some got a bit sticky and I threw them away. Looks like you new system is more suitable. Have a great week.
Sandra de @9
The Cornetto purchase remark made me smile -and it is a lovely view!
My loose rubber stamps are squished into folders – hope they don’t come to any harm! Most of the rest of my stamps are in boxes on shelves – or in a crate or storage cabinet. I have found that some of the older clear stamps have just ripped apart when I tried to take them off the sheet.
Happy woyww! Susan #15
Great post ! Kids do get big don’t they? It’s always a surprise to me how old mine are – like you, I have had a son towering over me since 14. he’s 26 now so I’ve gotten used to it though I’m not impressed when he bends hid head to rest his chin on the top of mine! The stamp storage dilemma never ends – I am playing with putting all the sentiments from stamp sets together as it is such a fag going through them all looking for just the right one – and let’s be honest, it’s rare they really relate to the actual stamp. But the other part of me doesn’t like to split things up….. anyhow I am awaiting a new folder to experiment with, will let you know how I get on. I have a few sets of Tim Holtz acrylic stamps and I agree a few haven’t held up very well. I think the biggest culprit is probably inks (I’m not good at cleaning) and perhaps heat/light. But if everything was buried away I would NEVER use it! So glad to hear to hear you are doing something for the local economy – there are worse things to spend your money on. Beautiful photo. Happy WOYWW , stay well, stay safe, Cindy #10
Yes it is very sad times when you have to ask your children to get stuff off the shelf for you :(.
Its such a shame about your stamps as they are not cheap! I have had the cheap ” freebie” stamps disintegrate and go jelly like but so far – not any others ( not that i have used some for ages) . Some are stored in boxes but most are in file folders I need to have a sort out. The beach photo looks lovely – enjoy the ice creams and stunning views. Have a great week. Soojay #22
Hi Lisa Jane, well done on supporting the local economy in such spectacular fashion, lol. Regarding the stamps, can I ask if you’ve ever used Staz-On, or the Staz-on Cleaner on them. I’ve had stamps go exactly the same way because I did, many years ago before we knew not to. Love the scenic photo, how beautiful it is. Did well today, found a co-operative vein first time! The words that strike fear into me, after I’ve pointed out it’s basically like trying to get blood out of a stone, and it needs someone good with veins,is when the person says ‘ I’ll just have a go first’- I know thats never going to end well! Stay Safe, Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #7 X
Hi Lisa Jane, buying the Cornettos to help the economy…..any excuse, if you need one that’s as good as any Lol! Years ago I knew someone who had a rat as a pet and it was lovely, she used to go everywhere with him though he wasn’t allowed to go to school. I did have one old clear stamp that just fell apart and I think it partly depends on what they are made of and how they are stored. I still think red rubber is the strongest. and then PhotoPolymer, the acrylic ones not so much and as Shaz said they don’t like Staz-On inks and Cleaners. Thanks for the lovely comments over at mine too. Have a really lovely creative WOYWW, Angela x14X
I’ve never had stamps go so bad as that but I do notice the clear ones can deteriorate a bit. Lovely LO on the first photo what gorgeous colours to set that baby photo off.
I do hope people had more respect than what I have heard from friends. My friend in Crosby (L’pool) lives by the beach and she has to stay in the back of the house so she does not see the antics the people get up to as they descend on the beaches. At weekend we saw a friend from the Lake District and he said that wherever they went the laybys were full of cards crammed in and people left litter all over, including used barbecues etc. Why do people behave like this? Makes me so angry. We have lovely countryside, respect it! No wonder we often get a bad name abroad.
Hugs, Neet 4 xx (not blaming them all but some …)
That’s some great stamp organising you’ve got going there, Lisa-Jane. Sorry to hear some of your stamps have deteriorated like that – some synthetic materials are weird. I had 2 favourite pairs of sandals that had nothing wrong with them that I could see – the uppers were perfect, and they were so comfy and I loved them. Then last summer when I got them out, I found the synthetic rubber soles were cracking and falling apart! Because they are all moulded, they cannot be repaired, so 2 pairs of perfectly lovely sandals had to go in the bin. I was NOT best pleased I can tell you! Silicone rubber definitely doesn’t last forever – it can go very sticky and disintegrate.
Gorgeous, gorgeous sea view! I can almost smell it! When we went to Dorset last week I so enjoyed our drive through the countryside with lots of fabulous views. I am very happy at home and haven’t found the lockdown much of a hardship at all, but to get out and see all that beauty was good for the soul!
Thank you for your visit. I love that about WOYWW – we all inspire each other, one way and another! If several of us have inspired you to start cross-stitching again, brilliant! I hope you’ll share it with us. I enjoy doing fine work but I do need a magnifier these days, unfortunately. I hope to have something to show by next week on the tiny carpets front!
We have been gradually transitioning to whole-food plant-based living. It’s very difficult to do it all at once, and your system would probably rebel if you tried! We’ve been at it for months and gradually ditched all animal products – it was only very recently that we had our last dairy milk. People usually find cheese the hardest to give up because it is highly addictive, affecting the same pleasure centres in the brain as cocaine. In time your tastes do change and you find different things instead, and your sense of taste definitely improves once you remove the animal products. I couldn’t have done any of it without the Internet. If you look up “whole-food plant-based” you will find all the info that you need – it is different from “vegan” which can actually be quite unhealthy (e.g. chips, cola, Oreos – all qualify as vegan!). I am a great fan of Dr Michael Greger (author of “How Not to Die”) – his website nutritionfacts.org has loads of interesting stuff including the real science behind all of this. He is a very entertaining speaker too.
Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi x #8
Those photos will make lovely layouts – baby and rats LOL – both cute! I understand they will go a separate pages, but could go together just as well! I’m certainly in no position to criticise your stamp storage – I keep mine in a box, just thrown in! I’ve noticed though that some of the cheaper ones deteriorate over time – get sticky and pliable – must be that they’re made of inferior materials. So we’d better get some use out of them while we can! Glad you can get around finally – it must have been liberating going on the beach! Thanks for your visit earlier! Happy WOYWW! zsuzsa #10
I also have some very poorly stored stamps – yours at least you attempted to organise – you really wouldn’t want to see mine! I love your beach photos – I wish I could get to the sea. Maybe at some point over the summer. Happy WOYWW. Take care and stay safe. With love & God Bless, Caro xxx (#1)
sorry about your stamps – not heard of that happening but I keep mine on the index cards stood upright (taking up lots of floor space, don’t ask!) Love the photo of the beach – that’s what I miss most about my late mother’s home , easy access to the beach. enjoy! helen #17
Shame about the stamps – I’m no help as I don’t stamp but I would be cross at losing your equipment like that. Lovely beach photo – would love a trip to the beach but not just yet. xx Jo
That’s sad about the stamps but a bit of retail therapy always helps. (I did my share last week!) Beautiful beach photo. We only have desert here, and lots of prickly cacti.
Have a great week!
Carol N #24
Wow, that is so weird about your stamps. I’ve never seen anything like that. I hope the binders you purchase help. Have a great week. Dorlene #31
Sorry about your stamps Lisa-Jane. I keep mine on sheets in a binder (only using one side) or in DVD cases where they don’t touch when the cases are shut. Other than that in their original packaging sorted by theme or manufacturer in A4 boxes. The scrapbook layout is bright and beautiful. Stay safe and happy belated WOYWW. Sarah #5
Your layout is looking lovely, they do grow so fast but it’s really nice to see them grow up into fabulous human beings. It’s so sad about the stamps hopefully they were not your favourites. Beautiful photograph, hope it’s not too long before you get to have many more icecreams whilst enjoying the scenery.
Happy WoywW Tracey
When I first came to live in Spain some of my stamps suffered the same fate. I put it down to the heat and humidity, now keep them in the original boxes and packages with good success rates. Do love the UK coast lines some of the most beautiful are in Wales. Ani #6