These tips were gathered from various email lists.
From: Carol -
I keep my cards in a 3 ring binder but I slide them down in clear sheet protectors so you can see both sides and take them in and out easily.
From: Carole Beattie Parsons -
For display, I have two methods. I have two of those stands with wire posts sticking out of them. Each one has 8 clips to hold cards. I stand them on the windowsill behind my desk. On my studio door, I have an over-the-door towel rack on the back to which I clip large sheets of decorative paper. On the front of the door, I have two long ribbons (attached to the hanger) I clip cards all along the length of the ribbons. For storage, not display, I keep other cards filed in a large decorative basket on the floor of my studio.
From: Cathy -
I display my cards that I receive on corkboards that are hung on my walls. I have 13 of them - various sizes. I display cards for a while and then change them when I get a stack of new cards which I have right now which means I really need to get the current cards changed for the new ones!
From: Cece -
The store I work for in FL has an album just made for holding cards. I forget the mfg. Ahhh another senior moment. But I believe it may be exactly what you need. I will find out the who, what and where and get back to you. Knowing Stamptalk ladies though, you already have all the info you need. (Cece, if you find the album you're talking about, I'd love to know what it is.)
From: Elaine Crowe -
I am blessed. Several years ago I was able to purchase an antique 4-drawer oak library card file (2 drawers on top, 2 on bottom row). It was designed to hold 5x8 index cards. I keep some of my samples in it - hope to get the rest organized and into it one of these days.
From: Elaine Normandy -
Michaels sells what they call Junior scrapbook binders for $5, and a set of 25 page protectors for $2.50. These are sized so that the sleeves will take a card up to 5.5 x 8.5 inches. I find this the easiest system to use, since I actually will go back and look at the cards, which I won't when they are stuffed away in gallon sized zip bags in archive boxes. I am gradually storing all my cards this way, and I buy the binder with %40 coupons when I don't NEED anything else. In my Michaels, these binders are hard to find: top shelf of the scrapbooking aisle. They seem to do a good business with them, as they are frequently out of one color or another. They come in red, white, blue, and green.
From: Elaine -
I have found photo albums at places like TJ Maxx, Marshalls. They have 100 pages and hold 5 x 7 photos and will hold 200 photos or cards. I use these for my cards that I receive in swap. I cut the fronts off the cards and put them in the album. Some of the albums have really pretty covers!! Price is $4.99 to $5.99.
From: Joan -
I don't care to make an extra card just to keep it around. Besides, I wouldn't want to use excess card stock for layers, ribbons, embellishments, etc. The ones I want to remember I copy (4 A2 cards to the page) in color draft mode on my multifunction printer and keep them in a notebook. I can always write in notes on them as to technique, medium used, etc. It's just so convenient to have the color photocopy function and not have to bother with scanning. Look into these next time you buy a new printer.
From: Julie Burns -
I use a binder that I get from any office supply store. It is a 3 ring binder but is only 8 1/2 x 5 1/2, exactly half a sheet of paper. You can get clear page protectors for this size album at Hallmark stores photo album area. They are made to hold recipes. I think they run $5 or so for 25 pages. This system works very well for me.
From: Julie -
I have a similar approach to others, but with a smaller twist. I use small 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 binders and sheet protectors. They fit most of the cards that I design or receive. I found I could get the binders at any office supply store in 1 inch, with some searching you can sometimes find a 2-inch binder. The sheet protectors can be found with some searching at some office supply stores, but easily at any Hallmark store. I think they are called Recipe protectors at Hallmark. They are in the photo album section of the store. I use lightweight cardstock in each protector so that I can store a card on each side. Most are just slipped in, but if I want them to stay in a certain place, I use photo corners.
From: Linda Meyer -
I have a 5x7 photo album that I store lots of my cards in. It holds up to 100 cards. I bought it at TJ Maxx but you could find it at any stationery store, Barnes and Noble, or even Target.
From: Margaret Donnelly -
I'm both a rubber stamp instructor and just a plain old stamper. I have put together several iterations of a sample book, and the current version is really working well. First, I bought a heavy duty D-ring binder. Actually, it's a thick scrapbook binder with a nice, padded vinyl cover. I will cover it with velvet some time in the future. :-) Second, I went to Costco and bought a box of Avery heavyweight sheet protectors. Third, I got some heavy paper (acid free) from the paper store in black. You can also use cardstock. Fourth, I got some clear photo corners. Now, this is what I do: Using the photo corners, adhere the card to the black heavyweight paper. You can generally get two cards per sheet, and you can artfully arrange them. Slip the mounted pieces into the sheet protector. Do another, and put it in the backside of the first sheet, if desired. This way, you have an album of your favorite/most-treasured work. It also has a professional quality to it, and is MUCH less expensive than using the art display/portfolios in the art supply store (which also cannot take the thickness of many of the pieces). The sheet protectors are easy to obtain, and the mounting is easy AND configurable if you want to rearrange your items. You can also easily slip the card out of the protector if you or someone else wants to get a better look at your work, but the work is also protected from harm/smudges/chocolate. :-)
From: Mary Ann Somers -
If you like the album/sleeve idea, what about a 3 ring binder w/clear sheet protectors. Most Scrapbook stores sell these supplies. You can purchase a 5x7 3-ring binder and the sheet protectors to fit that size album.
From: Mary Ann -
I got binder pages that were originally for the 5 some inch floppy disk -- now I am showing my age. They work great. If you can find Fellows CD holders they also work and have a flap to keep the card in. I think the wall mounted CD holders people have been talking about would be good also.
From: Melissa -
You can make a little book using clear envies. I like to make books of 5 envies (this gives me 10 fronts). Lay an envelope down with the flap open and the adhesive side up. Remove the strip to uncover the adhesive and lay another envy on top. Continue this until all 5 envies are stacked. You will now have 5 envies that are stuck together, but the openings are accessible. Then I like to take a 3" x 6 1/2" piece of cardstock and fold it in half long ways and make a tent to cover the flaps. I staple this on. It becomes the binding for my book.
From: Nancy Cho -
I was given the idea where you can "make" your own album with using cardboard and cardstock and mounting your cards with photo corners. That way you can keep them on the page but they are easily removable. Then you can either slip them into the clear plastic sleeves or put in an album...or you can just punch holes into the cardboard/stock and put them into the album.
From: Nicki B. -
I just recently tackled this project - - - I have a lot of samples. I have taken a lot of classes and rarely mail my class examples, unless of course there is NO chance I will make the card again! I also have lots of samples from other stampers who have sent me cards through the years. For a while they were thrown in a box - not good. Then I tried 'adapting' photo pocket pages (in a 3-ring binder) to put them in - still no good. The pocket pages were too flimsy and the cards kept flinging out whenever I moved the binder anywhere. Finally, a solution!
I just invested in Creative Memories protector pages. I call them page protectors, but that is not what they are. They are really 'sticker' pages, etc. Very sturdy plastic with flaps at the top of each pocket so cards stay in but can be easily removed for examination. I purchased a ton of the just discontinued two-pocket ones, two horizontal pockets 8-1/2 PLUS wide and 11 PLUS long. Since these have been discontinued I have now started purchasing the "block die cut" pages. They are similar but are four-pocket pages - basically the same but with a 'seam' down the middle of the previously 'open' pocket. Still with a flap at the top. A2 cards fit perfectly in these.
I also invested in the "old style" accessory binder to go with these pages. They are oversized, durable 3-ring binders with a Velcro strap to hold them shut and optional heavy duty strap handle so you can pick them up like a briefcase and go. The 'new style' accessory binders close with a zipper, so, in my mind, cannot be 'packed' as fully. Sorry to ramble, but I really think this is a great system - lots of my pals have looked through my cards now, which are sorted by category (CM also sells divider pages!) and it is very easy to use.
I myself have pulled many examples out to make cards from and it is much easier and less time-consuming than when they were in any other type of organization system. I say I 'invested' because it is not cheap - the pages are $2.00 each and hold up to 8 cards (4 pockets each side). I made the decision to go this route as once I am set up, it won't be that expensive to add a few pockets here and there - it was just the initial chunk that was a big one. Not affiliated with CM in any way - just really love this system - also love their circle/oval cutting system, but that is another subject for another day!
From: Ramona -
I looked for card sleeves also, and found then through a Creative Memories Consultant you might check their web site www.creativememories.com Thank you all for so many wonderful suggestions! They are all great. I am planning on using Melissa's idea of making a book using the clear envelopes. I also like Elaine's idea of just using the front of the card for display. It seemed weird to me to make a card that will never be used, but then it occurred to me that if I really wanted to use it as a card I could cut a piece of card stock for the page and adhere it to the front piece.
From: Rita Kegg -
I use a French Bulletin board to display cards most of the time since they can be put on and off easily without damage to the cards. If you like you could put the cards in cello card sleeves to protect them from fingering. They come in all sizes, I even have a room divider one, and they can be hung on a wall or put on a table with an easel. You can ever make one yourself. Another way that is helpful for me is a thing I got at Kohl's to hold pictures. It has a base and then four wire things that pictures (cards) can slip into to. It is free standing and all metal and wire. The wire on mine that hold the cards is in the shape of a tree but I have seen all different types. I fold one of them down in the front and then fan the other three along the back for easy to carry displays.
From: Shirley Petrasko -
My sample cards are in a photo box - with the larger items stuffed in the space between the box and the lid, which resides on the bottom. I have them divided by theme.
From: SNUZZEE@aol.com -
You can find 4.25 x 5/25 poly photo bags - they hold 8 cards at: www.centuryphoto.com. I use the "Unikeep View Case Binders - Staples and Office Max carries the binders or did - they seem to be selling out of them - so hurry in - they are on closeout for a great price. They are an inch wide and hold the 3 ring poly photo bags. These bags come on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet. They are actually the size of the Polaroid pictures and I have tried several places to get them but have only found them online. The part number is pp100-534.
