Intoducing Myself

I guess I can call myself a stamp collector now! LOl, I have about 2,000 stamps now and have just gotten into stamp collecting. My favorite hobby is scrapbooking and this is how I got into stamps. I used some old ones in paper crafting, collages,etc. and fell in love with these bitty bits of paper. I have always loved paper (weird, I know) and my collection of scrapbook paper would impress anyone,lol! Stamps are so rich in history besides being beautiful that I just couldn't stay away.

I am going to try to collect at least one stamp from every country, or at least as many as I can. I am not collecting for "money" or "investments" or whatever. Just because I like stamps.

I am currently trying to figure out an album. I know I do want to make my own, and I have tons of acid-free, archival quality materials already to work with. I would like to pass this album down with my scrapbooks someday, so its important to take care of them correctly, but at the same time, I don't want a "museum" feel to the album.

I love these forums! I know next to nothing about collecting, so this place is awesome!

I also want to add, that I am looking for "damaged" stamps to use in my collages. I would like to find a quanity of them. These need to be stamps that aren't "worth" much, damaged, etc.

To SCF Stefanib123

Maybe this might give you some ideas.

welcome stefanib123. Can't wait to see your collection.
mac, so that is your infamous philatelic keyboard. It is a work of art!

WOW!!

So cool! I love it! What creativity to think of that!

Welcome on board Stef...I'm now inspired to set aside "craft-qulaity" stamps and I will contact you when I get a quantity. I feel better having those stamps go to someone to use rather then going to the land-fill. We had a Russian gal, in our stamp club that used damaged (she referred to them as 'hurt') stamps to decoupage on pencil and other boxes but she no longer comes around and is on to other things so I no longer have that outlet.

That keyboard photo is amazing. But it reminds me of high school typing class -- no letters on the keys

Oh, I forgot to say... Welcome stefanib123. You'll find friendly people here!

Welcome, stefanib123! I'm fairly new here myself, but I can tell you that people here have lots of information and expertise to share.

I'll be interested to see what kind of album you end up creating.

Hi Stefanib123,

Welcome to the forum. I'd helped a school teacher with obtaining one stamp from each country for one of her geography classes. I'd like to help you with your goal too. I'll put some freebies aside for you if you like.
I'll probably be able to throw in some faulty stamps too.

Dave N.
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G'Day Stef and to the forum, Mac I have a stencil with numbers and letters for that keyboard ,I'll send it to you if you want

Thanks, everyone!

Mac, I have tons of rub-on letters and numbers also, they are like a transfer-type thing that scrapbookers use, I could send you some of those, too. Or maybe you like it like it is?

Welcome, from one newcommer to another! I really learn alot from the expertise of such a forum!