What To Do With Old Stamps: 2 Easy Stamp Projects

Stamp collection has been around for many decades as one of the most popular hobbies. However, as we go into the twenty-first century where correspondence between two people miles apart can be done faster through email, stamp collection has already been forced into the background.

The presence of electronic mails has given stamp collecting two implications: (1) that although the number of stamp collectors have diminished, (2) the value of old and rare postal stamps have acquired more value now than ever before. This is good news to stamp collectors around, especially those who have the rarest and largest stamps in their collection.

However, some perennial stamp collectors are faced with the question: what to do with common, ordinary stamps? Throwing common or ordinary stamps are out of the question. Throwing stamps away will definitely not do for the avid stamp collector no matter how common the stamp may be. Common and cheap stamps can’t also sell for much. Thus, the question persists: what to do with old, common, ordinary stamps?

Here are two easy projects for the stamp collector.

Framed Stamp Collage

For the framed stamp collage project you will need scissors, glue or paste, loads of common or ordinary stamps and a large cardboard. You can choose to cut your cardboard to an irregular or desired shape or simply choose to leave it rectangular. This cardboard will serve as your base for the collage.

Simply paste and position old, common or ordinary stamps onto the cardboard. It is recommended to use same-sized stamps to achieve even sides. If there is not enough same-sized stamps to use, start gluing the differently sized stamps from the center of the cardboard going outward. Make sure that you do not use too much glue. This will result to unevenness on the collage surface.

Color schemes may add an interesting detail to your stamp collage. You may use warm-toned stamps at the left moving to cool-colored stamps into the right. You may even use a pattern for the stamps. The possibilities are endless. Imagine what you want to see in a framed stamp collage hanging on your living room and work on it.

Once all the stamps are pasted with your desired pattern on the cardboard, you can now have it framed in your local framing shop and hung on to your living room. As a stamp collector, you will be able to express your identity subtlety and at the same time, add character to your living room.

Stamp Collage Place mats and Coasters

If you want to use your old common and ordinary stamps to create character in the dining room, you can also do so. The materials and process for this second project is very much the same as the first. Only, the cardboard serving as the stamp collage base, or, in this case, the place mat or coaster, will have to be cut according to the size you want.

Paste in the stamps onto the cardboard according to the pattern that you want. Again, make sure to apply just enough glue to keep the collage surface even. To add an antiqued-tone effect, dabble a few granules of coffee or sponge the surface with coffee.

Once your place mats and coasters are nice and dry, it is time to bring them to your local laminator and have your place mats and coasters laminated for use.

Years and years as a practicing artist have taught me to waste not, want not. There is beauty and functionality even in the most mundane, ordinary, unexciting things of everyday. It is up to the artist in you to see the potential and make the mundane special, the ordinary extraordinary and the unexciting, exciting. And although anyone can argue by saying that he or she is anything but an artist, these simple projects will hopefully encourage you to waste not on your old common stamps and want not in the simple delights of stamp collage and stamp collecting.

JB Anthony is the webmaster of http://www.stampcollecting.hottestniches.com For more articles, information, resources, stamp-collecting ideas, please visit http://www.stampcollecting.hottestniches.com

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