When your stickers are too awesome to use

[Dreamer]

Hello again, Arena!

So poking my nose at the toy store finally paid out, because I found an awesome set of unicorn-themed stickers for very very cheap! They are intended to be party favors, that's why I've got a pretty bunch of every size and shape. From regular and foam stickers to glittery and metallic ones (so shiny that hurts my eyes!) Sadly I can't take pics because my phone memory is full again, but I will when I delete some photos.

Another problem is, I don't know what to do with these stickers. Do sticker collectors actually stick them on things or just keep them on their sheets? How can I protect an already sticked-on-a-thing sticker? How do people keep their stickers (on or off) their sheets safe and sound?

Oh Arena collectors, fill me with your knowledge! 

[goddessofpeep]

When I was a kid back in the 80s, I had a sticker album like every other kid I knew.  All my stickers would go in there, and if I got brand new stickers, I'd peel 'em off and stick them in the album.

As an adult, I have some regrets about that.  I still have my old album, and I like looking at it.  I was very particular about what sticker went where, and it's a real nostalgia trip to look at it.  However, every last sticker in that album is basically ruined.  I can never remove them again.  Even when it was new, it was hard to move stickers around, and more often than not, moving them damaged them badly.

I did kind of start the whole collecting stickers thing again recently. For most of my high school and college days, I'd decorate my stuff with stickers, but I wasn't collecting seriously. I've always picked up a few packs here and there when I see them, but I do it a lot more now.  I joined the Sticker Swap here a few years ago, and it kick started things again.  Now I keep them on their backing.  I have a small bin just for stickers, and I keep them in there, on their backing(and sometimes in their unopened package).  Sometimes I'll by a pack with multiple sheets, keep one sheet good, and then use the other sheets for decorating things.   I've been slowly scouring ebay for some of my absolute favorite vintage stickers on their original backing.  I bought a small album for just those stickers, and I put them into that album without removing them from the backing.

If you're looking to start up a small album of some special stickers, you can buy photo albums that are basically pages of a sticky coating covered by a clear plastic sheet.  You can put the stickers on the sticky part with their backing(or without it if you want to make it permanent).  The plastic protects the stickers, and you can still enjoy looking at them as much as you want.  The sticky coating is enough to hold the stickers on their backings in place, but not enough to make it a permanent thing.  You can move them around as much as you like if you're careful.  For the rest of my stickers, I got a bin to keep them together and safe.

[Wardah]

I too have been wondering what to do about stickers. I thankfully don't have many sheets that have designs around the stickers since those make me sad to ruin but I have a few sheets with plain backgrounds I would like to do crafty stuff with but the problem is I can't figure out exactly what.

[melodys_angel]

What goddess said about the sticker album thing--though I bet I can still remove some of mine if I tried.  I wouldn't want to though--that's a major childhood memory for me.

I have stickers for scrapbooking and stuff and I always love having them.  I typically leave things on their backing though--but will use them form time to time to decorate something, especially if its child related.

[AutisticandProudLuna]

For me, I like to put a few stickers from a sheet into a little book, and then I feel like I'll always sort of have them even when I use the rest. 

[kaoskat]

You can get a 3ring binder and some sheet protectors and then you can look at them and show them off without using them.

[stopxmotion]

I don't collect stickers but I do have an assortment of some pretty cool ones. I need a really good reason to use my stickers so most of them are still in the packaging. 

[Tulips]

All stickers are too awesome to use. I've found that the older I get the less I use stickers, which is a real shame. I have packets of them, but I can't use them, just hang them on the walls.

Someone once said something along the lines of... 'Only those who have their lives in order know where to use a sticker'.
It's a big commitment to use a sticker that you love. I guess you could always scan the designs to keep digitally forever lol

[banditpony]

haha, I usually buy two packs of stickers if I want to use them. Otherwise I just have them all together in a little box and sort through them when I need inspiration.

[Princess Lala]

A lot of the stickers I got from the sticker swap are too awesome to use! xD Some are japanese and dont have doubles so im really picky about using some of them! There is this fish waffle sticker I got, its called a taiyaki, and its my favorite one! @_@ I dont think I will ever use it but I stare at it allll the time! Some stickers are just so perfect on their little sheets! Im considering framing some and saving them for a scrapbook for when I finally go to Japan soneday! (i hope dreams still come true lolz)

[ringwraith10]

Hmm, I was really interested to see what everyone else said, too, since I sorta collect stickers, but am not fanatical about it. But it looks like I'm doing it right, since I basically do what everyone else does. I have a stack 5 of square, stackable tupperware containers that I keep my stickers (and craft supplies) in. Then I have a binder where I keep trading cards and individual stickers (still on their backing). I also have my childhood sticker album, which is full of pony stickers that people pay good money for (but, of course, they're stuck in that book forever, and I don't want to sell them anyway!).

I do use a lot of my stickers, but only if there are duplicate sheets. I keep one sheet nice and complete, then I use the other stickers for letter writing to pony pals and such.

BTW, you can use plastic inserts for binders to keep your stickers in. Here are a few options:

http://smile.amazon.com/Just-Ticket-Refill-Sheets-refill/dp/1441306072/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1444610692&sr=8-11&keywords=ticket+album+sheet
http://smile.amazon.com/C-Line-Business-Holder-Inserts-61117/dp/B000VHZFAW/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1444610692&sr=8-14&keywords=ticket+album+sheet
http://smile.amazon.com/Avery-Economy-Clear-Protectors-75091/dp/B00006IC89/ref=pd_sim_229_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=027Q0HEHBY30S800KW8B&dpID=51U4Y5KM5IL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_
http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00KHVGI1C?psc=1