Well Stacy that's good to know that it's the post office doing it. That way I dont have to speak the mailman. I know this is not a big deal but it happens with every single one of my magazines and it's one of those little irritants in life. In the grand scheme of things I know it's petty. And yes, at least I'm getting it. I can see bending it and putting a rubberband around it but to HARD crease it just ruins it. I'll call the post office today and voice my complaint. Truthfully though, I think in the future, I'd rather buy my magazines at the grocery store and have a flat magazine that will lay nice on my coffee table than get $$ off on a subscription and get it all mangled. Maybe I should write the magazines and tell them to stamp DO NOT FOLD on their outer covering? Nah, they'd think I was an old woman with nothing better to do than complain about a folded magazine!! hahahaha!! I guess I am huh?

My love-hate relationship with paper is deep and I've been a sucker for magazines since I was a kid when the Saturday Evening Post and Life used to come in the mail . Finally, I've come to a reasonable (for me) solution. I have several categories of interest, gardening, cooking, travel, home remodeling/interior decorating. I've tried binders, plastic sleeves, upright magazine holders and have always wound up being annoyed at the cost, the weight, the time spent filing. I have determined to limit my clippings on any subject to one portable file box which makes it easy to take to a table or in bed or wherever. So the recipe file box has manila folders marked: breakfasts, drinks, salads, beef, Asian, Mexican, holiday meals etc. like a cookbook. I'll put a clipping in that category LOOSE. If I need to make, say, an appetizer, it's easy to find , I can also toss anything at any time, like when I decided I would get rid of the majority of high fat recipes. If the file box gets too full, I go through it and cull, I mean how many versions of bread pudding does one need?! My rule is no more than will fit. The home decor box has categories such as bedrooms, paint/refinishing, kitchens, bathrooms. The garden box has files on roses, succulents, pots, propagation, fertilizing, garden layout etc. I know much of the info is on the web, but the photos trigger my imagination. This is especially true of the files for travel. Regarding magazines like the New Yorker, I invariably fall behind on the reading, so I cut out and staple the fiction and keep them in an expansion file. When I know I'm going somewhere that will involve waiting, like the doctor's office I take one or two in my bag. When I go on a trip, I might take a couple dozen, read them in the airport or in a restaurant and when done, leave them for someone else. I know unsubscribing is sensible, and in the past I've done it, but eventually I renew. What can I say? It's a small vice.

One thing, there is a company called Stamp' UP similar to scrapbook parties. Go on line if you do not have a consultant in your area. They have a large variety of stamps and they are not cheap, but good quality. Also Close to My Heart which is scrap booking but has an excellent selection of clear plastic stamps. Both can be bought on line. Do you have a large Walmart or Hobby Lobby?

As soon as I learned of this sale I wrote an email to the new publishing company urging them to keep The Rubber Stamper magazine as a separate magazine in its current format and noted that it is meeting a need that few, if any, other magazines meet for rubber stamp enthusiasts. I am urging everyone who enjoys the unique benefits of RS to do the same - maybe if enough loyal readers bombard Amos Pub. with this request they will start to rethink their plan. I know I am not the only one who has checked out Crafts N Things and not been inspired. As of the December issue, the editor letter says they added a section for cards and stamped items - although some projects were nice, something about the layout did not grab me. I also know that some of my favorite features of RS will have to be lost with this merge - probably all the great tips and product info. If you care at all, please contact the Amos company and let them know how much RS is wanted and needed! And if they are smart, they will hire the same editors who lost their jobs with very little notice!