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One of my favorite things to do in my travel journals is to wander into an office-supplies shop in some exotic country and buy a date stamp in the local language. Recently had a problem when in Phuket, Thailand. Unbelievably, managed to find my Thai date stamp before I left and so I took it with me. The problem? Had absolutely no idea how to set the stamp, as I cannot begin to fathom the Thai language. Had to ask a clerk at the hotel desk to set it for me, which amused all and sundry!

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White ink x date stamps for artwork 💯

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I bought a date stamp a few months back, because of this post!!

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Thought you’d love this stamp since you are I to date stamps. https://www.studiocalico.com/shop/mega-date-stamp-classic

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time to get one or two of these things! thanks for the info about

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Great post... great idea. Artist Nick Cave uses the date stamp in his journals too!

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Discovered the artwork of Janice Lowry over the weekend and couldn't help but notice her use of the date stamp as well.

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founding

Love this post! I very much like Kathryn's set-up and will be adopting it soon to tame my unruly to-do list. And then there's this annual journal variation --

https://i.etsystatic.com/6961004/r/il/6040ac/1814596031/il_794xN.1814596031_8pbm.jpg

-- at Etsy store (no connection w/me) --

https://www.etsy.com/listing/130716574/2021-2030-library-date-stamp-mechanical

The thought of an index card journal organized and accumulating by days over YEARS is amazing; wish I'd thought of that a long while back.

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I bought a date stamp maybe a year ago at your recommendation (Miseyo!) and I **love** it. Why does it feel so much better to mark the page with a stamp than with just writing the date? I don't know!!!!!!!

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I have a self-inking Trodat in French! Love it.

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I keep a date stamp in my finish shop next to my sketchbook. Each project has plans, notes, and often a checklist. As I complete small tasks, I can stamp along. As I go back and glance at ongoing projects I can see if a project is not getting enough love.

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Nov 10, 2021Liked by Austin Kleon

You just gotta get that bad boy for yourself! You deserve it!

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Nov 10, 2021Liked by Austin Kleon

I have a sequential numbering stamp machine which I use to keep track of the patterns I make to cut stained glass windows. It's faster than handwriting it and always legible.

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I love date stamps! As a kid I would go inside my dad´s office and play around with the stamp. I liked how simple it was and I remember going ooh and aaah while stamping with ink (I was easily amused growing up haha).

Nowadays, since I use an undated journal and planner, date stamps are my favorite tool to mark dates. I use it a lot for creative journaling, too. Something about the analog feel it gives on every page makes it so unique. Who knew an office supply can be this spectacular. Also, lately I used yellow ink pad for stamping and it makes my day a bit brighter. It really is the little things!

Here is an old video where I talk about where I use date stamps (they work so good combined with other stamps as decorative elements) and other office tools that work great with journals too. Starts at 0.27 https://youtu.be/SaUZcXefTIM

PS I squealed a bit when I saw you post this on IG haha

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Nov 9, 2021Liked by Austin Kleon

As a kid I loved the public librarian's date stamp and the one attached to a pencil so much that I decided then and there to become a librarian. And I did! In the 70's I started collecting other rubber stamps and used them on all my mail. I even bought one of the spinning wheels to keep them handy.

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founding

The librarian's stamp always carried so much authority! "I even bought one of the spinning wheels to keep them handy." -- How many do you have?! What do they say?

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Nov 9, 2021Liked by Austin Kleon

I'm obsessed with old-school stamps - I have all kinds of rubber stamps for my diary that I've bought off Etsy and it gives me great pleasure stamping 'DUE' on projects or 'PAY BILL' instead of just writing it! My husband teases me - I think he thinks it's a bit of a childish passion but I'm always looking for new ones to add to my collection. Hot tip: Some ink pads are SOOOO hard to clean off little fingers and should probably not be kept in reach of kids; we've learned the hard way. Haha! :)

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