There Is A Place To Store Them!

 My collection doesn't have many graded cards as I am not one to seek those out or get my collection graded, but I do have some.

One of the pain in the butt parts of having graded cards is finding a place to store them.

I had mine stored in an Upper Deck bag I had won years ago on Facebook, but that's in the past now with the newest product from BCW Supplies.

Awhile back in the summer I shared how BCW created a super cool card catalog to put regular cards, fast forward to now, they have created a, you guessed it, graded card one.

 

These drawers hold approximately 43 slabs per drawer or 21 with the bumpers. Overall it should hold 258 total slabs.

When I get to sorting things out better, I will add labels to the drawers so I know what's in each one. 

 

Here's an inside look of the drawer before I add stuff. I added the dividers for look, the drawers come with six free ones but you can buy others separately.

   

Here are some slabs I put in so you can see how well they fit.

And I also found out for those of us collectors who still have some screw down protectors, they also fit really well in here. No more struggling to find a place to store those anymore (though we really shouldn't use those protectors anymore).

This will be a very useful product for me as I continue to re-organize my collection. It's also very sturdy and heavy, roughly 15 pounds without cards. Right now because I am still rehabbing my shoulder at five pounds I can't lift it and require help haha! I can't imagine what the card weight will add onto it.

If you are looking to add one, you can find yours on the BCW Supplies website,  https://www.bcwsupplies.com/6-drawer-graded-card-catalog-black

Remember to use code MATT10 at checkout to SAVE 10% off your purchase!

I hope everyone has a Magnificent Monday!

Let me know your thoughts on this product in comments.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

It's The Most Valuable To Me

When thinking about memorabilia and protecting it, I think most people/collectors will immediately think about something signed, game worn or game used such as a foul ball.

But, how often do you think about other memorabilia? The stuff that has more meaning and value than the first items I mentioned.

Don't know what I am talking about? Well, think about this....you go to your daughters softball game. She makes the game winning hit and is handed the game winning ball afterwards. What do you do with such an item? Toss it into a box? Leave it on a shelf somewhere to collect dust?

What about that game winning touchdown your son had in the big championship game and was awarded the football he caught? Do you leave that out for the elements to do their thing to it? Toss it into a tote?

How about coaching your very first AAU basketball team and the team you worked hard to coach wins the Sportsmanship Award and you are handed a special basketball to commemorate that experience. What happens to it next? Tossed aside? Left in the corner of your desk?

These are items you can only ever have once. ONCE. You won't get another. You can replace any signed memorabilia or that kind of memorabilia by buying another. But, you can't replace these special moments memorabilia so why nor protect it.

Since that last example was directly about me and my AAU team, that's exactly what I hoped to do with that special basketball that I won't ever get another of.

I went and hit up BCW Supplies since that is where I grab my card supplies and checked to see what they offered for cases for basketballs.

Within seconds of searching, I found exactly what I wanted which was this Basketball Showcase UV display case.

 

It is stunningly crystal clear and has the perfect size to it.

And the basketball that I had fit perfectly on the black stand that was included,

The case is a simple slide together cube design that any collector can assemble. The UV coating on the thick polystyrene plastic helps protect it from light damage and the case overall keeps out the dirt and other elements that can hurt any special piece.

Once the basketball and other items were in place,  I slid the two sides together...

Check out this beauty! I added the basketball, a business card of the people who ran the tournament and on the side and out of focus/on the side is a team picture of the girls I coached. (for privacy I didn't show a picture of that side).

This is proudly displayed in my bedroom. One of the coolest pieces I own.

If you are looking for a basketball ball display exactly like mine, you can find it HERE. Before paying, don't forget to write in Matt10 to save yourself 10% off your order! You can find other protection displays on their website as well right HERE. Once again, don't forget to use Matt10 to save 10% off!

I don't know about you, but autograph memorabilia is nice and all, but items like this basketball is what's most valuable to me.

Protect it just like it was your child.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

Do Not Bend

Good morning, Coffee Card Enthusiasts!

*takes a sip*

Yes, I am doing back-to-back posts!

Today's is a basically a follow up to yesterday's post, so it makes for an easier post. 

In case you missed yesterday's post, go check it out so you won't be too lost for this one. Basically, I have been doing my downsizing project continuation.

As I have been making my piles, I figured while the cards are sitting up, I will pack up Christmas cards as to. That way when it's time to mail, they can go out and it won't have to worry about finding time to do so during a busy time in my fall semester.

 

I have protected these PWE's the best I can including putting Do Not Bend on both the front and back of these envelopes. I don't seem to have too many issues with these being sent like this.

If you have gotten a mail day from me around Christmas before, you will be getting another. Some of you will have multiples and this goes for both bloggers and non-bloggers.

These should hit the mailbox by the end of October. I still have a few more to pack up before doing so, I plan to have those ready in the next week or so. Roughly twelve of these will head out in October and then of course the large flat rate box.

My personal mailbox has been really slow with getting mail so I don't have a lot to post about. I will see what I can find to post just so I can have some new ones up before I go on another hiatus.

I hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*

The Fall Card Session Is In

Fall is right around the corner as temperatures have started to drop, leaves have started to fall, NFL football has returned and the release of Pumpkin Spice items have hit the shelves and Dunkin'.

It's my favorite time of year. Sorry summer.

 

I had to obviously jump on the pumpkin spice train as soon as it came into the station. My coffee and especially my mouth are very happy.

As you can tell, I am sipping away while writing my first blog post of August. Yes, it has been that long.

I have been busy with finishing up the rest of my summer semester, family life and everything else in-between so haven't really had the opportunity to just sit down and type.

I did however notice that the blog grew two followers in that span and I am happy to welcome them here for all of the coffee card craziness.

*takes a sip, mmmmm pumpkiny*

With my small break from school, I am hoping to get some serious card work done and continue my downsizing project in my collection before fall semester picks up September 7th.

 

In this round of downsizing, I have been pulling out all newer baseball inserts-anything 2002 and have been making three piles. The first pile is the 90's inserts I have found, those will go into a binder down the road. 90's inserts never go anywhere. The second pile is made up of trade bait/RAK/Christmas gifts for fellow friends. The last pile, which is the biggest bulk of it, will get packed into small boxes then shoved into a large flat rate and sent off as my Christmas gift this year for my friend to re-sell. I am sure it will take more than one large flat rate to mail these out so it will most likely be a two-year project. I also need to do basketball and hockey. Football I am unsure of yet because football is the main focus of my collecting now besides non-sport.

Baseball alone has almost filled the flat rate and it's too expensive to mail out two in the same year now with prices of those over $30 a pop to send. I remember when they were much cheaper.

When this project is done, I would have cleaned out my base cards, inserts and hits. This would be close if not over 75,000 cards unloaded with more to go.

This will leave me still a lot to go through as I haven't even touched,

1. Boxed Sets-I plan to dismantle all unimportant sets to me and some just give away to my father to find good homes for. I can take out the good cards-players-rookies and throw the rest into a base box for the better sets.
2. Rookie Cards-I have been hoarding way too many rookie cards of guys that have done nothing with their careers. It's time to unload them. This will save me sooooooo much space when this is done.
3. Players Boxes/Binders-Over the years I pulled out "star" players at the time. Most of those guys, like Wander Franco and Kris Bryant for example have either gotten in trouble with the law or not really ever made it to superstar status. Those guys will be pulled and found new homes for.
4. Odds And Ends: I still have some odds and ends cards, not my non-sports, but from other sports that just need to go as well.

In the end, the ultimate goal is just to be down to PC stuff and stuff to trade others. I never thought I would do this, but I feel it's time and it's such a relief to start making room as well. The cardboard hoard is over and it's time to focus on the cards that really matter just to me.

*takes a sip before ending today's post*

I hope to put up a few more posts before my fall semester begins, I signed up for some pretty intense classes for the fall and I assume all of my extra time will be eaten up doing that. But, who knows, maybe it won't be.

Hope everyone has been well and let me know what you have been up to recently in the hobby in the comments.

*Coffee Card Blogger Out*