52 Places in 52 Weeks: Gift Wrap

You found the PERFECT gift for that special someone. You get home to realize that your gift wrap is nothing but pathetic, and you are embarrassed that you have to put that lovely gift into THAT. Or maybe you are one of those last minute shoppers. You buy the first thing you see and when you get home, you again, realize that your gift wrap is a mess and you don’t have time to decorate it in something fancy. Well, today we are going to organize ALL of our wrapping paper, gift bags, and whatever else you use to wrap gifts. This way, the next time you are stuck buying that last minute gift or want to put that something special in something beautiful, you are not stuck and left frustrated!

5 Steps to Organize Your Gift Wrapping Supplies:
1. Grab ALL of your gift wrapping supplies (including ribbon, tape, labels, Christmas paper, etc.)

2. Lay it all out.

3. Sort it (this may seem tedious…)

Organize your paper/bags by occasion
Organize those piles by putting all the things you have used in the past 2 years in one pile.
The rest? THROW IT AWAY (or donate it)
Again, you may think “I’ll use it someday…” NO YOU WON’T. You’ve been saying that for the past how many years and those bags and wrapping paper are continually pushed down to the bottom.
Next, I would suggest buying a tote to store all of your gift wrapping supplies in (including scissors, tape, and a marker so everything is in one spot).

I have two of them – one I keep all of my general supplies in and the other, Christmas. That way, each time I need to wrap a gift, I just have to grab ONE container and I know ALL of the supplies I need are in that one tote.

4. Another suggestion would be to see what “occasions” you do not have wrapping supplies for. Jot yourself a note to buy paper in advance for that occasion to prevent panic mode when you have to wrap something. I realize that you don’t know what size the gift will be, but wrapping paper is great because it’s something that is cheap, easy to decorate, and you don’t feel as guilty throwing it away.

5. One of the most IMPORTANT ways to control your gift wrapping supplies is to USE UP WHAT YOU HAVE. I have been known to buy paper just because it is a good deal. Well, it’s not a good deal when I can’t fit it all into the containers I already have. Less is more, even in wrapping paper I think!

Hopefully this helps in the organizing of your gift wrap, that it is now easily accessible, and it is now a fun process, instead of a dreaded one!

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