Organizing Tip #25
• 19 May 2009
Designate a shelf in your living space as the "gift shelf". After building up your "stock", wrap the gifts all at once (labeling the contents discreetly) so you have a beautifully-wrapped present ready-to-go at a moment's notice.
Dedicating an amount of space (be it small or large) to just gifts, has been one of the best things I've done to make my life easier. I stock baby gifts, hostess gifts, children's gifts, and birthday gifts for my friends and associates. Sometimes I see the perfect something for a specific person 3 months before their birthday; and it's nice to know I have a place to put that "perfect gift" until their birthday arrives. I also find that I gift better, more thoughtful gifts, as a result of having this shelf set aside for this distinct purpose. No more last-minute-spend-too-much-on-something-they-won't-love gifts! What a relief...
But, I recently took this one step further to simplify my gift-giving even more. For project swap one night, Tiffany and I wrapped all the gifts on my gift shelf and labeled the contents with a little post-it-note. So instead of unloading all my wrapping and ribbon just to wrap one gift, I simply wrapped all of the gifts at the same time. Plus, wrapping and embellishing gifts for two hours was fun to do! In addition, knowing I have a bunch of gifts ready-to-go at any given moment is a source of relief to me and something I am grateful to have.
Don't be surprised if you see one of the pictured goodies on a doorstep near you...:)
More organizing tips here.
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteThis is great advice! Can you tell us where to buy the really cute gift boxes pictured? Thanks,
Cheryl
cute!
ReplyDeletewondering the same thing as cheryl...do share where those darling little boxes came from!
thanks for the tip!
You always have the best ideas.
ReplyDeleteOkay, i'm just DYING to know what's in all those lovely white boxes!
ReplyDeleteAnd, for those who don't have shelf space... I find a rubbermaid tote tucked into the closet works really well too. :-)
This is a great idea and I love your picture of the wrapped gifts, provides the perfect inspiration. Now if only I had cute ribbon and gift wrap like you do.
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! Where did you get those adorable gift boxes?
ReplyDeleteBTW I love your cottage in France. What a fabulous investment and a fun project. There is a great web site where you can swap residences like your cottage which basically lets you stay all over the world for free. I have friends here who use it all the time with their nyc apartments. I can send you the link (if you don't already have it:).
ReplyDeleteditto on the boxes!
ReplyDeleteThis a fantastic idea, would help me out tons, I am going to do this in our new house!!
ReplyDeleteGenius..thank you!
ReplyDeleteOkay girls...the boxes pictured are from a friend's scrapbooking company's closeout store. I know, I know...not much help! BUT, you can buy something similar, in Kraft brown, here:
ReplyDeletehttps://shop.xpedxstores.com/Portal.aspx?CN=4F06C5ADE1D3
If you're local (Salt Lake City), you can find them at the Xpedx store. They are on sale this week for $.49 cents each.
I love this, I have a gift box but never thought to wrap them ahead of time.
ReplyDeleteCan you please do a follow up post and let us know some of the things you fill the boxes with? I'm always on the lookout for a good idea for a gift.
ReplyDeleteJ+S: Most of the boxes pictured hold baby gifts...little onesies I picked up in France or cute DwellStudio pieces from Target. There are some cards from Annechovie mixed in there too...one of my sponsors. I think that's about it!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, what a great idea! I have a box designated for gifts, but if I wrap them all in pretty paper then they would be shelf- worthy. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete