The following is a guest post from regular contributor, Angie at Echoes of Laughter.
Hello Orgjunkie readers! Since I last visited with you, I have been busy with a lot of small organizing projects around the house. The Spring organizing and cleaning bug has hit! One project that I recently tackled was my stash of partyware. I love collecting partyware…it’s a little addiction that I have. {Please tell me that I am normal and I am not the only one who does this?!} I am totally drawn in by the bright fun colours and cheery patterns, and I like having little special things to use for the kids’ school lunches or when friends drop by.
I found the partyware that I had collected had gradually become quite a horrible little messy pile with no real system. It was so bad that sometimes I just went out and bought new things because I didn’t relish the thought of looking through the horrible messy pile to see what I had….so I just avoided it all together. Well….no more! I solved this little problem easily and economically by purchasing 2 inexpensive bins, using a bunch of large storage bags and then labelling things appropriately. Here’s what I did:
The first task was measuring the shelf in the closet where I had designated space for the partyware to go. I measured the space to make sure that the bins I purchased would fit side by side.
The next thing I did was to label each bin….one for general napkins and the other for partyware.
After the bins were labelled, I had myself a little bit of an organizing party with all the napkins and partyware that I have collected. Any napkins with a general theme went into a bin just for napkins.
After that was done, I set about organizing the rest of the partyware into groups by event or season into large storage bags. I then placed the bags upright in the bin in the order that I thought was practical. Since the thing we celebrate most often is Birthdays, I made that the first bag of partyware. Then I followed the calendar year in placing the rest of the bags. I borrowed the ‘filing cabinet’ system by making labels for each theme/seasonal bag and stapling them to the top of the storage bags so that I could quickly and easily grab the theme or season that I was looking for. I placed plain paper plates and cups on the left side of the bin where there was just enough room for them. My finished project looked like this:
I love having my cute partyware so organized and easy to find.This system works incredibly well without breaking the bank, or taking up a lot of room. No more horrible messy pile!
How about you? Do you collect a bit of partyware to have on hand? And if you do, how do you organize it?
Wishing you all a lovely week and happy organizing!
Angie’s blog, Echoes of Laughter, is all about filling your home with love and laughter. She loves creative projects, organizing & decorating, cooking, baking, and all things domestic. Angie lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband and two great kids.
Molly Smith says
This is a fabulous idea! Yes, I always have bits and pieces left over and I stack it all up until it falls over. I recently purchased some canvas bins at Dollar Tree that napkins, small plates and utensils will fit in. Now I know what to use them for. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Marcia @ Organising Queen says
This is so funny because just this weekend, I got a bee in my bonnet and organised all my party stuff too. Sad thing is that I was half way through before I realised what I was doing – I thought it would be a quick tidy but nooooooo 🙂
Quiltin' Jenny says
Thank you for this post! No, I don’t collect partyware on the scale that you do – I have a rampant tree hugger in the family, and paper products are verboten, though I do love funny/cute cocktail napkins – but this is probably my family’s biggest pet peeve. I have a cabinet where it is all shoved (along with the candles, the ice cream maker, and a few other things that get used only rarely) that is a disaster.
The plastic baggie thing is brilliant. I will only need a small tub, but at least it will be confined.
I love seeing what other people collect and how they solve these odd issues. Thanks!
Student Mom (Jenn) says
OMH that’s clever. Gave me an idea too – I know your baskets were cloth, but from a distance they could have been boxes covered in brown paper… I am now off to cover some boxes…
Mel says
What perfect timing! I’ve got little bits of paper plates, cups and napkins stashed all over the house, and tend to forget what I already have.
Susan says
We have white napkins and plates around if needed. I mainly use them to take to work for lunch. no other party ware around so no need to organize them.
Crystal says
Love how organized it is. Makes it easier to find when you need it. Thanks for sharing!!
pentamom says
I can’t imagine having so much partyware on hand that it is more efficient to organize it by holiday, than to just throw it into a big bin and pull out what you need for a givien holiday — there’s no way it would take me more than a minute to go through it and find the right thing.
But the bin idea is great — another one of those obvious solutions, that I didn’t think of despite being aggravated by the messy closet shelf where I have thirteen sets of birthday plates (because I forget about them and just buy more) and never cups when I need them. Throw them all in a bin and just remember to check before I buy more — what could be simpler?
Sue S. says
Great post! I had set aside a kitchen drawer for party extras, but it’s too small now. Thank you for showing me exactly what I need to do! Further organization is now needed for my “other” party/entertaining items. Do you have suggestions for organizing colored tin pails, assorted trays, unique or themed serving pieces? I really want to know what I have and where it is! LOL I made a spreadsheet to begin an inventory and plan to take a pic before an item is put away. Then, combine in a notebook for easy use. I haven’t begun because I can’t decide what to do with it after it’s inventoried and photographed. It also seems like it snowballs into some decor items like vases and candle/candleholders and all sorts of other “stuff”. UGH!!! See…I get overwhelmed then spend time on the computer rather than organizing…Thank sagain!
Ménage Lille says
Theme and seasonal bags are a great idea! Clean and so easy to find what I’m looking for. Thank you Angie. At home I use transparent boxes.
Sabrina says
Great post, I love that you used the baggies and labeled them by holiday name. The photos look great.
I stay clear of holiday partyware but I do organize the recipes for each holiday in a event binder. I use plastic whole punched Velcro covered folders and put all my recipes (previous and current year events) in them by holiday. Great way to keep track of them as well.
Michelle says
I soooo needed this post in my life! I too am a partyware junkie, and do that whole buy something and then realise I actually had it thing…I really need to organise my party stuff – it’s all in boxes all over the house (we have ZERO space 🙁 ) but I’ve pinned this to give me that push I need to organise all my stash!
shelly says
I love partyware too and have bins of plastic spoons, forks and knives just for the occasion. I also have usuable party cups that change colors/names/icons called MyColourCups, which I designed for my family.