My gift collection storage dilemma started here. Thank you all for your comments. Some of you have some great systems going for yourselves and others have systems that involved things falling on your heads 🙂 I got a great chuckle out of those ones.
Throughout the year as I see something go on sale that I know a particular family member or friend would like, I puchase it and put it aside for when I need it. My dillema was I needed somewhere to store these items. My previous system wasn’t working and I needed to come up with another solution. Also previously I had gifts in one area and the gift bags, wrap and cards in another. I wanted to be able to compile all these items together in one location for ease of use. One of my big pet peeves is when “like” items aren’t store together and so I have been wanting to do this for awhile. The cupboard in my built in bookshelves that I originally thought would work proved to be too small so I had to come up with Plan B. I have a two door pine armoire in my study that, although full, wasn’t being used to its maximum potential. I emptied that space and reworked it for my gifts and wrapping collection. Finally, here is what I came up with:
Since the bottom shelf is so deep I found that if I just put baskets on that shelf there was a lot of wasted space above them. Luckily I was able to find these two plastic drawer units at Walmart yesterday and they work perfectly. They are separate units so they can be either stacked together or if you wanted they can be stand alone for smaller spaces like under a bed for instance. I get so thrilled when I find a tote/container solution that is ideal for the storage solution I am trying to create. The containers on the top shelf hold my cards, wrap, tissue and party supplies and the two yellow baskets on the middle shelf hold smaller gift items. You will also see that there are two drawers at the bottom of the pine unit. The top one holds gifts for my kids where they can’t see them and the bottom drawer holds all my extra picture frames that aren’t currently being displayed and I will eventually have to purge out. I just love how everything is now all in one place. I’m just giddy with excitement and I keep opening the cupboard to just look at it!!! I could stare at it for hours…lol.
Oh I should also mention that I keep track of all these gifts I’ve purchased in a little notebook. At the beginning of the year I write down everyone’s name that I need to puchase gifts for. As the gift(s) is purchased I write what the gift is beside that person’s name. The notebook is small enough that I can take it with me when I go shopping. This way I don’t forget what I have and it also enables me to avoid buying more than my budget allows for each person.
So there you have it, my storge solution for gift collections. Have a great weekend everyone!!!
warpie says
Cool, I also posted a picture of mine today, I also posted before and after pics of my first major organization endeavour. (http://warpie.blogspot.com/2006/10/promised-before-after-pictures.html)
Kim
Katrina says
Wonderful! And, in honor of you, I started cleaning out my closet so that I could better organize my shelf…so that those gifts would no longer fall on me! Now, I have a long way to go, but the process has begun!
Domestic Goddess says
fabulous! I bow down to your organization skills.
The Lazy Organizer says
Oh you had so much fun today and all I got was a clean fridge! It looks wonderful but don’t spend too many hours staring at your handiwork. I turned my back on my fridge for only a second and a party had started in there. Well it might have been more like two weeks but really, I blinked and the spaghetti sauce had grown a furry coat. Maybe it was just getting organized for winter!
Beck says
Wow! I have a top shelf in my kitchen that isn’t used (it’s too high) for much, so I tend to hide gifts up there.
And then I forget about them until March. 🙁
I like your system much better!
Blessed Beyond Measure says
That is a great idea! Bet you have ladies all over Blogland emptying out their armoires and filling them up with gifts, tape, bows, etc.
Barb says
Great idea. I kind of chuckle because I get this mental image of women everywhere rushing to that one amoire or cabinet that’s underutilized to do this! You’re amazing.
C. H. Green says
Sounds like I need to hang out here more often. LOL my organizing skills are nil.