You may have already taken down your Christmas decorations, but if not, here are a few easy storage pointers. Taking down and packing up Christmas decorations can be a chore, but if you have kept the packaging that many of your decorations were purchased in, it might make your job a little easier. However, if not maybe we can help. There will be numerous suggestions about how to pack up Christmas Decorations, but I thought that I would add a few that are very simple and that can add to careful wrapping/packaging for preservation for next year.
For Christmas Wreaths
Tall Kitchen Bags
Large Green Trash Bags
Pack Mate Bags (Storage )
( I am certain that you can think of many other bags that might be appropriate.)
Tissue Paper
Scotch Mailing and Storage Tape
-I usually begin by measuring the wreaths and determining which of my storage bags would be best according to the size of the bag, in cooperation with the wreath.
-I cover the wreath very loosely with tissue paper and use the mailing and storage tape to carefully seal it around the wreath to protect it and the attached decorations.
-I slip the wreath in the bag tie it up or seal it with the storage tape and put it on the top of the storage shelf in the storage room. All of the Christmas decorations are put on the top storage shelf to provide greater protection at that level, assuring that nothing will be put on top of them.
Garland and Christmas Lights:
The garland can be carefully folded and put in a storage bag according to size. I like to cover the garland and the decorations on it carefully with tissue paper and then fold it and put it in the bag. I often will tie the bag up, but sealing with the tape is also good.
Christmas lights should be carefully rolled and put into a storage bag according to size or a box. Now, again, I like putting the tissue paper around it to insure protection and security for the lights to last until next year.
Christmas Tree Balls and Decoration:
Big Cardboard box
Another Box For cutting and Sectioning Off the Decorations
Scissors
Measuring Tape
Storage Tape
Marking Pencil/Pen
-Get your big storage box
-Measure the extra cardboard and make sure that you can have levels and strips for dividing according to how many you will need.
-Cut cardboard strips about 3 1/2 inches wide and according to the length of the box. Cut as many as you may need to make sections.
Cut 1 1/2 slits on the strips about 3 – 4 inches apart from each other. These strips will interlock by the slits until you have several boxed sections all across that level that you can put the balls and other tree decorations in. After you have filled that level – you will put a flat cardboard divider over that and then move to do the same thing at the next level until you have all of the levels and tree decorations in secure separate sections and ready for storage. The top of the box will be sealed with the mailing and storage Tape or another tape of your choice.
Make certtain that everything is put away – not to be crushed, broken or damaged in any way.
Now, get excited and get your home ready for redecoration. This is a great time to make the changes that you have in mind that can bring more excitement to your home.
Since there are so many ways to store Christmas decorations, share with us and tell us what Christmas storage methods you would use or did use.
The New Year is a time for making positive changes for yourself and your environment. After all those Holiday decorations are put away, its a great time to update, rearrange and declutter your rooms.
Work on one room at a time so the job doesn’t seem so daunting. Start with the living room, its usually the least cluttered and reworking this space first will motivate you to move on to other rooms.
(model home photo)
Living Room redesign…
* Take all of the accessories and small furnishings out of the room. Mirrors and artwork as well.
* Clean the room (easy, with not much in it), touch up paint on the walls.
* Draw a space plan, or physically move the large furniture pieces into a new arrangement in the room. Be daring…try diagonals, float furniture in the center of the room around a focal point. Remove furniture that doesn’t fit or is worn or faded.
* Bring back in ONLY pieces that compliment and service the new room arrangement. Occassional tables, rug, lamps, art etc.
* Leave out 1/2 of the accessories for now, and try to appoint the room with your favorite larger pieces first. Live with it this way for a few days. If it feels refreshing and complete, leave as is.
* Don’t bring back …broken lamps, flat and faded pillows, dead or dying plants, small or unrelated nic nacs, old magizines or newspapers, too many family pictures, the treadmill, the moose head (sorry moose lovers) etc.
* Rehang the artwork and mirrors to relate to the new furniture arrangement.
* light the room appropriately. Buy a new lamp or 2 to do this.
* Remove heavy formal drapery. Replace with simple straight hanging silk or linen floor length lined drapery. This instantly updates and relaxes a room.
* Replace old throw pillows, turn, vacuum, and fluff cushions on the chairs and sofa.
* Add a small vase of fresh flowers from your yard, grocery store, Costco, or florist. This brings life to a room.
* Add a new fresh scented candle.
Step back and enjoy your new redesigned room. Then move on to other rooms. Have a goal of doing one room a month until all is decluttered, updated and organized.
It’s documented that clutter and disorganization contribute to anxiety and stress… something we don’t need any more of.
We would love to hear any additional tips you might have on this topic. Thanks and Happy New Year!
I was priviledged to have one of the most awesome experiences recently when I went to Alexandria, Virginia. I was introduced to a company that makes table wines. It was such a surreal experience, especially since I am a non-drinker. You are able to mix your own specialty wine from a variety of wine-stock or settle for the variety that they have in stock. A significant point is that you can have your own labels made by the company and put on the wine bottles, which would give you a case or batch of your own labeled wines. A case consist of 12 and a batch consists of 24 bottles. This is great for holiday celebrations. You may decide to keep them in your own wine cabinet or wine cellar or merely give them as gifts. I decided to give most of my wine as gifts to family, friends and clients. What is so cool is when people see your name on the bottle and that can be quite impressive.
This is a great gift to give to your mate, someone very special, or give it to yourself. If you decide to give the gift to someone else, you can then personalize their name on the wine bottles. If you decide to gift yourself, it is at that point that you can make a decision to share and give gifts to other persons and then your gift serves multi-purposes. I was really impressed with this concept and loved the idea of having personalized labeled wines. This company is doing tremendous business throughout the year. Think about it, is this a gift that you would consider having or giving?¼/p>
Christmas is quite literally around the corner and I still have a few gifts to buy and holiday cookies to bake, but I’m already starting to feel more relaxed.
After a 24-hour drive through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio, Stephen, Baloo and I, finally arrived in Jackson, Michigan at Stephen’s family’s house yesterday. Today we plan to trim the White Fir that Stephen’s parents have mounted, watered and ready to go. Trimming the tree is one of my favorite holiday activities. There is something about looking through the ornaments, remembering when and where you got them, or who made them. Memories and colorful stories seem to follow, and a good time is had by all. And if you’re spending the holidays with a loved one’s family, rather than your own, like I am, it’s a great opportunity to learn more, share more, and feel closer to everyone around you – which is really one of the most wonderful things about any holiday.
I hope that all of you are enjoying time with your friends and family! I wish all of you a very healthy, happy and peaceful holiday, and the very best of the New Year. Thank you so much for being such a terrific audience, and for sharing your thoughts and ideas with me! I’ll be giving some tips for last minute wrapping on the Rachael Ray Show tomorrow, in case you are feeling overwhelmed with tape and paper, and I hope you all stay in touch in the future. You can always find me at www.evetterios.com.
I thought I would post one more picture of yet another Christmas Tree. I just returned from a quick visit with my parents in Florida. My mom had a serious fall ten days ago and broke her neck, wrist, and hip. So gals, this is my plug for taking your calcium and doing your weight resistance exercises. I know this has been enough motivation for me. The blessed miracle is that she is going into rehab today, and it appears that she is going to recover.
This picture is of my folks Christmas tree. My mom has often had a color theme, and loves to make many of her ornaments. I think that the use of white is beautiful, especially in climates where it is pretty certain not to be a snow covered day. The lace stars and angels are handmade, and then she added white, ivory, and gold ornaments for a little color. One year when I was a little girl we had a tree with pink lights, pink and silver ornaments, and tinsel. Talk about a tree fit for a princess! LOL
I have seen so many pictures of white on white decorating this year, and I love Evette’s suggestions in the Holiday Tips book. We would love to hear of various color themes from the rest of you. Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas!
Sure, kids love presents at Christmastime. But its family traditions they’ll remember most long into their adulthood.
I remember our fondue Christmas Eve dinner, Santa/Dad’s surprise visit at the door (we never caught on), Danish Pancakes Christmas morning, and my Dad making us sing three carols before we could open gifts (even when we rolled our teenage eyes). Of course, we didn’t recognize or appreciate these simple events as traditions until we were older, but we remember them fondly now.
The key is to keep traditions simple, creative and consistent. What traditions are you building for your kids at Christmastime?
Help! I’m putting together a top 10 list of last-minute gifts, but can only think of 9! What should #10 be?
Top 10 (ish) last-minute gifts:
1. Gift Certificate framed in a pretty frame
2. Bottle of wine, favorite spirits or case of beer
3. Forced bulb plant kit
4. Scented Candles
5. Soup mix kit
6. Oversized Tea or coffee mug filled with a favorite blend
7. Lipstick case with mirror (you can never have too many)
8. Photo book with a personal photo or holiday greeting in the first slot
9. Coffee Table Book
10. ???
Whats Christmas without the cards? The problem is…how to display all those “comforting Christmas connections” of family and friends. I like to display mine in my family room around a mirror. I’ve found that slipping them into the slats of some old black shutters flanking a mirror seemed to work for me. I can see them and read them anytime and they add to the fun holiday decorations in the room. What do you do with yours?
There’s a million ways to display Christmas Cards. We would love to hear how you exhibit your cards?
Kids inspire us to stay light-hearted and focus on what really matters during the holiday season. We keep traditions alive and remain nostalgic mostly for their benefit, and participate in traditions more fully and appreciatively as we see them fresh through their eyes.
Still, the most important thing to remember when it comes to kids and the holidays is to keep them occupied as much as possible. The holidays are a busy time for everyone, and multi-tasking while dodging the children bouncing off the walls and hanging from the ceiling is practically a holiday universal, regardless of particular holiday or faith. Sharing kid duty among friends and family goes along way to relieving this frustration, and can be a lot of fun. Or encourage your kids to tackle festive projects, and give yourself the gift of time to prepare for all your holiday shindigs.
Holiday Wish List on a Plate- I thought of this idea a few weeks ago, and totally love it, but still haven’t had a chance to try it out with my nieces. If any of you decide to give it a whirl, let me know how it turns out! Purchase typical, store-bought, decorate-‘em-yourself plates. Try these plates which require no baking or shipping, or thesewhich are a great dishwasher-safe option. Besides decorating, ask each kid to write their holiday wish list on their plate, making sure to include name, age, and the date (Christmas 2007, for example). Smaller children may require help with some of this, of course. Once Santa’s fat and happy from the cookies your kids have left him, he can peruse the Christmas lists on the plate before he puts the gifts under the tree. And you will have gained some precious preparation time, and started a tradition with collectable results to share with your family for years to come.
Creative Collections- I bought my niece, Briana, a few games for her Nintendo DS for her birthday, and she thanked me and seemed happy, but man, were those things expensive!. A few months later, for no special occasion, I gave her a couple of gifts that cost me next to nothing. She totally flipped out, and loved them so much more. One was a little fish tackle box filled with embroidery floss in a bunch of different colors. Apparently, making colorful, collectable, floss friendship bracelets was super popular at her school. Another was a pretty bag filled with all of the sample and free toiletries I’ve accumulated from hotels. Not the kind of thing you find on top of the wish list, but kids love pint sized things that seemingly are made just for them, and they really dig collections, whether cards or dolls or tiny toiletries. Collectible gifts, even inexpensive or free ones, build cheerful, ongoing traditions unique between you and your children, and take some of the pressure off coming up with gift ideas.
Teach them to Give- Kids love giving as much as they love receiving, but they can be shy about it like anything else. Practice giving, and show them that generosity is an important trait. Help them pick out and pack up little gifts for their friends and family, and find a charity in your area that accepts wrapped gifts for less fortunate children. This is a great way to teach them to be considerate of others, and they will have an insanely good time learning to wrap their own gifts.
How are you going to involve your kids in this years holiday festivities? Let us know!
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