Unclutterer

1. Posted by SpiKe - 10/09/2007

   Some thoughts:
   1) Gift wrapping supples are cheap, why not - where possible - just buy what you need and bin the rest?
   2) Depending on your space, choose rolls or folded up packs of wrapping paper. I personally can place rolls in the corner of my storage cupboard. However folded packs of paper are perfect if you only have drawers for storage.
   3) Pay someone else to do it! There are plenty of companies that will wrap your gifts for you now.

   SpiKe
   Organize IT

2. Posted by Nora Rocket - 10/09/2007

   SpiKe:
   1. because that’s wasteful, and some of us try to avoid wasting for reasons including but not limited to making better use of our money, being environmentally thoughtful, or just hating to waste. And…
   3. No, because that’s bougie.

   I wrap in old newspapers, comic books, paper sacks with stamps on them. Mere minutes more than wrapping paper, more personal, and re-use to boot. I know that not everyone’s gift recipient is okay with getting less formal paper–but sucks to them, I say!

3. Posted by Tamer - 10/09/2007

   Why not skip the wastefully wrapping entirely?
   Buy/re-use gift bags. I keep a bunch of them, most given to me with gifts, folded flat in a box.
   It’s also much quicker also!

4. Posted by Marie - 10/09/2007

   All the time I was reading this, I was thinking, “Isn’t it a bit early in the week for Unitasking Wednesday?”

5. Posted by Anna - 10/09/2007

   here’s someone who made their own…check it out!

   http://pleasantviewschoolhouse.....-wrap.html

6. Posted by Anna - 10/09/2007

   All I could think about after reading this post is “you have got to be kidding me!”

   Buying storage for storing things that clutter up your home to being with? Isn’t it easier to have your item gift-wrapped in the store? Do you really need 5 tubes of gift paper?

   This post should be published in the separate blog with a name like “clutter-up” or something.

7. Posted by Erin at Unclutterer - 10/09/2007

   @Anna — I make most of my gifts. I’ll knit a pair of socks for my grandmother or a baby blanket for an expecting friend, and unfortunately there isn’t a store that wants to wrap what I didn’t purchase there.

8. Posted by Jon King - 10/09/2007

   I have conducted a lot of in home research and encountered a variety of ways to deal with this issue. Based on all of that, this solution appears to be a fairly innovative way to deal with the left overs and extra’s. Especially in apartments and smaller footprint scenarios. People buy a lot of wrapping supplies when they are on sale or when they see something that just strikes them as a “must have”. I have also seen things sorted by event (Christmas, birthday, his, her, etc.) Again, I think this is a easy way to “contain” the tools need for the task in a portable kid friendly fashion. Thanks for highlighting it!

9. Posted by Jenny - 10/09/2007

   Is it just me or is there a whole lotta judgement going on with the giftwrap storage?

   Lighten up, people. Some of us are actually into the ritual of wrapping (and unwrapping) gifts we’ve put thought into buying. What’s not to like about efficient storage for the things we choose to have in our lives?

10. Posted by Jeri Dansky - 10/09/2007

    At the risk of enraging those who are anti-gift wrap, here’s another option:
    http://jdorganizer.blogspot.co.....garet.html

    I’m not much of a gift wrapper myself - I use reusable bags more than anything, and they can be stored pretty simply. But even I have a container for the few rolls of gift wrap I do have.

    And some people really enjoy creating beautifully wrapped gifts. I have a friend who is a master of this, often using recycled items like the fronts of beautiful cards. I’ve been the recipient of some of these wrapping masterpieces, and I love getting them; I’ll delay opening the boxes for days so I can just have them around to admire.

11. Posted by JB - 10/09/2007

    I really enjoy making beautifully wrapped gifts. I don’t have time to make hand-made gifts, but I feel that if I spend a little time on the presentation, I’ve put a little bit of myself in the gift than just buying it. This is especially true at Christmas, when gifts are left out for longer periods of time, and my family (and me) can really appreciate the beauty of a pile of lovely coordinated gifts.

    I actually own an old Rubbermaid Wrap and Craft standing organizer, and while I like that it protects my wrapping paper from dust and dents, I find everything else about it annoying. The lid is hard to manage, the accessory compartment is too small to be useful beyond a pair of scissors and some tape, and it tips over easily. If it was something I used more frequently (I usually wrap a lot all at once, and then nothing for a month or two), I’d get something else.

12. Posted by Joyful Abode - 10/09/2007

    Honestly, my solution for gift-wrap clutter is this: I only use brown shipping paper to wrap presents. I jazz it up with satin ribbons… which only take up one shoebox in my closet.

13. Posted by Anna - 10/09/2007

    @Erin

    I understand a need for this if one of your hobbies happens to be giving hand-made wrapped-up gifts. We all have hobbies that create some amount of clutter.

    But it’s still somewhat surprising to me to see a post about how to organize it all neatly (with a SEPARATE scissors bought just for the occasion of gift-giving) rather than a post about how to have less of wrapping-related stuff to begin with.

14. Posted by thisisbeth - 10/09/2007

    I agree with JB. I own the rubbermaid Wrap and Craft, and find it annoying. It actually is too short to handle some longer rolls of wrapping paper I own, so they’re currently sitting in my vaccuum cleaner box. And there’s not really enough room for bows and labels and stuff in the top compartment.

    I like wrapping presents when I have time and space to do it. I think this is an excellent solution. (I’d like to narrow down my wrapping paper to two or three rolls and use ribbons and bows to make things prettier. That’s a goal, but for now I’m going to try to use up what I have, which has been purchased during after-holiday clearances. I try to get the non-Christmasy stuff, so I can use it either all winter or all year.)

15. Posted by Erin at Unclutterer - 10/09/2007

    @Anna — Unclutterer’s motto is “a place for everything and everything in its place.” Instead of having all of the items strewn about, why not have a place for gift wrapping? One of the benefits of an organization system is that it can help to keep clutter in check and numbers in control, too. If your organizer only holds six rolls of wrapping paper, then you aren’t tempted to buy seven even if there is a sale on wrapping paper. I like to wrap gifts, so I use a small amount of storage space for organized gift wrap. Conversely, I have no love for fingernail polish, so you can’t find a single bottle of it anywhere in my home.

    My ownership of the separate scissors is a personal choice. I am really bad about putting things away if there is more than 30 seconds of effort involved. If I get scissors out of my desk drawer to use to wrap gifts, the odds that those scissors will make it back to my desk drawer are not favorable. However, can a pair of scissors make it back into a little pocket on the side of the gift wrapping organizer? Yes.

    Have you read our website’s philosophy statement? It will probably do a better job of explaining what I’m trying to say about honoring the things you choose to keep in your home than what I’m doing in this comment … http://unclutterer.com/archive.....living.php

16. Posted by jehb - 10/09/2007

    What about instead wrapping your gifts in reusable lengths of cloth, which are far easier to store, can be multipurposed in the future, and as a result, are more environmentally friendly?

    In reaction to some of the comments above, I should state my bias: the reason I read this blog regularly is that I’m interested in organizing my stuff in order to use fewer resources. Being a disorganized horder for much of my life has been directly related to my consumerism, and I’ve found that a great way to combat both is to evaluate what you’ve got and truly decide if you need more. Want to help your friends and family reduce their gift wrapping clutter? Try asking for handmade food goods which don’t need wrapping, or better yet, a donation in lieu to your favorite charity.

17. Posted by Natasha - 10/09/2007

    I love this! I might need to invest in this before the holidays. It’s hard to store all kinds of gift wrapping supplies in a way that is organized. This seems to do the job.

    I don’t think this would quite qualify for Uni-tasker Wednesday, considering it is used for organizing AND it doesn’t take up unnecessary space- it hangs! It will fit perfectly in my hall closet. Then I don’t have to lug a bin of gift wrapping stuff from the attic to my kitchen every time I need to wrap a gift. Much more efficent. Thanks!

18. Posted by Debbie M - 10/09/2007

    I wrap gifts with brown grocery bag paper, tie them with cloth ribbon, and tape on weeds from my yard–ahem–flowers from my garden. This is well received, but requires waiting until the last minute to wrap something, which isn’t always possible. I store most of my “wrapping paper” with the paper bags, and then I have ribbons, stickers, and gift bags I’ve received that can be reused in a drawer.

    I like the way Erin has figured out a way to have just a few rolls of wrapping paper for all purposes. When one is running low, you can buy a new role and wrap the remainder of the old roll around it.

19. Posted by Nat - 10/09/2007

    I’ve used a hanging organizer system for years. It does keep me from buying more than I can store as well as trying to “reuse” more than I’ll ever need (ie. the occaision specific wrapping from our wedding). Also, having store bought all occassion gift wrap doesn’t mean that I don’t do something creative like use hand decorated brown or butcher paper, newspaper pages. We have rolls on hand so that either me or my husband who is less creatively inclined can wrap things in a hurry. Sorry, I’m not a fan of gift bags (even though they fit in the organizer) unless they’re plain brown or white paper shopping bags with handles or wine bottle size. I’ll never spend money on them, and the ones people give me are always sooooo uglyyyyyy.

20. Posted by Glenda - 10/09/2007

    The thing I noticed is that the selection of gift wrap saves a lot of shopping time–you have specific wrap for each type of recipient and don’t waste time there. The idea of just using using brown paper is good too. Sometimes I spend more on the wrap than I did on the gift. I think I’ll get some brown craft paper and satin ribbon.
    It seems that trying to decide where to put things is the main cause of clutter in my house, and this is a great way to cut down on that–to reduce the need to decide. Or perhaps, to make the decision just once in advance.

21. Posted by Karen - 10/10/2007

    I don’t give a lot of gifts, so I find that one roll is enough for me. I find that plain gold paper (a dull gold, not too shiny) is great for all occasions, including Christmas, and it works for kids and adults, men and women.

22. Posted by AnnaL - 10/10/2007

    I wrap everything in white and dress it up with ribbon. One roll. Also, freezer paper works in a pinch, is cheaper than wrapping paper and comes in its own storage box. The only storage requirement: a small basket for various ribbons.

23. Posted by helix - 10/10/2007

    Do yourselves a favor and get your gifts wrapped at the store!

    Also, re-use the fancy gift bags that you receive– don’t even worry if you give it back to the person that you got it from, NO ONE pays attention to that stuff anyway.

24. Posted by MissRae - 10/11/2007

    What a great item to have if you are a wrapper like me. I wrapped the entire families worth of gifts one Christmas Eve at the inlaws. I think there were around 103 gifts….this deffinately would have come in handy.

25. Posted by Sheri - 10/11/2007

    I have to comment on the Portable Gift Wrap Organizer listed in this post. It is NO good! When you try to stand it up or don’t keep it completly sideways, everything slides all over the place and it just does not hold the rolls of paper well either unless they are packed in there!

26. Posted by Jenny - 10/11/2007

    @Sheri — I have the Portable Gift Wrap Organizer (which zips closed) mentioned in this post and I have to disagree with you to an extent. First of all, it’s softsided, so it’s not supposed to “stand up” (unless you lean it against the wall or something). It’s actually supposed to lie flat, so keeping it completely sideways shouldn’t be such an issue. The store description says it holds up to 24 rolls, but those are thin rolls. I’ve been able to keep about 6 regular width rolls comfortably strapped inside without trouble. Normally, 3 Xmas rolls, 2 birthday rolls, and 1 all-occasion roll. Now, I will agree that the rolls can slide around, but only if you don’t strap the rolls in so there’s no extra space between where the Velcro meets and the roll itself. Still, rolls are going to loll about no matter how you organize these things — personally, I’d rather have them lolling about inside a bag than running loose in the closet.

    For me, it’s perfect — I don’t have any closet doors to hang stuff on (they’re all folding doors) and I have precious little storage to begin with. But in one of my apt’s 2 closets I have a top shelf that was put up so high that only flat things can live up there. This softsided organizer is a perfect fit — out of the way until I need it and it holds everything I need.

    Btw, @Anna, I too have a separate pair of scissors that I keep specifically in the organizer for giftwrapping, along with separate tape and separate pen. For me, it’s a huge timesaver. Everything I need is together in one place, so not only do I NOT have to hunt and gather my accoutrements from elsewhere in the house, I also don’t have to make the circuit to put them away either. Like Erin said, if it takes more than 30 seconds to do (actually more like 10-20) it’s likely not getting done. Or, more accurately, it doesn’t get done until much later by which time things have migrated without forwarding address via creative kid, sprouted legs, etc. So, Anna, before you continue upbraiding others for not being you, try accepting that what constitutes “organized” or “uncluttered” is different for everyone.

27. Posted by karry - 10/12/2007

    Like many here, I am a wrapper. I bought plain white craft paper from a craft store that I stamp before wrapping a gift and then tie an outrageous bow with wire-edged ribbon on the package. I also keep 2 types of Xmas paper on rolls (one for my family and one for his so when we deliver, there is no checking of labels). I bought a gold club bag from a garage sale for $5 that holds those tubes of paper and wrapping tools. It also has the advantage of being portable if I’m going to a ‘wrapping party’ not hosted in my house. I keep my ribbons separate, as I buy them by the spool from Sam’s or CostCo. They have their own bin, as do the doo-dads that I tie in the bows.

28. Posted by karry - 10/12/2007

    edit: GOLF club bag Sheesh. Sorry about that.

29. Posted by teri - 10/14/2007

    to avoid storing several different patterns of gift wrap, i keep it simple. i use either white or brown craft paper, which i keep on hand for other uses. i jazz up the gift with pretty ribbons. a few rolls of ribbon on easier to store than rolls of gift wrap. i watch for good sales on ribbon or recycle ribbon from other gifts.

30. Posted by mk - 10/16/2007

    i use 2 of these to hold all my rolls of gift wrap (purchased from school fund raisers):

    Plastic bag dispenser:RATIONELL $2.90
    http://www.ikea.com.sg/product.....asp?id=900

31. Posted by Organizing Your Christmas Wrapping Paper | Personalized Christmas Stockings - 10/16/2007

    [...] has a round up on organizing your Christmas wrapping paper.   Staying organized can be a challenge during the holidays.  Try using one of these organizers [...]

32. Posted by Carol - 10/20/2007

    When we got the Sunday paper I always saved the comic section for gift wrap. It can be used and then recycled. Now I use gift bags as do the rest of my family and friends. After we open our gifts we usually leave the bag with the giver for reuse. Haven’t bought gift wrap for years. I did enjoy wrapping presents though and think the wrap organizer is a good solution for people who enjoy this way of giving.

33. Posted by PrairieGal - 10/20/2007

    Anna - Thank you so much for posting the Pleasant View home made version! I have been racking my brain trying to determine how to make one of the hanging varieties, since the retail one does not seem to be available in my area, and Pleasant View’s is by far the simplest and easier idea. Much appreciated!

34. Posted by Work It, Mom! | A Community for Professional Moms - 10/25/2007

    [...] loved this round up of gift wrap storage at Unclutterer but even more so I loved this post about the minimalist approach to gift wrap. [...]

35. Posted by andi*pandi - 10/27/2007

    I like the hanging organizer; however I use under-the-bed storage boxes. I need both christmas and hannukah paper, then birthday, kid, etc. so I need more space. I also have a box for gift bags and tissue, which I use and reuse most of all. It pays to be thrifty, I feel a bit better about reusing stuff, to offset the feeling of wastefulness that comes from stuffing used wrap into the trash.

    If these gift bags overflow their box however, I’m giving some away!

36. Posted by Mary - 11/01/2007

    I have a friend who wraps everything in her signature plain brown wrapping paper topped with a pale pink rafia bow. Somehow it looks right no matter the occasion or the recipient and I’d steal her idea if we didn’t both live in the same small town. Her supplies take little space and they are economical.

37. Posted by mercurial scribe - 11/01/2007

    Thank you thank you thank you for this post! I’ve always had a problem getting my gift wrap organized and after I read this post, I purchased the pictured system. I’ve been using it now for about a week (it’s birthday season at my house) and I love how easy it is! Thanks for another bright idea!

38. Posted by Style Divas - Best of the Web - November 10th 2007 - Holiday Edition | The Decorating Diva - 11/10/2007

    [...] as we found this week’s Style Diva blog candidate, “Unclutterer” offering handy holiday organizational tips and great product recommendations that will help you wrap and [...]

39. Posted by elrj - 01/02/2008

    Doesn’t anyone use the Sunday comics anymore?
    

40. Posted by Kellie - 04/17/2008

    I couldn’t help but crack up reading this. I WAS looking for a cool way to store my mess of gift bags/ribbon/paper galore. Now I’m just laughing because I didn’t realize my gift wrapping rituals were making people angry!!! rock. on. But, I AM still looking for good ideas…

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