How to Pack Your Christmas Decorations using Recycled Materials

Christmas has come and gone and it's time to pack up the decorations and cheer. Here are a few simple ways to use the left over tissue paper, boxes, and bags to pack and store your ornaments, garland, and other decorative accents.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• left over tissue paper
• masking or painters tape
• sharp tipped marker
• storage boxes or plastic tubs
• left over Christmas tins or small boxes
• rubber bands
• plastic bags or sandwich bags

1. Gather the materials you'll need for packing and storing your items. Having everything in one place will make the job quicker and easier.

2. 
   Small Ornaments and Hooks in Christmas Tins

   Start taking down ornaments and small accents on decorative wreathes, garlands, etc. If you have an ornament organizer go ahead and put them away. For delicate items use the tissue paper from your presents to wrap the item before putting it in a box. Christmas tins make great places to store small specialty ornaments. Just line them with tissue paper. Christmas Tree hooks and candles could also be stored in tins.

3. 
   Beaded Garland in individual bags

   Take down beaded garlands, ribbons and the like. If you intend to store them, roll them up. Wrap a rubber rand around ribbons to hold them in place. Other garlands can be stored individually in sandwich bags or old grocery bags.

4. When you take down lights, ask yourself if the strand a) works and b) if it was a good size for the location. If the answer to both questions is yes, then take your masking tape and write down where the strand was used. When you roll up your strands (don't just toss them all in a box!) you can wrap the tape loosely around to give yourself a head start next year. If you don't have any specialty Christmas light organizers here are two ideas for how to store your lights. Put labeled, carefully wrapped strands individually in old grocery bags or wrap them around old Christmas boxes. Shirt boxes are a good size.

5. If you have an artificial tree, chances are you already have a box or bag to store it in. Don't forget to label it! You'll thank yourself later. When you take down artificial garland, don't forget to label where it came from (ie, mantel, staircase, kitchen cabinet, etc) and label the box its stored in.

6. Look around for any last decorations that you haven't put away.

Tips & Warnings

• Taking pictures before you take down your decorations is a great way to document past years as well as give yourself an idea on where to put your decorations when you start to decorate next year.
• Store bows in boxes by themselves lined with tissue paper so they'll keep their shape.
• Stand in each room and look around for any last decorations you forgot to put away.
• Remember that snowflakes and snowmen can continue to decorate your home throughout the winter.
• Add decorative snowflakes to live arrangements and enjoy them throughout January.