How to Store Leftover Wrapping Paper
Stockings are all hung with care and there’s evidence that Santa has been there as brightly colored packages circle the Christmas tree. It’s time to wipe your brow and reclaim your den, your basement, your kitchen counter, restoring Santa’s Secret Workshop to its rightful order. But what do you do with all the extra wrapping paper?
If you’re working on a low budget, consider placing the gift wrap in a large garbage bag and storing it in a dry place. This will keep the wrapping paper from accumulating dust and mold. If you’re able to find a large cardboard box to accommodate the wrapping paper—perhaps from a large holiday gift—that would help prevent the paper from being crushed by other stored items.
Another inexpensive way to store the paper is to remove the paper from the rolls and fold it neatly. This, of course, will put creases in your wrapping paper, but if you do it neatly, it will be similar to the folded wrapping paper you can buy in many party supply and department stores. By folding the paper, you can more easily find a box to accommodate the paper. Don’t forget to add the plastic bag for extra protection.
If you are willing to put a bit of money into storing your left over wrapping paper, you can purchase some great products specifically marketed for storing your wrapping paper. Some of these products areunder-the-bedstyle plastic boxes. This style is great for each storing. You can even add bows, ribbon, scissors, and tape into these boxes so that you have everything handy for next year’s Santa’s Secret Workshop.
If you already have the under-the-bed area filled and don’t have a place to neatly stack horizontal plastic totes, avertical-standingplastic tote may be something to consider. This seems like a practical choice for storing in closets or attic storage spaces. The disadvantage is that storing your additional items (like tape and bows) is less convenient, as you’ll have to reach far into the bottom or dump out the contents to access your extras.
Purchasing these types of products in non-seasonal colors during non-holiday time periods is likely to save you a bit of cash. Stores like Walmart and Target carry these types of storage materials all year round, so take advantage of off-season shopping to meet your storage needs.
As in any other area of life, organization of your wrapping supplies can ease your future endeavors with gift wrapping and can de-clutter your storage areas. Whichever method you prefer, be sure to weed out the paper you don’t intend to use again so that you don’t become a hoarder of holiday print paper! Feel free to turn those scraps of paper into fantastic ornaments and other handy holiday crafts.
