Have you ever wanted to be the kind of person who always comes bearing the perfect gift? That person who always shows up with something unique, thoughtful, useful, and elegant without being inappropriate, no matter what the occasion or how short the notice? That, my friend, takes preparation. And with a little effort, you can be organizing supplies for gift giving that will make you a legend, too.
Give It Some Space
If you can manage it, devoting a closet to the art of gift giving will give you a real glow of satisfaction. If not, clear a shelf to store some essentials. If you really enjoy wrapping, you can find various plastic organizing tools for under $10, or craft carts on wheels for a bit more so you can set up in any room. You can even buy a $700 wooden hutch built for wrapping supplies, and it’s pretty enough to keep in your living room.
Assemble Your Tools
Scissors have a way of disappearing all over the house, so treat yourself with a special pair you reserve just for wrapping. Buy a multi-pack of transparent tape, some fine-point Sharpies that will write on anything, all-occasion blank gift tags, all your ribbon, and any flourishes you like to add, such as washi tape, twine, and artificial flowers.
Consolidate the Little Things
Lay out everything on a table or the floor, so you can see how much space you need for each supply, and strategize about the best way to access them. Drawer dividers can help for ribbons that you can see at a glance, and clear plastic bins can catch odds and ends. Get creative with what you already have. Organizers don’t have to cost money; some people swear that cutting tissue paper rolls to secure half-used wrapping paper rolls can change your life.
Stock up on Gift Wrap
Don’t go overboard. There’s nothing worse than rolls of 10-year-old paper that tumble out at you when you open the closet. It is helpful to have a roll for every general occasion, as well as bright paper in generic patterns that will work anytime. Check your gift bag inventory, and organize them by size with a magazine holder, file folders, or paper sorter. Be sure to keep them near the tissue paper, so you can always grab a bag and tissue if you’re running out the door.
Categorize Cards
Even if you think you know what you have handy, it’s easy to mix up all the cards for different occasions. Card organizers aren’t expensive or large and do the work for you. Any filing system will work, as long as it makes sense to you. Create any category you find most useful, even sections devoted to frequent recipients.
Gifts are everyone’s “love language” to one extent or another, and you can touch someone’s life with the smallest gesture. Make it even easier to think of others by organizing supplies for gift giving, and you can start spreading even more happiness.
