All Wrapped Up

One Saturday I was zipping around from here to there trying to get all my stuff done as soon as possible. My list was long and I was trying very hard not to get off track, but then there it was, a huge garage sale. I was sitting at a light begging for it to change so I could resist and just keep driving. As the light turned and I started to roll I noticed a large sign. I tried to just keep going but when the sale is to support kids going on a mission trip I had to stop.

I stopped and promised myself that I would look fast and only look for wood items. At the very first booth I hit payday. I bought 11 items for $10 I was so excited I could hardly pay the lady. Two of those items were these old wood trash cans. You could tell they were hand-made but they were very sturdy. Those two trash cans were all I could think about the rest of my day. I knew they could be a great organizing tool somehow.

After lots of thought and excitement I decided it would be a wrapping paper organizer. Things like this makes me so happy and I get really excited. I’m being very serious I love organizing that much. Yes I’m weird like that I can’t help myself.

I wanted it to be more than just a box you pile all your wrapping supplies in. I also wanted it to be something that during the holidays you could leave it out and it be decorative. So I started with two coats of gray paint and then sanded off the edges. I used two coats of clear finish to seal the paint. Then the fun started by adding the embellishments. I added a hook to one side for the scissors and to the other side a hook for the tape. I almost stopped there but what to do with all those gift tags. I found these cute little clothes pins at Michael’s for $1.50 and that was the final touch. The rolls of wrapping paper, gift bags, bows and ribbons all go inside of the wood box.

By far this is one of my favorite pieces. I get so tired every year looking for tape and scissors. I don’t like to wrap because it makes such a mess. Not this year all the wrapping stuff has a home and a place to be stored away. When I’m not using it I can put it in the closet until I do need it.

There are all kinds of wood boxes out there and most of them could be used for this kind of organizing. You may have something already or you could look around at local thrift stores or garage sales. Wrapping this year will not be such a job. I’m sure that I will have a Blue Happy time wrapping the gifts for my family and friends. Go find your Blue Happy!