Wednesday, November 15, 2006

WFMW: Storing and reusing gift bags

Almost a year later, I've finally learned how to store surplus gift bags: as stores do, on hooks! Hanging keeps them wrinkle-free and "re-giftable." Seeing them all at a glance makes organizing and selecting the right size easy.

But what if you only have space for one hanger, not a dozen? My husband repurposed an extra-large Stanley ladder hook. We found ours at Big Lots for only $1.50. He installed it in my laundry room this weekend. I easily looped over fifty gift bags on its long arm! (When my grandma moved, I inherited her gift bag stockpile.) The cabinet to the right holds gifts, tissue, cards and ribbon--all bought secondhand or on super-clearance, of course!

Many thanks to Shannon for hosting such a fun holiday event!

15 comments:

Heather said...

Great idea! I have one large gift bag that got pretty beat up during unwrapping at a birthday party that I keep my bags in, but I have some other big ones that won't fit inside it. This is fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

MommyLydia said...

hrms. Yeah gift wrap is getting expensive these days

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! I have one of those hanging gift caddy organizers and mine end up bent at the corners! Very frustrating!

Blessings!
Tracy

Baleboosteh said...

Golly! Once again I am in awe. This is such a good idea. I actually have one of these hooks somewhere around the house. I have a stash of gift bags too somewhere..... That is the problem - I know I have them but can never find them when I need them. Hugely frustrating.
Bless you,
Michelle

Anonymous said...

What a great idea. My husband will not let me throw away "resuable" gift bags, yet they always get so beat up in the wrapping station waiting for use that I feel bad "regifting" them.

This may just solve my problem.

Anonymous said...

That hook is a great idea! I keep mine in an under-bed cardboard box along with flattened gift boxes, but it is kind of hard to dig through.

Someone Beautiful said...

This is great! I had just given up on gift bags this year. I was storing them all in one big bag on a top shelf in the closet, but over time, they are not so neat and it is hard to see what I have. I was going to get one of those clear underbed wrapping containers and get a general wrapping paper (gold or red-something that goes for Christmas too), birthday paper and children's paper. But if I end up with a lot of gift bags this year, I'll see if we can find a place for a hook. :)

Anonymous said...

What perfect timing, I want to reorganize the guest room closet and that is where all the wrapping stuff is stored. We have a funny house: four bedrooms, three baths but only a laundry closet. Oh well, at least it keeps me letting the laundry pile up!

Birdie said...

Great idea! I have been storing all of my gift bags neatly folded inside of a giant gift bag that I keep standing in my closet. That works, too, but hanging them would keep them out of the way much better.

Lady Why said...

I always store mine laying flat under my bed. You're right about the wrinkles. I've had to discard some of them because of the way they get crunched and munched. Your idea is fabulous! I love it! I just love an organized gift system!

Rae said...

Wonderful idea, I'll have to look into this! Thanks for sharing =)

PastormacsAnn said...

We save bags but it would be nice to organize them better. Great idea.

Ms. Kathleen said...

When I receive a gift in a bag, to me that is two gifts! Thanks for the excellent ideas!

Anonymous said...

I would like to recommend you use old clothing remnants to make cloth gift bags. Wrinkles are easily dealt with should they occur and the bags last 'forever' and can be used by everyone.

Candy said...

i LOVE this idea!!!