I ♥ Organization!

I love being organized (although my life might not always stay that way!). I don't think there are too many people out there that don't like being organized--so I guess I should say--I love organizing. The act of organizing something is therapeutic for me. I feel refreshed and have a sense of accomplishment when I'm finished! (I mean, who doesn't?!)

I can remember back to the second grade when I proclaimed myself as the room librarian, positioning my desk close to the bookcase so I could organize all the books (and then monitor who checked them out!).

When I was in the fourth grade I would stay after school to help Mrs. Taylor organize her classroom. No project was too small as I redecorated her walls with butcher paper (I LOVED pulling that stuff off the role), filed papers, helped her with the grading book, etc. I think in my second life I want to be a teacher--just so I can organize everything!

For my 21st birthday I didn't ask for an iPod or new designer jeans. I didn't want a new purse (I'll wait while some of you catch your breath), or the latest craze among college students. Instead, I asked for a Palm Pilot. Seriously. And I got it. I was in HEAVEN! I wanted to organize my contacts and streamline them with my calendar. NERD ALERT!

However, I never fully caught on to the electronic calendar thing. Much like this girl, I just couldn't shake my paper calendar, and I still carry a paper calendar with me. I think it had something to do with checking things off my list. Another great feeling and sense of accomplishment.

So, with all of that organizing hype, I wanted to share with you my gift wrapping closet organization tips!

I ran across Create Studio's amazing blog post about her Gift Wrapping Station and I knew I had to do something similar with my stuff. I already had a similar system in place under my stairs. My mom and I call it "the under stair storage." Original. I know. You see, I live in a two story house and had to find a "work around" for that awkward closet builders put under the stairway. All too often it can become a junk hole, home to all things that need a home but don't have one. We repurposed the under stair closet into a more useful "under stair storage" area.

Then it hit me. After reading Create Studio's blog post of course.

I could do that with my gift wrapping stuff, using some of the same drawers from downstairs. Genius.

So, back to the basics.

I like to use these drawers because they're so durable. I found mine at Target--but wait til they go on sale to buy them, which is like every 3-4 weeks.

Here's a glimpse into my upstairs guest bedroom closet. Nice and neat. There's a place for everything, and everything's in it's place.

Let me break it down for you. The box on top of my drawers is home to my fragile bow Christmas tree topper. To the right of my drawers, in the useless, waste of space section between the wall and the drawers, I have secrectly stashed my rolls of wrapping paper.

In the first drawer I have all things craft related. In there you can find Modge Podge, paint brushes, scissors, rolls of ribbon, paint pens, tape, scraps of wrapping paper too small to use (but don't throw it away!), buttons, sequins, and the list goes on. (Did I mention that I use to have my own crafting business...well, sort of.)

In the second drawer I have tissue paper, tiny boxes, and tins. As my love for Brighton has progressed, so has my stash of their jewelry tins. The tissue paper is folded nicely, with easy access when in a wrapping rush.

The third drawer has bags of all shapes and sizes (and that one random box.)

The fourth drawer has boxes of all shapes and sizes!

This system worked seamlessly for me for quite some time! However, since I took these pictures, I've added two more drawers (another reason I love this particular drawer system--easy to add to it). The fifth drawer is for those pesky pamphles, manuals, instructions, guides, etc. to all the electronic equipment around our house. Not necessarily wrapping related, but needed just the same.

The sixth (and final) drawer is home to all things Christmas. I just couldn't help myself. I needed a drawer for just Christmas stuff--gift tags, labels, bows, ribbon, cards, etc.

So, are you ready to go organize you gift wrapping station now?