We are just recovering from a haze of the Christmas stomach flu, but already I’m anxious to put away the holiday decor and get ready for a New Year’s bash next week. I love to find stylish storage solutions because they just make me happy and if I can achieve form *and* function, I’m having a good day. Check out these fun and simple ideas:

Storing Christmas lights

I don’t know about you, but we are constantly getting light strands tangled, broken or otherwise lost. And even when we manage to be organized, we pull out all the lights and can’t remember the brilliant display we thought up the year before. Did the white lights go on the garage or the big tree out front? I love these ideas from BHG for keeping the lights untangled, labeled and looking good.

Storing Christmas ornament

How many special ornaments of yours have been broken over the years because of a poorly chosen storage system? I change mine up every year because I feel like I’m still in search of the best system – but I’ve never tried putting felt underneath!

If you’re wanting to keep it really simple, Martha says that white tissue (or white dishtowels) will pad ornaments but also protect them from dyes and chemicals that might harm the ornament.

Storing the Christmas tree

If you haven’t invested in a bag for your artificial tree, now is the time. They are super affordable and you can finally get rid of that ripped, old original box the tree came in. They come in various colors and sizes – some even with wheels on the bottom.

Do you have any tips for storing Christmas decor? I’d love to hear them!

Written by contributor Summer Robertson of House & Hold

I wasn’t an overly sneaky kid, never once did I secretly unwrap gifts for a peek! Promise. I was however an eager gift-shaker. And a great guesser. By Christmas morning I had a pretty good idea of what treasures were coming my way. So my clever Mom came up with a plan: she numbered all the gifts and kept a master list of the numbers, who it belonged to and what the gift was. Smarty pants!

Not only did it work like a charm (I had no clue which gift was mine, no matter how hard I shook!) but it created such an eventful Christmas morning for our little family. Opening gifts with the number system is quite the process! I would call out “Number 7! Who gets number seven?!”. We then opened gifts — one gift, one number at a time. No ripping into a pile of presents in matter of minutes leaving everyone a bit bewildered.

Now that I am a mom of three curious kids of my own, I gave my mom’s “Numbering System” a spin last Christmas. It was better than I remembered! My kids appreciated the time and attention they got in opening each gift, a moment in the spotlight! I appreciated all those little moments & bright smiles as my kids slowly opened their gifts. Mom’s numbering system is a hit and has now become a new tradition for my own little family.

Here’s the scoop:

1. Start a master list & keep it in a secret spot. If your kids  find it, it’s a major fail.

2. As you wrap gifts assign each gift a number. My mom used to write  the number on the giftwrap of the wrapped gift with a sharpie. You could print out numbers, write on gift tags or use white office sticker dots as I did.

3. Correspond the number on the gift with the same number on your list, making note of the recipient and the contents if you wish.

4. Since I do the majority of the gift shopping, I am master of the master list – Don’t loose it! You’ll need it on Christmas morning to answer “Eliot! Gift number 7 is for Eliot!”

What fun ways do you keep gifts a surprise on Christmas morning?

Written by contributor Summer Robertson of House & Hold

Balloons are absolutely the cheeriest part of a birthday. So it’s no surprise that it has become my birthday tradition to create a balloon “chandelier” (no helium required!) for every birthday in our family. I hang the chandelier above the coffee table in front of the mantle in the living room – the perfect spot in my home! And? The balloon chandelier takes less than 10 minites to create and costs literally less than $1.

How to make a balloon chandelier

Supplies:

• Balloons in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes (psst! the good ‘ol Dollar Store sells packs of multi-color balloons that are fantastic! Rad variety of sizes and colors!)
• Cotton twine
• Air or balloon pumper

1. Rifle through the balloons and determine the size of the chandelier and color palette you’re aiming for. For big chandeliers use between 12 & 15 balloons. For a smaller arrangement use 7-9 balloons.

2. Pump up all balloons with an air or balloon pumper (don’t blow them up yourself, you’ll faint!). Not filling every balloon to “full”  will give you an additional variety of sizes.

3. After all balloons are pumped up, tie a knot at the base of the balloon with the cotton twine as illustrated in the image — tying a balloon on every 4-6 inches, dividing the balloons between 3-5 strings (or how ever many you need)
4. Next, hold the balloon strings together and tie a knot towards the top of the strings to secure. Jumble them together allowing the balloons to tangle. This helps the composition of the bundle and fills in any open gaps.

5. Time to accessorize! Add streamers, garlands, frill …
6. Hang from the ceiling with a pushpin .. or … tie to the end of a dowel (which are about a yard long & 59 cents from the craft store) to create a fantastic balloon bouquet.

The balloon chandeliers are so festive and fun I tend to leave it up weeks after the birthday has passed… unless my children manage to bat it down first!

Be sure to check out the other posts in our birthday party series:
DIY party garlands
DIY birthday banner
DIY 5 minute birthday kit

Have you ever made a balloon centerpiece or chandelier?

Written by contributor Summer Robertson of House & Hold

Making party garlands & buntings is a simple pleasure of mine. Such an easy, crafty project with instant gratification (yay!) and can easily be added to your party kit for years of use. I usually have a dozen different garlands in my party kit made in a variety of colors, sizes and materials. I add a couple new garlands a year and toss the ones they are too used/crinkled.

Thankfully, there are endless great bunting and garland tutorials available! I’ve gathered a handful of my favorites and  organized the DIY’s by material with links below.

Fabric

Fabric garlands are perhaps the most durable but may take a bit longer to make (and require a sewing machine). Another option is felt, such as the felt “paper chain” garland above that was made using felt & a glue gun.

Colorful Flag Garland
Little Fabric Garland
Vintage Fabric Bunting
Fabric Streamer Garland
Fabric Dahlia Garland

Tissue & Crepe Paper

Tissue and Crepe paper garlands can be made in a snap and when stored properly, last for several years. Oh Happy Day has the most amazing  tutorials for this type of decoration.

Zig Zag Streamers
Tissue Paper Fringe Garland
Giant Fringe Garland
Tissue Paper Dots
Tissue Paper Bunting
Fringe Streamer

Paper & Washi Tape

I’ve created smaller scale garlands out of construction paper (the red one, above) and patterned decorative paper. Other possible materials could include washi tape and cupcake liners. So creative!

Washi Tape Garland
Paper Chain
Cupcake Liner Scallop Garland
Sewn Dot Garland

Tips:

• If you want to re-use your garlands do the math so that they fit your space (dining room ceiling length, fireplace mantle) properly. Constructing garlands & buntings in the correct length makes decorating for a party super quick.
• I store all decorations in zippy bags & take care to put everything away nicely so things can be used year after year. I’ve learned this the hard way… tissue paper crinkles super easily!
• Be inspired!! Garlands can be made out of the simplest items.. even white office sticky dots.

Do you ever make your own party garland?