Organizing 101: Holiday wrap-up

Stationery
Have note cards and stationery on hand for thank-you cards and thinking-of-you notes.

• Stock up on note cards from discount tables at card, gift and bookstores.

• Use a medium-size decorative storage box to organize the small boxes; store favourite pens in the box, too. Display it on a shelf in a home office or close to wherever you do correspondence. A shoebox could also work and be stored out-of-sight on a closet shelf.

• Keep a supply of fine stationery and matching envelopes. Store loose paper and envelopes in a folder in a file cabinet, a plastic sheet protector at the back of your greeting card binder, or in a separate, appropriately sized box alongside your note card storage box. Scent the paper with a few sprigs of dried lavender (separated from the paper with a sheet of tissue, so oils don't stain the paper) or a sachet.

Address books
Take the time now, at the beginning of the year, to update addresses in your book, PDA or on your computer.

• Transfer all contacts to your computer, if you haven't done so. Most programs include a contact book that you can access, edit and use to generate lists and labels once information has been entered. It will make sending out party invitations and Christmas cards easy.

10 essentials for furnishing a wrapping area
1 work surface (a plain table will do)
2 chair (it will save your back if you wrap frequently or elaborately)
3 wall-mounted shelves, or small bookcase
4 wall-mounted pegboard (for scissors, ribbon, tape and more)
5 cart with transparent or wire drawers (so you can see contents)
6 a container for rolls of wrapping paper
7 lidded storage boxes
8 tabletop pen holder and selection of favourite pens and markers
9 scissors and tape
10 wrapping supplies

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