SOURCES:
http://WWW.ESSORTMENT.COM; LOWE'S; CHRISTMAS TREE STORAGE BAG SHOP.
Published: December 19, 2008
Delicate blown-glass ornaments, expensive collectibles, precious objects that have been in the family for years, children's handmade treasures.
Are you giving your tree décor the loving care it deserves or do you just toss everything in a cardboard box when the holidays are over?
Here are some options for properly storing ornaments:
Save ornament boxes. If you buy an unboxed bauble, ask the store if they have a small box that matches its size.
Buy large plastic tubs with lids for storage. Use bubble wrap, tissue paper, foam peanuts and paper towels to loosely wrap ornaments. If you don't have shipping supplies or leftover paper, put decorations in old socks and shirt sleeves or wrap them in kitchen towels or rags cut to size.
Line egg-carton cups with cotton, foam or tissue paper for small tree bulbs and ornaments.
Store breakables in Styrofoam cups filled with shredded paper.
Ask your grocer or produce manager for an apple case. The separate indentations are perfect for Christmas balls. Cushion them with paper from your office shredder or used wrapping paper.
Wine or liquor boxes are ideal for storing long or tall decorations. Check grocery or ABC stores for empties.
Special sectioned cardboard or plastic ornament storage boxes are available at hardware stores or big-box retailers. Lowe's carries a box for $9.97 that holds up to 54 ornaments and a 120-ornament box for $16.98. Online storage stores such as http://www.christmastreestoragebag.net sell ornament keepers that have fabric-lined trays and sturdy handles. A smaller keeper is $70, and a telescoping version, with stacked drawers, costs $120. -- Julie Young
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