Pamela - Great idea on the tin of spare bits and parts! I used to have a box of exactly that but it didn't "surface" this year
Jody - I hope you guys feel better SOON!
Mrs. Soup - I pack by tree as well! Well sort of. Big tree has 3 big totes worth of ornaments just for it. Then I have one more tote that holds ornament, garland, toppers and tree skirts for the tree in our bedroom and the one in DS's room...
Katrina - I like the idea of "culling" when decorating! I'm so tired and worn out by the time I'm taking everything down that my main goal is to just get it put AWAY in some semblance of order!
My downfall is that we are still pending the final finish of our lower level of the house - getting so tired of that not being done - I'm thinking this is the year!!! But when I look at something I didn't put up in the house this year I think - "But I'll need it once the downstairs is finished!" and then I put it back.
I can report that all Christmas is DOWN! Sad to see the outside lights go - but DH got on it and I wasn't going to argue!
Inside I left up greenery + white lights - and got out my snowmen. Put up the winter wreaths.
OTHER RANDOM DE-DECORATING TIPS:
- When taking ornaments off a tree so tall you have to climb on a ladder - use a large flat bottomed serving tray with sides - lay a kitchen towel over it and climb on UP! Set the tray on the top of the ladder and proceed to fill it with a bunch of ornaments - then carefully carry it back down again and wrap each ornament and put it away. Saves me SO much time! Works in reverse too - for putting them up!
- Wrap ornaments in tissue paper left over from opening Christmas gifts. I reuse/add to the supply each year. FOLKS I have pieces of tissue paper that are at least 15 years old!!!! I don't know why that just struck me this year as I was wrapping things up - just started laughing!
- Wrap frothy beaded garland (the kind that tangles if you just LOOK at it) around a sturdy piece of cardboard or even one side of a large garment box. Slip into a large plastic bag and then you can put inside a tote, stack it, whatever!