Organized Greeting cards! Our topic for today. You guys I’m seriously obsessed. Organizing everything in my house. I go through phases like this and JUST CAN’T STOP organizing. Really I think it’s just a control thing with me. It’s the end of summer and I’m starting to feel like running around everywhere with my kids but get nothing done is wearing me down. (It has been a fun party but it’s starting to take its toll!) So at night when the kids go to bed.. I organize! And feel a little bit of sanity slowly seep back into my life. Best medicine out there. ;)
I always buy extra cards.. birthday cards, thank you notes.. whenever I see one I love I buy it so that I have cards on hand when I need them.
I bought a binder with folders for each month years ago to hold my cards, but it clearly wasn’t made to hold my crazy stash!
So I looked around on-line and found this Card Keeper (you can get it here or here) which was a much better solution!
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I gathered up every random card from around my house and set up shop in font of my TV. You might have noticed in organizing posts like this one that I always lay out a throw or blanket and organize on my floor. I’ve been getting questions about that on IG stories when I share organizing pics. Something I’ve done for years.. forever really! I like to spread out and I like the blanket down in case there is anything dirty.. dusty papers or whatever. Then I can just shake or wash the blanket quick when I’m done and my rug stays clean. Funny habit. :)
{Bliss Throws (Teal Gazer/Pink Peony)/Chunky Wool Jute Rug/Thatcher Chair/Floor Lamp/Similar Coffee Table}
I did this little project the night The Bachelor finale was on. I never watch the entire season of the Bachelor/Bachelorette shows.. just the finale. Love the romance but not the drama. :) Plus my husband always has great commentary during the finales.. like how “their love will hands down stand the test of time because they are jumping out of an airplane together or swimming with dolphins and that’s the true sign of a long lasting relationship..”
Ha.
One heartbreak followed by one proposal later and my messy pile of cards was organized!
This Card Keeper has six dividers so I just labeled them the categories I had cards for: THANK YOU/BIRTHDAY/MOTHERS & FATHERS DAY/LOVE/HELLO/ & BLANK. You can find my beloved label maker I used here… it’s pretty much my 4th child. ;)
Some categories had more than others (like the thank you notes) so I turned the cards vertical to fit more.
Pure joy! Stuff like this makes me too happy.
I put together two birthday gifts for friends today and found a card for each of them in a snap! I’m usually digging through various drawers rushed and frustrated knowing I have birthday cards somewhere but not being able to locate them. Life just runs more smoothly when you’re organized, doesn’t it? That smooth feeling fuels my addiction. Because life with kids is usually not so smooth. And I like smooth.
I like it a lot. :)
Lid down and this happy organized box is now put away in my office cupboard! Just a few more things to go through in my office before it’s completely organized. It has been quite the summer project! Off to go through piles of old pictures.. I’ve been procrastinating on that one. Time for my blanket and Netflix!
:)
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Happy for you to have gotten your card situation under control, Erin. :) It’s a great system. If you have the rest of the items you need to get cards ready nearby, you are good to go. Addresses, pens, stamps and maybe some washi tape to put on the flap for some fun decoration. I like that you put your project on a blanket. It looks like it also helps to contain the mess a bit. I have to go to work today, so my break is over. :( It’ll be good to get back on a bit of a routine for sure, but I definitely didn’t get all the things done on my list of to dos for getting the house in better shape. Ah well. We’ll live! Enjoy the waning days of your break with the kids, Erin! :)
Yes! So nice to have the rest of the items too! I’ll be sharing more on that in a future post. :) Jeanne! So sorry you had to go back to work! Never fun when the vacation ends. I hope you have a great first day and it wasn’t too painful! xo
Awesome! I need to do that too!! Been meaning to….for years now!!
Same Brenda! Organizing my cards has been on my “someday to do list” for years now! So nice to finally have it done! xo
What’s the cost on label maker? Looks like it’s not available on amazon but says it’s available from other sellers for $79. Does that sound about right to you? Thanks in advance! :-)
You inspire me Erin! Have a wonderful day!
So sweet of you Lisa! That made my day. :) Thank you and you too! xo
I’m so excited!! I was just thinking about organizing my cards yesterday and buying more to have on hand! I’ve placed my order for the box :). Crazy how little things like this can make you so happy and feel more in control with kids.
It’s so true Julie! Order among the chaos. Ha! :) So happy this was helpful! xo
Thank you for this post! I have had a “Card Organizer” on my list of things to buy for a while, since I too am often searching for where I put that extra birthday card. Just ordered this card organizer from Amazon!
You are so welcome Tara! I’m thrilled this was helpful. Yes.. I’m always searching for a card! It will be so nice for both of us to have them organized! xo
THIS is brilliant!
Thank you so much Lori! I was excited about it too! xo
Love this and I’m the same way, and when I’m stressed I organize . I can’t wait to see your post for what you do with pictures that is on my to do list!!
Hi Erin!
Love this post! I actually make greeting cards and sell on Etsy so I love seeing what people buy and if they buy ahead like you do, how they store!
How many do you think you can comfortably fit in this box? Some of mine are flat and others are a little bulky. But I have been looking for something to hold my inventory better than the larger fabric cubes I have now.
OMG… you saved the day for me!! Love this little box… I have one on the way!
YEA! So happy this was helpful Kim! xo
How do you store and organize photos? When my kids were younger and printing was still a thing, I made albums all the time. But, then life became so much busier with 2 kids under 2 and my printed photos were stashed (organized my month and year) into a box until one day I find my 3 year old son tearing apart ALL of my photos. Now I have no idea where they rank. Now, technology is super fast and photos are a swipe away. But , I still need a streamlined way to enjoy my photos. Any advice?
Great idea! I just bought one on Amazon.
So happy you like it Ginny! xo
This is something I need to do. The picture situation though!!!
I’m so organized but when it comes to pictures. I’m so bad. I know where they are, I just need to categorize them. Then, it takes so long because I go over every memory in my head. I think that will be my fall project.
Your card organizer is perfect. Such a great idea.
Pictures are SO hard Cathy! If you come up with a good solution let me know! ;) xo
Love this idea ! I bought one today. I have cards in lots of different folders so it will be nice to have them all in one place !
Thank you Mary! So happy you like this! xo
Oh my goodness Erin, I’m the same way with watching the Bachelor/Bachelorette. I don’t like watching all the episodes, but start watching when it’s only 5 or 6 people left. There’s enough drama in the last few episodes for me for sure. Love this idea of greeting card stash organization!
Ha ha.. YES! Enough drama for sure! ;) xo
Well done Erin. Great idea.
I had a day off work on Monday wit the children at school so I managed to spend 3 hours in my craft room / office trying to sort it. Took the whole 3 hours just to sort papers and put some stuff away that should be in other rooms. Now have to keep going when I have a spare minute. Thanks for the inspiration.
I bet that felt so good Shelley! I still have a few things to finish up too.. will be so nice when we’re both done! xo
I have a stash of cards and keep them in boxes , too. Your system is just a lot prettier!
That works too Melanie! So nice just to have them all in one place! xo
Hi Erin, I loved this idea so much that I drove two hours away to The Container Store to buy one! Do you have any tips to keep the dividers more stationary? Mine seem to want to pop out of place too easily. Keep the organizing tips coming; they are brilliant! Thanks, Erin!
Oh you are too kind Anna! So happy you liked this idea! The dividers do move around a little but I found that as long as I didn’t over stuff each section they were fine. If yours are popping out I’d remove some of the cards in each section. You might need two different boxes? Thanks for the sweet comment! xo
Just found your blog and Im obsessed! I would love to be this organized! #goals. I was just wondering if you had a post about organising all your photos….. I have 2 kids and take a million photos but can never seem to get a good system going. and am always running out of room :/. Im sure you have a good system with all the photos you take for blog/family/outfits/insta etc. any tips would help!
I’ll be talking more about photo organization on the blog this Fall Ingrid! That one is a struggle for all of us for sure! Thank you so much. Thrilled you are enjoying my blog! xo
This is exactly what I need as I’ve outgrown my smaller card organizer! I might actually need two!
Yea! I’ve loved mine! :)
I also spread out blankets-sheets-towels on the floor when I am doing projects or will be on the floor a lot. For the same reason as you but I also have a second reason and it is the reason I started doing it. I grew up in rentals scratchy gross carpet. When I was in junior high and moved into a home where the previous family had porly cared for pets. The first time I left something on the floor I couldn’t believe the smells it absorbed from the carpet. That’s when I started keeping things over the carpet just in case something fell on the floor to help keep my belongings clean and off the carpet.