YuleLog Ornament Collector's Bulletin Board Forums Discussion Ornament Collecting Discussion Share your method for de-decorating!

I really wasn't looking forward to putting Christmas away but I surprisingly found it somewhat enjoyable. Well except for trying to put ornaments in those silly plastic pieces Hallmark used for a while! Anyway I found that I really looked over and enjoyed the details on the ornaments more when putting them away than when putting them on the tree.
So what is your method? I grab a box and then find the ornament. Do you do that or take down the ornament and then find the box? Have you rid yourself of boxes all together?
I am also putting everything into yulelog as when my laptop crashed 5 years ago the computer gurus didn't transfer my yulelog files.

I usually aim for a Sunday. But probably not this Sunday.


I decorate the trees but IF I go for a Sunday during the Super Bowl and/or Play Off games . . . I can remove the ornaments, I do a whole lid full using the cardboard lids from my 2' x 3' boxes and then husband helps me box them back up. Although MOST of my ornaments are now in IRIS Trunks . . . I do still have many of these cardboard storage boxes, usually Christmas themed patterns for this purpose and mostly contain extra stuff like garland and filler ornaments of solid glass balls or glitter balls.

This year I am going to inventory on Yulelog, haven't since 2011 and lost a lot of that work . . . have already done daughters collection before I gave them to her this year and sons collection before decorating so all that is left is mine . . . so around 400 down and another 1600 or more to go.

I also, when doing a refreshed & updated inventory, cull out the ones I no longer like and those what was I thinking. Which is why I NEVER shop after Christmas for Hallmark anymore. IF I didn't like it enough to get before Christmas then I probably don't really want it that much.

I'm going to take my time, I hope, and do it right this year. My collection has become a little disorganized in years gone by vs when you could name any ornament and I could by memory go straight to that box and pull it out within a minute or two. Not so much anymore . . . which is what neglect will do to a well organized collection.

Oh well . . . Life Gets in the Way so it is what it is. But I do hope to fix it this year~!!!

I don't put the ornaments back into their boxes. Those are flattened and stored elsewhere. I don't put them back into those plastic inserts, either, as those drive me crazy.
Ornaments are separated by theme, or at least used to be - I haven't kept up with it for the past few years and need to take the boxes that are filled by year and sort them. I take the lids of copier paper boxes and then cut down the boxes to whatever height works best for that theme (either only as tall as the lid, or maybe an inch or two taller for some of the bigger pieces). It makes for a surprisingly sturdy ornament tray-sized box that holds up to stacking without crushing. Bubble wrap is used around the delicate ornaments, just one thin layer of tissue to prevent paint rubs for the rest.

I take out 5 LPs to listen to and a few beers. Then, I locate a box and find the corresponding ornament on the tree as a form of some awful scavenger hunt! Then, I move onto the globes, garland and other loose ornaments that have no box. Then, it's time to box all the boxes! Took me near 4 hours to complete this year.

Also, will have two ornaments that have a date with krazy glue next year. Wasn't about to go through that at the present...

Diana, the paper boxes are an interesting idea. I might try that. I am putting them away this year by theme, mainly since I did a theme tree this year. I plan to get all my ornaments sorted and stored effectively this year! Big goals as I have been collecting since the late eighties. And before that with my mom. Moms collection is nicely stored but not cataloged. I hope to get to it also.

I am on the theme train, too. I do put some ornaments back in their boxes and they are stored in the theme storage pieces. It is easier to find things by theme. Before I put the collections away, I take photos and log the whereabouts of the storage boxes in the 'Where' book I keep.

Another thing I do before starting is to make a list of what needs putting away and then rank it in order of what I love the most which gets put away last. So far on the list of 20 tasks, I have only put away the linens and cushions. Looks like Dairy Queen lane, my favorite, is safe for another three weeks.

I like to pull all the ornaments off at once, store them temporarily in box lids, and then figure out how to put each one away. Makes me happy seeing them all together at once.

A few nights ago, not thinking, I clicked on a picture that took me to the Balsam Hill website. Found these storage boxes...



I store ornaments in the largest Banker Boxes available - (similar in size and shape to the pictured box on the right). I think this year, I'd like to make these trays out of poster board to store my glass ornaments and my vintage Hallmark ornaments with and without boxes. I've done it before but the trays were too big, and they flexed too much when taking them out of the box. I like the idea of the side by side trays. Going to give it another try. Just need to figure out a way to make the box bottoms more rigid.

Lisa

My undecorating is done. I needed to finish before the January Sumo tournament started on TVJapan (cable) or I would put it off for two weeks.

My tree is about half Hallmark/half other, so it's definitely eclectic rather than themed. I store ornaments in plastic tubs and apple boxes. I start by pulling the Hallmark ornaments and putting them on my dining room table. I pull the other ornaments and cover every flat surface of my living and dining rooms with ornaments in the plastic tub lids. Then I match the Hallmark ornaments with their boxes (plastic inserts and tissue paper replaced with bubble wrap). Then I move the other ornaments to my dining room table, pack them, and put everything away.

I pull all of the ornaments at once because every year I count how many I have on the tree. One year, before I retired, I took photo of my tree to the office to show a co-worker, who asked me how many ornaments were on the tree. I told her I had no idea, but would count them when I took the tree down. After that, it turned into a contest - I took a photo of each year's tree to the office and let any of my co-workers who wanted to participate guess the total number or ornaments. Whomever came closest won a prize. So this year there were 447 ornaments on my tree (plus numerous others I used in displays, such as snowmen, pedal cars, and Christmas Windows not included in the tree count). And yes, I have two Sumo wrestler ornaments on my tree (but not the one sold at Hobby Lobby this year because I didn't care for it).

I discard original boxes (many of mine are 'converted' ornaments and didn't come in a box anyway) and use tissue paper or bubble-wrap and place ornaments in Sterilite clear storage boxes that are about 6 1/2 inches high. That depth limits the layers of ornaments I have to dig through and also allows me to slide it under a bed.

I found some great deals at Dollar General after Christmas. They had Ornament "boxes" made out of that same material as the inexpensive reusable shopping bags with cardboard supports and dividers. They were $2.50 each after discount. I got a very generous ltree storage bag for $5. I was able to put the tree as well as my Christmas pillows in it.

Once the ornament is displayed it never goes back into it's box unless the ornament is so fragile it won't last in bubble wrap. I flatten all the boxes and store them in tubs, with year dividers to make it easier to find the box when I decide to let go of the ornament.

The ornaments for each display go into a labeled tub(s) for that display. The ornaments get wrapped in bubble baggies.

Makes life so much easier to put up and take down. Have an hour or so, grab a tub for a small display. Have a 4+ hours, grab the tubs for a large display. No more total disasters in any room of the house while setting up or breaking it down.

I started a new thing this Christmas (by accident). All the new regular sized ornaments ended up getting put on two of the 12 days of Christmas metal trees, rather than putting them on the big tree. I really liked how that showcased the new ornaments (they didn't get lost in the hundreds or ornaments on a big tree). Next year they go on the big tree with all the other old ornaments and next year's new ornaments will be displayed on the two metal trees. I enjoyed the accident so much I plan to make it a regular part of my holiday decorating plan.

Is there any sound worse than that of a resin ornament hitting the floor?

Happened three times to me yesterday. Ugh. Need to find the glue and some touch up paint.

I took all the ornaments off the tree yesterday. I thought I had them all, but then had an idea... my tree was an 8 foot real one and the branches became incredibly droopy so it was hard to see under them. After I thought I had everything off the tree I started cutting the branches off the trunk one by one. Lo and behold there was about a dozen "filler" ornaments still on the tree and one strand of lights that I unstrung but had been hiding in the back in a bunch. LOL. The tree was super easy to get outside after taking the branches off. Haha. I could even move it myself. It made for one big mess though (lots of needles on the floor) but I may try this again another year... after I take the tree outside first so the needles don't need to be swept up. LOL.

Yes. A glass ornament hitting the floor. Glue and paint don't help either.

I dropped an Old World Christmas ornament last year, a favorite, train locomotive . . . . while decorating . . . was very surprised Steve & the kids replaced it for me when I opened that gift on Christmas Eve. Exact same style/colors.

Such is the risk with hardwood floors.

Didn't do a glass tree this year . . . but next time I do . . . I will load up underneath the tree with comforters & blankets while decorating and un-decorating.

Obviously not this year, Jack and I were watching TV in the family room in the basement when we heard a whoosh! and then crash! Our live Christmas tree in the living room directly above the family room had fallen because the trunk had become soft and the stand didn't hold it up. I lost my Dorothy ornament from my set of Enesco Wizard of Oz ornaments. I was able to replace it later at a good price. That may have been the last year we had a live tree but I'm not sure.

I'll miss having my tree up after I take it down this year but I'm sure it will be time to put it up again before I know it.

This year I dropped one of the little blue stars which came in the 8 pack of "candy" that Hallmark made a few years ago. Glass all over.

A couple of years ago, Chris Mouse fell down and hit Mrs. Snowlady by Radko and she was shattered. Chris was ok. Mrs. Snowlady was way too expensive to replace.

grandma Lise those boxes are pretty. I am looking at getting some more boxes for my figural and ball ornaments. I keep my Hallmark ornaments in their boxes, and yes even the plastic inserts, and store my other ornaments in storage boxes.

Marie

You are not the only one. I think I mentioned the same thing last year. I think it's because when you are decorating a tree you are more concerned with tying to find the right spot on the tree for the ornament plus you also want to finish decorating the tree so that you can admire it.
As for undecorating the tree I tend to take all the ornaments off the tree then put them back in their boxes. I just feel that the ornament will keep better in the box and the plastic tray that came with it, if it had one.
I also remove the batteries from the Magic Ornaments, so in case they leak the ornament doesn't get damaged. No wonder it takes me the bulk of the day to take down the tree.

Yes, one of my goals for this year is to reunite my ornaments with their original boxes. I've kept all plastic shells too. Some of the newer ornaments are just too fragile. My husband broke off the pennant on the 2003 Bugs the Barnstormer ornament http://www.hookedonhallmark.com/2003-Bugs-the-Barnstormer--MIB_p_29959.html while taking it off the tree when I had the flu. Easily replaced via Ebay, but it's always sad when an ornament breaks.

Lisa

I undecorated the same way. I enjoy taking my time.

Marie

Hi Marie, hope you are doing well. I missed your Merry Christmas thread as we were at WDW. I still think of you when we are in Canada @ EPCOT. Love hearing the various Santa's Around The World tell their traditions and Canadian, Norway and Germany are among my favorites "around the world".

I keep my Hallmark ornaments all in their original boxes. Don't want to mess with storing separately. IF I did that I'd go ahead and chunk the boxes and inserts in the trash.

That said . . . for my Disney Sketchbook . . . I bought the IRIS cube shaped boxes that have 4 levels of dividers . . . and each tray holds maybe 16, nope, had to leave two of the partitions out so doesn't hold near as many as I planned. Those little sections are smaller than they look and many ornaments just don't fit in them even when you just lightly wrap them in one sheet of tissue paper. But then the Disney boxes are either just plain ole white cardboard or brown, styrofoam inserts and vary greatly in size so just so bulky and what I threw all that out.