Winter Lodge: Old Tools New Tricks

A cold winter day is the perfect time to get organized after the holidays!

Hosts Sunny Anderson, Marcela Valladolid and Jeff Mauro discuss organizational tips and tricks during a winter edition of the Old Tool, New Tricks segment, as seen on Food Network's The Kitchen, Season 11.

Ultimate Ornament Organizer:

Old Tool: Water bottles and plastic cups

New Trick: Ornament organizer

You will need:

Tape
Beaded garlands
Empty water bottles with caps
Scissors
Cardboard
Large plastic bin
Plastic party cups
Tree ornaments

Tape one end of each of your beaded garlands to the cap of a water bottle. (It's easier for you to remove it this way.)
Thread the other end of each garland into a water bottle.
Screw on the caps.
Cut out cardboard pieces the size of your plastic bin.
Tape plastic cups in rows along the cardboard pieces.
Place the garland bottles in the bin and place your ornaments in the plastic cups.
Stack on top of each other and put the lid on!

Wrapping Paper Storage:

Old Tool: Empty paper towel rolls and garment bag

New Trick: Wrapping paper storage

You will need:

Scissors
Empty paper towel rolls
Wrapping paper
Clear garment bag
Clothes hanger

Cut the paper towel rolls vertically (lengthwise).
Slide 2 paper towel rolls on each roll of wrapping paper (1 on each end).
Place the wrapping paper in a clear garment bag.
Hang the garment bag in a closet to safely store your wrapping paper year-round!

Holiday Lights Storage:

Old Tool: Clothes hanger and hose reel

New Trick: Holiday lights storage

You will need:

Indoor holiday lights
Clothes hanger
Outdoor holiday lights
Hose reel

Take one end of your indoor lights and tie it in around the end of a clothes hanger.
Start wrapping the lights around the hanger in a circular motion, covering the whole hanger (2 strands of lights usually fit!).
Hang the lights in the garage.
Secure one end of your outdoor lights to the center of an empty hose reel.
Start spinning the hose reel until all of your outdoor lights are neatly wrapped up.

Ribbon Organizer:

Old Tool: Basket and ribbon

New Trick: Ribbon organizer

You will need:

Thin wooden rods
Baskets or bins with holes
Various spools of ribbon

Find wooden rods at your local craft store (ones that fit inside the holes of the baskets you're using).
Put ribbon spools on each wooden rod.
Place the ends of the wooden rods through the holes of your baskets on opposite ends (2 rods should fit per basket).
Thread each ribbon through the basket hole in front of it and pull.
When ready to use, just pull as much ribbon as you need and cut!

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