Tangle-free Jewlery Packing Techniques for Travel

You have reached your final destination.  Vacation time!  Dinner out? Drinks? Time to get "did up" for your night out. Only problem is, your jewelry has more knots in it than that blanket your grandma crocheted you!  Grrr!  Now you will spend more untangling your jewelry than you will enjoying your vacation.  We've all been there!

Here are some fool-proof tricks that will put an end to your battle with tangled jewelry the next time you travel.  Trust me!  I just returned from Memphis and used some these ideas with my jewelry.  I was amazed, and you will be too!

The Straw

In my opinion, this is the coolest tangle-free trick! It's so simple I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner. Basically, you string the chain from the necklace place you are packing through a straw and fasten the clasp. That's it! I liked the way the bendy straws worked the best because they fit in my travel bag better, but it's all a matter of preference and what you have laying around. By the way, you can also use toilet paper rolls in the same manner for chunkier jewelry. You can also try this technique to create a tangle-free jewelry box.

The Index Card

By poking small holes in an index card then sticking your earrings through those holes, you can keep track of all the earrings you travel with. This is a great way not to lose small stud earrings, but it also keeps dangly earring from becoming tangled. After I put my earrings in the index cards I  placed the index cards in a plastic sandwich bag.  If are concerned about your hooked-back earrings falling out of the card simply place a small piece of tape over the backs.  Perfect! 

Roll it Up

I found rolling my chunkier necklace took up less of my precious suitcase space than using toilet paper rolls. You can also use this technique for necklaces with thinner chains instead of the straws. I have found that the rolling technique is the best option for bracelets. All you need is a soft cloth (I recycled an old undershirt that no longer fit my daughter).

To preform this technique, place your first piece of jewelry towards the end of you cloth. Start to Roll the cloth over the jewelry about 2 time, making sure the piece is completely covered. 

 Then place the next piece of jewelry on the cloth next to the end of your last fold. Since both of the pieces that I was packing in this picture had bigger pendents on them, I placed the next piece with the pendent laying on the opposite side of the cloth as the previous necklace.  Begin to roll the cloth again, making sure the piece is covered.  Repeat this until the cloth is filled up.  Fold the full cloth in half and then place it in a sandwich bag or securely tuck it in your suitcase.

 



These jewelry packing ideas saved me a lot of time and frustration on my last vacation.  I was also thinking, these techniques would be helpful when packing up for a  move. Do you have any tips to share that you use when packing your jewelry?  How did my tips work for you?  I love your feedback!

Tip of the Week: Gift Tote

In my opinion, There is nothing better than clearance shopping the week after Christmas for some of next years gifts. Since I am so frugal (boarding down right cheap) there is a certain rush I get from buying a $10 item for $2.50! But now, what do you do with these awesome bargains for the next 364 days? Start a gift tote! This is a great way to keep inventory of the gifts you already have and gifts you still need. You can also dig into the tote through out the year for birthdays and other occasions that require a last minute gift. (Thanks to my dad for this wonderful idea!)

Tip of the Week: The Craft Box

Any mom knows that crafts are a great rainy/snowy day idea. Crafts will keep the kids busy while keeping mom sane! But, how do you keep the crafty stuff organized? If your like me, there is a TON of it. I've "tackled" my crafty mess with a tackle box! It's perfect! There are plenty of nook and slots to keep everything accessable and within hands reach. Plus, the tackle box stacks wonderfully in any closet or storage area. So go organize those craft supplies! Let me know what other messes you've tackled with your tackle boxes! Skies the limit....

Polishing Silver... A Thing of the Past?!

When my daughter received her Holy First Communion earlier in this year, I found the cross I received from my parents when I celebrated my First Communion. Because I'm such a crafty chick, I decided to do something a little different. A hand-made rosary, using the cross from my Communion. But... The cross looked nasty!  The silver was totally black when I took it out. I tried to polish it with  a white cloth but nothing came off. I don't have any experience with polishing silver, I was stumped!

I called my grandma later that week just to say "hi". Some where in that conversation I mentioned the tarnish issue I was having. Then, she gave me very cool advice on how to clean any silver. I'm not a chemist, so I'm not really sure how it works, but it does and it so easy!!  These are the directions she gave me:

Here's what you need

Glass bowl

Aluminum foil

Baking soda

Boiling water

Toothbrush ( for cleaning the tight spots)

White cotton rag 

What to do

Line the glass bowl with aluminum foil. Then put your silver in the bowl lined with foil. Bring about a cup of water to a boil. While the water is heating up, sprinkle baking soda over the silver. Make sure the silver is covered with the baking soda. Now, pour the boiling water into the bowl. Let it set until the water is cooled, moving & flipping the silver every so often. After the water is cooled off, you can use the toothbrush to remove any debris from tight corners. Then, just buff it spotless with the white cotton rag. 

Some sort of chemical reaction takes place. You will see small bubbles appear on the silver. The reaction also gives  off a sulfur odor. I have only used this on my jewelry, but I imagine it would make polishing a set of silver utensils a breeze!