Operation: Organize Greeting Cards

The finished product - 30 alphabetized categories with room to spare :)

I'm not sure if you'll remember, but about 3 weeks ago, Giant was having a great deal on their greeting cards (see that post here).  I posted about how I had stocked up once and was considering going to another store before the sale was over.  The deal was great, I did end up going to that second store!  3 hallmark greeting cards ($1.99 value each) for 40 cents total including tax was what I was going for!  I ended up buying 81 greeting cards for a total of $10.80.  Pretty awesome!  So then I had this huge stock pile of cards sitting around that I needed to organize.  Bring on my Type A organizational skills + getting off work 2 hours early today = We're ORGANIZED!  Here's how I did it:

Supplies Needed:

• Label Maker
• Paper cutter (optional, but makes it much quicker when cutting the dividers)
• Scissors 
• Pencil or Pen
• File folders (the thicker the better)  I used the ones I just picked up at Staples for 75% off (see that post here)
• Storage box (one tall enough that the cards will fit) I bought mine at Michaels last night.  It was $10.99, but I used a 20% off coupon and ended up only paying $8.80.
  Inventory list of categories for your greeting cards (for example: Thank you, Birthday, Graduation, etc...)
• Greeting Cards

How To:
First, write out a list of the categories for your cards.  Use the label maker to make those stickers and use the scissors to trim up your labels.  Then, measure out what size divider will fit in the box.  Make sure to account for the top closing if you have a top on yours.  Use one file folder to make the template divider.  Trace that pattern on to multiple file folders (however many categories you have plus 3-5 extras).  Use your paper cutter (or scissors) to cut the dividers.  Place the labels, in alphabetical order (or whatever order you choose), on the newly created divider tabs.  Make sure to stagger the divider tabs every other way so they are easier to sort through when looking for a category.  Place cards in their category and presto - you're done! 

Other items I'm storing in my greeting card box are small packs of thank you notes, return address labels and a glue stick (Ryan refuses to lick the glue on an envelope :).  I also used this same technique, just on a smaller scale, when building and organizing my Mega Coupon organizer.  I did that this past winter, and those dividers are still holding strong with daily use.  I think I'll have to replace them about once a year, but I can do that as long as I find cheap file folders :)  To see my coupon organizer, visit here.