Slightly OT - what to do with nice jewelry gift boxes?

Janet

Silly question, perhaps, but I'm wondering what others do with nice jewelry gift packaging. I'm talking about good, solid hinged boxes, not just the cardboard outer boxes (those i recycle). Do you keep? I have a small stash in our basement storage room and would love to free up the space, but am loathe to just throw nice boxes in the trash. Any ideas?

10 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Staysfit

unfrumped

Veteran

I feel your pain, because I have kind of a container fetish and love little boxes and jars and such, plus I have my crafty- wannabe side that says, one day I will make.....

Are they labelled with brand or store names, or plain? A good way to deal with such items is to foist them onto someone else. I try to put other small gift items, even gift cards, in decorative containers if I've got them. This doesn't work so well if your box says Cartier, though, unless you're inspired to paint or decorate over.
Beyond that, it's either the rummage sale ( someone else may have crafty ideas) or the dustbin.

10 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Recycle them for gifts of jewelry that didn't come in as nice a box (as long as they aren't logoed for a store.) I have a little stash of them, more than I need for that purpose, though.

10 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Errr, mine are in the same storage space with me wondering what to do with them.

10 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Maybe someone on Etsy could use them to repurpose into new cloth covered boxes, etc.

10 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with one of these little stashes! The ones I've kept actually are pretty recognizable with logos, so not so great for reusing to wrap gifts (unless I want to fake someone out that I bought them something from Tiffany's, etc.). I know I won't be bothered to ever do anything crafty with them (I just gave away a whole box of beading supplies from 20 years ago for that reason!). For now, I put them back in the cupboard. I welcome more suggestions!

10 years ago

jenanded

Veteran

I just keep the ones for specific pieces of good jewellery like my engagement ring etc. I know this sounds very un-pc but unless someone else could use them like a craftsperson, I do toss them. I really don't have the answer for this conundrum of dealing with the don't waste upbringing, me directly putting it in bin and going to landfill, or having a charity spend millions of dollars to sort through everyone's rubbish before often sending it to landfill. So we come back to asking for no packaging when we buy. Funnily enough shoe stores are about the only shops which are happy for you not to take with the product and the cardboard boxes are probably more friendly.

10 years ago

Anonymous

I toss mine.

Happy New Year, Janet!!!!!

10 years ago

Anonymous

I'm ruthless and save nothing anymore. Except for an inexplicably large collection of makeup bags of all sizes. My mother has trained me to operate on the " don't want anyone to have to sort through years of useless crap in my house when they come to take me out of it" plan.

10 years ago

deb

Veteran

Give them to the kids or grandkids. They love little boxes. Or donate to a daycare center.

10 years ago

Zibbets

Veteran

Kids who make jewelry would think it was fun to have boxes like that to give their gifts in. Is there a "make your own art" kind of place near you? You could give or sell them to a place like that.

10 years ago

carter

Veteran

Mine live in the safe. They store items I don't wear daily and hold everything when we travel (I don't travel with any real jewelry).

10 years ago

Dimity

Active Member

If yours is investment jewellery, then you might want to consider holding onto the boxes because if you or your heirs are ever auctioning off your jewellery, you will find that having the manufacturer's box and even receipts and letters or cards that were given/received at the time of purchase will increase the auction estimates and aid in asserting provenance.

Otherwise, I love what Lisa says, given that I face cleaning out a house with 50-odd years of accumulated stuff when my parents go. I don't want my kids to have to deal with that just because I didn't. There are lots of people who might get a kick out of the boxes in a charity shop.

10 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I use mine to transport jewelry back and forth to the gym. I load up whatever rings, necklaces, or earrings I'm going to wear and toss the boxes into my gym bag. Then when I get dressed, they are easy to find and my jewelry doesn't get lost. i also bring one with me when I get my hair cut to hold my earrings in my purse.

10 years ago

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