I think because I haven't finished my advice on moving, I have been cursed by the powers that be. I am having to move ... Again. And so let us continue. It is important to pack the non-essential items first and so I begin with the knick knacks and the smaller wall hangings. Grab one of your smaller moving boxes that you've collected. If your box has been flattened, you will tape the bottom across the open seam and then criss cross the other way. Come up the sides of your box a ways to assure sturdiness.
Start with a larger knick knack item such as a clock, or two large-ish items, wrapping them in a towel and placing in the center of you box. Use the rest of the space for smaller items. Wrap each item in newspaper or whatever packing material you have. Knick knacks are susceptible to breakage so wrap everything separately with the larger items on the bottom.
I can double darn guarantee you that if you pack a heavy item (such as marble) with a fragile light item, the light item will get crushed and broken. I can also guarantee broken glass in picture frames if you pack frames that have glass in them with anything else. Be sure and go through the house finding anything small and pack the box full-it's better if it's jammed full so that things can't shift around.
A great way to pack up and keep safe your delicate, breakable items is to use small boxes like soap boxes or jello boxes. You wrap your fragile item and put it in a small cardboard box and then put that in your packing box. According to the number of knick knacks and small wall hangings you have chosen to keep, you will end up with several small boxes which you've taped shut and labeled: knick knacks living room ... And knick knacks family room, etc.
There are a couple of different ideas I have for where to keep the boxes preparatory to moving day. If you have a garage that you don't need to use, you could stack the boxes there. However if you live in an area where there are bugs in the garage, there's the possibility they will get into your boxes and you will move them to your new home. Another place to stack them is in a corner of your dining room or family room. I like to stack them to the height of the dolly that the guys will be using.
