There are lots of ways to wrap up your gifts with out buying traditional wrapping paper.
Here are a few ideas for you:
- Buy wrapping paper made from recycled materials aim for something that has at least 80% PCW (post consumer waste.) Remember if they don’t tell you the percentage you are either being duped or its a very low percent so that they can claim that the product is green.
- Use the paper bags from the grocery store.
- Use old newspaper (not just the comics) and then recycle it when done.
- Use a wrapping scarf. Check out this website for more information and tutorials. (Here for my Japanese readers)
- Make and use your own cloth bags. This is what I’ve done for the past few years.
I have two sets, one that I reuse for family from year to year, and another that I use for friends that they can keep.
The family set is lined and a little more sturdy. However the friends set is just one layer thick and made out of a pre-cut set of fabric I found. I just made a bag with an open top and then sewed a ribbon on the back to tie it closed. Check them out:
Cooper liked them so much he tried to steal one….
Thanks for the great ideas!
i make fabric bags for ALL gifts being sent in the mail (too many to count). paper gets all mushed and you cant put beautiful ribbons because they will be ugly when it gets there. fabric always looks great!
and of course, green!
I love the fabric bags! We mail a lot of gifts and the “The Thrify Ba” is so right; the paper always get mushed! I’ll have to make some of these this year…maybe using some recycled fabrics 🙂
I come from a family of hoarders, so we always used the last years paper and bags, carefully folder and put away the year before. I think presents look great wrapped in newspaper too, tied up with twine. Very rustic!
Love the fabric bags! I have a set of really nice fabric bags that I bought from a non-profit organization. The bags were made by women from the poor areas of India and would sell them through the NPO’s. They are the loveliest bags I own and I love to reuse them all the time 🙂
LOL! Cooper wants his Christmas present early! I do like the commeneter Zoe does, use the previous years paper and bags.