Gift-wrapping is a fun task during the stressful holiday months, but spending money on commercial wrapping paper that ends up in the trash (it can’t be recycled) is not. Here are five eco-friendly and creative ways to wrap a gift. Make sure to meet the shipping deadlines if you are mailing gifts this year. 1. Use newspaper – This one is an oldie but a goodie. I’m fond of wrapping gifts, especially books or children’s presents, in newspaper. Not only is newspaper inexpensive, but it can be recycled. You can also have fun picking the section you’ll use to wrap the gift. If it’s a present for a child try the comics. If the present is for a movie buff try the entertainment section. No need to buy a bow as you can create your own using the newspaper. The easiest one is to tie a bow the way you tie shoelaces. Just make sure it’s in a different color to make it pop.
2. Fabric gift wrap – This is a way to give two gifts in one. If you are giving someone a hostess gift like a bottle of wine, you can wrap the bottle in cloth napkins. Make sure you pay attention to your hostess kitchen décor so you can match the napkins to their style. A simple ribbon can be used to tie a bow and keep this eco-friendly wrap in place. Reusable bags are also a great alternative. Monogrammed handkerchiefs can also be used for wrapping and will give the gift a personal touch.
3. Plastic and foil wrap – Use plastic wrap to gift baked goods to friends and neighbors. I like to cover the tasty treat in plastic wrap first, then tissue paper so it looks festive but doesn’t show grease spots. If you are making a gift basket, use foil instead of cellophane to wrap the basket. The shiny foil, which can be recycled, looks pretty with bright ribbon. Keep in mind that an oddly shaped present will be hard to wrap in foil, but boxes or small presents work best.
4. Shoe boxes – If you like arts and craft, this wrapping technique is for you. Save a few cardboard shoe boxes (or buy them cheap at a craft store), and personalize them with paper, stamps, beads, and drawings. If appropriate, let your child decorate the box. The person who receives your gift can then use the box as a keepsake.
5. Tin containers – Another wrapping method is to use tin or glass containers to contain gifts. These can be found in craft stores and dollar stores. Some come with decorations. They can be used for baked goods, homemade gifts like body scrubs, a collection of small gifts, or for holding stocking fillers.
I have been using the colored Sunday comic section to wrap gifts of all occassions for both children and adults for over 20-years. Tacky? I guess that lies in the eyes of the beholder. Here’s what I’ve found. Everyone that has received a gift from me loved the gift. They couldn’t care less that I didn’t buy wrapping paper. In fact, many recipients liked to read the comic panels. I also save on name tags because everyone knows that gift came from me.
this is OK…if you know the person won’t be offended, by the cheap wrap…i would toss the gift, unless I knew the person was a recyler or poor. This is christmas time and we are celebrating important birth and time…please don’t give a tacky gift or wrap…just send or give a card.
I bought a whole bunch of the wrap your front door in foil things. They were on sale for 25 cents. You can wrap a lot of presents, sturdy and they are all very attractive.
Oh PLEAZZZZ William. This is a Bargain website. Plus its a unique and cute idea/gesture. Aren’t we all about being GREEN? ITS almost 2011! FYI, Christmas is about giving and not what you receive. Happy Holidays…..
I, too, vote against using newspaper for gift-wrapping, regardless of the occasion. Wrapping with traditional gift-wrap takes too long, so I vote for gift bags whenever possible. They’re inexpensive enough at 99 Cent Stores, particularly when you can get more than one for that price.
I agree with William. This isn’t a time to be super cheap, and wrapping can’t cost more than the change lying around in your couch and car cup holders. Everything’s a dollar at the dollar store! And be prepared for everyone to talk about you when your gone. I have family members that do this and it just feels like they don’t care that much about you, even if that’s not your intention. And believe you me, we all talk about how cheap it was when they leave, and we always say we wished they would have just given us a card instead.