Green Gift Wrapping
December 16, 2008 by Noel Boehm
Filed under Eco-Friendly
Now that you’ve got all the presents, what should you wrap them in? Planet Green has 12 Alternatives to wasteful wrapping paper. Check out the article here. I’m a big fan of using paper from the recycling bin just because it’s so easy. Also nice old pillowcases are great for larger gifts. The pillowcase can be re-purposed for…well pillows but odd pillowcases also make great dirty clothes bags when travelling. Butcher paper or craft paper I think is also cool because you can draw on it or write personal messages and it can be reused for the same or as something to color on for the kids. What do you prefer to use when wrapping gifts? Do you ever re-gift wrapping paper? Has anyone ever recognized their re-gifted wrapping and been offended? I’m actually pretty curious about that one!
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Image Via Oriental Trading
You may be sorry you asked, Noel!
I have used large brown supermarket paper bags turned inside out with the odd strip of wrapping paper used as a “ribbon” – you can loop thin strips to look like the real thing. Turned odd scraps of wrap or recycled Christmas cards into gift tags. I make earrings for my gal pals, so use repurposed greeting cards to hang them on, too.
Have reused tape-on bows, bags, tissue, and saved really beautiful, durable ribbon and paper for reuse. Have bought fabric ribbon from the clearance table for wrapping, and hope others reuse this. If the ribbon is really beautiful, you can often use just one wrap around, and a simple bow, Or just do a corner, diagonally.
A friend used to work at a Japanese department store, and taught me their technique, which involves wrapping on the diagonal. This uses less paper!
My nephews are getting books for Christmas, but they’ll also have the bonus hand-me-downs of my son’s model Porsche, Maserati and Lamborghini, wrapped in the Sunday newspaper comic sections marked “DO NOT OPEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS” – shhhh, don’t tell!
I’m also regifting by rewrapping and handing out cosmetic bags I don’t need, small leather goods, cologne and a photo album I didn’t care for, even a box of golf balls – as bingo prizes for my family Christmas Eve dinner. That cleaned off an entire shelf – again, please don’t tell!
Ya know, if folks recognized the paper, they never let on!
Soos I need to learn a few things from you. I want to know the wrapping on a diagonal trick! Plus I am definitely going to use the old cards as gift tags idea. Take note people!
Here’s a video – yes, EVERYTHING can now be found on YouTube! – on the how-to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26qnQNOGDjY This technique and repurposing cards both work better with good quality paper.
It’s counterintuitive that wrapping diagonally uses less paper, but it’s true! Estimating how much paper you need is the hardest part to figure out, but placing the box on the diagonal and pulling up the sides to see if all corners are covered is the best way to do this. The second hardest is to make sharp folds.
Supposedly, the best wrappers use only one piece of tape!
Your gift tags will look better if you cut them with a paper cutter or scissors that cut decorative edges.
Happy wrappin’, Noel!