How to Wrap Gifts Without Using Expensive Gift Wrap

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By Terria Fleming
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discarded Christmas gift wrappings

Gift wrap is an expensive part of any special occasion, as well as being a huge waste of our earths resources. As a person who believes strongly in recycling and reusing, the terrible amount of gift wrap waste after holidays and birthdays really bothers me. So here are some ideas for other, greener, ways to wrap your gifts.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Various materials and containers

Step 1

reuse this gift wrap

I'll start with an easy way to avoid gift wrapping waste, and that is to save, and reuse, every piece of gift wrap, ribbon, and package decoration that comes your way. If the pieces are too small you can "piece" different kind of gift wrappings together in a kind of "crazy quilt" fashion that is really pretty.

The same thing applies to any gift basket, gift bag, or other gift container that you receive, if you have no further use for it, save it to wrap a gift for someone else down the line.

Gift bags pass back and forth between members of my family for years in just this way, and we all feel good about reusing these pretty bags. Not only do we save money, but we save time spent shopping, and the resources it takes to make a new bag as well.
Step 2

I sometimes cut up pretty shopping bags and use them as gift wrapping. Both paper or plastic shopping bags can be used to wrap your gift. Use your prettiest and most unusual shopping bags from your favorite stores for this gift wrap idea.
Step 3

Chinese language, or other foreign language, newspapers make a striking and unusual gift wrap. Decorate the wrapped gift with a pair of chopsticks or other Asian looking decorations if you want to add even more "oomp" to this gift wrap idea.

Another idea is to use old maps to wrap gifts in, or old sheet music. If they aren't big enough for your gift, you can piece them together.
Make sure you don't use any vintage or collectible maps or sheet music for wrapping other gifts, as some people collect them.

Use the comic strips from the newspaper, or use crossword puzzles to wrap small gifts in.
Step 4

A pretty scarf makes a lovely gift wrap, fasten together with a safety pin, or an old costume jewelry pin.

Along this same line, diapers can be used to wrap baby presents in, or baby blankets for a bigger item

A nice pillowcase, sheet, or tablecloth may also be used to wrap a present, and is a part of the gift the recipient can also use.

Another idea is to take a piece of fabric, of any material from fleece, to silk and satin. Fasten with safety pins.

Kitchen towels or bath towels are also a good thing to wrap your gift in. Especially for kitchen or bath type presents.

Wrap your camping or backpacking type gift in a space blanket for a fun look that can also be used by the sports person later on.
Step 5

An empty sewing box or fishing box can hold your gift, then continue to be of use later on.

An oven mitt can be filled with kitchen utensils or fancy foods for a nice gift wrap idea.

Use pretty baskets, buckets, boxes, jars, and other containers for your gifts.
Step 6

Another idea is to give a gift that needs no wrapping. Ideas include tickets to some event, money, and the like. Gift cards are along this line, as they need no wrapping either. The gift of your time is another gift that is special yet needs no wrapping. A promise to babysit for a busy couple or prepare meals for a new mother are examples of this kind of gift.