How to Use Eco-Friendly Materials to Wrap a Present

Use leftover wallpaper to wrap your gifts.

Everyone loves giving gifts, but gift wrap and decorations can get expensive. Some kinds of gift wrap and any kind of tape are not recyclable, so the holidays are a good time to go green and look for eco-friendly gift wrapping options. Add a thoughtful touch to any gift by reusing everyday items to make imaginative and decorative gift wrap and embellishments that won't end up being thrown away.

Things You'll Need

• Tins
• Hat boxes
• Cigar boxes
• Paper bags
• Pens
• Stencil set
• String
• Yarn
• Pinecones
• Holly berries
• Fabric
• Wallpaper

Instructions

1. Reuse hat boxes, tins or wooden cigar boxes as containers for presents. You can also reuse gift boxes provided by retailers -- these are often sturdy, beautiful and classy. Attractive reusable containers don't need to be wrapped -- just tie a length of reused ribbon around the gift.

2. Reuse paper grocery bags, wallpaper, maps and pages from magazines as wrapping paper. Cut bags open and turn inside out if the bag is printed with a logo you don't want to include on wrapping. Use stencils or colored pens to create your own wrapping paper on paper grocery bags.

3. Wrap gifts in reusable items. You can wrap a gift in a square of fabric and tie the corners to secure gift. The recipient can reuse the fabric. Place small gifts inside larger items -- for example, put gardening tools inside a large metal watering can. Use towels, scarves or blankets as wrapping for beautiful gifts that are functional and eco-friendly.

4. Tie gifts with bows of reused string, yarn, twine or raffia. This eliminates the need for tape and means if you do use paper to wrap your gift it will be recyclable.

5. Embellish your gifts with objects you find outdoors. Go for a walk and pick up pinecones, holly berries, leaves or other beautiful natural objects. Attach objects to the top of the gift with string, yarn, twine or raffia.

6. Use coasters, postcards and wrapping paper to make gift cards. Write your message on the back of the coaster or postcard. Use a hole punch to make a hole in the top of the coaster or card and attach to gift with twine or raffia.

Tips & Warnings

• Have fun

• No warnings.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Christmas Crafts: Homemade Wrapping Paper
• Earth Easy: Gift Wrapping Alternatives
• Gaiam Life: Top 10 Green Gift Wrap Ideas

Resources

• Furoshiki: Basic Wrap