Are you done with your holiday gift wrapping? If you're like me then you might have a few more gifts to go. And if you're like me...wrapping paper makes you angry.
Hear me out. Trees are chopped to create wrapping paper that's just ripped apart, and usually throw away (hopefully recycled), or tossed into the woodstove (if you're Alaskan like that). Am I insane? Maybe. But really, it does bug me. It just seems so wasteful.
For the last several years I've said NO! I won't participate! Over the course of the year, I save all that brown and beige packing paper (I was especially excited to see the green one!) that comes in shipped packages. You know, when you buy stuff from Amazon or online, it's usually packed in some sort of paper. It makes wonderful wrapping paper and it's getting a second life! Upcycled, green, and totally timeless don't you think? Plus, it seriously costs nothing. The only thing I bought to wrap these these gifts was the twine. It's like $0.75 at my grocery store. Oh, and Scotch tape.
Here are some examples of how I wrap and decorate my gifts:
- First, who says you need a box? I often just wrap the presents themselves in the paper. No box? No problem!
- Tie gifts with inexpensive jute, raffia, or twine.
- Create a snowflake from paper you need to recycle to adorn the gifts. Bonus points if you make the snowflakes with your kids (or husband)!
- Tie in a little spruce twig from a tree outside. Just a little pruning will do. Don't lop off an entire arm, the poor thing. Or if you have holly, that would be really lovely. We don't have holly up here in Alaska. Sad face.
- Tie in a fabric ribbon you inherited from last year's gifts.
- If you must have some sparkle to your gifts, add a few gold curling ribbons.
- Finally, instead of making wasteful tags for each gift, I just write the recipients name on the package itself. You can use a regular ol' pen or a fancy, gold sparkly one like I have! I like to draw little snowflakes or hearts on the gift wrapping sometimes too.
Pretty, huh? You're sophisticated gifts will stand out from the busy and chaotic holiday prints under the tree. And don't forget to recycle all that paper!
Wishing you peace and kindness this holiday season,
Katie
