I watched an ad recently where the recipient ripped open their carefully wrapped present to get to the item underneath. I winced, I really did. It seems crazy in todays day, that so many people are still doing this at gift giving time. Sigh… what an incredible waste of paper.
I’ve written about this once or twice before, but here are some wrapping ideas for the festive time of year, (or any old time of year.)
Top 10 eco friendly gift wrap ideas
old maps– I would imagine with technology jumping ahead maps might be a thing of the past in times to come. (I’m still using my old atlas that I saved from the rain on the side of the road.)
newspaper– be selective on your pages used, you can make it look good!
children’s art– if you have a little one at pre-school or just a pint sized Picasso, you may be swimming in craft and paintings- share the love, the grandparents will adore it.
fabric– retro fabrics, tea towels, scarves… the choices are endless. The art of wrapping with fabric goes by the lovely name of furoshiki and you can learn how to do it with these step by step instructions here.
old movie or music posters
how about crocheting a gift bag
chocolate wrappers– yep chocolate wrappers.
maybe a recycled box
or ditch the wrapping altogether and just go with a lovely reusable ribbon and handmade card.
There is no need for sticky tape for any of these options. Wool makes a great pull-it-together-and-make-it-look-pretty gift giving addition if you need to hold things in.
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* for more furoshiki instructions, see here.
How about you? Any green tinged wrapping ideas to share?
cityhippyfarmgirl 
Some lovely ideas Brydie. A challenge to be creative this Christmas!
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You can do it Richard, I know you can!
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Good tips…although I might be disappointed to get one wrapped in a chocolate bar and discover there was no chocolate inside. 🙂
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ah yes Karen but the chocolate could be under the map wrapping instead.
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You are so funny…I would do something like that. 🙂
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I love these tips Brydie. This year I’m using the very last bits of wrapping paper then I’m in.
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I’ve used tablecloths (vintage) and napkins- paper and cloth- one year I used bark from a sycamore tree that curled up right around the gift. I’ve used large green leaves from my hosta plants and parchment paper from the kitchen cabinet. I’ve used crocheted and paper doilies, and re- used boxes that wine came in as well as cigar boxes. Last year I knitted red wool bags with white fluffy tops to look like small santa bags. I’ve used Christmas stockings and fancy small pillowcases. l once made up a pine and fir centerpiece and placed my gift at the center. I like the wrapping and the presentation to be part of the gift.
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Heidi I love every one of these things that you’ve done…clever lady. What do you think you’ll do for this year?
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This year I found a great (HUGE) hinged box that is covered with old newsprint.
I’m filling it with all kinds of wonderful gastronomical and gourmet items and tying it up with a big bow. Once it is opened there will be plenty of goodies for everyone! Everyone can take what they want- so I only have one box to deal with and the box will then be gifted to my sister who collects hinged boxes.
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I love the look of the map!
When I was a kid my mum used to get butchers paper and we would decorate it for wrapping paper. I think I have also used newspaper!
Some great ides.
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Reanna we always had butchers paper as well as a kid. Always a huge roll that would last for ever and ever…can you still buy it in a roll??
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Fabulous tips thanks Brydie! Love the idea of Furoshiki – two gifts in one!
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It’s pretty darn easy isn’t it, and so many fabric ideas to use too.
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Great ideas Brydie. Haha, I was one of those kids who carefully unwrapped each present also, saving the ribbon and paper whilst taking pains not to rip the paper whilst dislodging the sticky tape! Eco girls unite! LOVE the furoshiki idea. I might use the tea towel variation for some of my girlfriends this Christmas… there are never enough in the house! We also consume a lot of locally made Bahen & Co chocolate in our household, website here http://www.bahenchocolate.com/, which already has the most beautiful paper. I save each one and I’ve stuck a few together to use for Christmas presents this year. Great minds think alike (I think you’d love Bahen and Co, it’s deliciously dark!) xxx
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Laura I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again any time you want a chat over a coffee I’m free! (meet in Alice?) I was always painfully slow as well as a kid. “Just rip it!”…”Noooo!”
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Huzzah! You’re right, that chocolate companies wrappers are gorgeous!
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Brydie ~I still cringe about a Xmas when a wise friend ‘played’ Santa! All matters seemed to go so well untill a lady friend whispered in a tone but heard: ‘That is not the way’ . . . seeing my two daugthers ripping the paper off predictable presents at an almost record speed!! Methinks ten minutes after they barely knew what the gifts were and from whom!! We live ~ hopefully we learn!!
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Erin I gringe with you… What, oh what are we teaching our kids?!
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Great ideas Brydie, I especially like the maps x
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Thanks Jane 🙂
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Wise words. Another careful unwrapper and re-user here. One year I made fabric bags for presents and half the people gave them back so I could use them again. Newspaper is excellent for large presents.
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Wonderful Anne. I love the idea of bags that are given back.
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I’m trying to be more creative with my wrapping but years ago I bought rolls and rolls and rolls of wrap and clear cellophane from a wholesaler and I’m still using them up – it would seem a travesty to be wasteful and not use them! xx
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Oh dear, I am definitely guilty of being in the paper wasting category I’m afraid. I need to try harder and follow your suggestions here!
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You really made me think Brydie…I so love wrapping with beautiful paper and twines but the options above are so beautiful. I am going to use up my paper stock and then get a bit more creative and responsible about it!!
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Last one’s the best…”to all friends and family, make sure you didn’t eat the chockie first ok?” 😉
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I actually love ripping into the paper. As a child in a very poor family, we were made to unwrap oh-so-carefully so my mom could reuse the paper. I don’t buy expensive paper and have used brown paper in the past and twine for ribbon. When given a gift, I always reuse the ribbon!
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Great post, I often use newspaper or find cool pictures in magazine for making wrapping paper. But I also keep all the paper from presents to reuse the following year – its probably a bit frugal but it saves money and the environment.
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I’m one of those slow slow unwrapper and always reuse the paper. Love your tips they are all great but I’m partial to Crocheting and sewing gift bags 🙂 love the map tied with yarn beautiful!.
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Totally digging the maps idea. I would think an old encyclopedia or dictionary for the literary minded. Or carving out pages of an old book to put their treasures inside. I saw this really great art where the person used the edges of a book folded to create words in a particular font.
This year we had a really special family celebration and I want commerate with a picture for everyone. I think I might make the top cover hold the picture and then use the pages to spell out love or family or the like.
Loved your ideas, Thanks for sharing!
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Love your gift wrapping ideas, especially the maps, which I’ve still not managed to do. But my chocolate wrappers are in constant use now and never get thrown away thanks to you – at least not until they are ripped of whatever they are hiding.
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Love the fabric and furoshiki ideas. Doileys, teatowels and scraps of fabric all look fabulous
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I have never thought of gift wrapping that way! eco-friendly and beautiful too!
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