It's a {Green} Wrap!

I know that we are all trying to be as ecologically conscious as possible these days, but the Christmas season does tend to make that a little bit more difficult. It seems that "consuming" is the name of the game when it comes to Christmas...There is just so much waste from product packaging, to wrapping paper, to tissue, to ribbon, to gift bags, to gift tags and gift cards...it's a LOT to be throwing away on December 26th! But what can we do? Unwrapped gifts lack the elements of anticipation and surprise, so that's not an option for me, but neither is buying rolls of wrapping paper only to rip them up and throw them away! I have scoured the internet for the best wrapping ideas I could find, so that I could pass them along to all of you...Enjoy!

Once washed and turned inside out, chip bags make pretty wrapping paper...



Furoshiki is the Japanese art of wrapping presents with fabric. I would HIGHLY recommend checking out the link to learn more...You could use any fabric you have laying around the house, or incorporate the wrapping as part of the present..a silk scarf, a vintage handkerchief or a cashmere throw would all make sumptuous wrapping/present options.



Try sewing your own fabric gift bags using this simple tutorial...



Maps, especially vintage maps, make gorgeous wrapping paper...



Newspaper- especially the comics



If you have children, replacing wrapping paper with one of their prolific pieces of artwork will put it to good use...



Calendar pages make interesting wrapping material...




You could also use ornaments in place of bows...Why not try this tutorial to make a felt bow? I can be used year after year...and it's LOVELY!



I know it's extra work to wrap your presents in these ways, but it's WELL worth it...buying something for the sole purpose of throwing it away is soooooo 2001.