KnickKnacks & PaddyWacks

RECYCLED WRAPS
Choose wrap that can be recycled. Don't use plastics, foil paper, mylar ribbons, or any other materials that cannot be recycled.

Use removable tape that doesn't stick to the paper, so wrap can be easily removed and reused. If you aren't familiar with this tape, the adhesive is like a sticky note, but on a strip of tape. It holds well, and can be removed.

Use decorative gift bags and boxes. These can be used over and over again. Gift bags and boxes come in all colors and styles, and are well worth in investment in saved wrapping paper. Look for bags and boxes made from recycled paper.

To make your own gift bags, save small shopping bags with handles. Paste cutouts from greeting cards, or pictures cut from magazines over the store logo and reuse as a gift bag.

"Wrap" gifts in containers that can have their own reusable purpose. Cookie jars, storage jars, baskets, wooden boxes, buckets, jewelry boxes, flower pots, or any other reusable container can be a "gift box". Be creative. See if you can match the wrap with the gift, such as a cooking-oriented gift wrapped in a kitchen towel. Look for inexpensive containers at thrift stores and garage sales.

Make your own recycled paper and boxes. Decorative paper and even boxes can be made from recycled paper you make yourself. Check your local craft store for books with ideas and instructions - they may even have classes.

Buy recycled paper. Look for cards, wrapping paper and gift tags that are made from recycled paper with high % of post comsumer content.

Reuse interesting papers. Newspaper and magazine pages are the obvious choice, but you could also use old maps or posters or expired calendar pages. Choose pages that are colorful or with interesting pictures. You can also match the paper to the recipient, such as comics for children, cooking pages for cooks, gardening pages for gardeners, etc. In this way, the wrap becomes more personal than generic store bought wrap.

Use aluminum foil. This shiny wrap can be recycled! Use actual kitchen foil, not foil-coated paper, which cannot be recycled.

Make your own decorative wrap from brown paper grocery bags. Use the whole bag turned inside out, or cut down one side, then around all four sides of the bottom to make a sheet of paper. Put designs on the brown side using rubber stamps, stamp with designs cut from a sponge or a potato, or stamp paper with leaves or fruit or vegetable slices dipped in nontoxic paint. Draw freehand with felt-tip markers or paste pictures from magazines or greeting cards.

Use cloth or fabric. This can be reused by the receiver or can form part of the present. Consider pillowcases, socks, scarves, bandanas, and handkerchiefs. Look for remnants at local fabric store. They are inexpensive and you'll be giving a good use to material that is too small to be used to make clothing. If you have a sewing machine or can borrow one, make drawstring gift bags that can be used over and over. In fact, an assortment of fabric gift bags in different sizes and colors would make a great gift.

Be prepared to save wrap. Before opening your gifts, have bags or boxes ready to collect gift boxes, tissue paper and decorative bows to use again.

GIFT TAGS
Keep in mind that the purpose of gift tags is to identify who the gift is for and who it is from, then be creative!

Write directly on the wrapping paper with a black or colored marker.
Make your own tags: Cut old cards with pinking shears, punch a hole in the corner, and tie together with string. Write the name and a little note on the back.
Recycle your office scratch paper. If you have a computer and printer, write the names of the recipient and sender in holiday type and print out on the backs of paper being saved for "scratch paper". Glue tags directly to wrap with a glue stick.

RIBBONS, BOWS, AND PACKAGE DECORATIONS
According to the Use Less Stuff Report, if every household reused just two feet of ribbon each year, the resulting 38,000 miles of ribbon could tie a bow around the Earth.

Most commercial ribbons are made from plastics that are not biodegradable and cannot be recycled. Here are some ideas for more natural ribbons and bows:
natural raffia (available at craft stores)
natural fiber yarns
natural fiber fabrics can be cut into strips with pinking shears to make attractive ribbons and bows. Fabric remnants are inexpensive. Cotton holiday fabrics are usually on sale after the holidays, so you can stock up for very little money.
When you receive ribbons and bows from others made from materials that can't be recycled, save them for reuse. If you think it may seem incongruous to a recipient when you pass what will seem to be a new artificial ribbon or bow on to a recipient next year, you could attach a little tag that says "recycled!" just to be clear.

For package decorations, use natural materials such as evergreen twigs, holly sprigs, and pinecones.

http://www.worldwise.com/giftwrap.html