Use amazing wrap that doubles as a gift or that doubles as a reusable wrap option. For example, ChicoBags, shown above make lovely wrap AND then your gift recipient will have an awesome reusable bag to use for groceries! See how to wrap a gift in a ChicoBag. You can also use reusable food containers, baskets, and more. See below for other reusable gift wrap options.

1. Modern Twist hide boxes
2. Furoshiki Silk Wrap
3. Gel-Cool Bento Box, Polar Bear
4. Bobo Wrapping Scarf – many colors available.
5. Lucky Crow Reusable Gift Bags, Organic Print, Crop Circles
6. Lucky Crow Reusable Gift Bags, Sock Monkey
7. Driftwood Basket
8. To-Go Ware – 2-Tier Stainless Steel Food Carrier

Use last year’s wrap or buy recycled wrapping paper.

Use the comics, recycled magazine pages, old construction paper your kids drew on and so on instead of new paper.

Top gifts off with cool DIY  gift bows made with recycled magazines. You can also use pine cones, leaves, evergreen branches, or other found nature items instead of paper bows. Or look for natural yarn or organic ribbon.

Make recycled paper gift tags, write directly on the gift with a non-leak-through pen, or get some plantable paper gift tags.

Don’t forget, no matter what wrap you use, reuse it or recycle it after the holidays.

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Wrap a greener gift

Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• 6 or 8 inch styrofoam cube
• Assorted scrapbook paper in black and white print (I used black, silver and white and it came out great)
• If you have wrapping paper around, you can use it instead of scrapbook paper
• A wide putt knife
• Circle punches ¼ inch; 5/8 inch; 1 inch (optional)
• Card stock in black and white (optional)
• A household sponge
• three glass votive holder with candles
• A pencil
• a ruler
• Scissors
• Paper paste (Elmer’s works well)

Cut six 8 inch paper squares from you scrapbook or wrapping paper. If you wish, you can create patterned paper on the solid cardstock by cutting or punching holes out of a contrasting cardstock.

Using the putty knife, spread a thin layer of past on one side of the foam cube and on the back of one of the paper squares. Make sure to spread the paste all the way to the edges. Adhere the paper to the foam smoothing with your fingers until the paper starts to stick.

Repeat this process on all six sides of the cube. You may need to let each side dry a little bit before working on the next side. If the paper is too wet, it may slide while you’re working on another side. After all of the sides dry, wipe the cube with a damp sponge to remove any excess paste.

When the cube is thoroughly dry, place the votive cups and candles on top. Remember, never leave candles burning unattended.  Enjoy!

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Candle Cube

Image: sxc.hu

Utlizing various “found” items around the home kept our arts and crafts activities relatively inexpensive, yet lots of fun.  Some of these involved using the wrapping paper I saved.

I’ve written about these activities in my Blisstree Arts and Crafts posts and one of my readers also has offered suggestions.  You may want to check them out for those times you need creative activities for your youngsters.

Crafting with Wrapping Paper

More Wrapping Paper Craft Ideas

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Wrapping Paper Crafts for Kids

Image: sxc.hu

You can use wrapping paper if not so wrinkled in scrapbooking for Christmas or birthday pages, especially those on big gift boxes that hold sweaters or coats. You can get a good12 X 12 piece or use them in strips of different sizes.

This sounds like a great idea and I’m sure scrapbookers and collage makers will enjoy trying this.  It’s something youngsters would find fun, too.

With so many different types of wrapping paper nowadays – flowers, animals, happy faces, geometric designs, movie characters, stripes - you have a multitude of activities you and your children can explore.  These can encompass paper plate creations, collages, scrapbooking, decoupage, altered books, and journals.

What other creative ideas do you have using wrapping paper?

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More Wrapping Paper Craft Ideas

It’s official! The gift wrap wonderland has arrived at The Container Store. In addition to this, if you spend $100 or more on stocking stuffers, you can get free shipping from now until November 4th.

Don’t forget to get your gift wrapping center organized!

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The Container Store’s Gift Wrap Wonderland