Comments on: Holiday Wrapping Without Paper

By: frugalmom

frugalmom — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:57:00 +0000

I have made some gift bags out of Christmas fabric with drawstrings. They can be reused over and over.

By: Shana

Shana — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:17:00 +0000

Why not use sturdy, lidded gift boxes (not like cheap shirt boxes from department stores)? I love lidded boxes, and they can easily be reused over and over, as can the ribbon used to tie them up. I know Ikea has (or used to) sets of small circular boxes in various colors, and I’ve used them for gifts. While the Ikea boxes aren’t super-high quality, they would definitely be good for girls, as they could be used as jewelry boxes afterwards, or for re-gifting.

I’m all for recycling and reusing, and I do as much as possible, but I think that part of the gift is the actual presentation, and (for me, at least) a Walmart bag just doesn’t fit in to that.

By: Chile

Chile — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:05:00 +0000

An alternative to using the comics section of newspapers is the puzzle page. My dad was an avid crossword puzzler so that section was great as wrapping paper. You can even include the answer page inside the gift…

By: doug

doug — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:45:00 +0000

Hi Leah!

That is some great stuff! I have used things like egg cartons and newspaper very often in my adult life! This year its just crazy to see how many people are buying reusable grocery bags as the vehicle for their presents! they give the gift in the reusable bag and then the person has the reusable grocery bag for the next year or two! its a great idea, killing two birds with one stone you might say!

Doug Lober
ReuseThisBag.com

By: jill

jill — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:21:00 +0000

I have fond memories of my grandmother using the comic section for the grandkid gifts and the rest of the newspaper for the family. My mother always got a gift wrapped with a recipe or homemaker thing, Dad had either the farm report or editorals, Grandpa got the sports. Each was an “extra” gift as she watched all year long for just the right article for each.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

By: Sara

Sara — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:59:00 +0000

If you get the newspaper or know someone who does, save the comics sections and use those for your wrapping. I did that one year and my ribbon and bow on each present were made of raffia that I was able to reuse later. After the presents are opened, recycle the comics paper.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:39:00 +0000

I really liked your tip about the Walmart bags and suggested the same to my sister, who works at Whole Foods (with its line of bags).

I do enjoy my pretty gift wrap, but since I reuse the bags and buy everything at yard sales, I figure that’s recycling, too.

By: Daisy

Daisy — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:39:00 +0000

Well, it’s not wrapping free, but I do re-use everything I can and I insist on using small, even tiny, scraps of wrapping materials. Here’s a taste of it. http://compostermom.blogspot.com/2006/12/its-not-easy-being-green-at-christmas.html