Every year, people purchase wrapping paper and bows to wrap holiday gifts. This year, why not save money by making your own-eco friendly wrapping paper and bows? Here are some tips to get started.
Wrapping paper. Use scrap paper to make wrapping paper. Other examples of material that can be used for wrapping paper are magazines, newspapers, comic pages, old maps, waxed paper, old books, and aluminum foil. Try taking a used, clean piece of aluminum foil, smooth it out and then smooth it on a flat surface with a slightly raised pattern to make a nice design.
Cloth. Using cloth is a creative way to wrap a gift. Use old scarves, shirts, skirts, handkerchiefs, or linen napkins to make your gift look unique!
If you are giving a scarf or a cloth item as a gift, skip the box. Simply fold the item and make an eco-friendly ribbon or string to tie around the item instead.
Gift Bows. Gift bows can be found right in your own yard!
If you have trees on your property or if you have a park nearby, you have a wealth of items to make gift bows. Some of the items you can use are pine cones, holly leaves, pressed leaves, dried flowers, berries and twigs. Using twine, attach one or a few of the items to a box or ribbon.
Childrens artwork. Let your children choose their favorite drawings to use for wrapping paper. This is a great way to use their special drawings and it is also a nice way to wrap a gift for their grandparents, aunts and uncles!
Make Your Own Bows. Recycling gift bows from last year is something that most of us do, but after a few times, the bows start to look a little ragged around the edges. When bows start looking frazzled, make more bows. You can make bows with scrap paper or old gift wrap:
Cut your scrap paper or used wrapping paper into strips that measure 4 inches long by 1 inch wide.
Take each strip and fold in half with the pretty side out. It should form a nice loop. Tape the closed end to the outer edge of a cardboard circle. Cereal boxes work really good for this. The size of the circle is up to you. It just depends on how big you want the bow to be and how much paper you have.
Continue folding and taping the strips, working around the cardboard circle until the circle is completely filled.
End with a single loop in the center, closed end down. You can also put a pine cone or other eco-friendly item in the center to complete the bow.
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