As the first full week of 2012 comes to an end, you are probably still trying to clean up the aftermath of the holidays. Repurposing is part of living a greener lifestyle and a great way to keep your New Year’s resolution to be more eco-friendly. Here are some quick and easy solutions for the left over odds and ends, namely gift bags.

Yes, the first and easiest way to repurpose a gift bag is to remove the gift tag from it, and simply wrap another present in it.  However, sometimes bags get torn or look worn on the bottom and edges, so these are six creative alternatives to reuse these gift bags:

1. Turn it into wrapping paper.  By cutting off the front and back panels of the bag you have created two sheets of wrapping paper to be able to wrap smaller gifts with next year. If the bag is a plain colour or not overtly holiday oriented you may be able to reuse them throughout the year.

2. Pieces for the craft bin. Cut out any characters or images on the bag like snowflakes or Santa and place them in a craft bin. These images will be useful for next years Christmas crafts or even a school project. Think of how lovely they will make a scrapbook page look.

3. Make recycled gift tags. Cut out images, but cut them out with some of the background. An example would be while cutting out a Santa cut him out in a circle or rectangle so that they look like tags. You can add glitter to them for a little something special.

4. Make a memory box. Cover and repurpose a shoebox with the pieces of the gift bag. This box is something you can date and put your cards in.

5. Shipping label. When you mail or ship holiday gifts, place a large piece of the bag behind the shipping label so that the box you have to send your present in also looks festive.

6. Packing material. When shipping something, scrunch up the old bags to use instead of packing peanuts. The sides of the bags are made of a thicker quality of paper so they will hold your item in place and help it arrive safely. This is a way to reuse the old bags that can actually eliminate something else.

When repurposing anything it is more effective to think outside the box, or bag in this instance. These are just some simple ideas for how to reduce what you are throwing away after the holidays. Another tip is to try and buy bags that are event neutral like in silvers, golds, blues etc. as they are easier to use for birthdays and other events through the year.  Be creative, have fun, and try to find new ways to reuse what you have. If you have any additional ideas or want to inspire others with your creativity, if would be great if you shared with our readers in the comments.
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