Archive for Christmas wrapping paper
15 Ways to Reuse Christmas Wrapping Paper
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Hopefully the majority of your gifts were wrapped in alternatives to traditional virgin content wrapping paper. In the event you find wrapping paper and tissue littering your floor here are 15 ideas to continue its life:
1. Used wrapping paper makes a great cover when repackaging ornaments for your Christmas tree. It keeps them protected and ready for the next holiday season.
2. Make festive coasters by gluing wrapping paper to circles of cardboard or juice can lids; apply several coats of decoupage medium or white glue thinned with water, or laminate with self-adhesive clear plastic.
3. Shred wrapping paper and use in the base of gift bags/baskets/boxes or in place of packing material when sending a package.
4. Use to make bookmarks or (text) book covers.
5. Use as a scratch pads for note taking.
6. Use the prettiest wrapping paper as background material for scrapbooking.
7. Cover a shoebox with wrapping paper to make a decorative storage container for Christmas ornaments.
8. Reuse wrapping paper taken from large gifts to wrap smaller gifts; if it’s wrinkled you can always spritz with a little water and iron on a very low setting to remove creases.
9. Make tiny Christmas gift tags or cards.
10. Learn origami.
11. Use as matting for photographs.
12. Piece scraps together with glue on a sturdy box to create a gift box.
13. Cut out the best scenes or images for use in (kids) art projects.
14. Make paper snowflakes or people.
15. Make beautiful loopy Wrapping Paper Bows with nothing more than small strips of paper, invisible tape and a small square of cardboard. See instructions below.
I hope you find these suggestions useful but ultimately finding an alternative to traditional gift wrap is best. Click here to access one of our previous posts that outlined 10 alternative wrap ideas to help with the transition.
Here is wishing you and your loved ones a very merry/happy whatever-holiday-you-celebrate from everyone here at Planet Forward. Try to keep it green.
Cheers!
Top 10 Eco-friendly Holiday Wrapping Paper Alternatives
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Tis’ the season to be….wasteful? Did you know that every holiday season thousands of tons of wrapping paper, tissue paper, bows, ribbons, etc. are purchased each season? And that the majority of that is produced using virgin material? Beyond the trees that are destroyed and the numerous chemicals involved in the production process of these decorations, where does it all go afterwards? You may place it in your recycle bin that does not necessarily mean it is going to be recycled.
If the paper has a coating, there is conflicting information as to whether it can or cannot be recycled. It seems that it depends on your area and the recycling facilities. Another alternative is that it can be sent overseas to be used for packaging material. Although it does satisfy the “reuse” factor of the three R’s, the footprint from the transport back and forth may offset the benefit of it. I have also heard that some people burn them in their fireplace but that gives off toxic gases and that is not very green for the holidays.
It seems to be that the best way to wrap a present this season is to use an eco-friendly alternative to the traditional wrapping paper. You can have fun with it and make the wrapping a part of the gift, a conversation starter or (at the very least) an interesting presentation or something that can be useful afterward.
Here are the top 10 Eco-friendly Holiday Gift Wrapping Alternative Ideas:
- Outdated maps, old posters, sheet music or leftover lightweight wallpaper (if you don’t have any lying around the house, check your local second-hand store. You’re bound to find some interesting pieces to use)
- Newspapers (foreign are cool) or comics or flyers or catalogues
- Children’s artwork – show off your pride and joy
- Read More→
