Whatever you do don’t spend big bucks on gift wrapping this Christmas. I promise. You don’t need to.
In fact, you can have more fun and make a more lasting impression on friends and family by creating packaging supplies from trash you have cluttering your house—stuff that can be up-cycled into simply smashing wrapping.
Did you know that over the Christmas holiday Americans generate 25% more trash than they do on an average week? It’s sad but true.
However, if you wrap with trash to begin with, you not only save money by not buying paper and ribbon, you can help make the planet itself a happier place, as well.
So, this week I’ll do a series of DIY tutorials that will allow you to wrap with green-savvy class this Christmas.
Today, I’ll share how to wrap using maps, coke caps, duct tape, and lots more.
What you will need:
- Map
- Bottle caps
- Popsicle sticks
- Decorative duct tape
- Green painters’ tape (even masking tape, perhaps)
- Recycled red ribbon (or any other color you like)
- Tape
- Scissors
- Hammer
- Hot glue gun
- Buttons (any color you have)
Step 1
Find an out-of-date atlas or any other kind of map you might have discarded as out-of-date or no longer useful.
Step 2
Cut the map to size and wrap as you would any other paper.
Step 3
Use duct tape as ribbon.
Step 4
Add green painters’ tape and recycled red ribbon from last Christmas.
Step 5
Hot glue popsicle sticks to creat a star.
Step 6
Decorate the star with green buttons.
Step 7
Hammer the edges of a discarded coke cap flat to create a ruffled-looking edge.
Step 8
Hot glue the coke cap to the center of the star.
Step 9
Hot glue a discarded, screw-on coke cap to the underside of the star to give it height and dimension.
Step 10
Hot glue the completed star to the center of your package.
Now– This book about writing will thrill Sara’s nephew Nathan on Christmas, not only because he’s a poet, but also because the packaging itself is green.
Next– Try your own extreme gift wrapping. You, too, can be package-proud and planet-friendly this holiday season.
Later this week I’ll share how you can continue this practice of holiday ecology by gift wrapping with comic books, newspaper and much more.
(Note: I will be doing more memoir posts after the holiday. If you are a new reader and you would like to look at some of my already-completed pieces about growing up with a mafia father, click here.)
I love the idea of using recycled stuff as wrapping paper. I have used newspaper at times. I make gift tags by cutting colored paper to size and using a hole punch to make a hole to thread the ribbon. I have also used strips of cloth as ribbon.
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Perfect, Deb. You are so creative. I love the idea of fabric strips as ribbon. Will have to try it.
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If I could possibly wrap a gift that arts and crafty, not to mention green, whatever was inside would be a guaranteed HUGE letdown! What do you suggest for those of us that only have tape, hammer and scissors on your list? I have an idea, buy a roll of wrapping paper and further destroy the planet. Thanks buddy for making me aware that there is yet another thing I can add to on my miles long list of things to feel guilty about in my misguided life.
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That was my goal exactly this morning–to make you feel all the more lame, my friend. Just helping you live up to your own reputation, V. Now I suggest you attempt this and then blog about it–another lame adventure being handed to you–not that you don’t have enough already, and all. Hugs to you today————
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My that is so creative…never used a hammer before to help wrap my presents. 🙂
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How funny. I hadn’t even thought of that as strange, but it’s down-right weird, isn’t it? What a hoot.
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Love that book you were wrapping and LOVE the clever wrapping itself 🙂
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Oh, yes, Natalie Goldberg rocks, doesn’t she? Wait till you see the wrapping that will be on your wedding gift. Now, that will be something to blog about.
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Yes, Natalie Goldberg rocks! I even posted about that very book because it unties the writer’s block knots!
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Amen, my friend! Whatcha up to today? Hugs———————-
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I’m slowing way down to recharge my batteries, something my (fairy)godmother referred to as “Doing a lot of nothing slowly.”
How about you? How’s your brain today? >:-D
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Ha–I love that, Laurel. I, too, want to do “a lot of nothing slowly.” That’s a perfect holiday plan!
My brain is behaving so far today. I need to get it connected to my fingers so I can make some more Christmas ornaments. Right now I want to sleep.
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Love it, Kathy. I’ve been using recycled wrapping techniques the last few years, but this takes it to a whole new level. Perfect!
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Oh, cool. What are you using? Are you recycling old paper from last year? Glad you like the wrapping, my friend. Happy monday to you——————
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Just gift bags, takeout bags made into wrapping, little containers, reused ribbon, etc. Amateur hour, really. 🙂
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Actually, brown paper bags make great wrapping. I use them alot for that. I don’t think it sounds amateur. I can guarantee that most folks don’t think to do that.
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I think even someone who is all thumbs like me could manage this. This is such a creative and environmentally friendly way to celebrate. (And, dare I say, much nicer than much of the new gift wrap you can buy in the store.)
And I hope Sara’s nephew loves that book as much as I do. 🙂
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You’re right, Jackie. It really isn’t complicated at all. Someone just has to follow these easy steps and make the necessary substitutions or omissions if they don’t have something.
Glad to hear you like Goldberg. I think Nathan will love the book.
Thanks for reading, Jackie. Have a great week.
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it is so pretty. Can’t wait to try it 🙂
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Cool. It will be fun, I promise. If you do, let me know how it goes. I’d love to see photos, too. Good luck, my friend.
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Great green gift wrapping! I am looking under our plants (since we don’t have a tree) and the presents we received from both our kids are wrapped in newspaper and colorful catalog paper. Unfortunately, I am still using up wrapping paper from 2-3 years ago, but next time the paper is gone will remember these tips!
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You have some cool kids, Kathy–just like their parents. I will share more tips later this week, so stay tuned. Thanks for reading, my friend.
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This is fabulous! If I were still giving presents, this is the route to go! (Writing Down the Bones is one of my favorites, BTW).
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So glad you like these, Sandy. I can see you doing something like this, for sure. We are doing nearly no gifts this year–only giving small gifts to the kids and stuff I make to the adults. Time to scale back.
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I’m inspired! 🙂
MJ
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So happy to hear that. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you’ll come back soon.
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I like to use the Sunday funnies especially for kids.
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You know, I never thought of using the funnies. What a great idea! Thanks for mentioning it, and thanks for reading.
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Neat ideas, Kathy!
Hugs,
Wendy
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Thanks for taking a look, Wendy. So glad you like the wrapping. Hugs—————
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Very creative! I use to use the comic section from the Sunday papers for wrapping paper. Another idea, if you are a seamstress, is to make different size draw-string bags; then reuse them year after year (I had a friend who did that. Never bought wrapping paper ever!)
A glue gun, a hammer, and scraps are all we need to create tons of stuff!
Fun post 🙂
Cecelia
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Someone else mentioned the comics, but I had never thought of that before and love the idea. I had also never thought of making bags that could be used year after year. That’s an incredible plan. Thanks for sharing these, Cecelia!
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Wow– I love reusing paper to wrap gifts, but this puts all of my efforts to shame. (In a good way, of course!)
I like to make “ribbons” by crocheting (or finger knitting) a cord with scrap yarn from other projects. I top it off with a cute little knit leaf or two, so where your star is in the example above, my recipient will have two leaves on a knit “twig” ribbon instead. Only if I have the time, though. 🙂
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What a fun idea, Dana. Now, if only, I knew how to crochet. Actually, I think what you do requires skill. I’m only assembling stuff I find around the house.
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I’m mostly terrible at crochet, but finger knitting is SUPREMELY EASY. Maybe I’ll do a photo step-by-step post so you can add to your eco chic wrapping repertoire. 🙂
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Oh, that’s easy for you to say! I am SUPREMELY stupid when it comes to all things that require the use of a needle.
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Ha! Luckily for you, finger knitting requires no needles. Only string and fingers. 🙂
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Thank God—————
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You are very creative and the wrapping is stunning…completely the opposite of the advice I’m giving on my blog:
http://themainland.net/2011/12/15/how-to-wrap-gifts-like-a-man/
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Rob, I took a look at your post, and I loved it–very funny. Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you will come again soon.
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I love this. I think I would have to go out and buy decorative duct tape and ribbon, and all the buttons I have I need as spares to coats and things though- haha. I probably have alternative things though. I am the eldest of 8 and the youngest is only 2. Our living room be’s swimming in wrapping paper on Christmas morn. 😦 We DO have a recycling bin however!
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Thanks for reading, Fiona. Sounds like you have a house-full. Rather than buying this stuff, however, try to think creatively about the things you already have around the house.
I appreciate your stopping by and hope to see you again soon.
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Impressive! I’d be hard pressed to open the gift…the wrapping is so nice, it’s probably better than whatever is inside!
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I have to confess. My family says the same thing every Christmas–not that what’s inside isn’t nice, but that the wrapping is too nice to tear apart. Merry Christmas to you, Tara, and your kids, Mark.
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Wonderful Kathy! I hope Nathan doesn’t stumble upon your blog before he gets his gift 🙂 . Just imagine what a difference we could all make if everyone used scraps instead of adding to the refuse pile this year.
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I think we’re safe as far as Nathan is concerned. But, yes, amen–the world would be a much better place if we all used a whole lot less. Thanks for reading, Jackie.
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Now that is just gorgeous! You have such creative talent! But I’m afraid any attempts I make to wrap with trash will just look like… well, TRASH!
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How funny! I could have used that humor in my title–something about how to keep your wrapping from looking like trash. Thanks for reading, Terri. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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Thanks for the shout-out, LA! Your post is hysterical, as usual! Happy Holidays, my friend.
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This is so cool. I love it. 🙂
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Thanks so much for taking a look, Robin. Happy Holidays to you!
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Holy cow! I tend to give gifts sans wrapping as I find them throughout the year instead of at holidays, but now that I’ve seen this wrapping option, YES PLEASE! I wish I had your creativity in these matters. 🙂
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Glad you like the wrapping, Deb. I think giving gifts unwrapped as you find them is a lovely approaching to giving.
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