Friday, December 7, 2007

gift wrap alternatives

I wanted to show you the simple gift I gave my friend Irene yesterday. I wrapped the packages in brown paper, added a scallop cut page from a book of music, and topped it all with a religious icon of the immaculate conception.

I'm encouraged this year to find alternatives to traditional gift wrap. Here are a few I came up with
  • wrap the gift in recycled brown paper bags, using just a small piece of paper like sheet music as an accent
  • look for printed gift boxes and containers that will be reused
  • tuck small gifts in mittens or stockings
  • does the item need to be wrapped? Maybe just a bow will do
  • make the presentation part of the gift...a nest with a little treasure, a traincase full of goodies, a clamshell with a jewel inside, tied shut with a ribbon, an old metal lunchbox filled with goodies
  • sew an envelope out of scrap fabric or felt
  • be on the lookout for sturdy lidded boxes that might otherwise end up in the trash heap...shoe boxes, oatmeal boxes, jewelry boxes...instead of wrapping, decoupage them! (perhaps put a little note in the bottom of the box asking the recipient to reuse the box)

12 comments:

Jana said...

This is beautiful, Amy!!

Anonymous said...

LOVE your "Green" wrapping ideas! You are a very creative person. I admire that! Keep it up, & Merry Christmas!

Annette D said...

I'm making quote jars to give my mom and sisters using flea market find jars and recycled paper, with a pretty bow on each for wrap. Thanks for your neat ideas Amy!

Jessi Nagy said...

very clever amy!
jessi nagy

Yummers! said...

Love the alternatives to store-bought gift wrap. They're great!
Thanks for sharing.
Joni

Missy Sue Hanson said...

Great ideas! Brown paper bags are the best, lol!

Anonymous said...

I like your ideas.

For years I have been wrapping all my gifts in brown paper and tying them with wired ribbon I buy during the after Christmas sales at 75% off.
They look beautiful under the tree and are so fast to wrap.

As the mother of an adopted child, I'm very excited about the fact that you are becoming a foster parent.

~elaine~

Jill said...

How beautiful!!!

Can't wait to see you at the "Celebration of Traditions" tomorrow!

"Maggie & Kevin" said...

Amy these are beautiful, I will keep them in mind when wrapping packages!

paige said...

simply wonderful, amy!

Cheryl Ensom said...

Such great (and lovely!) ideas! Thank you!

Unknown said...

Amy, these are great ideas. Another fun one is to make a paper snowflake as a gift topper. I personally like used office paper- so intriguing!