I blogged about this yesterday over at Simple Green (not sure how many of you read over here as well), but I thought it would be great here as well. Not to mention I’m super busy making gifts for Christmas without much time left for blogging. Sorry to those of you who read both blogs.
I’m always game to save money in any way I can. Gift wrapping can be very expensive, even if you buy it on sale after the holidays, and buying something that you’re just going to recycle and throw away seems a little crazy. One inexpensive way to wrap gifts is by using brown kraft paper. You can buy it in big rolls very inexpensively at home improvement stores, but I find that if I save the stuff that comes in packaging throughout the year, I never have to buy any, in fact I always have a pretty good sized stash on hand. Not to mention I’m able to reuse something before it goes into the garden (we always compost kraft paper products instead of recycling).
The paper is usually crumpled, so I crumple it even more to give it some texture (and to make it look intentional). I love using kraft paper because it goes with just about any kind of decor and it’s not gender, age or holiday specific. You can adorn any way you like if you want to add some pizazz. I have a box of saved ribbon in the basement that I occasionally use, especially if wrapping a birthday gift. I find that garden twine works well and looks lovely, especially if you include a little natural element like a pine cone or pine sprig. All those little scraps of yarn work as well, you could also use scraps of fabric, paper or just decorate with markers.
You can also save those brown paper bags that you get throughout the year to use as wrapping. I have a stash of all shapes and sizes from very tiny to fairly large. These are fabulous because they’re quick and easy! I usually punch holes in the top and use a twig or a piece of ribbon to close it. I think a stick of peppermint would nice as well or maybe a pencil or something useful.
This is a great frugal way to save on wrapping expenses and to keep extra things from being produced and purchased simply to throw away or recycle. I find that when I gift a gift wrapped this way, people tend to stop and take notice. Perhaps it will make them consider doing the same the next time they have to wrap a gift.
What kind of wrapping do you use in your household? Any great ideas for saving money in this area or for creative wrapping options?
I can also be found at Chiot’s Run where I blog daily about gardening, cooking, local eating, beekeeping, and all kinds of stuff. You can also find me at Simple, Green, Frugal, Co-op, and you can follow me on Twitter.
Not Dabbling In Normal 
I did this one year when my daughters were little. We also stamped them to make them a litle more colorful. It was fun!
Yes, thanks to Amazon I had enough of this wrinkly brown paper to wrap 5 packages. We used no wrapping paper and have not bought any in well over a year. I made reuseable cloth bags for the rest of our gifts. I like the greenery on your brown paper!
I love this idea of wrapping. I have used brown paper bags before, by painting a small whimiscal picture on it. I love the effect of the rumpled brown kraft paper.
Years ago I bought a set of nexting boxes…..I think there are 12 that fit into each other so they only take up the room of the biggest box. Cool thing is….they are decorated like Christmas wrapping paper on the outside. So…in goes the give….tie it up….open at Christmas…..nest back together for storage until the next year. I’ve used them for years…..always get them back….and my family does not mind.
Merry Christmas!
I used to work for an art gallery, where we would get several large posters in the mail every week. In fact, we got so many that years later I’m STILL working my way through the ones I managed to snag. They make gorgeous wrapping paper.
Back before I read newspapers on-line, I used to love using the comics page (color and black & white both). Now if I have a lot of wrapping, I treat myself to the Sunday paper and just use the whole things except for the advertising inserts.
Your wrapping all looks wonderful. I love using craft paper and brown bags. I love your stick idea – through the punched holes in the bag. I have always just used ribbon. I do enjoy securing herbs on the front of the package in the string or bow, it has a nice look and a nice smell – and it can be part of the gift if you are giving to someone who cooks – tie herbs together that can be dropped in a soup. I giggled when you mentioned crumpling the paper to give it a that special look. I LOVE doing that and it softens it up to work with too.
When I used to do a lot of flying I always had a surplus of expired charts – they always made great wrapping paper. Maps are also nice to use.
Thanks for a great post full of wonderful ides. Sincerely, Emily
Almost all our packages that I mail throughout the year are using old/reused boxes that are wrapped with paper bags turned inside out. Works great and we only ever have to purchase packing tape! 😉