HOME   |   NEWS & EVENTS   |   TIPS   |   LINKS   |   DISCUSSION FORUM   |   NEWSLETTER   |   LOCAL NUMBERS
 

Adaptive Reuse
Cleaning
Purchasing Power
Storage Solutions
Thrifty Tips


Questions, comments, or just want to get involved in the discussion? Head on over to the discussion forum!

 
Gift Wrap
posted by Tabitha

I used to love wrapping gifts for special occasions. I loved all of the color, and shimmer, and shine, and curly ribbon. Then I began to notice that gifts were unwrapped and the paper was tossed aside – into a massive mound on the floor. Wrapping lovers do not fear. There are other choices:

Use old newspapers and magazines
to wrap the gift. It is fun to pick a magazine article or story that you think the gift receiver would like to read. You can use comics for children (or old coloring book pages). You can make a collage (of the person’s interest, or hints about their gift). You can cut out large letters to spell their name or a term of endearment (or non-endearment). You can use the puzzle section to make a 2-in-1 gift. You can wrap the gift in advertisements for items that you want them to get for you (^_^). You can pick the funniest title page and start a conversation. Wedding and anniversary gifts can be wrapped in the wedding section. Graduation gifts could be wrapped in the classifieds. There is so much that can be done with newspaper and magazine articles.

Create reusable packaging of different sizes that you request returned. These could be decorative boxes (that you purchase or make from repurposed items – more on this in a future tip), bags (purchased or sewn or decorative pillowcases), or repurposed tins.

Create personalized reusable packaging for those that you frequently give presents to. You can use some of the ideas above (or others) and include their name and personal colors and trinkets that the individual would like. Then you can use it every time that you give them a present. You could either have multiple sizes or, my personal favorite, you could use a large one each time. I like the idea of the large one best, because the individual will have a more difficult time guessing what is in the package. It could be a necklace or a pan – who knows, well, you do.

Save and reuse old wrapping paper and gift bags. My family has a running joke. We save any gift bags that we receive and use them to wrap gifts. Then we like to joke about everyone that has received that bag. As an example, I gave a bag to my grandma for her anniversary, she gave it to my aunt for her birthday, my aunt gave it to me for my birthday, I gave it back to my mom for Mother’s Day and she gave it back to my grandma for her birthday. Who knows where the bag will end up next.

If you happen to buy the person more than one gift, wrap one in the other.

Keep all of the gifts in a large decorative container. Have the individual close their eyes and you can give it to them directly.

Do you have any wrapping tips? Send them to info@trashforce.net