Eco-Wrapping, the only way to do it!

My family is known to be incredibly slack when it comes to wrapping presents. Birthday morning is usually a succession of people greeting you with their hands behind the back, as if they are human wrapping! In some ways I guess they are Lazy Environmentalists! Unfortunately I was no exception to this family trend. That is, until I discovered my own 'personal style' (if you can call it that) with used and recycled wrapping and ribbons.

One of my best friends, Amy, was known in high school to say 'When I get married I want all my presents wrapped in newspaper.' Of course by the time she got married, everyone had forgotten, except one special friend (not me!). We actually wrapped the lovely couples present in the pages of an old travel magazine instead. It looked rather good, so I don't feel so bad that it wasn't newspaper!


Here are my top tips for totally sexy eco-inspired wrapping;

1) Unwrap your presents slowly, that way you savour the delight and you will be able to salvage the paper!

2) If the card has a cool cover, once it has sat on the mantel for a while cut the front off and re-use it as a 'front card'. Do this by sticking it onto the new present and writing your message on the front of the card. (Only do this with cards that don't have writing on the inside cover - that could look bad). Of course you may like to keep cards for sentimental reasons. In this case some recycled card, with a photo you have taken slapped on the front, always looks good (Well actually that depends who is in the photo!).

3) Pages of old magazines make fantastic wrapping and you can selectively choose which pages get prime position. If your friend is a surfer, find an old surfing mag or for kids, pages of an old colouring book, that they can colour in, works well.

4) Spunky ribbon can be used again and again. If it's looking a bit crinkly give it a quick once over with the iron. No one will ever know! (Unless they gave it to you last year!)

5) If you don't have any old wrapping paper, 100% recycled paper with string instead of ribbon, looks great. Pop a fresh flower from the garden in the string and bingo!

The best thing about eco-gifts and eco-wrapping is that people almost expect it to be a little rustic and even messy. It leaves room for your individual 'style'.

Finally, be prepared to defend and promote your new art! If someone comments that you are making a financial saving on the wrapping, remind them that less money spent on wrapping allows more money to be spent on their present!

I'll photograph my next wrapping creation (aka disaster) and place it on the blog for all to see.

Until next time.....

Gina