In that location are lots of fun and eco-friendly replacements for traditional wrapping paper—the only limit is your imagination

Metallic wrapping paper, paper with glitter or foil, tissue paper, shiny paper gift bags, viscid record—none of it tin be recycled. Then what'due south a sustainably minded gift-giver supposed to do? Get creative!

To kick-start your creativity, nosotros present 50 ideas for alternatives to traditional store-bought wrapping newspaper.

  1. Fabric gift bag. Etsy has more than sizes and styles of bag than yous can imagine, made from fabrics patterned with everything from snowflakes to Star Wars. Textile bags can be reused twelvemonth after year, and they make wrapping quick and easy. fabric bag Photograph by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash
  2. Bootleg drawstring pocketbook. With fifty-fifty the virtually rudimentary sewing skills, you can turn a rectangle of textile and a piece of ribbon into a unproblematic drawstring bag. There's no need to buy the fabric new, as long as it's cute, clean and unstained.
  3. Gift purse made from a sleeve. Cut off a sleeve from an erstwhile sweater or cuffed long-sleeve shirt, stitch the cut edges together, and you've created the perfect handbag for a wine bottle.
  4. Colourful pillowcase. It's ideal for wrapping a large or awkwardly shaped item, and it functions as a bonus gift.
  5. Square of fabric. Either do a quick hem around the fabric'due south edges, or trim the edges with pinking shears. Then find inspiration in furoshiki, which is the Japanese art of fabric souvenir wrapping, and tie the foursquare of fabric effectually the gift. Take a look at these gorgeous knot-wraps from Lush. Lush knot wrap LUSH
  6. Kids' drawings or paintings. Grandparents, in particular, love this, plus it allows yous to declutter the artwork from your budding Picasso.
  7. Plain brown newspaper. Cut open a paper grocery bag and turn information technology inside out to become plain brown paper for wrapping. Use ribbon to tie on fresh greenery, bells, processed canes, or other seasonal decorations or tree ornaments. Or glue on snowflakes cutting out from white paper.
  8. Brown paper stamped with fun patterns. Kids love helping with this DIY project, particularly if they can make the stamps themselves from potatoes.
  9. Homemade Christmas cracker. Use a paper-thin scroll, homemade wrapping paper, and ribbon tied around either finish. For the total cheesy-Christmas-cracker feel, also tuck in a groan-worthy holiday joke and homemade paper crown.
  10. Shop shopping purse. To encompass up a logo, mucilage on an prototype cut out from an old holiday card.
  11. Paper printed with your own blueprint. On the back of paper scavenged from the recycling bin, print personal messages, family photos or favourite memes.
  12. Plain white paper. Decorate it with colourful washi tape, which is commonly made from hemp and bamboo and tin can be composted or recycled. white paper Photograph past DiEtte Henderson on Unsplash
  13. Reused cardboard box. Decorate information technology using stickers, felt pens, paint or pictures cutting out from magazines or holiday cards.
  14. Cardboard whorl. Cutting it down to the right length, tuck the gift inside, then fold in the ends and necktie everything in place with a cheerful ribbon.
  15. Newspaper comics. The old standby never goes out of style, even if the funny pages—and the newspapers themselves—keep shrinking.
  16. Newspaper puzzle page. A cruciverbalist (xiv-alphabetic character discussion meaning "person skilled at creating or solving crossword puzzles") or sudoku fan will appreciate this, especially if you leave the puzzle intact for them to solve afterwards.
  17. Plain paper. Choose a page with a fitting (or funny) headline or an auspicious horoscope, and tie in place with a colourful ribbon.
  18. Foreign language paper. Select a country that holds special pregnant for the recipient.
  19. Recycled lace overtop of plain paper. The end result is uncomplicated but elegant.
  20. Tea towel. For a charming bear upon, detect a vintage tea towel from the recipient's favourite travel destination.
  21. Tin container. Austerity stores always accept an abundance of cute tea tins and cookie tins.
  22. Dish cloths. Wrap a gear up of pocket-sized items in matching dish cloths.
  23. One-time map. Find a map of a place that holds special meaning for the recipient.
  24. Pouches, dust bags or fancy boxes from other purchases. Sometimes the packaging actually is too squeamish to throw away, so reuse it instead.
  25. Dirt flower pot. Flip over the bottom dish, place it on summit of the pot, and necktie information technology in place.
  26. Pair of festive socks. Wrap two items that go together in a cute pair of seasonal socks.
  27. One-time sheet music. Search through a austerity store for sheet music to a beloved song.
  28. Pages from damaged books. These can be used as wrapping paper or folded into minor gift boxes. Decorate the pages with stamps or washi tape.
  29. Pages from old calendars. There'south a calendar out at that place for every obscure taste, from chickens to lighthouses.
  30. Recycled glass jar. Glue on a handwritten characterization, tie a piece of cloth on top, and add a cute touch by besides attaching a candy cane or cinnamon stick.
  31. Packing cube. Travellers who desire to stay organized swear past packing cubes such as this one from MEC. MEC packing cube
  32. Christmas stocking. Places like Make on Granville Isle tin can fifty-fifty embroider a proper noun on the stocking.
  33. Tiffin box. This tiered box, usually fabricated of steel, is used in many Asian countries to acquit a hot lunch. Information technology's also ideal for holding several minor gifts. Nosotros similar this one from Well.ca. tippin
  34. Laundry hamper. This is particularly useful for a young adult just setting out on their own, and it can easily wrap a large or strangely shaped item.
  35. Laundry basket. An array of goodies tin go inside, subconscious past a colourful towel or blanket draped over acme and held in place with clothespins or bulldog clips.
  36. A pretty scarf is only ane of countless items that can do double-duty equally a souvenir itself and wrapping for another gift. Here are a few more:
  37. Bandana or handkerchief.
  38. Reusable cloth produce purse.
  39. Covered basin.
  40. Cloth napkin.
  41. Tablecloth.
  42. Sheet.
  43. Bathroom towel.
  44. Pencil instance.
  45. Cosmetics bag.
  46. Chapeau box.
  47. Ditty bag. We similar this 1 from MEC. MEC bags
  48. Wicker basket.
  49. Storage box.
  50. Fleece coating.

Sometimes no wrapping at all is the most fun. A series of clues in a treasure hunt tin can lead the recipient to a gift tucked away in a closet or garage.

Besides, get creative in avoiding sticky record. Ribbon can exist reused year afterward yr. Sometimes string or twine adds an elegant touch. A pair of holiday-patterned shoelaces doubles every bit a fun gift. Fabrics can be pinned in place using safety pins or a brooch. For a pocket-size gift, a few colourful hair elastics or a single scrunchie may be enough to hold everything in place. For a slightly larger gift, a single stretchy headband might do the trick.

And never forget that Grandma was right. You tin can carefully reuse the wrapping newspaper, tissue paper and paper gift numberless from any gifts y'all receive. (But don't forget to remove the original giver'southward tag.)

Now that's a wrap!