Sunday 13 December 2009

alternatives to wrapping paper


we are down in cornwall for the christmas holidays staying with my little sis. apparently her local council don't recycle wrapping paper as a lot of them contain plastic and not so much paper. so she has asked us to think about using alternatives. you can read more about it here. recycled paper is definitely the way to go and check that what you're wrapping with is 100% paper so it can be recycled.

these are a few different ideas on what else to use -

we have been collecting the wrapping paper sheets from the guardian newspaper over the last week (above). each sheet is designed by a celebrity and some of them are quite nice.

the exotic paper company: recycled paper infused with tree seeds.

myfuroshiki: a japanese way of wrapping gifts with cloth.

acornpies: shows how to make origami boxes, good for smaller items.

you could also use pretty magazine pages.

or newspaper, especially coloured ones like the financial times. everyone likes pink don't they!

or how about a pretty piece of material that can be used by the receiver for a craft project.

tied up with a nice ribbon, i think these ideas would look lovely and make your gifts especially unique.

what will you be wrapping your gifts with this year?

sarada x

5 comments:

ginny said...

hello,
great post.
we have used the guardians celebrity paper's before... my husband usually collects them though has not mentioned it this year... so we may have missed it... i shall check so thanks for jogging my memory. for wrapping my presents i usually buy a roll of recycled brown paper from Smiths and use stampers to decorate. last year for my musical sister i used used old sheet music as giftwrap. i also save tissue paper packaging and reuse it too, tied with garden twine.off to follow your links now for more ideas...
wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas,
warm wishes
ginny x

Nigel Smith said...

Andrex

snow white said...

Hello Ginny, such lovely ideas, especially using old sheet music. There's just so many things you could do if you use your imagination!

Nigel, just make sure it's recycled!

StuartandHelen said...

Feel humbled and guilty by the suggestions for wrapping paper!
Afraid I bought mine as usual from Smith's but like Ginny's idea of buying their recycled brown paper and stamping it so hopefully will do that next year! This blog is really making me think! Your tree decorations are lovely too. Fairy grandfather and I are really enjoying our time with you, Snow White, and J and your our wee wonderful who isn't so wee any more! It's the stuff of precious memories - thank you.

katybird said...

Hi Sarada,
I'm a bit slow replying to your post, sorry! We collected the Guardian paper again this year (it helps that i work for them :-) ) and I used a lot of pages from magazines - fashion spreads and perfume ads from Grazia, and the Observer's Christmas gift guide. I'd love to master the Japanese folding method though, that gives me something to aim for next year!

See you soon,
Katy, Mark & logan xx