Holiday ReWrap Rerun

I first posted this last year, but thought it would make a good rerun for this holiday season. Each year I try to reduce the amount of wrapping paper we use because it can't be recycled, and hey- it's always good to have a reason to craft right!. I hope you enjoy.

Re-wrap: Reuse and Recycle Wrapping Ideas

Did you know that the average wrapping paper can't be recycled? Most communities require you to just throw it away.

According to bright hub.com it's estimated that in the US 50,000 cubic yards of wrapping paper is thrown away every year after the holidays. For those of you who are like me and have no idea how much that is but think it sounds like a lot I've put it into context. I googled what the average dump truck holds and got 5 cubic yards. So it would take 10,000 dump trucks to hall away all that wrapping paper!

I've done a few re-wrap workshops before and every time people were surprised by how great the finished gifts looked. I think people generally have this idea that it won't look as good as conventional wrapping paper but I think it actually looks better.

Now I'm not going to lie- it does take some extra time. And I'd love to say that I don't use any store bought wrapping paper- but that's just not true either. But I figure if at the very least I've cut down on what we would normally use- that's something. I also buy paper that can be recycled whenever I can.

You can use some really common things like brown paper grocery bags to wrap gifts. That's what I've used here. I glued some paper punched snowflakes on this after I wrapped it and tied it with a scrap of red ribbon. Would you ever guess this was a grocery bag!

You could also use the scraps of paper you have left after using the paper punch as a stencil. I painted some flakes onto another grocery bag- which was certainly faster than gluing individual punched flakes onto the bag.

This one is very quick and easy. I covered the outside and lid of a mason jar with leftover pieces of scrapbook paper. They are great for holding things like tee shirts, scarves, mittens, hats, cookies and candies. And they can be reused from year to year.

Reused mailing tubes also make great containers for more than just posters. Clothes or candy- even knitting needles fit great into these tubes. I used a sharpie to color red lines- but you could also use paint or ribbon. You could even cover the entire tube with a pretty scrapbook paper.

I know the holidays are crazy- but there's still time to make your own wrapping paper! It's a fun project the kids can help with, it's also easier if you wrap a little at a time. (I'm totally guilty of saving all the gifts to wrap at once, but it's easier to wrap as you shop.) It saves a little money and best of all it's a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle.