Christmas day is just around the corner! While my presents have been wrapped weeks ago, and sit happily under the tree, I know that I’m in the exception part of Christmas shopping and that most people haven’t placed bows on everything just yet. With everything going on, you may have realized, a little too late, you don’t have enough wrapping paper to make it through all of your gifts. And, the stores are closing or so full of people, you don’t want to head out there. I get it.
This year, I tried my best not to use wrapping paper. I also didn’t want to look for it. We have some still leftover (what’s up, giant roll from Costco) from about 5 years back, but with renovations this year, I had no idea where it was and didn’t care to look. So, I got a little creative. Wrapping paper isn’t the best for the environment, anyways, so let’s look at some alternatives that look just as cute!
Brown Paper
A lot of eco blogs tout using kraft paper because you can recycle, or compost, it after use! I didn’t own any kraft paper, but I did have a couple of paper bags from shopping trips where I underestimated how many reusable bags I needed.
Cut the paper bag open, taking out the bottom panel. The bottom is thicker than the rest of the bag, and thus, a little harder to wrap. Wrap your presents like usual, adding a sprig of greenery, doodles, or salt dough adornments! Brown paper packages (perhaps tied up with string?) look pretty damn chic under the Christmas tree.
Scarves or Fabric
There’s this whole movement on wrapping your gifts in scarves and cloth going on and I don’t know how we haven’t done this sooner. I’ve wrapped baby shower gifts in receiving blankets, nixing the whole wrapping paper or bags needed. It works really well! You can tie it in a knot on top, or wrap it like a present, minus the tape, and tie it up with string! Have some old fabric laying around from a sewing or quilting project? That works just as well!
Wallpaper
Yep. Wallpaper. If you’ve done a project and have some lying around you won’t be using for any other projects, why not use it to wrap up Christmas presents? It’s fun, whimsical, and relatively easy to use!
Sacs
Okay, so this one isn’t going to work too well if you don’t own any and need to go to the store, but it’s reusable and eco-friendlay, so I added it as a tip for next year! I’ve been buying reusable cloth gift bags to replace all of my wrapping paper. They’re relatively inexpensive, and if some are added every year, you’ll soon have a great collection once your own wrapping paper reserves have run dry. A really cute tote bag also works wonders as a reusable gift bag!
My husband loves them because he hates wrapping presents and can just pop them in and be done. Trying to hide what’s inside? Add some packing paper from all of the online orders you’ve received this year.
Newspaper
Remember when you’d wrap your birthday presents in the comics section of the newspaper? Why did we stop doing that? If you read a physical newspaper still, use the pages to wrap up gifts! For tiny gifts, magazine pages could also work!
Cookie Tins or Boxes
Another reusable item I’ve been getting into? Reusable gift boxes. So, so easy and can be found at your dollar store! I’ve also been known to put some presents in cookie tins. Since no one is out visiting people this year, there should be a decent pile up of cookie tins in your closet (if you’re one to keep such things). Place the present inside, close the lid, add a gift tag and you’ve got yourself a super simple gift wrapping alternative!
Really out of options? Paint an old Amazon box, or spruce a plain cardboard box up with some twine and greenery. Is there an old ball of yarn not quite used up kicking around somewhere? Use it as ribbon!
Paint, or decorate, foil cooking trays, or shoe boxes, If you get a little creative, they could look really cute! And, if not…blame it on covid.
