The holidays are traditionally a time when we bring abundance into the home. The result can be a lot of stuff around using resources and taking up space. One way to creatively conserve is to utilize re-usable or unusual wrapping ideas. Re-usable wrapping can take many forms, and, as an added bonus, it becomes part of the gift you’re giving. If you think ahead, wrapping doesn’t have to add much to the cost of the gift either.

Almost anything can become the “wrapping” for a gift. An example you’ve seen before could be some handmade sweets packaged in a pretty, reusable tin. You can just as easily give some candy in a pretty serving dish. Wicker baskets are inexpensive and provide a lovely presentation for your presents. Wooden or metal boxes, new or used, can be decorated or just adorned with some ribbon to make them look festive.

How do you start collecting these packages? During the year, keep your eyes open for containers that might be suitable for gifts. Thrift stores and garage sales are great places to look. An older metal container can easily be sanded and given new life with a fresh coat of enamel paint. Wooden fruit crates have a wonderful rustic look especially when you can still read the markings on them. Fill them with raffia and nestle gifts inside. Remember when you’re putting the finishing touches on your packages to use fabric ribbon. That way whoever receives the gift can reuse the ribbon too.

If you’d like to make some wrapping from scratch, fabric bags are a thoughtful alternative. It’s easy to make many bags at once. They’ll look great under your tree and you can continue to use them all season long.

Here’s how to make a fabric bag:
Pick some festive fabric.
Cut a piece the width necessary for your bag, and twice as long, leaving a 5/8″ seam allowance.
Cut two long strips of fabric, the same length as the finished bag and 4″ wide. The strips will be your ties.
Fold the strips in half to make a 2″ wide piece, with the right sides together, and sew the long open side and one of the ends. Turn the strips right side out and press.
Fold your bag fabric in half, lengthwise, right sides together.
Insert 1″ of the tie into the bag, about 1/3 of the way down the bag.
Pin the seams, pinning the tie into the seam.
Turn the top edge 5/8″, press and pin down.
Sew the sides shut.
Hem the top of the bag.
Turn the bag right-side out and press.

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* Recycled gift wraps save you a lot of cash, but what do you plan to do with all the gift wrapping paper you got from your gifts? Don’t worry, because there are five funky ways on how you can reuse gift wrapping paper.