Green Alternatives to Gift Bags & Gift Wrap You Can Find in Your Home

Use Your Creative Side to Make Your Own Green Gift Bags

How many times have you found yourself rummaging through your house trying to find a gift bag or gift wrap to wrap a present? If you are like most people, this probably happens a few times a year. Birthdays, holidays, weddings, and baby showers are all events that usually involve having to wrap a gift. There are items in your own home you can use to make creative gift-wrapping and gift bag ideas. The best part is many of these ideas involve recycling paper, recycling boxes and reusing glass jars.

Recyle and Reuse Items in Your House to Wrap Presents

Old Glass Jars – You know you have at least one in your cupboard. You probably saved it for a rainy day, but you can put smaller items inside of these old glass jars. Maybe it’s candy, homemade cookies, candles, etc. You can add a decorative touch by adding stickers or embellishments from your scrapbooking collection and decorate the jar however you like.

Old Glass Canisters – Maybe you have some spaghetti noodles and rice in a few of these. Clean them out, doll them up and keep items fresh by using glass canisters. Many of these canisters are great for gifts such as potpourri, bath beads or homemade sauces.

Newspaper – Find the “Comics Section” or “Horoscope Section” from your local newspaper and use this to wrap your gift. Newspaper is also a great way to provide extra padding or support for a gift that is fragile. Wrap the gift in a few pages in newspaper and you are good to go.

Shredded Paper – If you have to wrap a fragile gift, a greener alternative is to use the documents that you shredded that morning. Forget the tissue paper. This recycled shredded paper will help to support smaller fragile items, like figurines and glass candles that need to be protected.

Cardboard Boxes – If you have a present that needs to be obscured you can reuse cardboard boxes. Just about everyone has at least one in their garage or in their closet. These boxes work great because they are sturdy and conceal items effectively. If you have time, you can also do a little artwork on the box with stencils and paint or use stickers.

Plant Pot – If you have a friend who has a “green thumb” why not use a plant pot as the greener alternative to a gift bag? Better yet, why not make a gift basket and place a variety of gardening tools inside of the plant pot? This would make a great gift.

Greener Alternatives and Imagination Makes a Winning Pair

Remember to use that incredible imagination of yours and you can find greener alternatives to gift bags. By utilizing items you already have in your home you can help to eliminate unnecessary waste and put old items to good use, which is good for the environment and your budget.

Sources

https://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/green-gift-wrap-alternatives.html

Photo Credit: Salvatore Vuono