Before you wrap up the year, you may be wrapping up holiday gifts. Instead of rushing to the store on December 24, think outside the conventionally wrapped box.
You can take a gift to the next level by making the wrapping part of the gift. Kitchen-themed gifts could be wrapped in a tea towel. Spa-inspired gifts might look great in a basket.
Decorate these with a bonus gift in the form of a locally made tree ornament or fresh-baked gingerbread cookie on a string. Some hostess gifts need only be wrapped in a smile, like a houseplant or bottle of wine.
Kids love treasure hunts, so why not incorporate one into their present? No wrapping is needed at all. Fun clues could lead them through the house, garage, apartment building or yard until the big reveal. Personalize the clues to references only they would know for extra smiles.
You can also get the children involved in the wrapping gifts for others. Simple brown kraft paper could be painted or potato-stamped into the festive spirit by little ones of any age.
Paper is never hard to come by. Try using outdated magazines, sheet music, newspapers or paper from the recycling box.
Tearing or curling strips of it can make it artsy. Adding a sprig of rosemary or cedar and a pine cone or bit of colourful fabric gives some charm.
If local thrift stores haven’t already been raided, they are a great place to find gently used holiday gift bags for a fraction of the cost of new. Secondhand stores live for this season when they can give back to the community all the holiday décor and wrapping they’ve stocked up all year long. You can keep your holiday bags with your seasonal decorations so you have them when you need them next year.
Those who have a little extra time and sewing skills could make reusable bags out of fabric they have around the house. If you plan on using your bags within the family year after year, you might even invest in holiday-themed prints.
Replace tape with string (cotton, hemp, jute) or a reused bit of ribbon. Odd-shaped gifts often need a box, so reuse boxes you may have around the house first before buying new. Thrift stores may have gift boxes or festive cookie tins that could work as well.
If you totally drop the ball and don’t get around to wrapping a gift, have your friend close their eyes. Opening their eyes could be the big reveal, or you could have them feel and guess what their present is. Clues can be fun here, too.
A local charity may also be fundraising through a gift wrapping service. Make sure to request the most natural options such as paper without shiny “metallic” plastic designs. These are not recyclable anyhow.
No one wants to deck the halls with garbage over the holidays. Once all the gift opening is done, be sure to recycle wrapping paper, gift cards and gift bags that can’t be reused or donated.
Remember to remove plastic bows, string, talking card batteries, and stickers before placing items in the recycling bins.
Happy Holidays from Let’s Talk Trash!
Let’s Talk Trash is contracted by qathet Regional District to deliver its waste reduction education program. For more information, email [email protected] or go to LetsTalkTrash.ca.
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