I used to love buying new wrapping paper each Christmas and creating a whole theme of colors and motifs for all the gifts I gave. While I totally still adore the whole faux bois or gnome-themed wrapping paper, I had to stop myself from indulging in this particular form of consumer creativity. It's just way better for the planet (and the pocketbook) to go with recycled and repurposed gift packaging. Turns out, it's actually just as creative and fun too!
There are actually a ton of great ways to use recycled items for holiday gift wrap, but some are more doable than others. While I'm not going to spend hours making tons of new gift bags, I'm definitely up for hitting the thrift store and scavenging in my supply of quilting fabric. If you're looking for a more environmentally friendly way to wrap your gifts this year, try some of these ideas.
Put Gifts in Vintage Holiday Tins
Remember those cookie tins your grandma had? Hit your local thrift shop or antique store to find any kind of holiday-themed tin. They're so cute, and they work really well as a gift box for small- and medium-sized presents. You can wrap fragile items in fabric inside the tin and tie a ribbon around the outside. Add a gift tag, and call it done.
Related: Charming Antique & Vintage Tins That Are Useful & Valuable
Use a Basket as a Gift Bag
Paper gift bags are just fine (albeit kind of expensive), and you really can reuse them. Still, they don't always have a ton of personality, and people tend to throw them away. Opt instead for a more useful gift container: a basket. If you're like me, you actually have a ton of baskets around, but they're easy to find at thrift stores, too. Wrap the gift in fabric and tie on a holiday ribbon, and you're good to go.
Repurpose Newspaper as Gift Wrap
You know that free local newspaper that comes every few weeks? Save those to wrap your holiday gifts. What's cool about this is that newsprint tends to be very neutral (maybe skip those loudly colored ads for plumbers and discount groceries). You can give it an awesome holiday vibe by adding Christmas-colored ribbons and decorations.
Newspapers aren't the only paper you can repurpose for gift wrap. If you've got some sheet music you don't use any more or an old book that's falling apart, put it to work as wrapping paper for smaller gifts.
Wrap Gifts in Vintage Linens
You can wrap presents in fabric, and that's a great choice if you happen to have a stash handy. However, if you're not into quilting or sewing, you can skip a trip to the fabric store and go with vintage linens instead. An embroidered pillowcase makes an awesome gift bag, especially when tied with Christmas ribbon. You can also wrap smaller items in napkins or doilies, and tablecloths and sheets make great gift wrap for big presents. What's cool about this idea is the gift wrap becomes part of the gift.
Reuse a Purse or Tote From the Thrift Store
If your local thrift store is like mine, it's probably full of old totes and vintage purses. These actually make amazing gift bags, especially when you add a holiday decoration like a Christmas ornament or some ribbon. I love using this strategy to wrap presents for my nieces since they can use the bag when they play dress-up.
Paint Shoe Boxes and Cardboard Containers to Hold Gifts
Our house is overrun with cardboard boxes, especially during the holidays. Before you toss that Amazon box or shoe box in the recycle bin, think about painting it as a gift box. This is actually really easy — you just need tempura paint that will cover any designs on the box. You can go with a solid color or do a special holiday design.
Another option here is decoupage. You can just cut out holiday images from magazines or gift wrap and use a decoupage medium to apply them to the cardboard box.
Add Embellishments to Paper Store Bags
When you shop for your holiday gifts, you'll probably be coming home with plenty of paper store bags. Before you recycle these, think about covering the store logo with a pretty piece of holiday paper or fabric. You can just cut it out and glue it on. Paint also works well to give these bags a custom look and create your own recycled gift bags.
Thrift Old Jewelry Boxes and Trinket Boxes
In days gone by, people used to have trinket boxes on their dressers and tables. While we might have a few of these around today, there are a lot of them in just about any thrift store or antique store. Same goes for old jewelry boxes. Pick these up for a few dollars and use them as gift packaging for smaller presents. A bow on top is all it takes to create that holiday look.
Decorate Metal Buckets and Cans With Vintage Ornaments
Upcycle your old tin cans as gift packaging this holiday season. All you need are some vintage ornaments that you can tie around the top. You can also find coffee cans at the thrift store in all kinds of cool designs if you want to package a larger gift, or you can use a metal bucket. I love this strategy for hard-to-wrap items that pack well.
Use Pretty Jars to Package Gifts
If you're like me, you have a hard time throwing out that beautiful jam jar. Here's your excuse not to: you can use it as gift packaging when the holidays come around. Just cut a piece of Christmas fabric or plain fabric in a holiday color and wrap it around the gift. Tuck the whole thing inside the jar and you're done — no tape needed. This works really well for pretty antique jars, too.
Upcycled Holiday Gift Wrap Is More Personal
With so many awesome options for wrapping holiday gifts in recycled materials, it seems silly to shell out for that Santa-printed gift wrap. Upcycled gift wrap is much more personal, and everyone appreciates that it's easier on the planet, too.
