Creative Recycled Holiday Gift Wrap Ideas

With the economy the way it is many people are cutting back when it comes to the holiday's, but you can always find materials you can recycle to help with the budget crunch. When it comes to gift wrapping, you don't have to spend allot of money. Here are some fun, creative ways to decorate your gifts this year using recycled materials.

1) Everyone has an old shirt or an old blanket that they don't want anymore. Don't throw these items away because they can be recycled and used as gift wrap. To use a blanket, just wrap the present like you would normally wrap a present. You can decorate the blanket with recycled ribbons and bows from last Christmas or you can attach some small, inexpensive tree ornaments. To use a shirt, cut off the arms of the shirt. Sew the arm holes shut. You can either use tape to close the top and bottom of the shirt or use can use self adhesive Velcro. The best shirt to recycle on this project would be a button down shirt. Again you can embellish the shirt with recycled ribbons, bows and other little decorations from previous holiday's. These are unique and inexpensive ways to decorate and personalize a Christmas gift.

2) Are there still leaves on your grass? If there are, you can gather different sizes and colors of leaves and recycle them into gift wrap. Once you have a bunch of leaves, hot glue them to some recycled newspaper or brown packaging paper that you can buy in rolls or recycle your paper grocery bags. You can place the leaves all over or make a pattern. You can also add some cotton to make it look like snow and arrange popsicle sticks in the shape of a sled. This would be a great craft to get the kids involved in.

3) Are you someone who keeps those gift bags that your gifts came in? If you are, maybe it's time to recycle those bags back to their owners. With this tip you would be saving money and helping the environment all at the same time.

4) Save all the stores Christmas ads because you can recycle these into gift wrap as well. These ads usually have lots of reds and greens, which are perfect for Christmas time. Decorate with bows and ribbons and you are all set. If you are one of the unusual ones who don't get junk mail, maybe you can have your neighbor or co-worker save the ads for you.

5) Colored garbage bags work wonders. Garbage bags come in black, white, red, orange, green, yellow, blue and purple. (I'm sure there are more colors) You can use two different colors or use one color. You can be very creative using colored garbage bags to wrap your gifts. Have the kid's help you decorate by having them make their own garbage bag bows and their own garbage bag ribbons.

Wrapping your holiday gifts this year can be fun and inexpensive. Chances are you have allot of these items in your home already. Decorating gifts can be a fun family event! Good luck and Happy Holiday's!