Six Clever Ways to Reuse Holiday Gift Wrapping Paper

With the holiday season coming up, many of us will receive presents that are covered in gift wrapping paper. What are the environmentally conscious to do with this paper once it is free from the package? Here are six missions that you can give to the gift wrapping paper from those beloved holiday treasures:

Reuse it to wrap other gifts.

If the paper is free from numerous creases and tears, you can turn the wrap inside out and decorate it in your own way to reuse on another gift. Unleash your creative side, and create your own design on the previously used gift wrap. With the number of birthdays and other holidays throughout the year, you will have several opportunities to put your redesigned gift wrapping paper to work.

Make your own handmade note cards.

You can take the previously utilized gift wrap and place it upon recycled card stock to make your own handmade note cards. You can either cut out the pictures that you like from the gift wrapping paper, or you can simply attach a whole portion of the wrapping paper design to the card stock with non-toxic glue. You can delight your friends and family members by sending them endearing messages on these handmade cards throughout the year.

Make colorful placemats for your kitchen table.

Take one of the cardboard boxes within which you received a gift and cut it into rectangular pieces comparable to the size of usual placemats. Simply wrap the pieces of cardboard with the previously loved gift wrap, and either tape or glue the wrap in place. You have instant placemats to use throughout the year.

Reuse the gift wrap as a table or floor covering for an art project.

Reused gift wrap makes a wonderful table or floor covering for an art project. Whether you or one of your family members is painting, tie-dyeing, sculpting, or taking part in some other artistic endeavor, you will benefit from utilizing that reusable gift wrap to protect your table or floor from any excess art materials that might get away.

Reuse the wrapping paper to line your cabinets or shelves.

If you are planning to line your cabinets or shelves with contact paper, why not rather utilize the salvaged gift wrapping paper for this task? You can either place the paper where the decorative side is showing, or if you prefer, you can flip over the wrap and simply expose the white side. The choice is yours.

Make paper beads from the gift wrap.

You can take the saved gift wrap and make paper beads from it. Instructions on how to create these beautiful beads are available online. Once your beads are complete, you can craft your own jewelry masterpieces to wear yourself or to give as gifts to friends and family members.

As you are unwrapping your holiday gifts this year, you can save the gift wrapping paper and think of all of the creative re-assignments for which you can use it. By doing this with the gift wrapping paper, you can keep it out of the landfill and enjoy it in its new forms and duties.

Sources:

http://www.greensense.com/Features/Living/Crafts/Paper/beads.htm

http://www.paperbeadcrafts.com/howto/papers.shtml