The Best Recycled Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas

I've heard it said that necessity can be the mother of invention. I'd also say that a creative mind will leave no stone unturned when it comes to finding another way to do something unexpectedly. I grew up on a farm where creativity was just the way we did things. I lived around antiques, not because we collected them. But because they got passed down in the family and we hadn't worn out all of the possible ways we could still find them useful. In this article you may find those kinds of suggestions. Perhaps they'll encourage you to come up with your own versions:

Paper Originally Used for Another Purpose:

My foster sister has become famous in the family for her Sunday Comic wrapped gifts. She collects the comics until she has enough to wrap the gifts she's giving away.

I've used the paper that often comes in the packaging of shipped packages or around glass items purchased in local stores. There's often two varieties; 1-The odd batch of cut-up wrapping paper and 2-The unprinted newsprint paper. The odd batch wrapping paper I've used just as it is to wrap the outside of the gift or to be used the same way I'd use tissue paper. I've used the newsprint as an art project for our son where we've used cookie cutters dipped in food coloring or tempera paint to decorate the paper and wrap gifts with. We've also added Christmas stickers that we've received in the mail.

This particular paper isn't exactly from another purpose. We reuse used wrapping paper. We save most of our used wrapping paper. Often we use it to wrap the gifts we're shipping because they're going to get beat up anyway and there's no sense in putting in new when it won't arrive new. We've recycled special pieces for our own gift giving. I've also saved pieces which have special memories, some of which have been put in some of our photo albums.

Pretty Boxes:

I save all pretty boxes that I've received a gift in and reuse them to either wrap gifts in or to be a part of the gift. Jewelry boxes especially come in handy when either the jewelry I'm giving didn't come in a box or I made the piece. I also use them for small valuable items that aren't jewelry such as small boxes or miniatures.

I've also bought wonderful multi-packs that have come in hand made paper boxes, wooden boxes, basket boxes or specially decorated boxes. I've used them as a part of the gift. For example I made a necklace for a friend and the handmade paper box was a part of the gift. It was tied with a leather lace with conchos, beads and feathers.
One time I bought some multi-packs of decorator soap packaged in baskets. I gave the soaps away singly and used the baskets as separate wrapping for other gifts.

Candy boxes or tea boxes also make good packages for gifts. They can be a part of the gift when they're a special limited or anniversary edition. I've also acquired candy boxes that were divided in sections that would make good gifts for hobbyists filled with the supplies of their favorite pastime.

Pretty, Unusual or Special Bags:

When I'm out on trips I save the shopping bags from the stores I buy things from. Some of them I've used as the gift bag for a gift. I've used the bags from candy shops to wrap a gift in. I also save pretty and unusually shaped gift bags that I've received gifts in. Some I've given back out with gifts in them for others and in other cases we've reused some several times for our own Christmas giving.

Candy Tins:

Most tins don't go back out because I collect tins. However, I have sometimes used them as the wrapping. I got the idea from a roommate who bought a jar of Ovaltine and put it inside an antique coffee canister tin, wrapped it and gave it to me for my birthday. After the Ovaltine was gone I still had the wonderful tin and the memory. I've filled candy tins with sewing or craft supplies and have wrapped them in fabric or art paper and tied them with yarn or ribbon. I've done the same with cookie tins.

Baskets:

Sometimes I've purchased or received items that have been packaged in some sort of basket container. Then I'll keep the parts I want of the gift and use the other parts as containers for gifts. One time I bought a multi-package of very nice coasters in a nice open basket box. I gave the coasters away individually and used the basket box as the basis of a customized gift container for some other items I'd been saving to give away to a certain individual.

Fabric/Yarn/Lace:

I have a lot of fabric which I've either purchased, inherited or it's been given to me. I've used it as the wrapping paper, gift stuffing, package decoration or as part of the gift. I've also used yarn and lace as package decoration and as part of the gift.