When I saw all that perfectly good (though crumpled) paper I knew I would want to resuse it. So yesterday I took a little bit of time and ironed it all out and rolled it up. Now I have this:
We were wrapping presents yesterday as it was my brother Luke's birthday and in the process I had fun coming up with another present wrapped in recycled materials. I thought it would be fun to share with you.
The kids and I made candy for him and I had a box that most of it fit in but the last 6 pieces I couldn't find anything for them to fit in. So I found a butter box that was empty. I put them in it but there was extra space and it looked rather cheesy. So....
I cut down in each corner almost to where the candy was and then turned each side into a triangular shape. (see picture) Then I found some recycled wrapping paper and cut it into an X shape (see photo) big enough to fit over the box. I then carefully taped the wrapping paper on, folding the edges down over the triangle.
I think it ended up making an elegant little package. It was fun and easy to make too. And free, since I used recyled things, and free is always nice!
What is your favorite way to wrap things cheaply?
Here are other ideas for frugal and green gift wrapping.
12 comments:
I love your thrifty ideas! For Christmas I used a lot of boxes from the kitchen (though not as cute as that butter presentation of yours!). It was fun to look through the pantry and see what I could recycle. My neice really thought I got her crackers...!!
Your butter box is really sweet!
Thats so cute! We got some "filler" paper in the mail in December and also used it. Although I did not think of ironing it. We just had the crumpled look which can actually be pretty if done right. I taped pieces of it to the kitchen table and let my 3 1/2 year old draw on it, and also we did potato stamps together in paint and wrapped presents for Christmas. She loved being able to do a craft, it reused something and it was pretty and useful!
Love your blog Abbi. I always try to use the paper for something as well, usually I just save it to re-pack boxes I'm shipping out but once in awhile I like to have fun with it! :)
Jessica
I never thought of ironing crumpled paper. What a great idea! I also love your little butter box gift box!
Nice work, Abbi! Now, tell me... how soon are you starting on Handmade Christmas 2010? :>) I started in October, and ended up feeling kinda rushed! I was so pleased with how everything turned out, but I am afraid that if I start too early, then I'll end up getting different ideas and re-doing and/or changing my mind. (You may remember that I opened up the I-Spy bags TWO TIMES after I stitched them shut!)
On the flip side, perhaps I need to think through more on my list of things to make? There's a reason that kids used to get ONE gift - especially when there's a lot of work involved in it...
Don't mind me thinking out loud in your comments box. :>)
They all look great. For Christmas we wrapped some packages in white easel paper that we had used for a previous project. I just turned it over and had my kiddos colored on the backside. It made cute paper and everyone loved it!
Thanks for the ideas everybody! I love hearing what others do too!
Netta, I am not sure when I will start on the Handmade Christmas. It seems like it might be nice to start a bit earlier this year. Actually my personal goal is to start a lot earlier and then just blog about them later (or actually pre-blog and have them post later). I don't really want to start having Christmas posts real early in the year but perhaps October would be good and then maybe not go all the way up to Christmas.
I am also rethinking about how much I really want to make this year. Even with us keeping things very simple, at the end it almost felt like to much to me.
I wrapped several presents this year but I got the most compliments on the gift that I wrapped in butcher paper then stamped leaves over it. I think I'll do this from now on. :D
It DID seem like too much... and the flip side is that I looked at some of the store-bought new presents I received and thought "that didn't take much time or effort!" Shame on me, of course! It just really gave me a different persepctive this year. I wonder what my recipients honestly thought.
I like your idea of starting early-early but not posting right away. I'm still new enough to blogging that such a thing hadn't really occurred to me. :>) I also need to keep my focus on making things for people I love - not so I can blog about it, for heaven's sake!
I really appreciate this "conversation", Abbi. Thanks so much!
What great ideas! I love the look of brown wrapping paper tied with a pretty ribbon ~ well done to iron all that stuff out for future use! :) Your little candy box turned out so lovely ~ you are a very creative girl.
Blessings,
Camille
P.S. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment ~ it was sweet of you.
Kris_tea, stamping it with leaves sounds very pretty! Was your paper brown or white? I think it would look pretty on both.
Lenetta, I appreciated our "conversation" too! I guess we just keep learning as we go. Someday maybe we will have everything all figured out! :-)
Camille, Thanks for coming to "visit".
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