Giftwrapping

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!  When you’re getting ready to wrap presents, instead of buying new wrapping paper and bags, consider getting creative with your present-ation (sorry, it was just lying there). 

via A Woman's Haven

Instead of wrapping paper, look around for:

• Pictures from your 2011 calendar
• Maps - the free ones you got from AAA or the places you never visit (or never want to go back to).  Or, find a map from a place that holds significance to your loved one!
• Wrap the gift IN a gift - dish towels, a scarf, a mug, reusable cloth napkins, or a billion other things.  

In lieu of a giftbag, why not:

• A reusable bag from your local grocery store that you wanted to get rid of anyway
• Tins or glass jars
• If you're giving wine - or a shampoo bottle? - and have an ugly sweater lying around, check this out!

Plastic ribbons?  How about:

• Twine
• Yarn - available for cheap at thrift stores, or maybe leftover from the scar you never finished
• Scrap fabric

When the party's over, see how little actually needs to be thrown away.  My family has been using the same gift bags, ribbon, tags, and tissue paper for YEARS.