DIY gift wrap

LilMissEmmylou

i actually get upset at people throwing things like this away lol - my MIL got some lovely flowers in a beautiful gold and red fabric - she threw the fabric out with the dead flowers! I was gutted!!!! i even suggested her keeping it for my niece to use for arts and crafts and she said no because she doesn't like her using scissors. I used ribbons that came around blankets i bought in the summer to tie around gifts this christmas.... managed to nab one of them before it was chucked which made me feel pleased with myself lol. Always keep the bags and nice paper if i can - infact id be chuffed as punch if i knew somebody wrapped my gifts in old wrapping paper/gift bags/boxes! And i too keep old postal boxes/packages for reusing. More people should! lets starts a penny pinching revolution hmmm but me thinks its already in motion

rosieben

I save ribbon, beads, pop-ups etc for my scrapbooking and crafts. I also collect containers of all sorts. I have cigar boxes, and useful sized clear plastic boxes from those round chocs wrapped in gold paper which my sis loves (cant think of the name), they're great for keeping small bits in. I store a lot of my craft stuff in a plastic drawer tower. I have all my big pieces of ribbon in a pine box with 'BREAD' carved neatly on the front!!

I hate waste and try to think of alternative uses for something rather than throw it out.

Edited to add - I have a large shoe box (from my son's latest boots) and covered in gold wrapping paper (recycled naturally!) it makes a useful and easily recognisable box for my christmas cards and address list etc. I shall store this in the top of my wardrobe so I can find it in plenty of time for next year!

Mrs_Sparkle

Our family are like this too. On Christmas Day my mum and I carefully removed the snowflake decorations and little ribbons from the crackers and she took the ribbons and I got the snowflakes which will be added to my tree decoration box. It's recycling so you should be proud of yourself!

Aril

This makes good common sense to me in my book. Yesterday we had an extra gift to give and I used a Christmas bag which came with a bottle of wine in it a couple of years ago. I've wombled all the bubble wrap from Christmas along with any suitable cardboard boxes which OH will use to send out his orders to customers [we haven't actually bought a single box for this purpose in the last 3 years and one of my mini challenges is that it stays that way] All ribbon is salvaged and was needed for school projects on more that one occasion last year and I incorporated some in my HM Christmas cards. To keep the ribbons tidy I have saved some cardboard tubes from kitchen paper rolls and then collected up all ribbon in the same colours. I then wrap them round the tube and fasten with a pin. Probably a very sad thing to do but hey I know what I've got then and it keeps me happy!
Aril

rosieben

Aril wrote: »

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To keep the ribbons tidy I have saved some cardboard tubes from kitchen paper rolls and then collected up all ribbon in the same colours. I then wrap them round the tube and fasten with a pin. Probably a very sad thing to do but hey I know what I've got then and it keeps me happy!
Aril

I gave my dgd this 'job' to do. it kept her quiet for ages and proving very useful to have them colour sorted.

mary43

Saw a tip on a card making site..............making gift bags/boxes out of cereal packets etc. Cover them with some kind of wrapping paper/wallpaper scrapbooking stuff, punch two holes in the top, thread with ribbon and you've got a free gift bag. I was going to do it this year and never got around to it.

Angelraesunshine

i always keep any git bag or boxes that are in as new condition and reuse them. this year DD2 got a lovely xmas tree box with hair bits in the front bit was a bit tatty so had to be thrown but the box is fab will fill it next year with homemade sweets or cookies and give as a present.

Katgoddess

I save bits and pieces but end up taking them into work for the crèche collage box. Old Christmas cards, and shiny bits of ribbon and card cut into triangles (trees) and squares (presents) look fabulous when glued on a dark piece of card. Any under five can make a masterpiece with a little bit of help from a grown up.

hornetgirl

Off at a slight tangent perhaps, but we received two small bottles of port which came in a wooden box with an open front and a cord loop on top. We quickly demolished the port, and DH is now casting about for something to put over the front (eg chicken wire), to turn the box into a hanging bird feeder. Two presents for the price of one!

mary43

Lovely idea...........sent my son a candle like a wine bottle in a box...........hadn't thought of him doing that with the box. He lives in a fllat but I'm sure he'd be allowed to have something like that.