DIY gift wrap

shell2001

We had a quartly update mag on recycling when they collected the blue bins this week and it now says that you can recycle your yellow pages and phone books (we live in cambridgeshire) they have also started recycling aerosil cans too. But when we lived in Devon 4 years ago these things were already being recycled and glass was collected from the kerbside pick up too!

scuzz

We use the metallic look wrapping paper - the one that doesn't crease or tear easily

Then we just re-use this over and over again

Annando

shell2001 wrote:

We had a quartly update mag on recycling when they collected the blue bins this week and it now says that you can recycle your yellow pages and phone books (we live in cambridgeshire) they have also started recycling aerosil cans too. But when we lived in Devon 4 years ago these things were already being recycled and glass was collected from the kerbside pick up too!

You are way ahead from Hampshire!!!
I went to the farmer's market today and they are now offering composting bins for people to start composting their garden waste and their household green waste. Checked with the lady again about the wrapping paper she said it could only be recycled if it was 100% paper, she said the shinny stuff (her own words) cannot be recycled and makes the recycling machine break down.
Asked about phone book, still a no no around here apparently.

I suppose different parts of the country have different schemes.

Annando

scuzz wrote:

We use the metallic look wrapping paper - the one that doesn't crease or tear easily

Then we just re-use this over and over again

Way to go Scuzz! Although it is not "recyclable" you do recycle it!

mah_jong

We have used the same gift bags for years ....they go into the Christmas decoration box in Jan and come out again in December still as good as new!

Annando

Ok I have to eat my words back... aparently Portsmouth City Council is one of the few councils that doesn't recycle the Yellow Pages!
http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/891.html
To find out what can be recycled and where you can go to this site:
http://www.recyclenow.com/what_more_can_i_do/index.html

Phatmouse

I have also done this for years, I bought ribbon from Ikea last year and used the pink and yellow for girls and blue and green for boys, I have enough left for this year.

irchy_mum

kiwi88 wrote:

Set out poster paints in paper plates, strip the children down to bare minimum clothing and get them to do handprints and footprints on paper anything from wallpaper,lining or brown paper. Tags can be done the same way and but just cut around them

Fantastic idea kiwi88, have just bought some brown paper rolls from Wilkinsons - 6m for 69p each.

Thanks for 'bumping' this thread

janetmw

A brilliant site for all you crafty types is to be found here

Lots of templates for cards, gift envelopes, boxes, tags etc.

Have fun

Janet

Quasar

Well, I was stunned at some of the wrapping materials my presents were in.

One is a strong and very pretty box from L'Occitane, probably same volume as a shoe box but square, not rectangular. Then lots of white flimsy wrapping paper in perfect condition and relatively uncreased. Then two silky finishing ribbons, one a beautiful jade green, the other red and gold, each well over a yard long and about 1-1/2 inch wide.

I just can't bear to chuck the above stuff, so I have put the paper and ribbons neatly folded in the box and will keep this stuff for future use. Is this mean and stingy? it seems such a shame to just discard all that, not just for the money it could save, but also because of the recycling ethos. Or am I just making excuses?