it's the most wasteful time of the year!

Hello,

My name is "Bwings" and I'm out of wrapping paper!

When it comes to wrapping paper and bags I have a system. In my storage closet there is a large plastic storage bin on a shelf. It contains within it gift bags of every size and occasion from years of collection. These bags are sorted by size making it easy to find what you are looking for. On the side of this container is a stack of folded neutrally colored tissue paper, neatly tucked for your packing pleasure. I have not had to purchase a gift bag in maybe 7 years! Gift wrapping paper I will keep in a similar style. Even when it's down to the sliver, I will use those slivers to make name tags for my gifts.
So after 6 years my wrapping paper has almost completely dried up. This year I am on a mission to replace it, the additional mission is to replace it with recyclable paper. A commonly missed fact is that christmas paper is not recyclable! Does that not make you a little sick?! Just think how much paper you go through in your house, now think how much paper your friends go through in their house. Now think of that estimated  6.6677 billion people who celebrate Christmas every year and how much they might be going through.
So now that I have run out wrapping paper that I admit I purchased cheap and was likely not recyclable in the slightest, I shall see what I can do. Of course the quick easy solution would be to chase down a recyclable variety. But that's boring, so I looked up some other methods of wrapping. Here are some of my ideas and some I found online.

• Personalized paper - Take standard brown paper (like a brown paper bag or big brown paper towel) and personalize it, color on it with your children, glue things on the finished wrap job. Sparkle it up. I really think I may do that this year. Get some large recyclable craft paper and go nuts with the family. Make it a family fun day of doodling. And on the bottom of each gift I might just stamp, "100% Recyclable" so the recipient knows to not toss this with the rest of the paper ;) 
• Gift Bags - Might not be as fun to open but you can reuse them over and over again. That's what I do for my adult friends. I love to wrap though and kids can sneak into bags. 
• Gift in a gift - Teen in university/college pack a laundry basket of goodies. Fisherman friend, tackle box of presents. Buy them a gift you can pack in a gift, like a gift and a towel. Wrap the towel around the gift and tie it off. 
• Fabric gift bags - Make your own fabric gift bags. As much as this sounds like a sweet idea it doesn't really seem cost effective to me. Unless you had some pact with your friends that you give them the fabric bag this year and next year they use it for you. That just seems like a lot of work for a once a year event. 
• Recycled wrapping paper - already mentioned but it goes without saying. 

Those are just some ideas, I'm sure if you think on it you can come up with so many more! I am set on the crafty idea, adds a personalized touch and can be personalized for every season so no need for me to have so many individual rolls in my storage closet. One roll to rule them all one roll to...wrap them!

That's all from your friendly neighborhood hippie mom.