The holiday season is upon us! That means it’s time spread the spirit of cheer and gift-giving. Thanks to online shopping, you don’t have to worry about joining the Christmas rush crowd. Don’t worry about wrapping those presents. Here, we show you how to wrap gifts without going out and spending for new materials. You won’t just put a smile on loved ones’ faces; you’ll be making Mother Nature happy, too!

Fab fabric

The Japanese has a unique way of wrapping items using furoshiki. It’s a square piece of cloth used to wrap just about anything, and the fabric is reusable as well.

You don’t need to buy new cloths for this one. Old, pretty scarves or hand towels are good alternatives (just remember to wash them first if they’ve been sitting in your closet for a long time).

Here's how to wrap presents using furoshiki. For beginners, start with a boxed package.

1. If you’re using a fabric that’s rectangular, fold it in half to create a square. If you’re using a printed cloth, make sure the print is facing the surface you’re working on.
2. Place the boxed gift at the center of the fabric.
3. Fold the bottom corner over the box. Do the same for the top corner. Smooth out the fabric if needed.
4. Tuck the left side of the fabric to flatten it against the side of the box. Do the same to the other side.
5. Grab hold of the fabric and make a simple knot.

Bring out the dailies

Rather than throwing those old newspapers into the bin, why not reuse them as gift wrappers? Choose pages that have interesting details, like the lifestyle section. Avoid the front page, which might contain images not suitable for gift wrapping. If you’re wrapping a heavy object, use two sheets so the wrapper won’t tear.

Glossy options

If you find newspapers too basic, you may also use old magazine pages for smaller gifts. The best ones to use are fashion, travel, and photography titles. These have beautiful images and designs that make for pretty recycled wrappers.

Tote-ally worth it

Owning a few, nice totes you can reuse is practical; but having plenty of reusable bags you end up ignoring is not.

If you have more than a handful of canvas totes that are just sitting around, it’s time to repurpose them as gift bags. They’re perfect for food items or for gifts that you find challenging to wrap. Make sure to clean them first, though, before giving them away to loved ones.   

All boxed up

Don’t be quick to throw away those generic boxes you’ve amassed from online shopping. Give them a new lease on life by reusing them to package the gifts you’ll be giving.

To make sure they still look presentable, be careful when removing any adhesives. If you have boxes stored for quite some time, dust them off and check for any defects. It’s also important that old boxes are still sturdy enough to hold whatever item you’d like to pack in them. If, for example, the box is quite big for the intended gift, secure the item with fillers made of shredded or crumpled old magazines.

Spruce ‘em up

A few accessories can instantly make recycled or reused gift wrappers more appealing. Tie them with twines or pretty ribbons. A few fresh sprigs of rosemary, eucalyptus, or sage from your garden can also add a chic touch.

If you want to forego store-bought gift tags, you may also use old calling cards. Just cover both sides with kraft paper (you can easily find this online), punch a hole on one side, and attach it to your gift. Make it more personal by adding a hand-written greeting or label.