Green Gift Wrap

Do you want to green your Christmas but just can't give up your pretty pattered wrapping paper? You don't have to! How about buying some beautiful Christmas themed cloth, seaming the edges and using it to wrap your gifts furoshiki style? This beautiful Japanese style gift wrap can be used again and again. Head over to Etsy for their Storque article on how to create these lovely gifts.
In addition to tying, you can sew reusable cloth gift bags for your friends and family. They can reuse the bags as totes or gift wrap. Christmas fabric looks very festive for the holidays and other prints can be used year-round. Check out these cute bags available from Lucky Crow or if you're handy with a sewing machine, make some of your own! Sewing bags and flat pieces of cloth for wrapping is great practice for kids just learning to sew.

Do you have any old canisters? It's easy for kids to make these beautiful recycled gift cans using paper, glue and a little bit of ribbon. These handy cans can be reused again and again. Head on over to Crafty Nest to see how to make them.

Instead of buying plastic made-in-China bows this year, why not make your own gift wrap bows? Check out The Hybrid Chick for directions on how to make this easy craft yourself from wrapping paper, felt or recycled materials.

Here's an oldie but goodie from She Knows Parenting. Wrap gifts using 100% recycled butcher paper or brown paper grocery bags. Use homemade stamps to make your own prints.