I’m a big fan of finding alternative ways to wrap gifts. Wrapping paper must go through a lot of manufacturing and transportation to get to us, only to be thrown away in a matter of seconds. And even for those who want to recycle their mounds of wrapping paper, the sad news is that many papers contain gold bits or glitter that make them impossible to recycle.
I love using fabric wrap, but if you don’t prefer that option, wrapping gifts can be super simple by reimagining your old magazines!
MAGAZINES!
Step 1: Reduce
(I say magazines here, but I think of these interchangeably with catalogs, at least for the purpose of gift wrap.)
To reduce magazines, consider whether you’re reading them regularly. Can you share with a friend or family member? Can you read the magazine at a library? Can you read it online instead?
To reduce catalogs, consider whether you need a catalog to view the shop items. Could you look online instead? Getting on catalog mailing lists seems mysterious sometimes, but canceling a catalog is easy. There’s (usually) a phone number on the back and the process takes less than two minutes. Consider canceling your own unwanted catalogs and maybe those that arrive at your place of work as well. The less printing, pages, and transportation, the better.
Step 2: Reuse!
Can you donate your magazine to a friend, family member, or local library? Sometimes even thrift shops will take magazines, especially if there’s a set.
Step 3: Reimagine!
There are SO many wonderful projects that use old paper pages; I can’t wait to share more! But, this post is about gift wrap. And using magazine/catalog pages as gift wrap is so simple. It’s eco-friendly, affordable, and, best of all, looks super cute and creative. If your gift is bigger than a page, no problem. Just tape several pages together. I love picking out special images for future wrapping and having them on hand.
This gift wrap idea works great with so many other types of paper – catalogs, old coloring pages, newspapers, phone book pages, old maps, pages from damaged books, and more!
Step 4: Recycle
Just like you would with any of these pages, recycle when done.