With the plethora of gift-giving holidays celebrated around this time of year I thought it might be fun to show you how we handle it in our house.
I was always conservative with my bags and reusing paper but I knew I could do better. So, a few years ago I started buying recycled, compostable paper and mindfully decorating it myself (nontoxic inks, homemade food-based paints, etc.). Once the holidays are over you can use it to line the compost or use the bags for compost. You can also sometimes reuse (eg: if you wrapped a box really nicely and it comes apart) and finally, if all else fails at least it can be recycled/upcycled. Remember, Reduce, Reused & Recycle IN THAT ORDER!
This year we did our regular papermaking. My son adores decorating paper for friend and family gifts. But we also tried the Japanese method of Furoshiki where you carefully wrap your gifts in fabric with beautiful ties and sometimes decorate with an ornament or sprig of foliage. I am fully awful at but it was fun!
Thinking I’d really nailed it this year with small, mindful and local gifting I was content looking under our family tree. This was until my wonderful friend, who never ceases to inspire me, brought over Yule gifts that were wrapped in hand sewn reusable fabric bags! MIND BLOWN!
Instantly inspired I had to start researching for next year and here is what is some of what I found!
THINK OF HOW SMALL ALL OF THIS WILL TUCK AWAY!!!! AND HOW EASY THEY ARE TO PRESS AND USE AGAIN! AND HOW CUTE THE TINY SACKS WILL LOOK UNDER THE TREE OR AROUND THE LOG!!!
I hope you found this as inspiring as I did, its all SO much fun and it really puts a personal twist on any holiday gift.
Blessed be
Karen