Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper {Make-It!}

The amount of waste from the holiday season has bothered me for YEARS. The wrapping paper, the tissue paper, the packaging of the actual gift, etc.- it's horrifying. Not only it is a wasted expense, but as we all know trash is a huge concern for our environment. This year I vowed not to use a stitch of wrapping paper. Unless you are a complete minimalist (which I'm guessing you're not) chances are you have some great wrapping materials right at home. I'm not just talking the Sunday funnies. Here's a small list of materials that can make a gift really stand out and won't make you feel guilty about waste:

brown paper bags

old book pages

old greeting cards

fabric

magazine pages

atlas pages

last year's calendar pages

toilet paper/ paper towel rolls (no joke, they come out GREAT!)

My two favorites are using greeting cards and toilet paper/ paper towel rolls, so I decided to share how I use them. First up: Greeting card boxes :)

Greeting Card Gift Boxes

Materials Needed:

greeting cards of your choice

mono adhesive (snail tape)

x-acto knife (or scissors)

ruler

paper scorer (or something fine yet dull... ballpoint pen with pointy pen cap?)

Step 1: Select a Card

It doesn't matter what the inside looks like, you won't see that part.

Step 2: Trim one flap

Trim the back flap by about 1/2"

Step 3:Score the other flap to make a tab

I used a ruler meant specifically for scoring and cutting to make my 1/2" tab, so it made the job super easy.

After scoring, I was able to neatly fold it.

Step 4: Cut The Curved Side-tabs

If you don't have a fancy schmancy curved ruler, you can trace something round or make yourself a template. You want the curve to be somewhat soft, so definitely not a semi-circle. (I used the #5 groove in this ruler) It's really important that the curve is precisely centered on the side of the card!!!

Here is the result :) Repeat on the other side.

Step 5: Score the inner curves

When you open up the greeting card, it should look like this. We are going to be scoring the same curve shape that we cut on the sides, but it will be mirroring the cuts, creating an eye shape.

Again, I used the #5 slot to score. See the eye shape it will create?

Repeat with the remaining 3 curves and it should look like this. Be careful when scoring the side with the tab. Make sure to only score from the center fold to the tab fold!

Step 6: "Assemble" the box

Lay down a strip of mono-adhesive along the entire edge of the "tab-less" flap. Avoid the curved flaps!

Fold down the long skinny tab on the other flap and adhere it to the mono-adhesive strip.

Gently apply pressure to both folded sides to open up the box.

Press in one of the curved tabs that you scored...

and then the other.

Once you place the gift inside, close the other side up and...

VOILA!!!!

You can get fancy too...

So easy right?! You can also create a loop to hang on the tree by punching holes in the curved tabs and threading ribbon or twine through.

Now onto...

Toilet Paper Roll Gift Boxes

Materials Needed:

toilet paper roll/ paper towel roll/ wrapping paper tube

glue or Mod Podge

scissors

a piece of paper to cover - a magazine page, a map, newspaper, etc.

Step 1: Cut The Paper to Size

Trim the piece of paper to just slightly wider than the length of the roll. The paper should hang off the edges of the roll by about a millimeter.

Step 2: Cover the Tube in Glue

I like to paint the glue on to make sure I get a thin, even coat. You can cover the entire tube at once, or work in small sections.

Step 3: Add the Paper

Start with just the very top of the paper. Make sure it is placed evenly and that there are no bubbles.

From there, gently press the paper to the roll one inch at a time, focusing on the center of the roll and pressing out the the sides. This will keep bubbles to a minimum. Once you reach the end, allow the paper to overlap slightly and secure with a generous strip of glue.

Step 4: How to Close the Ends

Just like the Greeting Card Box, we will make inward tabs for the ends' closures. It's a lot easier here :)

Use your thumb to gently press in one of the ends of the tube.

Repeat with the other edge, working with it a bit to make sure the two sides meet in the middle. You can use both thumbs to smooth out the folds until they make nice soft curves.