20 Tips to get the Most out of your Wrapping paper

We are all having it tight this year. We need to find ways to save money as much as possible. One way to save money is to recycle your wrapping paper rather than tossing it. There a ton of creative ideas to reuse your old wrapping paper throughout the year. I have 20 to share with you!

Tips to Help you Recycle Wrapping Paper:

• Extra. You know those extra strips you get when you cut too much wrapping paper? Save them and then create a collage type wrap for another gift. (great tip from my daughter)
• Tags. Another idea for your scraps is to use them to make gift tags.
  
• Keep Used Wrapping paper. Use crumpled wrapping paper to cushion fragile ornaments and gifts. This will help prevent them from being broken.
• Place mats. You can make a variety of these with your left over wrapping paper. Cut into large rectangle and cover smaller thin cardboard rectangle. Keep tape hidden. Then cover the whole thing in contact paper. Poof place mat. This is great for kids to do and use.
• Puff it Up. Crumple wrapping paper into formed hats or purses to help them stay in shape when they’re stored away for a period of time.
• Art. Put pieces of wrapping paper in your arts and craft area and let the kids use it for collages, paper mache, folding fun, envelope making and more.
• Liners. Take old wrapping paper and iron it on lowest setting with a thin cloth between iron and paper. Then use it for drawer or shelf liners.
• Fillers. Use old wrapping paper as a filler for a gift in a large box that you do not want shifting around during shipping of little people shaking it. LOL.
• Make Cards. Used wrapping paper can be great for decorating homemade Christmas cards. You can use it as a cover or for decorating. This is another great idea to get the kids involved and have some fun with them!
• Confetti. Use it for your holiday parties. Shred it and the cut it up. How fun is that?
• Pretty Pictures. Did you ever get a really pretty wrapping paper that you just did not want to rip? Well, try cutting out the pretty part (like poinsettias, snow flake, etc) and frame it!
• Gift Baskets. You can shred old wrapping paper and use it for gift basket fillers.
• Tissue Box. Cover your tissue boxes with it for a festive look.
• Cookie Paper. If you like to bake cookies or even fudge, this is a great tip. If you are using tins, cut circle shape to fit in tin and use it between layers. You can also wrap cookies or fudge in plastic wrap and then cover with wrapping paper for a holiday flair. You can use this idea for any of your food gifts.
• Reuse it. When possible open presents carefully and save the wrapping paper for next years wrapping! Note: do not make the kids open carefully. LOL! Let them be kids. It’s our job to be anal!
• Pen Holder. Keep an old frozen juice cylinder container or one like it and clean it. Cut a large enough strip of wrapping paper to cover outside. Use two sided tape to keep it in place. You can use glue for thicker wrapping paper. There you have a pen holder. I still have one my daughter made when she was 4! Over a decade!
• Window Cleaner. This is for one sided wrapping paper. Use the white inside of the wrapping paper to clean your windows and mirrors instead of paper towels.
• Ornaments. You can create ornaments with it. One idea is to take a square of wrapping paper and place a cotton ball, OR small amount of crumpled wrapping paper in the center. squeeze the wrapping paper around it to for a “head.” Try not to make it too round though. Tie it with a ribbon, elastic band, yarn, or whatever. Now, cut the “skirt” part into strips so the flare out and hang down. Very cute. We have one of these from years past as well. Be creative!
• Book Covers. You can use old wrapping paper for book covers to protect your book’s original cover. This is a great idea for the little one’s book…
• Just Like old Newspaper. You can use old wrapping paper like you do old newspapers. Use it to cover your table during a craft with your kids. Or, to cover your counter when transferring a plant to a new pot. Honestly, the skies the limit!

As you can see, there are many ways that we can make the most of old wrapping paper. I am sure you have your own ideas as well. The point is be a good steward with all that you have. Even used wrapping paper!

Copyright © Lara Velez, All Rights Reserved

Do you have a great tip on how to reuse old wrapping paper? PLEASE share it! Simply reply to this post, or email it to Lara [@] momsoffaith.com.

Happy Wrapping!