Anything that would look pretty in it could be packaged in a re-usable glass jar, from handmade pajamas to homemade cookies to a handful of Hexbugs, which is what my own daughters happen to be asking Santa for this year. The thing that really makes this particular glass gift jar from Coordinately Yours so special is the addition of a lovely paper label and handwritten tag. You could use a variety of stash scrapbooking or vintage papers for your own labels and tags, customized for the holiday and the recipient. For the jars, source out a local place to purchase nice glass containers, or grab yourself some Goo Gone, get every single spec of adhesive off of an old jelly jar, and repurpose it. [Image by Coordinatedly Yours, used with attribution] Next » I know they have a bad rep in some gift-giving circles, but I always love getting gift cards. They sure are hard to wrap attractively, though! Instead of handing off your next gift card gift in a plain white envelope, try out our CAGW tutorial for a DIY recycled gift card puff pillow–it looks really great, and it saves some cardboard from your recycling bin. Next » Fabric gift wrap is one of my favorite methods, simply because of its versatility. If you’re picky about fabric color and pattern, you could customize the look of your entire gift stash, color coding presents by person, or perhaps just by what colors look the best underneath your tree. You could create fabric wraps that you, yourself, keep and re-use, or fabric wraps that are intended to be passed on to the recipient, as well–simple drawstring bags, perhaps, or pieces stamped with the recipient’s name. You could sew only with scraps, or purchase brand-new organic quilting cotton. It’s all up to you! Although there are tons of tutorials just on all the different types of fabric gift wraps and wrapping methods, I really like this Japanese style fabric gift wrap tutorial from Diana Trout, which shows you how to piece together a multi-colored fabric wrap, and how just the choice of fabric wrap can enhance the personality of your gift. [Image by Diana Trout, used with attribution] Next » If you need some wrapping with a little more structure, break down cardboard from shipping boxes, cereal boxes, or even record album covers to make your own DIY cardboard gift boxes. Sure, they take a little time to make (but not at much time as it takes to drive to Target and back, not to mention finding a parking spot and fighting the crowds), but the big bonus is that you can make your box a custom size, so that it fits your gift perfectly. Don’t like the look of the cardboard? Paint it! Next » Or maybe you just need a one-size-fits-all sort of sustainable wrapping solution. Do what everyone else does–use a gift bag! This recycled gift bag tutorial from How about Orange uses newspaper–to mix yours up a bit, use a foreign-language newspaper, or give the outside of your bags a quick hit of spray paint to add some festive color. It’s the details that can really make recycled wrapping look nice, so don’t skimp out on the tidy grommets and twine handles on these gift bags. [Image by How about Orange, used with permission]
