The presentation of gifts is an important part of the act of giving at this time of year, but it doesn’t hurt to be mindful of the waste we are creating and the fact that it is not necessary to use non-biodegradable papers and bobbles. This year I am using plain brown wrapping paper which if not reused can at least be composted. I have collected a few sprigs from the garden, and that combined with some ribbons I’ve collected over the years and snippets of disintegrated decorations serve well as wrapping.
If you are mailing and preparing things in advance, a stamp, pencil or a little paint will do well to brighten up the brown wrapping, but if you have the luxury of last-minute preparations, the things you find in the woods or garden are appropriate for the season, especially when you consider that is exactly what all the store-bought items are trying to mimic.
I have used red dogwood branches, sprigs of pine and cedar, cones, unidentified dried flowers and euonymus. Flowering grasses, silver dollars, nuts and holly, to name just a few, would also be good.
I did collect some beautiful twine for wrapping and a few other interesting bits, but they somehow got thrown out during a clean-up. Next year I’ll be more careful!
As for any leftovers, especially the evergreen, just pop them in a pot of water along with some spices and bits of citrus, heat on the stove as I did in this post, and you will have a beautiful potpourri to make you house smell super festive.
Linked to Fiesta Friday #99
December 19, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Lovely ideas – I remember using the brown paper bags we use to get from the grocery store (before I bought all of my reusable bags) to wrap gifts. The family enjoyed how frugal I was!!!
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December 19, 2015 at 6:31 pm
Yes, those grocery store bags are often missed. I got my roll of paper at the post office.
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December 19, 2015 at 11:15 pm
Wow!! Those look amazing. Good on you!! Such a good idea!
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December 20, 2015 at 12:04 am
Thanks.
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December 20, 2015 at 3:56 am
Hilda you are a very creative Lady, great ideas as always. I will try this for this season. Thank you so much for sharing it at Fiesta Friday. Enjoy your weekend and Happy Holidays! 🙂
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December 23, 2015 at 2:17 pm
Thanks Linda, and the same to you.
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December 21, 2015 at 7:05 am
They look amazing!!!
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December 21, 2015 at 7:06 am
I’d want to keep the present in tact and not spoil the decoration!
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December 23, 2015 at 2:18 pm
Thanks Elaine. There’s no shortage of decorations out in the garden, and what wonderful compost!
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December 21, 2015 at 8:19 pm
These look great! 🙂
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December 22, 2015 at 4:31 pm
How pretty and creative. 🙂
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December 23, 2015 at 4:20 am
Great ideas! Looks like professional wrapping 🙂
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December 23, 2015 at 9:46 am
Very creative and truly from the heart. Happy Holidays to you and yours, dear Hilda! 🙂
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December 23, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Happy Holidays to you too Fae.
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December 23, 2015 at 4:44 pm
What a brilliant idea, your presents look so pretty. Going to start saving ribbons & scraps of material for next year’s presents. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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December 26, 2015 at 9:02 pm
Beautiful wrapping. I love how you incorporated what’s naturally around and festive. Definitely keep this idea in mind for next year:)
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December 30, 2015 at 5:57 am
Gorgeous presentation, Hilda!
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December 31, 2015 at 7:42 pm
Thanks Patty.
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January 1, 2016 at 8:16 pm
So beautiful, Hilda! I bet they smell wonderful too! 😀
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January 6, 2016 at 12:39 am
I really like your ideas. I am often dragging small branches and greens home from my photo walks for inspiration. Now here’s something fun and pretty I could do with them.
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January 6, 2016 at 1:24 am
Thank you. I’m glad you like collecting this sort of thing too. I have had a simmering pot pourri going almost continuously throughout the holidays on our wood stove, so now I am watching out for things with aromas. It’s amazing what’s out there for free.
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January 6, 2016 at 1:30 am
Truly amazing. 🙂
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