Partnerships

Wrapping That Does Double-Duty

With all due respect to beautifully wrapped gifts, and the wonderful simplicity of gift bags; think about how to make your wrapping part of the gift this year. A container used to conceal your primary gift can be another, sometimes complimentary gift, as well. A small wooden box containing jewelry, a remote control (for the new TV already set up in another room), a book or CD.  A large wooden box containing a selection of  fireplace-theme gifts (long matches, starter pine cones, our bees wax candles, ash can, poker and sweeping tools, etc.) that can later be used on the hearth for holding firewood/Java Logs or elsewhere for pillow and afghan storage). A metal waste-can may be filled with gifts such as sheets and towels or kitchen items or sports equipment and then used as a waste can or a storage unit.  A covered basket containing gifts that can later be a clothes hamper; a scarf or towel tied around a specially selected something. 

While you are selecting the perfect gift for the people on your list consider a wrapping that does double-duty– there will be less cleanup after the gift giving; there will be more useful/lasting items shared; and we can all feel better about the energy used to produce items of lasting value rather then on papers and packaging that, ultimately is balled up and tossed into the trash or at best is carefully separated from non-recyclable tapes and bows and recycled.