Making the bags is really easy - straight seams only!  I don't even really measure and instead kinda eyeball it.  No one is checking for right angles.

I bought a ton of fabric last January at cheaper-than-paper prices and spent a couple of hours this weekend sewing up bags to give to the extended family to use, especially huge ones for the parents of young children (large toy gifts use so much wrap).  For the first year, I'll be giving teacher gifts in the fabric bags too - that is, if I get my act together on teacher gifts.

I like that reusable giftwrap link - interesting idea!

Lady M blogs at http://www.empress-m.com/

 It's eay for us because Adam is an engineer and my dad is an architect (and thanks to that I don't exist at the holiday table, but that's another story entirely. And maybe a Dr. Phil episode.."so you married your father?") but we've used plans a few years in a row. They're easy to come by, and are headed to the recycling bin anyhow. The kids have fun trying to figure out what the design is supposed to be, and I love how large and durable the sheets are.

--steph

A Year of CrockPotting

I feel slightly better since you are not just going to hand out gifts without any holiday treatment (My mother tells very few horror stories but she does tell one about the Christmas that she took my grandmother's advice and wrapped NOTHING. That was also the Christmas my dad was at sea. That was also the Christmas I was sick. It is apparently a horrible Christmas and one she has never repeated. When she sees this link, she's probably going to have a nervous breakdown just considering it...)

While I like gift bags, I hate those darn pre-printed boxes. And, I'll be honest... I like wrapping paper, darn it. I do. Sigh.

I'll try to use less of it but I don't think I can give it up cold turkey.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

I've made about 2 dozen fabric gift bags over the last week or so to use instead of wrapping paper. I was able to buy some Christmas fabric for only $2.50 a yard, and I had some old red polka-dot fabric from a sewing project 10 years ago.  The bags were very fast and easy to make once I got through the first one. You can see pictures on my blog.

If going without wrapping paper doesn't work for you, this slideshow has lots of other great ideas for an eco-friendly holiday and some amazing statisitcs about the extra waste created over the holidays.  If you can use any of these ideas, it would help.

http://onemomentplease6751.blogspot.com/

~Dawn

I'm intrigued by this, and I really love the idea, but I'm not sure I can pull it off this year.  I have a 3-month-old who only naps when held, so time is really tight.  Plus, like Denise, I kind of like wrapping paper.  There's something festive about that pile of discarded paper around the tree.  Wasteful, but festive.

I'll just say I'm seriously considering it.  And I will put forth my best effort.  If I reduce the waste, I'm still helping, right?  Then maybe next year I can do away with it altogether.

~ Amber

www.strocel.com

Can I also recommend Furoshiki, which is Japanese cloth gift wrapping? Not only will the gifts be beautiful, but the wrapping can then be used in any number of ways by the recipient--including gift wrapping for future gifts.

(Linked site also has links for instructions on making cloth gift bags, and a PDF on cloth gift wrapping, including techniques.)

PS Please don't give a live pet for Christmas. The event becomes too stressful for the little critters.

Instead, give a "gift certificate" to the local Humane Society--puppy or kitten (or dog or cat or rabbit...) of their choice. AFTER the holidays. 

One year I wrapped all my presents in tea towels and scarves that I'd bought in Vietnam. 

And there's a lovely japanese gift shop near my house where they wrap gifts in cloths.  The parcels are so beautiful!

But if you still have small, crafty kids at home - use the newspaper!  Just make a couple of Christmassy potato stamps, and decorate it (before or AFTER you wrap).

Oh, and my very glamorous Aunt ALWAYS wraps her Christmas presents in brown paper.  She just uses very classy ribbon to make them look amazing.

I haven't used wrapping paper in 3 years or so now.  I have a tote box full of holiday bags that I reuse.  I also keep all the bags I'm given and reuse them as well.  Luckily, with Christmas and birthdays being once a year, even if I give someone the same bag they don't remember...or at least they don't mention if they do!

I have also used new sheets and towels as wrapping and make it part of the gift - it is great when you are giving something like sheet sets, bath sets, pajamas, etc.  I find paperless wrapping less hassle too.  

One thing I have not tried is re-gifting.  I have a freind who does it.  I am not sure if she is trying to recycle or trying to off load an unwanted gift.  

 Kazari -  I love the idea of using Newspaper.  I think that would be a really great and funky wrapping.  I will have to try that this year.  

Wishing you a Wonderful Day,
Corinne Brueckner
corinne@fragrantfuture.com
Gourmet Candle Store : www.corinnescandles.com

store....they and the tissue get used over and over every year..I only buy a few new one's from 'santa' and that is it....

Look for me at http://crunchycarpets.com or check out the ladies at www.wetcoastwomen.com

kim at btwixt and btween

I will still wrap gifts this year.  However, I like to think that I reduce gift waste throughout the year by: using gift wrap to line drawers (baby wrap for nursery drawers, kid birthday wrap in Big T's dresser, prettiest wraps in my own drawers, etc.), re-using gift bags and even the prettiest handled bags from stores, using crumpled "used" gift wrap instead of tissue as the camoflage in gift bags, etc.  This year, I have lots of half-used gift wrap rolls that will be finished instead of buying another set of new, matching wraps... a nod to the economy as well as the landfill.

If some of your presents come in boxes, try just switching the presents around.  "oh, a vacuum for me?  you really shouldn't have....  but wait, this vacuum looks suspiciously like a new jewelry armoire."  That way you don't have to use wrapping paper, but the gift is still a surprise.

They had neoprene built NY wine bags at Costco a couple years back-- 3 for $10-- and I stocked up like crazy.  They're great for keeping whites chilled, and are a little more contemporary than your standard wine bag.  Plus it's nice for the recipient to have something reusable as a little extra perk.

I've also used sheets/towels/coats to wrap other gifts, like Corinne... and you can't go wrong with newspaper/brown paper!

Renaissance Trophy Wife: the modern girl's guide to smart lifestyle investments

http://renaissancetrophywife.wordpress.com

I think the look of the cloth is very beautiful.  I also love the look of the brown wrapping paper, but I have to be honest, I LOVE the look of gaggles of colorfully wrapped presents under the tree.  I try to be eco-conscious, but when it comes to cheap and colorful wrapping paper, I guess I'm a bad person because I really love it.  Maybe it's because of the fond childhood memories it evokes.

Oh, I am a bag saver too. And a ribbon saver. I just can't see why anyone would throw out those pretty gift bags and not use them again. So insane to me.

I can't break down forgo the use wrapping paper. I can commit to using brown recycled butcher paper instead which at least is less impactful to produce than the glitzy colored kind.

In generally only use fabric ribbon anyway - with some ribbon that is more than 5 years old.  I think fabric ribbon looks better anyway. : )

Ye be brave and wise!

Giyen

www.baconismyenemy.com

Well, I weaned myself of ribbons and bows long ago, but this year I know I don't have time to make cloth bags, so I will use something that was destined for the recycling bin anyway--my local alt weeklies and newspapers. I can think of a few friends who would be delighted to recieve gifts wrapped in the escort ads.

SJ

Blogher Pop Culture Editor | I, Asshole

Granny Sue Stories from the Mountains and Beyond www.grannysu.blogspot.com susannaholstein@yahoo.com

I also save bags, bows, boxes and ribbons for reuse. I like wrapped gifts, like many of the other commenters but it is certainly a wasteful practice. I have purchased and used fabric bags; some are very pretty velvet that anyone would want to keep and use for other purposes. Children love bags that they can reuse--even boys, if the bag is made of camo or other cool fabric. the bags can be used for blocks, marbles and other small toys and treasures.

What about buying canvas laundry bags, decorating with the child's name and tie shut with pretty ribbons? definitely a re-use for that bag!

One idea struck me for the not-so-crafty who like a country/homemade look: what about recycling holiday shirts into packaging? cut the sleeves off, hot-glue the bottoms closed, hot-glue some trim around the top and tie shut with a ribbon or yarn? Quick and easy and probably reusable too, although limited in size to smaller gifts. I

Baskets of course are a pretty way to present a gift, but for children 9and probably most males0 this might not be as welcome as some other approach.

On my blog I'm suggesting using mason jars for some gifts that can be no-cost or lowcost yet unique.

.......or maybe my mom was green before green was cool, but growing up we never recieved wrapped presents for Christmas.  Maybe mom knew better (we were always shaking and poking at wrapped presents).  Instead of wrapping, "Santa" came Christmas Eve and lay out all our presents around the tree in sections for each of us--there were three of us, so mom made sure the divisions between our section were obvious.  We loved it (I never remember feeling cheated) and it is something I plan on doing with my own kids.

Stephanie

(The Childish) Literary Snob

http://literarysnob.blogspot.com

 saving the money on all the gift wrap and bows means you can afford the presents. One thing, you could make an attractive reusable shopping bag part of the present (for adults) and use the bag for wrap. I found a cool Reisenthel bag in a floral pattern that folds up into a sunglass case size, very inexpensive, the price of a paper gift bag. Give green!

Other cool ways to wrap are to put items in a useful container like a colander for kitchen goodies. A simple bow around the neck of a bottle of wine. Spare the adults the wrapping and save it for just the kids' gifts is another idea. I am definitely on board with reducing the waste — and the number of gifts this year. 

For recipes and food issues and a bit of humor, visit my blog, Expatriate's Kitchen

I love recycled wrapping! I actually just posted about this last night/early this morning, re: our 5 Minutes for Going Green Holiday How-To, which includes tons of ideas on how to wrap green this year with items from around the house, including but not limited to: maps and atlases, old sheet music, newspaper, magazine pages, fabric pieces, and pages from your favorite (falling apart) book.