My 4 year old had a party today, and yes, I had present ready, card had already been made, then I realised – oops…no wrapping paper! So, posted a tweet up on twitter and…thankfully my dear friend Jacinta from Cupcakes of Kensington gave me this FANTASTIC suggestion. She normally gets her child to scribble on some paper and uses that as wrapping paper instead. Not only would that save the environment – non waxed paper are easier to recycle by the way, but saves money because we know they only end up being ripped apart and thrown in the recycling bin. So off I went this morning to get my 4 year old to draw something on some brown drawing paper we already had. He was – thankfully EXCITED! Actually, it became more of a family affair (minus the parents). All three kids joined in to create the “ultimate” wrapping paper. It was nice to see his eldest 8 year old sister lending him VOLUNTARILY, her collection of coloured gel pens and highlighters ( a very rare occasion indeed). When it was all done, I just wrapped up the present, added some ribbons I already had and prepared my 4 year old of what’s to come – the fact that it will be ripped up, when the birthday boy opens the present. That’s the only part I really cannot bear to watch. But I will update you in a later post.
The wrapping paper in the making
All wrapped up
Other “Eco-friendly” ways of wrapping a present for kids include:
- Your kid’s art work from kinder that he/she has had for a long time and you just have to recycle and not keep.
This could be tricky. Try and use the…at least you can give it as a present tactic or, it’s so beautiful that you have to use it a wrapper.
- Old magazines, try not to use newspapers…the ink drives me nuts, but if it doesn’t drive you nuts then hey, who am I to stop you.
- Fabric – If you’ve got old fabric that you’ve got no use of, why not wrap it with that? Provided it’s not some vintage fabric.
- Tissue paper – not the ones you use to wipe your noses with. Those tissue wrapping papers. Not store bought, but you know how some stores LOVE to use those to wrap your items with? Save those, you never know when it might come in handy. Simply dress them up with ribbons and your on your way!
If you have any other great money saving ideas on gift wrapping, do share it with us!
We do that too! I have a roll of paper that I got from ikea for our chalkboard/whiteboard easel, and we paint some of that for wrapping paper. Its much more fun. Hope your little one wasn’t sad when the paper got ripped off!
I didn’t dare ask him after the event, as I could see that the birthday boy was more interested in the present than the wrapper. Thankfully he did like the present though! Honestly, I think I was more affected by the wrapping paper being ripped and thrown than he was.
Very cute and practical idea- and cheaper:)