In This Issue:

• Beyond Paper Bags and Boxes
• Wrapping Tips
• Flea markets: Sources for Wrapping Supplies
• Subscribe to the eco-artware Recycling Rag

The Use Less Stuff Report says Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's than any other time of year. That's not surprising when you tally up the bags, ribbons, boxes and wrapping paper we use to make the season bright. Small changes in the way we package gifts would have a big impact on the environment. If each family reused just 2 feet of holiday ribbon each year, 38,000 miles worth would be saved. That's enough to tie a bow around the entire planet.

Here are ways to cut back on Holiday packaging, while still making your gifts festive.

• Wrapping tips
• Flea markets--Sources for Wrapping Supplies

Cloth gift bag

• Don't wrap large gifts (e.g., bikes, computers, wine racks) with paper. Just tie them with a big bow.
• Wrap gifts in cloth bags that can be reused for years.
• Hand decorate a large box and fill it with a gift. (See our current crafts projects: Murder Mystery Box and Jewelry Box.)
• Instead of buying a new box, decoupage a used one with old photographs, pictures of basketball players, pop stars, flowers--whatever the recipient likes.
• Decorate an Altoids box (with spray paint, acrylic paint, nail polish, fake jewels, mirrors and glitter glue) and fill it with tea bags, theater tickets, beads, bus tokens, quarters for the laundry, a gift certificate to a restaurant or grocery store.
• Don't wrap large gifts (e.g., bikes, computers, wine racks) with paper. Just tie them with a big bow.

• Collect two cookie tins and several vintage cookie cutters in different shapes. Bake cookies using these cookie cutters and fill one tin with them. Fill another tin with both the cookie cutters and copies of your recipes.
• Look for old cake plates, platters or casserole dishes and fill them with holiday favorites.
• Use vintage tins as gift boxes. Tie a bow around the tin and fill it with surprises (e.g., cloth napkins and napkin rings, rechargeable batteries, dishcloths, jewelry).
• Fill an old hatbox with one or more small gifts. (e.g.,evergreen flea market finds: earmuffs, evening gloves, a small purse, a selection of ties, two rolled up molas, a glass storage/microwave dish...anything goes)
• To wrap packages, use old, colorful old magazine covers; outdated maps; wallpaper remnants; sheet music; blueprints; or shelf paper.