When Stampin’ Up! sends a box they fill it with brown paper after all the product is inside. I always hate to throw away the paper. I have taken some to the Ronald McDonald House for them to use to cover the tables when the kids craft or for drawing on or whatever they might need it for. But I came up with another idea for this year. I decided not to buy any Christmas Wrapping paper and instead use all the brown paper from Stampin’ Up!
So far all my Christmas presents are wrapped in the plain brown paper. I considered stamping on them or rolling them with Stampin’ Around Wheels but ultimately decided just to use Ribbon – for these in the front it is the Wide Striped Grosgrain ribbon. The ones around the back is non-SU Ribbon. I plan to add tags to all of them – but haven’t done that yet – I did write on the back of each one who it was for though.
But here is my idea – I don’t know about everyone else but we seem to have several times that we open Christmas gifts. First here at home with just our family, then we will go to my parent’s house and open with my parents and brother, and then a third time we will go to Greg’s mother’s house and open presents with his family. These are on three different days and in three different locations so this year I came up with an idea that I thought might make things easier. First all the gifts are wrapped in the brown paper and tied just with ribbon and no puffy bows – so they actually stack up nicely for taking in the car. Second I used three different colors/types of Ribbon. So for each of the three events I have a different Ribbon and we just need to grab everything with the correct ribbon on it from under the tree on that particular day. I hope that makes things quicker instead of having to go through everything and read all the tags. What do you think?
We are off to mail the Christmas cards and do some last minute shopping!
WOW!!! What an AWESOME idea Monika!! Now I wish I had saved all that packing paper!! This has to be the best idea I’ve heard using that paper. It looks amazing with the ribbon too and the different colors of ribbon is just genious!! We have 3 Christmas homes too! Thank you so much for sharing this idea. I’ll be saving all my packing paper now for next Christmas!!
Lorraine Castellon-Rowe
You are such a smart cookie Monica!!! I have used the brown paper for wrapping before, but I still had left over paper from 3 years ago to use up this year. So next year — you can bet on a sure thing: I will be using the brown paper and I will be using your great ribbon idea (let’s just hope I remember). So do you think you can post this idea again next year like the 1st of December before I wrap????
I have even IRONED it to get the wrinkles out! It is also great to stencil on the use as wrapping paper. Great – TFS Nancy
What a fantastic idea Monika! You are a genius!! AND ITS FREE!!!!
Monika…I do the same but with wrapping paper or color scheme…because we go to ALOT more houses than you…so its hard to keep up with what goes where…I definitely will be doing the brown wrapping paper that is so more economical…
Hi Monika – our family goes with the “your paper, my paper, his paper route” and each family outside the house also gets their own paper. My paper is often winnie the pooh holiday paper, my sister’s is usually penguins. Whne thekids were litttle we even had “from mom and dad” vs from santa papers to help keep us organized. happy holidays!!
Peggy
http://stampinpegcadillo.blogpspot.com
I love this idea. Too late for this year but next year it is a go! Thanks for sharing. jmniffer
good idea. I reuse the brown paper also. Covering tables, faux leather look, I’ve even used it on cards for the rustic look. If I still have too much we use it in the fireplace BTU’s.
What a great idea, I just hate to throw away that perfectly good paper. I’ve been saving mine,and finally gave a ton to a friend who was moving and needed packing material!! Thanks for sharing another way to go green!!
Very smart chick you are!! I do the different paper for different people. We open presents at three different houses too so that helps. Now I will definitely be saving the paper from SU for something other than letting the dog have fun with it and mailing things. Thanks for the great ideas and Merry Christmas.
Carey Rogers
aka Roscoe’s mommy
I think thats a wonderful idea and I like the uniform look of the packages. I sure wished I had kept mine.
Now you are talking.!!!!! What a fabulous idea. Looks like I’m saving mine for next year too!!!