Challenge: How to Wrap Creatively, Funly, & Greenly

In case you were wondering, funly is not an actual word, though surprisingly, greenly is.  And yes, I have seen a dictionary before, and even used one!  But this post is all about creativity, so why can't I be creative with my hands and my words?  Bootylicious is in fact a word in the dictionary now.... I'm just saying that there are lesser non-words out there that have become words....

Okay, here was the challenge: Think outside the box for gift wrapping.  I don't know about you, but my heart dies a little inside each time I purchase tissue paper.  Is it pretty?  Yes.  Does it make gifts look fancy, and fluffy, and oh so nice?  Double yes.  But it costs trees, it costs ink, and it costs money, all of which get crumpled up into a little ball and tossed into the garbage.  Instead, I like to reuse/repurpose as much as possible.  Secretly, if I receive a gift and the tissue paper is a bit crinkled, I am over-joyed because it's been used more than once.

I thought I would share a few ideas I've come across for wrapping as the holiday season quickly approaches.  Feel free to add to the list if you know of other ways to be a bit more Earth-conscious, Pocketbook-conscious, and well, just generally aware and conscious - though who knows: we may all become so wrapped up in all this wrapping we could pass out from the excitement!

CLOTH CAN GO A LONG WAY

Using pieces of fabric is a great way to reuse what you have.  These handmade handkerchiefs were a gift from a recent wedding, and are a beautiful example of exceptional fabric that can encase a cute little gift.

Don't have handmade hankies laying around?  Use fabric pieces, decorative towels, bandanas, or other pieces of cloth.  If you have the time and equipment, you could hem the edges of nice holiday fabric, and then save them each year to wrap.  Make it just once, but use every year.

MAKE IT USEFUL

I don't know about all of you out there, but at this point in my life weddings, babies, and joyous occasions are everywhere.  As a newish mom, I try to be practical in gift giving, thinking of what would be useful for the intended recipient.  Basically, I like to put gifts in a useful container that can be used again.

Baby Gift - Storage Bin & "Vintage" Tissue Paper

Got a baby shower to attend?  Put the gifts in a canvas tote or bin.  Toys seem to seep out of the carpet at our house, so it's nice to have a basket or container to toss them in for when company comes over.  Instead of wrapping in paper, which will be thrown away, spend your dollars on a simple container that will be helpful and used again and again.

As another example, I had received a fruit basket from my employer (before I became a S@H Momma) last Christmas.  The fruit was delicious, and the basket was even more delicious!

Baby Storage. Quincy - 24 Days Old
Photo Courtesy of Kate Brown Photography

Yarn Storage

Baby Fashion Show. Quincy - 8 Months

As you can see, I've put it to good use for photos, storage, etc.  Could you do the same with crumpled up wrapping paper?  Not as likely.

GIFT IN A GIFT

Remember this Bandana Apron I made?  Well, I now can give it as a gift AND wrap another gift!  Are you giving a shirt, sweater, or some other large item that could be big enough to use as wrapping material?  Use a simple ribbon to tie it all up, and leave out the paper.  Get creative.  Imagine if you show up to a family gathering with all your gifts, and leave without having any trash to pick-up.  Just gifts and a great time!

Books + Apron = ...

Nothin' But Gifts, Baby

For college students or someone who just moved, pick-up some pretty pillowcases, new towels, or a cozy bath mat.  Simply tie with a ribbon or string, and you have a lovely gift in a gift.

NEWSPAPER SOUNDS GOOD

Love the sound of riiiiiiiiiiiiiipping open a gift?  Newspaper still has that glorious sound when you tear through it.  It's free and recyclable - just be sure to take off the tape pieces before putting the paper in the recycle bin.

REUSE THE GOOD STUFF

As I mentioned above, I like to reuse tissue paper, at least if it's still in good condition.  I don't want to sound cheap or that I don't put worth into a gift, but it's more an issue of waste.  Trees are a renewable resource, but we can still be responsible with our usage, whether it's a gift bag, tissue paper, or another wrapping accessory.

I have a box of wrapping gear that I go to first if I need to wrap something.  There are instances that I don't have the appropriate wrapping items from my stash of reusables, and I've bought new pieces.  Ideally, I would be able to figure out another way, but I'll admit I get lazy at times.  But hey, I'm a work in progress.

REPURPOSE

There are tons of things out there that can be repurposed into decorative wrapping.  For a recent wedding gift, I decorated this simple basket I purchased at a second hand shop.  Using hemp string, some buttons, and some flowers I crocheted, I spruced it up to match the elegance of a white veil occasion.

Plain Basket (Boooooor-rrriiiing)

Beautiful! (Note: I used recyclable wrapping paper)

For those of you that shop online a lot, Amazon often fills their boxes with brown paper; I myself have gotten reams of it with large items.

Brown Amazon Paper

Same Repurposed Basket above
but with Brown Amazon Paper instead

Save it!  Repurpose it!  It's beautiful brown paper, and gives a cozy rustic look to your gifts.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS, RECYCLE!

As the season of giving and getting gifts approaches, I am going to challenge YOU to be thoughtful both in your giving AND in your wrapping.  Sadly, not all wrapping paper is recyclable.  If you're going to buy new wrapping paper - make sure it is recyclable.

Look for the Three Magic Arrows

If receiving gifts in gift bags or tissue paper, save the good stuff!  Be an advocate for our planet - we only get one!  (Though I hear summers on the moon are quite invigorating...)  I for one will be bringing a big yellow bag to our family Christmas gathering(s), and recycling whatever I can.

Gotta Love Our Hometown - Stuff in All Things Recyclable & They Collect!

The website Earth911.com details some interesting history of how wrapping paper first came about, along with the facts about recycling wrapping paper, such as, "if every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields".  Isn't that incredible?  Just think of what could change if we weren't so quick to wrap everything in brand new paper?  Be wise about your wrapping, be smart about what is trash and what can be saved or recycled.  This is a joyous time of year, but don't forget to care for the beautiful nature around us - Mother Earth could use some joy in her life, too!


Greenly Yours,

~M

How to Make a Cupcake Stand Worthy of Your Floor

I had good intentions.  I made an effort.  Really, I did.

Don't these plates and glasses look cool?  I came across this great tutorial on how to make your own cake stand using plates and candlesticks, and thought, "I could do that!"

Quincy and I took a walk down to a nearby thrift shop, and I picked out these neat (and cheap!) pieces. And then after a lot of searching (who knew there was so much glue, and hey I'm a poet and I know it), I purchased this adhesive at my local craft shop.

All I can say is, don't trust The Pathophysiology Book.

It's too heavy, and will only encourage a thinly bonded group of plates and fragile glasses to jump off the counter, and shatter into a million, bajillion pieces.

But hey, it still works as a cupcake stand.

Plans are in the works to find more plates for repurposing, and to avoid the dreaded Pathophysiology Book.

Sweeping the night away,

~M

Purposeful Repurposing

I've written previously about how we are big fans of recycling, terracycling, cloth diapering, and doing other earth-friendly things.  I don't know about you, but there is something to be said about working with what you have, or trying to spin those creative wheels to create a new purpose for something old.  With that same frame of mind, I thought I would share some repurposing and craft projects I've worked on recently.

ORGANIZING JEWELRY, BOBBY PINS, SCISSORS, PENS, BUTTONS, ETC.

Cross Stitch Fabric + Frame = Earring Holder Display

Glass Sugar Packet Holders = Bathroom Drawer Organizers
(Bobby pins, Chapstick, Lipstick, Contacts, Floss...)

Empty Medicine Bottles = Button & Notion Container

Empty Oatmeal Canister + Paper + Glue = Storage Bucket for Writing Utensils & Scissors

BOXES & CON-TACT® PAPER ARE AN ADDICTIVE COMBINATION

This is one of my new obsessions.  If it didn't add so many letters, I'd consider adding Con-Tact as my hyphenated middle name.  Check out these cool storage containers in the kitchen... (oh, and 50 points to whoever spots my spelling mistake!)

Poptart® Box + Con-Tact® Paper = Plastic Baggy Organizers

Granola Bar Box + Con-Tact® Paper = Kitchen Utensil Organizer

Using this new obsession, I was able to fix an issue I had with our changing table/dresser.  My sister, Heidi, had given us her crib and changing table for Quincy since her little guy had outgrown them, and they've been great!  Unfortunately, the top drawer to the changing table started getting stuck in the track, and we had to take off the front panel and use it as a shelf instead of a drawer.  All the clothing started to slide around, and it was hard to keep it from looking really cluttered.  By repurposing some disposable diaper boxes I got from a friend, we now have three great storage bins that slide in and out easily, and keep Quincy's clothes organized, all while getting rid of the clutter!

Diaper Box + Con-Tact® Paper = Storage Bins for the Changing Table/Dresser

ANOTHER WREATH, OH GOOD GRIEF

I never really took much notice of wreaths before we got our house, but now they have become a hobby.  (You can see another wreath here that I shared recently).

H-G Book Page Wreath

I took an old book, though I couldn't part with any from our bookshelf, so I opted to buy one from Goodwill for a dollar - big spender, I know.  I gathered a few other items, and set to work!

Supplies: Wooden Star for back support, "H" and "G" Letters, Old Book,
Box Cutter, Spray Paint; Also Clear Tape, Hot Glue, Yarn or Ribbon.

Directions: Cut out the pages, fold in half, tape in rolled shape,
hot glue to base (I did two layers), cover cardboard rectangle
for a platform to support letter(s), and glue to rolled pages.

Letters: I found these letters at the craft store and unscrewed the hooks
that came with them, spray painted, waited for them to dry, and then
sanded the spray paint to give a more rustic look (the "H" has been sanded
in the photo, while the "G" hasn't - see the difference?)

Add a ribbon or yarn to the back, and you're good to go!

Got any cool ideas for repurposing?  Or new ways to recycle?  I'd love to hear about them!

~M

What is Your Granola Grade?

I love granola.  Toss it in some yogurt with some fresh fruit, or press it into a bar-shape for on-the-go-goodness.  Tasty, nutritious, and sometimes heavy on the sugar content, it's delicious.  The H-G Household especially likes the Meijer Brand, Bountiful Morning, - cheap, great flavor, and awesome.

World's Greatest Cheap Granola

According to Urban Dictionary, the colloquial term granola is defined as "a person who dresses like a hippy, eats natural foods (granola), and is usually a Liberal..." or "a tree hugging, free spirited hippy minus all the drugs".  (See more definitions here, though this site can have some adult language so be warned!)

I won't go into politics, or post any pictures of my latest outfits (sleep deprivation makes for unwise wardrobe choices), but I feel a certain responsibility to trees and nature, and don't do drugs - that's good advice, kids!  With the next generation now residing in my home and depending on me, I am especially sensitive to my impact on the environment, and all that "granola" related stuff.

So my question for you is: How would you grade your granola-ness?  I was inspired to write this post because of our favorite local coffee shop, Lemonjello's, that has a "zero waste" policy.  You won't find trash bins anywhere in the building, because they recycle or compost anything that would otherwise be thrown out.  Read an article about it here.  With that in mind, I thought I'd share a few items of what makes me proudly granola.

Don't Worry - It's Decaf

STYROFOAM - When you can't avoid getting it.
Gas station coffee, leftovers to bring home, the packaging that encased your brand new HD TV - styrofoam is everywhere, and not exactly biodegradable.  When you can't avoid it, look for places to recycle it!  We are fortunate enough that our church collects styrofoam for recycling (along with old cell phones, batteries and ink cartridges).  If you're local, feel free to drop it off at my place and I'll bring it in!


CLOTH DIAPERING
Check out this photo from another post - see if you can spot the cloth diaper with cover.  We made the switch to cloth diapers once Quincy was three weeks old, and are really enjoying it!  With new designs, they're super easy to use and no need to hire an outside diaper service for cleaning.  Just use special detergent and you can clean them at home in your washer and dryer.  In case you just read that last sentence and said, "grooooooss!", don't be alarmed.  Breast-milk is water-soluble so no, there isn't a ton of baby poop floating around our washer.  You wash them separately from the rest of your clothes, and once the baby graduates to solid foods or would use formula, there are sprayers designed to rinse the diapers right into the toilet before washing.  I will admit that we used disposable diapers for when Quincy was just a little guy until he could grow into these diapers.  It was convenient and other cloth diapers didn't fit him right.  The cool thing is that these diapers (Bum Genius 4.0 brand) are adjustable so they will fit him for a while.

Quincy, Sporting his Blue Cloth Diaper

Disposable can be very convenient, but don't forget about the cost!  We have twenty cloth diapers that cost $17-20 each.  That would be 400 bucks on diapers (20 x $20), which sounds like a lot, but we won't be buying any more diapers, and can use these for future children.  The Newborn Pampers Swaddlers® diapers that we bought had 36 in a package and would last 1 week (sometimes less), and cost $10.  Not taking into account that the size will change from newborn as the baby grows, a year's supply would cost at least $520 (if you only used 6 diapers a day).


...And What About Wipes?
We still have disposable wipes for when we're out and about, but we generally use cloth wipes.  Thanks to my step-mom's handy work with a surging sewing machine, we've got homemade wipes that were super cheap to make!  Simply cut out flannel fabric of your choice into 8"x8" (some people prefer 8"x4" or 4"x4") and surge around the edges or use a zig-zag stitch.  I have two-ply wipes for extra stength (two pieces of fabric sewn/surged together).

Homemade Cloth Wipes

You can wet them with water, or purchase/make a solution.  I use an old Pamper's wipe tub for storage, and make a wet solution from concentrate that you dissolve into hot water.

Wipe Solution

Don't want to blow a ton of money on store wipes, but also don't want to sew your own?  My aunt sent me some homemade disposable wipes that are easy to make and will cut your wipe bill substantially!

Homemade Disposable Wipes

Here's the Recipe:
1. Cut Bounty® paper towels in half and remove middle roll.
2. Mix together 1/3 cup creamy baby oil lotion, a few drops of baby shampoo and 2 cups boiling water.
3. Put 1-cup solution in bottom of container and place straight side of towels in, then flip over and repute for other side.
4. If necessary, pour additional hot water over top to saturate the wipes.

DO YOU RECYCLE? I hope so!  Now, do you TerraCycle?
A great friend of mine uses TerraCycle at the school where she teaches.  It's a great way to recycle tons of things you would think should go straight to the landfill.  The best part (besides cutting back on unnecessary waste) is that her school gets money for what can be recycled!  You can check-out more information at their website here.  Some examples of the items they collect are: granola bar wrappers, candy wrappers (think what could happen when Halloween rolls around!), coffee bags, toothpaste tubes, antibiotic tubes, Scotch® tape dispensers & cores, chip bags, any kind of cheese wrapper or packaging... the list goes on!  We keep a container on hand and fill it up with anything that matches their list of items.  Maybe you have an organization, school or group that could benefit from this service?  Think about it!

Terracycling

So those are just a few of the Granola Tips that the H-G's have.  Got any to share?

~M