Shall we talk about gift wrapping? I love to wrap Christmas presents! This is definitely a time to put on Christmas movies, snack on mince tarts and cherries, pour a glass of prosecco or something more festive (like mulled wine or egg nog), and settle in for a big night with a pile of thoughtfully gathered gifts on one side, and festive wrapping materials on the other.
The bad news is that traditional wrapping paper is not at all good for our planet. The good news is that there are loads of alternatives that are just as beautiful and creative as they are kind to the world in which we live.
Here are some things you could use to decorate paper-wrapped presents: pressed leaves and flowers, washi tape, ribbon, scraps of fabric, wax seals, berries slipped under string, ink stamps, painted illustrations, decoupage, feathers.
Furoshiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths. They are often beautiful and patterned (or you can make your own out of fabric scraps and old dresses or sheets - decorated if you like with paint or dye), and are wonderfully reusable.
Furoshiki can be used to wrap just about any gift, using origami folding techniques. And they can be turned to any number of subsequent uses, turning into tote bags, laundry bags, bottle carriers, lunch bags, and more.
If you'd like to learn how to wrap furoshiki around just about any shaped gift, this guide from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment is super helpful, and here is a blog post another reader referred me to that will give you ideas.
What do you think? Do any of these inspire you? Have you got any more ideas for me? (I haven't started wrapping my presents yet). Feel free to get in touch - you can write to me directly at hello@naomiloves.com.