Wrap Gifts in Eco Style

This year many people are trying to be more earth conscious but one major problem that many come up against during the holidays is how to wrap gifts in an eco-friendly manner.

According to Gift Bags Gone Green every year Americans spend more than $5 billion dollars on gift wrap, bags, and tissue paper- and the majority of that ends up in landfills.

If you want to be eco-friendly you definitely don't want to contribute to that huge pile of gift wrap that ends up in landfills. So what do you do?

Get Creative and Go DIY with Your Green Wrappings

One way to wrap presents greenly is to do reuse what you already have.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of green wrapping you can make use of unique items you have around your home that can be transformed into fun holiday wrapping paper, such as the comic section of newspapers, colorful and unique pages from magazines, old maps or paper you make yourself.

Brown or white package paper can be completely transformed with stamps, paint, markers, stickers or anything else you may have laying around the house. Have the kids use finger paint and stamp their little hand prints on the paper. Grandparents are sure to love such heartfelt wrappings.

Plain cardboard boxes and paper bags can also easily be transformed into fun gift bags and boxes with markers, paint, crayons or whatever art supplies you have.

Another great way to integrate green into your gift wrap is to make the present part of the package by wrapping one gift with another gift.

Are you giving a blanket as a gift? Put another present inside the blanket, and use the blanket as the wrapping. Tie it with a ribbon, and you are all set. Roll up sweaters, and stick items like socks and underwear inside. Tie gifts up with curtain tiebacks, shoelaces or hair ribbons. That way everything is part of the gift, gets used, and does not get thrown away.

If you are handy with a needle and thread you could make your own reusable cloth gift bags to wrap up your green gifts with any fabric you have on hand, even old t-shirts and blue jeans would make fabulous fabric gift bags.

Reusable Fabric Gift Bags

If you don’t have time to sew your own bags or maybe you just don’t sew you could consider purchasing pre-made fabric gift bags and wraps.

Fabric gift bags are stylish, beautiful, washable and reusable. There are bags in all sizes, shapes and colors that can be reused over and over again every year.

Gift Bags Gone Green has created fun and funky fabric gift bags that are washable and reusable. They have some very cute holiday prints available.

Small bags start at just $5.99 and extra large bags are $13.49. A whole set of bags that includes one of each size is $45.99.

http://www.giftbagsgonegreen.com/

Lucky Crow also has some wonderful, reusable cloth gift bag collections including some made from organic cotton. They offer prints and solid colors with plenty suitable for holiday giving.

Extra small bags are $4.49; extra large bags are $13.49

http://www.luckycrow.com/

Ecorations sell beautiful fabric gift bags, pouches, sacks, and fabric wraps that can be reused year after year. They even offer the giant, 100% organic cotton Santa sack which can hold quite a few gifts. This heavy duty cotton bag is something that can be cherished by children for generations. I know my little guy is going to love finding a Santa Sack filled with goodies just for him.

Pricing starts at just $5.99 and goes up from there

http://www.ecorations.com/

Wrap it Green

Tied fabric, creative gift boxes, and reusable gift bags are all wonderful eco-ways to save trees and have a fun, green Christmas, but they may lack a little of that old fashioned holiday magic the kids really look forward to.

Nothing says Christmas morning like the sound of wrapping paper being torn from gifts. If you have children you can’t really give up wrapping paper altogether (at least my family can't) but you can still be green while wrapping gifts in paper. You just have to choose the most eco-friendly wrap possible by choosing companies that make gift wrap from recycled paper and eco-conscious inks.

Fish Lips Paper Designs is an eco-friendly wrapping paper company based in Florida. All of their gift wraps are designed, printed and packaged right here in the USA on 100% DE-INKED recycled paper (with a minimum of 50% PCW) using non-toxic soy inks.

(Fish Lips also has a beautiful wedding gift wrap)

Fish Lips wrapping papers are available for resale in individual sheets (22″ x 33.75″) or “rolls” of 2 sheets.

Retail prices are $4 for a gift wrap sheet and $8 per two sheet roll

http://www.fishlipspaperdesigns.com/

Earth Presents produces 100% recycled and recyclable gift wrap products. Their wrapping paper and gift tags are made out of 100% post-consumer recycled paper that is processed chlorine free. Vegetable-based inks are used so that the paper is eco friendly and fully recyclable. Matching ribbons and bows are made from recycled plastic bottles!

Gift wrap is $6.00 for two 24" x 36" sheets

http://www.earthpresents.com/

Earth Love’n Paper Products sell gift wrap and gift tags/cards that are printed on 100% post-consumer waste and processed chlorine free and printed with vegetable based ink. They sell several lovely winter holiday designs including some for Hanukkah.

Two 24x36 inch pieces of paper sell $4.75 for flat sheets, $5.35 for a roll

http://www.earthloven.com/

Paper Source has a beautiful line of recycled gift wrap. The PS Green Choices line has a cute selection of holiday patterns printed on Eco-White, 100% recycled paper made with a minimum of 30% post-consumer waste.

They also scrap book paper sized sheets and lovely Christmas greeting cards as part of their PS Green Choices line.

Wrapping paper sizes and prices are $2.25 for a flat sheet -size - 19 1/2" x 27"and $7.95 for a roll. A roll contains 2 sheets - 26 1/2" x 39"

http://www.paper-source.com/

There are many ways to wrap in eco-style and the most important thing is that you put an eco-conscious effort into making the holidays greener this year. These are just some of the green wrapping options available. Think creatively and you could probably come up with some fun, green ways to wrap your gifts this year.

Green Holiday Gift Ideas

Top 25 Environmental Holiday Gift Ideas

Now that Thanksgiving is over, Christmas gift buying is in full swing. The challenge is on! With only a few shopping days left and perhaps many gifts still to buy; here are a few ways to minimize your shopping time and frustration and simultaneously make a significant difference for the environment. When making a few changes in your buying styles and habits you can have a considerable impact on the environment with little effort.

It’s really fairly easy. Just follow some of the gift ideas below and enjoy the satisfaction of being part of the “green” movement by greening your gifts. Make it a truly “green” holiday this year. Take heed!

Remember try to give gifts that people need, can use and are practical. Be creative! Try these……

1. Tickets to movies, concerts, museums, sporting events, outdoor activities or an annual pass to national parks.

2. House or garden plants, herbs, seeds and bulbs. Pots and planters boxes made from natural ingredients.

3. Gift certificates to clothing, electronics, books, grocery, or vitamin stores.

4. Donate to one or more Charities in the name of your recipient.

5. Give the gift of YOU! Make coupons for services such as babysitting, a night out at the movies, dinners dates, weekends away, massages, yard work, dog-walking or help write a resume or article, give a computer lesson or offer some other talent or skill you can share.

6. An old book or collector’s item. Things with unique and personal meaning. Shop at antique stores, estate sales or flea markets for these treasurers.

7. Cook home-baked sweets and put in a reusable tin box, a kitchen container, or another usable item.

8. Any homemade item; a knitted hat or scarf, a pair of earrings, or pottery.

9. Fair-trade organic chocolate or coffee. Always a favorite.

10. Clothes and other items made from hemp, wool, or organic cotton.

11. A roll of postage stamps.

12. Office supplies such as recycled paper and envelops.

13 Energy efficient light bulbs, battery re-chargers, or solar-powered products.

14. First aid kits or emergency road side equipment.

15. Board and card games that will be used over and over again.

16. For your children, you can open a savings account, buy stocks or bonds.

17. A gift gasoline card for your teenager or college student.

18. A calendar marked with important dates, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and family gatherings.

19. A book of favorite recipes.

20. Carbon offsetting. This purchase erases negative energy footprint of reducing carbon emissions.

21. Music and books. itunes or the equivalent downloadable books and music.

22. Plant trees in the name of your beneficiary.

23. Name a star after

24. Have a party and invite everyone over as your gift.

25. A year’s membership to an Environmental organization, a health spa, or auto club.

The list is really endless if you just take a moment to think about your purchase. If you consider where the product was made, what it is made of, who made it, what actually went in to the manufacturing of the product, you might want to reconsider that purchase.

Fact: A manufactured item will generate 70 times its weight in waste during manufacturing. Wow!

To learn more about how become more environmental conscious when planning your holiday parties and events, planning conferences, workshops and seminars, and events of all sizes, shapes, and styles, visit my website: http://www.successfuleventplanning.com/.

Short Bio:

As an Event Planner, Writer, and Environmentalist Ms. Kilkenny is in the process of writing her next book which is dedicated to "greening" the hospitality and event planning industry. Her first book is“The Complete Guide to Successful Event Planning”

isit http://http://www.successfuleventplanning.com/ for more information.

I Do Tattoo For the Hip Bride Who Needs Something Blue

I Do Tattoos have got to be one of the most creative and useful ideas in bridal accessories to happen in a long time: a temporary tattoo-that's blue!

Finally a super easy, cute and totally hip way top add something blue to your bridal ensemble.

I Do Tattoo offers a modern twist on the timeless tradition of wearing “Something Blue." Gone are the days of the tired old garter. Now there’s a fresh new alternative for today’s savvy bride. It’s unique. It’s innovative. And it’s personal.

I Do Tattoo offers 8 exclusive tattoo designs. Just pick your favorite! They include two tattoos of your chosen design – one for practice, and one so you’ll look perfect on your wedding day.

The tattoos packaging is a memorable keepsake

I Do Tattoo comes elegantly encased in a stunning blue folio which opens like a book. The outside is adorned with a blue satin ribbon and sparkling crystal brooch. The custom packaging is so beautiful, you’ll want to save it with your most treasured wedding day mementos. Click on folio to view close-up image.

In addition, your chosen design is carefully screen printed in a beautiful, scratch-resistant silver ink. It is elegantly framed as a permanent keepsake, so you’ll always remember what you wore as your “Something Blue.”

The folio is also a photo frame

After you’ve used your tattoos, you’ll want to show off your beautiful keepsake. Just slide a 5 x 7 photo into the top of the picture frame. Or, use it to solve the age-old problem of how to preserve a copy of your wedding invitation. The choice is yours.

A great value for only $36.00.

Could it get any better? A blue temporary tattoo, a custom keepsake memory/photo frame.

Finally something new for something blue.

And it is beautiful, useful, and so very trendy.

I really wish these would have been around when I got married because the something blue part I really struggled with. I think most brides do.

The something old and something new parts are easy...but blue?

How many women wear blue on their wedding day anymore? Or of they do it is only because of that old rhyme.

I received two samples that I am going to wear just because...unless my daughter steals them which she will because she loves temporary tattoos.

Visit www.idotattoos.com to learn moer or to order your blue tattoo.

Eco-Elegant Earrings by Rebekah Green

If you are looking for beautiful eco-friendly earrings to wear for your wedding or for upcoming holiday parties, then look no further than Rebekah Green’s sustainable styles.

Rebekah Green has eco-elegant studs, leverback drops, dangling leverbacks, hoops, chandeliers, and even children’s earrings all made from 100% recycled 14K and 18K gold, along with fair trade gemstones and cubic zirconia.

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