I wondered what the rest of you are planning to do or have already done to wrap up all those wonderfully crafted embroidered items and projects you have been working on all year?

I'm really boring - wrapping paper & sticky tape lol. xXx

Shirlene - just saw this post! I am still making gift bags. I mailed out gifts the other day and they were all wrapped with gift bags. Every year, I make more and more - ours number about 100. We all use them and still paper wrap a few things. I can not stress enough - how much time, money and effort we have saved using cloth gift bags. Also, it is very environmentally friendly! I do use tissue paper around the gift - then into the bag it goes - add a gift tag, pull and tie into a bow - much easier than wrapping a gift!!

Many years ago, while working for the Hair Club for Men, we had a present for the supervisor but forgot the gift wrapping, so I got the newspaper and did a wonderfull wrap with it, bow and everything.

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by dailylaundry 21 Dec 2010

When money was extremely tight at our house - we would use the Sunday "funnies" to wrap birthday presents!! Did anyone else ever do that?

Several years ago I decided to make my own bags from Christmas fabric. Went to the fabric store after Christmas and bought on sale several patterns of Christmas fabric. I measure the gift and cut out what I needed to make my bag. Sew it up pillow case style and put a casing at the top through which I run a ribbon or cord, to sinch it up.

Once the gift is inside, and sinched up tight I then add a Christmas ornimate, with the recipents name on the back. I have made creamic ones as well as embroidered ones and have even bought a few at the dollar store. The last step is to tie a bow. Mine usually look like the bows on lace up shoes.

Might not be the greatest idea for those with little ones who want to know whats inside. But you can always put the gift in a box first, and seal it up really good.

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by shirlener88 20 Dec 2010

Yes, this is a lovely way to do it - somewhat like what Laura suggested last year, too. *4U

I must say, this made me kinda laugh because we aren't as creative in our family, but we do "duke it out" over who is going to take the newest gift bag to use for next year. We recycle all our gift bags and when one of us buys a new one we have fun arguing who is going to get it for next year. LOL... I know that sounds odd, but it has become almost a tradition with us. hee hee...When we play "dirty santa" most of the time we go for who has the prettiest bag instead of the gift. LOL... It's hilarious. There are 6 of us that go at it for a stupid bag, but that is part of the fun... And this probably has nothing to do with what you are sharing Shirlene, but I couldn't resist sharing our fun.

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by shirlener88 20 Dec 2010

Terre, I love ot hear what other's do - this sounds like a great tradition - if the family enjoys it - especially. *4u

by bethelb 20 Dec 2010

I loved this story too! We have reused the same gift boxes in my family for years ! they may be tattered and the names are scribbled over a few times and the tags may have skinned them some . But we have a laugh and a great memory story for them all !

The pictures of different types of wrappings are great ideas. I would just like to share that several years back, a very short span before Christmas, I still had several gifts to wrap, and realized I did not have enough gift wrapping paper to finish wrapping gifts. I was very tired and physically sick, did not feel the energy to make one more trip to purchase anything!! I saw a stack of old newspapers in the corner of my storage closet. I wrapped everything left in these old papers, then tied with colorful bows and streamers. The gifts were just as admired and loved as those in conventional, dressier "attire"! LOL
Angel

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by shirlener88 19 Dec 2010

anangel - that is very economical and very GREEN as they say now a days.

I use Teatowels for wraping gifts. even my grandsons get a teatowel every couple of years so they can help mum. I have also use small tablecloths for larger gifts. This year I gave teatowels as Christmas cards. *4u all

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by shirlener88 19 Dec 2010

Wendy you are going to have to share how you have made teatowels into cards - please? *4U2

by wendymay60 23 Dec 2010

I didn't get any photoes but have asked a friend to Photograp[ hers & her childrens so she said she would do so for me so I will post them when I receive them. not sure if they can refold them.

For my grandchildren, I have made Christmas pillowcases......for the older giftees, I just wrap in the usual way.

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by shirlener88 19 Dec 2010

That is a great way to do it - the pillowcarses have to be fun for the grands, too. *4u

I wasn't sure if you were going to the site to view these wrapped gifts - so I save a couple of them:

3 images:[1]
[2]
[3]

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by bethelb 18 Dec 2010

Those socks are soooo cute!!!

by shirlener88 19 Dec 2010

oh please share a picture of them - when you get them made Leigh Ann - OK?

I am afraid I am a baa humbug for Xmas and disappear as far as possible from it. This year it is Sri Lanka , that is if the planes go of course otherwise we might have to dive in the freezer and eat leftovers for Xmas.

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by greysewist 18 Dec 2010

You sound a little like me! There is a very good chance I'll dine on porridge/oats etc for my main meal on the big day :) Hope you get to Sri Lanka and have an enjoyable visit!

by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

Don't you wrap up presents for anyone during this time of year? I wish you a safe and lovely trip to Sri Lanka.

by lique 19 Dec 2010

No we celebrated X mas with the children on the 5th of December (Dutch St nicholas day) and we keep everything to a bare minimum)

I love EGGYANNIE's idea. If I had more time I could have visited her

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

Marthie, that would have been nice - had you had more time - so does that mean you are now home?

Shirlene,I uploaded the angel bag in projects if you would like to take a peek...

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

I will take a look - thank you - I appreciate that you are sharing it - sounds wonderful. *4u

Thanks, very good ideas.

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

Judy, isn't it fun - to hear and see the creativity of all the CUTE family?

When I was in high school I worked at JC Penney's Credit, catalog and gift wrap department and enjoy wrapping presents different ways. Really like the Asian wrapping techniques. They are masters of exquisite wrapping with cloth and paper and you almost don't want to ruin the wrapped gift to get to the present.

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

I would love to learn and watch how you do that - I can't wrap a present for anything. *4U

Some great ideas there Shirlene thanks!!!

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

Carolyn, thanks dear - *4U

Cute ideas....This year, my gifts are going to be lucky, JUST to get wrapped! I used to get real creative...no time now. But...there is always NEXT year! lol

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

Kim, I can't imagine you not being creative - but your presents could be the wrapping most times - anyway. *4U

Instead of a stocking , I made handbags and filled them with goodies. i will hang those. As they have a monogram on each, they KNOW whose is whose !!Of course this only works for girls. Thanks for some keen ideas too !

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

Beth, how adorable - please take a picture and post it in projects for us all to see.

For small fsl or organza angels, I quickly sew a matching bag of organza, sometimes with an angel on the front. I also use a see through type frame around the angel to keep the design light and use a single color for the entire gift-both angel and decorative bag.Also saves time doing the single color...

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

I sure would love to see one of these organza bags with an angel in it - would you share one?

For smaller gifts I used a sheet of felt, fold in half then stitch the sides, fold the opposite direction and stitch across the 2 corners where the seam is and it will make the bottom flat, trim those corners, stitch ribbon on top for handles. My friends loved the Halloween ones I did.

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

Deb, you will have to share some pictures of these - they sound adorable. *4u

by clawton 18 Dec 2010

Love this idea. That would be good for traveling. We always end up ripping a package before getting to our destination!

I love to use what I call 'ugly bags' (bags that owners no longer want or have adertizing on them) and cover them with pretty fabric and give them back or to a new owner. I use fabric, ribbon and trims and embroidery. I also buy bags when they are 50% off and embroider them as gifts. I prefer to use bags rather than wrapping paper. I have edged-joined ribbon (purchased on sale, of course) and sewn onto the bag. This can really add some bling to a plain bag. I have also woven organza ribbon to make a mat that fits over a porion of the front of the bag and sewn it on, then embroidered names or intitials on it. My imagination is the only limitation to what I can come up with.

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

This sounds like fun - do you have any pictures?

i love to re cycle things so during the year i save up the large soda bottles.
I use them to protect small items that may get lost. simply cut a slit in the side and pop the wrapped gift into the bottle.place a small name tag around the neck of the bottle and hang or stand them up and have fun.
this is also a good way to send items through the post the bottles are lightweight and you place the postal address over the slit to secure it.
annie in the uk

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

I have never heard of this - can you show us a picture?

Hey Shirlene, this year I bought 12 different yards of Xmas fabric from Joann. I made a flat square then the remaining strip I made simple bags, going green with wrapping this year, the loaded tree on Xmas day will be plenty colorful!!

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

Dolly, this sure sounds smart and very green - can you share a picture with us? *4U

neat ideas. I would never be able to come up with these ideas. very clever thinking.

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by shirlener88 18 Dec 2010

That is why we have a place to share - so we can exchange idea's and all of us become clever. Hehehe!