I'm subletting my column this week to my crafty friend Wendy. She actually shared her method of gift wrapping with me almost a year ago. However, it was too late for me to pass it along to Insider readers. I vowed to publicize this great green idea early in the season to allow people plenty of time to take advantage of a creative alternative to traditional wrapping paper. Here are her easy directions for making gift bags:
“You need material. You can get great deals on Christmas fabrics after Thanksgiving or just before Christmas. You can also go to Salvation Army or Goodwill and purchase a shirt or jacket with a festive design. You can actually make these bags for any occasion, using your own old clothes or fabric picked up from the clearance aisles.
“Size the bags to the boxes you're using. In our home, we usually leave bigger presents unwrapped at the back of the tree or simply put a sheet over them. Basically, measure the box (length and width) and add a couple of inches on each side for the height. Cut the material on the fold (one less side to sew). Sew both sides and hem the top edge about one inch, making sure to leave an opening for your ribbon or elastic. Then thread your ribbon through, making sure to tie it together when you pull it out and voila! Ribbon length should be about one and a half times the width measurement.”
Thanks Wendy! You can reuse these bags for many holidays to come!
