The art of gift giving goes beyond the gift itself.  There's just something special about the anticipation of opening a carefully wrapped package surrounded by your friends and family.  Maybe it's the not-knowing, the few brief moments of fumbling with the ribbon and bows, unearthing what is inside.  Maybe it's the rarity of it, the act of giving something that holds such special meaning that it deserves to be thoughtfully wrapped. 

We also believe we should keep it as green as possible, which can be difficult when faced with aisles of plastic ribbons and rolls of adorably printed paper in every store before you can utter the words Happy Halloween. So in an effort to be as responsible in our wrapping without losing the magic of it all, here are our top four recommendations for your eco-friendly, nature inspired wrapping this holiday season.

From creating bows with old magazines or scrap paper, to companies producing 100% recycled papers, tags and ribbons, there are many options available for starting with recycled supplies.  This is our favorite 100% recycled paper. You can use it as is, paint it, stamp it, write holiday verses/songs on it, etc. - it is a great blank slate for all of your wrapping needs.

Who needs a shiny plastic bow when you can top your gifts with nature's own beauties like evergreen boughs, pinecones, pressed flowers and leaves?!  The gathering of these items can be just as memorable and fun as the gifts themselves!

What's better than a present?  A present topped with a present.  Replace your typical gift-toppers like ribbon and bows with useful and fun items like cookie cutters, ornaments, miniature toys, handmade crafts (a great way to involve the little ones!), and homemade sweets.  

Need a gift bag?  Try to purchase gift bags that you will be able to reuse for the next holiday season.  The same goes for any ribbons and bows you may already have.  Save spools or use clothespins to roll your ribbons back up in storage and stick bows inside a plastic tub or shoe box to preserve for next year.  Think you can haul that mountain of ripped up paper to your recycling bin on Christmas morning?  You'll want to think twice.  Most of today's printed papers contain products like plastics and foils that cannot be recycled.  When in doubt, check the printed label on the outer packaging of your roll for a recycling symbol.