Who doesn’t love the sight of perfectly wrapped gifts under the tree and the excitement of opening a beautifully parcelled present? No matter what’s inside, there’s something extra magical about receiving a gift that’s been wrapped with care!

Here at eatsleepdoodle, you’ll know that we're all about sparking creativity, adding your own personal touches and embracing sustainable choices! So, it is probably no surprise that we’re excited to explore some alternative, unique and eco-friendly ways to add extra charm to your Christmas presents this year! 

But first, you might be wondering why standard wrapping paper is not an eco-friendly choice – surely it will biodegrade or be recycled like regular paper?

Unfortunately, many types of wrapping paper you’ll find for Christmas feature designs using foil or glitter (which contains plastic). These cannot be recycled, meaning that the paper either heads straight to landfill or gets mistakenly popped into recycling bins where it can accidentally spoil entire batches of recycling due to these contaminants. And with an estimated 227,000 miles of wrapping paper thrown away each year, that is a lot heading to landfill! Plus, since most gift wrap is not made from recycled paper, many trees are cut down to wrap up our gifts – in fact, in the UK a forest the size of Wales is cut down every year! With all of this in mind, we’re keen to explore more sustainable options.

Instead of single use wrapping, this year we’re leaning into more thoughtful, eco-friendly options that are kinder to our planet and look just as good - if not better! What’s more, these creative methods of wrapping make a great opportunity to get the whole family involved with some Christmas crafting too! Getting little ones to join in creating their own gift wrap is such a fun way to add a personal touch—and they’ll love being part of the process! Whether it’s stamping, coloring or picking out fabrics, it’s a great way to make gifts feel extra special. Plus, their handmade creations are sure to bring big smiles to parents, grandparents and the rest of the family, too!

In this blog, we’re diving into fun, sustainable and unique ideas to make your gifts truly memorable - ensuring your presents stand out under the tree (with less waste!). So read on as we share some of our favourite ways to add an extra layer of love and thoughtfulness to your gifts.  Grab your scissors and gather your gifts - let’s wrap up some Christmas magic!

 

Ditch the paper for fabric!

One great, eco-friendly way to wrap gifts is using fabric! There are so many options – from tablecloths to scarves and shirts, burlap to beautifully patterned fabrics, there’s no limit to what you can use! This is a wonderful way to wrap gifts that is truly unique – plus, the wrap can be reused time and time again or become another gift altogether! Here are some ways we like to use fabric to wrap gifts:

Furoshiki:

Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese way to wrap gifts with fabrics which has been used for centuries. It is a fantastic way to have fun and get creative and there are many different techniques that you can use depending on the style you like or the gift you are wrapping!

Check out this website for some tutorials on different methods of Furoshiki. We tried one for ourselves using our world map tablecloth and were delighted at how simple it was to do and how secure it is - perhaps easier than wrestling with wrapping paper and tape!

We love how it turned out and that the tablecloth makes this gift 2-for-1!

 

Sustainable tip: To avoid buying brand new fabric, why not have a look in your local charity shop, use an old sheet or duvet, or make use of a nice scarf that you no longer wear? And for an extra festive touch -foliage or even a candy cane looks great tucked into the knot! 

Not sure you have the skill for Furoshiki? If some of these methods seem a bit tricky, you can also try wrapping gifts using a button-down shirt. We found a great tutorial here.

 

DIY gift bag:

In need of a way to wrap an awkward shaped gift? Make your own gift bag! Ideal for strange shapes and soft items like clothes or stuffed toys, this is the perfect method if you’re struggling to wrap the ‘conventional’ way (although, we suggest you avoid anything too heavy!).

Plus, unlike simply dropping a present into a gift bag, this DIY approach keeps the joy of unwrapping alive, ensuring that classic moment of anticipation is still part of the experience!

This blog has a super easy tutorial with some handy tips and tricks too!

Sustainable tip: To lessen your environmental impact, choose recycled paper or reuse paper you already have at home!

Wrap in brown paper and decorate!

Looking for a fun way to get kids involved with gift wrapping? Why not try decorating your own wrapping paper! The perfect Christmas craft activity for children, using plain brown parcel paper allows for so many creative possibilities and is a great way to entertain kids over the holidays.

Check out these fun ideas to get kids arty this Christmas!
 

Make your own potato stamps:

Potato stamping is a fantastic way to create custom wrapping paper and it’s so simple that even toddlers and little kids can join in the fun! To make your own festive stamps, all you need is a large potato, some paint and a bit of festive creativity.

A great hack is to use a metal cookie cutter - such as a Christmas tree or star - to shape your stamp. Simply cut the potato in half, press the cutter about 1/2 inch into the flat surface and carefully trim around it with a knife. Voilà - you’ve got the perfect potato stamp for printing your own designs! It’s easy, affordable and perfect for creating unique, handmade wrapping with the whole family!

Alternatively, you can also make your own designs with festive stencils! Simply place a stencil over your paper and use paint, crayons or pens to fill them in. From snowflakes to reindeer, stencils are another super simple way to easily add your own special designs and are great for more intricate patterns!

Make a Christmas collage:

Add a unique touch to your gifts with a festive collage! Gather materials like Christmas magazines, old holiday cards or seasonal stickers and use them to create personalised designs on your wrapping paper. Cut out images of snowmen, holly or cosy winter scenes and arrange them on plain paper or directly onto the gift box. Then just glue them down for a colorful, layered effect.

We love this method as a creative and eco-friendly way to repurpose holiday materials, while making your gifts stand out!

 

Decorate as a book:

For a creative twist on gift-wrapping, why not turn your present into a "book"?

This method is perfect for book-shaped gifts or small items tucked into a book-sized box. Grab some pens and design your own custom book cover and back - don’t forget to add a spine for an authentic touch! We love to make it extra special by personalising the ‘title’ with the recipient’s name and listing who it is from as the ‘author’.

We love this simple yet effective method to add a unique personal feel and make gifts stand out under the tree – fun and functional!

The 'no wrapping' method

Why not make your gift-giving a little more adventurous? Forget the wrapping paper altogether and turn your present into the grand prize of a scavenger hunt! Get creative and leave clues around the house for the lucky recipient to follow – you can do as many or as few clues (and however difficult) as you like! We think this idea is so much fun, packed with thoughtfulness and will stretch the festive excitement long past the unwrapping moment!

 
We hope this blog has inspired you to get creative with your gift wrapping this Holiday season! Whether you’re stamping, stencilling, collaging or skipping wrapping altogether, these fun and unique ideas are sure to make your presents stand out this year - plus they come with the added bonus of being kinder to nature. Here’s to a festive season full of thoughtful gifts, Christmas creativity and a little extra care for our planet!

Don’t forget you can get in touch with us on social media and share your adventures and colouring creations by using #eatsleepdoodle – we always love to see what you’re up to! You can also tag us on Instagram (@eatsleepdoodle_), Facebook (@eatsleepdoodlehq) and TikTok (@eatsleepdoodle_).