Wrapping presents!

I was going to post a link but if you search YouTube for "sewing Christmas gift bags" you get dozens of ideas for home made bags. Of course, they don't really need a pattern, just sew a bag! If you don't have any Christmas prints, you can applique or stencil on a Christmases motif. Still 10 days to go!

Then, of course, there are Christmases teatowels - double use wrapping material!

Good idea about fabric bags. I will have a look at my pile of unused pillow cases.

I only use wrapping paper for my 2 grandchildren. All adults just get theirs in a gift bag with a sheet of tissue paper folded over the top to hide the gift. I get most of the bags given back to me each year and, as long as they are in reasonable condition, I re-use them the following year. I usually get 3 - 4 years out of each bag before it collapses, so feel I am doing a little towards recycling.

I use a mix of recyclable, bought-in-Jan-sales paper and used gift bags that Amazon things have come in. I like the bags particularly for odd-shaped things and squishy items such as jumpers that are harder to wrap.

Bags I guess aren’t such fun for children who love that r-r-r-r-ipping sound of paper but I’m sure they all get something in paper, whatever I do.

Interesting how so many mention back ache from wrapping presents - I thought that was just me! I’ve tried all ways, tables, floors etc but nothing seems to stop it. I’ve realised that’s why I had a bad back over the weekend. Had forgotten I’d had a wrapping session,

I love wrapping presents that’s all part of the pleasure I miss with part of my family being overseas

I'm afraid I haven't really thought it through. I reuse as much as possible and buy more paper if needed. Next year (DV) it will be brown paper ...that's if I can be bothered with another year of present wrapping. I'm exhausted and back aches every time I do some wrapping and I grump.
I used to be very careful, paper and gift tags matched. Parcels were sellotaped neatly and tied with colourful sparkly ribbon. Now it's as quick as I can get through it and I use the first gift tag to hand. Very few get ribbon added. Don't have the energy for it all.
Having said that, I still enjoy giving presents.

I am gradually converting to fabric bags this year. I have made sacks to replace the large gift bags and some little fabric draw string bags for small gifts. I realise that I will have to ask for them back though to reuse next time.
I am no seamstress but I found easy to follow workshops on YouTube.

We've been passing Christmas carrier bags between families for years. I think I must receive more than I give because I always seem to have loads ?

About 10 years ago I started making bags out of old pillow cases, making a few each year for particular people. Most people give them back each year, along with the tins for Christmas cakes. The main problem of course is that gifts aren't the same size every year so I usually end up making a couple each year. I usually buy my DDs something to wear, and I've made slightly padded envelope shapes for them, so things are kept flat.

I've spent this afternoon wrapping presents to be posted so they have all been wrapped in paper rather than put in bags. However, the fabric bags sound like a brilliant idea for presents not going through the post. I will definitely investigate.
One thing that I always put on presents is a little bag of chocolate money - they just don't look "dressed" without one.

That's a lovely idea, adding coins to the wrapping.

Great idea, I wonder if Christmas fabric will be in the January sales.

I posted about this a couple of years ago. I hate and am useless at wrapping. Unless my gifts are hard and square, I make a complete dogs breakfast of them. The paper tears and I have to start again. I can't cut paper in a straight line, even paper with lines to guide me.
There is sellotape on the floor, stuck to the table, stuck to me. If I try to put ribbons and bows on they just look plonked on. I got a tip recently about wrapping awkward shaped things. You make a packet out of your paper and slip the item in. It works. Hey ho. It's the thought that counts apparently.

I used to do it on the floor until my knees complained.
I now do it on the dining room table. Just nice Christmassy paper, though it’s been harder to find that this year - so much of it seems to be boring/not in Christmassy colours* so just as well we have quite a bit left from last year.

I used to buy rolls of proper ribbon from John Lewis and tie them with that (keeping and re using after ironing it!) but haven’t done that this year.

*sorry, M&S, but Pesky Pink Percy Pig is not Christmassy - not to me anyway! I didn’t even buy that paper for the Gdcs,

My sister and I “fight” to collect up the gift bags after the present opening ceremony, the menfolk and children just discard them but we want to reuse them next year!

I'm really struggling with all the wrapping this year. So it's got to change next year, and I like the sound of fabric bags.
Brilliant!

Sashabel

I only use wrapping paper for my 2 grandchildren. All adults just get theirs in a gift bag with a sheet of tissue paper folded over the top to hide the gift. I get most of the bags given back to me each year and, as long as they are in reasonable condition, I re-use them the following year. I usually get 3 - 4 years out of each bag before it collapses, so feel I am doing a little towards recycling.

I’ve been watching YouTube to learn how to use tissue paper in gift bags to make them really pretty. The clue seems to be to create a fan shape and leave the ends poking out of the bag. I’m going to try that this year- when I finally get round to wrapping the presents! Although my siblings get gift voucher, I also get them a small present to open. There will be 11 of us opening our presents together on Christmas Day with another family of 4 plus a new baby to see on another day.

I can't go to fabric bags because most of my gifts are posted and it would be a logistical nightmare to get the bags back as wellas adding to their mileage which takes away some of the environmental benefit. I use recyclable/compostable Kraft paper and carrierbags from Amazon.

I don't mind the wrapping and I use Xmas reusable shopping bags out of Poundland to put them in. They can store stuff in them or use them again next year. I saw online that Primark had a great idea that by changing their paper bags to red stripes instead of blue, people can use them as wrapping paper.

I agree with Missadventure- i HATE the wrapping- if i had a lot of money (like a lottery win, but i hardly ever do it ?) i would choose & buy the gifts and get them to wrap them also!-it would be my main luxury ?

Teacheranne- with the rise of omicron might be safer to see new baby BEFORE mingling with all those other people?safety first.?

Next year it will be fabric bags. What a great idea.

AreWeThereYet- pillow cases is a great idea- and if you cant make them you could buy them reasonably cheaply enough online at discount textile shops or sales etc.They can hand them back to be washed/ironed saved for next year or reused through the year as extra/spare pillowcases if needed. I may do that next time.??

I love wrapping presents, but DH is much better at it than I. He worked as a window dresser in his youth, so he does most of the parcels.

Nowadays, we only have very few people we exchange gifts with, so the current roll of Christmas paper was bought three or four years ago.

Formerly, I have used cloth shopping bags or string bags, which were greatly appreciated by the family members who were taking the bus home afterwards.

I considered the bags part of the gift, but obviously you can ask for them back to reuse next year, if the person you are giving the present to isn¨t putting yours in a cloth bag too. Then it would surely be simpler just to keep the bag you were given.

Where did you buy these cloth bags and were they expensive?
My husband bought wrapping paper from Waitrose and thought he had bought a bargain. Big mistake when I read the receipt. Next year I would like cloth bags.

I am making Tie Dye Santa sacks out of pillow cases with my 4yr old granddaughter this week. Not sure how they'll turn out but at least we will have fun making them(I hope) I also have Christmas paper to wrap the presents in.