I rarely buy wrapping paper. It just seems like such a waste since you only use it once. Besides, I throw away so much paper throughout the year, it’s just as easy (and cheaper) to reuse some of it for wrapping gifts.
For the last few years, I have recycled Christmas catalogs as wrapping paper – especially the really pretty ones like Anthropologie and Pottery Barn. Now that I have a toddler who loves to paint and color, I realized that her artwork would make great wrapping paper too.
A while back, I purchased a giant art pad from the Dollar Tree for (duh) $1, and some dot paint ($1 each) that I used for this fall art project. Anytime my daughter is itching to create, I try and urge her to use Christmas colors (that works about half the time) and her giant art pad, and then I preserve the page to use for wrapping later. The paper size is perfect for small gifts, and taping 2 together gives you even more to work with.
If you’re feeling the crafting itch too, you can steal some supplies and create your own Christmas tree dot art (top pic above – you didn’t think my toddler did that one, did you?) to wrap with while your daughter cries because you won’t let her draw on your paper… mother of the year? You know it.
