AFTER that initial frenzy of tearing open presents on Christmas morning and all those bulky boxes are liberated from their red and green cocoons, out comes the garbage bag.
It's a little disheartening to see the Christmas spirit stuffed into a bag and thrown to the curb, but for the environmental-minded among us, there are alternatives.
The people at eartheasy.com recommend fabric gift bags.
If you have just a little bit of skill with needle and thread and you don't mind rummaging through the discount bins in fabric shops, making a fabric gift bag should be easy and affordable.
You can choose different colours for each person on your list. Canary yellow might be perfect for the ornithologist in your life, and battleship grey works for supporters of the navy and board game enthusiasts alike.
Once you've picked the fabric, it's time to raid the linen closet for some old cotton. The website recommends some bedsheet material to be used as lining, and then you're ready to start.
Cut four equal pieces: two of the fabric and two of the lining. Put the fabric on top of the lining, fold over the top and sew it up.
Now make a sandwich with the fabric in the middle and the top at the top. Sew the three un-hemmed edges and turn it all inside out, and you have got yourself a reusable gift bag.
But perhaps you're not so good with a needle and thread, and maybe thrift stores frighten you. Quite possibly you're reading this and thinking: This article isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
If that's the case, allow me to politely disagree.
Newspaper can be used for wrapping up presents. It's available, it's recyclable, and you can pick it up without dropping in on a single chain store.
The Sunday comics are great for young kids, and the Help Wanted ads can be ideal for that shiftless relative of yours. (The North Shore News will not be held responsible for any resentment or hurt feelings that result from following the advice in this article.)
A couple of columnist Angela Shellard's recipes are perfect for someone looking for new ideas in the kitchen; Tim Pawsey's wine column might be appreciated by anyone who's ever wandered aimlessly through a liquor store; and columnist Elizabeth James' work is ideal for the traditional post-Christmas debate about the federal government.
But maybe that still seems like too much work. After all, this is the year you've bought a life-size porcelain giraffe for the love of your life, and there's no way you have enough newspaper for that.
If that's the case, a blindfold may be what you're looking for.
Why wrap an entire present when a small piece of fabric ultimately serves the same purpose? It builds trust, creates suspense, and gives your Christmas morning a real pirate ship vibe, especially if you prod your loved ones toward the Christmas tree with a saber and refer to their gifts as 'plunder.'
You can also use wallpaper samples, last year's calendar, or even children's art for wrapping presents.
