Going Green this Christmas
The holiday season is fitting time to think about caring for the environment. The gifts we share are a tangible symbol of our care and concern for others, but care and concern for all creation is a way to give to future generations. There are many ways to “go green” this Christmas.

Begin with finding the perfect gift. Get creative and craft a gift of your own, consider honoring someone with a charitable donation, or provide a service gift that will benefit the economy as well as the recipient. Also, remember to shop local and ship less. Small business Saturday is November 26.

Once you have the perfect present, consider these eco-friendly wrapping options:

Quilt small scraps of wrapping paper together to create unique patterns while reducing waste. Simply place the pattern sides together, fold over about ½ inch two times, then place a small strip of tape on the seam.
Choose paper made of recycled materials. Wrappily and Green Field Paper Company are good ordering options, but many local stores sell “green” holiday wraps as well.
Plain brown packaging paper and shopping bags are most often made without inks and dyes so they are typically environmentally friendly. Adorn them with the usual ribbons and things, or decorate with stamps, Washi tape, drawings, dots and other creative designs of your own.
Newspaper is great for wrapping as well and dresses up nicely with colored ribbons and bows. To avoid smudges, iron sheets of newspaper individually between pieces of parchment using the lowest heat setting.
Try Furoshiki. This ancient Japanese art of fabric wrapping has been getting new attention. Old clothing and textiles can be recycled into wraps, but you can also purchase fabric or special Furoshiki cloths. Keep the cloths for use again next year or maybe even host a contest for the best Furoshikis! To learn about Furoshiki techniques, go to http://furoshiki.com/techniques/.
Colorful cereal boxes can be converted into origami gift boxes with a template from http://stuffyoucanthave.blogspot.com/2010/10/cereal-boxes.html.