• Wrapping gifts include ideas for going green.gift box image by Rog999 from Fotolia.com
  
  Everyone loves receiving a gift. That familiar delight upon spying either a creatively wrapped or a beautifully wrapped package affects young and old alike. If you are one of those gift-givers who love to please your recipient with just the right package, consider a number of ideas for wrapping gifts.
  
  

Green Ideas

• When coming up with ideas for wrapping gifts, remember that recycling materials already on hand helps give back to the earth. When you use gift-wrapping boxes, paper, ribbons and bows you already have on hand, you are saving the earth. So save those large sheets of wrapping paper, colorful gift bags and beautiful bows for next time. Red and green, used together, spell out Christmas. Red and white items work again in February for Valentine gifts, as do green and white for St. Patrick's Day. When you're purchasing gift papers and unwrapping gifts, think ahead to other gifts you'll be giving throughout the year. Don't pass up those 90 percent post-holiday discounts either.
  
  

Clear Cellophane Bags

• Purchase clear cellophane bags that crinkle and make noise when wrapped around an Easter basket or gift basket and use as gift wrapping material throughout the year. Luxurious and tasteful packages result when you add special touches along with your gifts. Fill a clear bag about 1/8 full of artificial snow. Add a lovely ornament, snowman or reindeer figure, and your gift. Use a ribbon and large bow to close the bag; add a snowflake or two for a winter gift. Spring or summer? Use Easter grass or colored raffia or shredded paper instead of fake snow. Add a tiny fake chick or bunny, or any small item indicative of the season. Tie closed with matching or complementary ribbons and bows. Use colored tissue paper inside if you want to hide the gift, or use a beautifully wrapped gift along with the cellophane bag and double the fun of unwrapping your gift.
  
  

Assorted Ribbons and Bows

• A wealth of ribbon and bow material fill store shelves. Pick out an assortment when wrapping gifts. Combine different styles. Use organza ribbons around polka-dotted packages. Better yet, use three different organza ribbons, each with its large bow, around the same package to create a spectacular effect. Mix colored raffia ribbon with sateen ribbon or colored curling ribbon. Mix colors for another splendid effect. Tie the package so the bow is off to the bottom left or upper right.
  
  Give your package that extra personalized touch by attaching a small ornament, framed photo, tiny car or charm tailored specifically to your nurse, kindergartner, favorite niece or nephew.
  
  

Unusual Boxes

• Find gift boxes that have unique shapes. Octagonal ones do exist. Cover them with colored paper. Use scrapbooking supplies to create frames around the package. Insert copies of favorite photographs inside the frames. Delight a relative or friend with a package that pays homage to the memories you share by using old photographs to decorate the outside of a package. Top with a framed photograph, scrapbook or photo album containing even more cherished photographs.
  
  Old hat boxes show up at flea markets and garage sales. Buy these whenever you come across them and use for giving your next gift. Fill with old newspaper, lined with tissue paper, or purchase vintage-inspired fabric to wrap the contents of the box. If the hat still has its string or ribbon, use this. Otherwise, tie with brown string or tobacco twine.