@stevo:
Isn't that what the instructions tell you how to do, how to wrap a box?

I've gone more of the bag route myself. It's just easier and no one seems to really care how well you've wrapped their gift so why bother? It's a lot easier to reuse a bag anyway. And...they're only a dollar at the dollar store!

rg

Who knew Ribbon was harmful to a cat's digestive system? I suppose its not as healthy as the lizards and cockroaches they are eating normally.

twoback

@mmr: I have used the news paper (the Sunday funnies work the best), or paper bags (the kind that the grocery stores give away), tampon boxes (I reserve those for close family), and my personal favorite - duct tape. I don't think I've bought wrapping paper or supplies in years (though my fiancee still seems to think that they are important).

Duane

@Deprong Mori: Recently I have wrapped gifts in newspaper, which many think is quite tacky. However, I find that if you use the pornographic section of the village voice (or whatever your local paper with sex line phone numbers is) it is quite funny, not to mention better than buying paper just to throw out.

SEX LINE!

mmr

How about how to wrap a gift that's inside a box.

stevo

I never realised wrapping gifts was so difficult for some it needs a how-to guide :S

pixelkid

Everyone in my family can wrap presents, but most of us have gone simpler when we offer gifts to each other. Normally, we put the item inside an attractive bag. If necessary, hide the item under some tissue.

Very little waste as the bags can easily be repurposed.

Deprong Mori

My family has a talent that has been passed down - we can wrap anything. Rakes and snowshovels are sort of family legend - we have wrapped them both, and much more. Bags are too easy and no fun. Yeah... not as green as it could be. I'll grant that.

SurrealDreams

Once I get to the bottom of my wrapping paper stash, I'm going to start doing this: [www.env.go.jp] (Furushoki, or the Japanese art of wrapping with fabric).

My girls have been given presents wrapped in fabric, and they found the fabric almost as useful and as much fun as the gifts themselves.

superdewa

If you want your gift wrapping to look considerably better, don't use store-bought gift-wrap paper. Make your own. Buy some interesting paper at your local art supply store and add your own touches.

Deprong Mori

My Mom taught me the 4 piece tape method and I hate to see people wrap presents and use a whole roll of tape.

The only think I really hate are odd presents... The paper never seems to lay just flat enough.

BigDASH

I prefer to use excessive amounts of tape and paper when wrapping presents. A few years ago I wrapped a couple DVDs with 4 rolls of paper and 2 rolls of duct tape. It took 30 minutes to open. My brother still hates me for that one.

Sure, maybe it was a little wasteful, but it was still fun.

yerxa

This is so anti-environmental. This holiday season the trend is re-usable, cotton, tote bags. Ditch the paper and stop killing trees!

thei

@thei: bah! buying cotton just supports illegal immigrant workers! XD

hometoast

@superdewa: i found this site useful as well.

[furoshiki.com]

DSaddict

I prefer to use the paper wrappers that come around toilet paper rolls.

--FCOD

flyingcowofdoom