| The gift giving spirit of Christmas time | | | | the process simpler, a leftover piece of |
| creates a flurry of cheerful and colorful | | | | plain packing paper can be used as a base to |
| presents, lights and ornaments every year | | | | which the kids tape or glue the festive bits |
| which helps one enjoy this special time of | | | | of Christmas wrapping paper. When having done |
| the year. Unfortunately, some of that holiday | | | | this, the children will ensure that next |
| cheer eventually ends up in the waste paper | | | | year's wrapping paper is both environmentally |
| basket after the presents have been unwrapped | | | | conscious and artistically unique. There are |
| and the decorations have been taken down. | | | | a number of easy ways to reuse Christmas |
| This year, consider giving a Christmas gift | | | | wrapping paper and cards, and children will |
| to the planet by making it a point to | | | | be fascinated by the variety of decorations |
| conserve and recycle. An Earth-friendly | | | | and flourishes that can be found on some |
| Christmas is especially appropriate for | | | | types of Christmas cards. Many store-bought |
| children, who will enjoy saving the planet | | | | cards now come decorated with durable, sturdy |
| while crafting lovely holiday gifts and | | | | trappings such as gold or silver foil, puffy |
| decorations. Wrapping paper and Christmas | | | | snowmen, lace, ribbon, glitter and even |
| cards are indispensable when you want to | | | | pieces of colorful plastic. These decorations |
| create a merry holiday experience for your | | | | can be pulled off or cut out of the paper |
| family and friends. Many people use these | | | | part of the card and glued to cardboard |
| paper products only once and then throw them | | | | backing to create handmade ornaments for next |
| away, where they contribute to the amount of | | | | year's tree. To use this year's Christmas |
| waste on the planet. Some people try to | | | | cards as next year's gift wrapping paper, let |
| recycle as much of the wrapping and packing | | | | the kids cut out interesting images and |
| paper as possible, along with cards, | | | | sections from their Christmas cards this year |
| cardboard boxes and other paper products. But | | | | and store the pieces away. Next year, let the |
| even recycling isn't always the best choice | | | | kids choose their favorite finds from the old |
| for the environment, and reusing these | | | | cards and glue them onto wrapped presents or |
| materials at least once before recycling them | | | | fancy gift boxes. With a little bit of |
| will help toward helping the Earth. By | | | | imagination, you can make a Christmas |
| reusing wrapping paper can seem like an | | | | tradition that's creative as well as good for |
| obvious way to reduce holiday waste, but | | | | the Earth, imparting environmentally |
| there's no need to stop at simply folding up | | | | conscious lessons to your kids along with the |
| this year's paper to use next year. On the | | | | holiday spirit. |
| morning of Christmas, while the kids are | | | | |
| still in the right mood for cutting and | | | | Jon Kelly is a published author who writes |
| shredding the wrapping paper, let them tear | | | | articles on a variety of diverse subjects. |
| and cut up several different sheets of | | | | This includes articles about Christmas and |
| Christmas wrapping paper and then tape the | | | | Christmas decorations. If you would like to |
| pieces randomly together to create sheet of | | | | get more information and ideas about |
| Christmas collage paper. If you need to make | | | | Christmas Time . |