Holiday Gift Giving: DIY, Eco-Friendly, Recycled Wrapping

I have a penchant for gift wrapping. Growing up with a staunch feminist for a mother, whom I love dearly, our Christmas gifts were always hastily wrapped in paper grabbed at the last minute, on Christmas Eve, with a bow and a gift tag plopped on top. It was always a hassle, a chore, and more than likely one that was passed on to me. Luckily for me (and for mom) I love wrapping. I also love other things that my mom detests like doing crafts, decorating and renovating. For my mom, these kinds of activities are associated with antiquated female roles like “the perfect hostess” or “homemaker”. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have a lovely family home, or that my mom doesn’t enjoying baking dozens of Christmas cookies and throwing holiday parties, it just means that she has never wanted to feel like she is “supposed” to do these things. And I get that. But I can’t help it, I enjoy them.

Souce: We Heart It

I’m getting sidetracked, the point is, the older I’ve grown the more I’ve appreciated and enjoyed gift giving and gift wrapping. There is something really special about choosing something for someone that you care about and wrapping it in an equally care-filled way. We have made it obvious with our posts here at WTD that we like to spoil our loved ones; whether it’s with a DIY shower scrub, a treasured book or simply a potluck dinner with old friends, Christmas is a time to show the people you love how much you love them. To me, wrapping just tops off those sentiments. Crafting a beautiful looking parcel shows the care and thought you put into purchasing the gift.

Source: We Heart It

There are legitimate downfalls to wrapping, though and I am going to address them. A lot of people can’t invest time or money into wrapping because presents, especially for kids, are unwrapped in a matter of minutes. Your hard work and determination is undone by your greedy seven year old nephew who takes one look at the toy and tosses it aside. I can see how that is frustrating. Generally, we like to be pretty eco-friendly here at WTD so the fact that gift wrap creates a lot of garbage is a major concern. Luckily, gift wrap is becoming more and more recyclable as the years pass. Look for gift wrap that has that magical little triangle on the tag and make sure to tell the receiver that it is  (most people assume it isn’t). Other great options include using kraft paper (the kind you wrap parcels in for mail) or even newspaper and dressing the otherwise plain packaging up with an extra beautiful ribbon or bow. The best thing you can do is re-use your gift wrap. Don’t crumple the bag or cut that ribbon! If take the time to unwrap carefully and you can re-use almost every aspect of the present in future gift giving.

Once you've collected a selection of pre-loved, recycled and used gift wrap do an inventory and decide what you need to buy. It may not be realistic to wrap each gift with the amount of care and love you want to. Decide who will appreciate your time and efforts the most and spoil them. If you can wait, try holding out until a week before the big day. In the beginning of December wrapping paper comes at a premium but wait, the sale stuff is best! I got a plethora of amazing wrapping goods at Chapters yesterday for $2-$5 a piece! I got bows, ribbon, pretty tissue and a couple gorgeous tags to compliment my used/recycled/eco-friendly supplies.

I've done some serious brainstorming so I'll start by giving you some of my ideas (with a little help from the Internet):

Wrapping

• an old map
• recycled brown (or other) bags 
• kraft paper/butcher paper/brown paper
• newspaper
• magazine ads (ie. a super classy Chanel ad)
• pretty patterned pre-loved tissue paper (ie. the kind you get at higher-end stores in the bag)
• fabric scraps
• jars/tins/boxes
• sheet music
• burlap
• scrap wallpaper
• vintage sewing patterns (also works for tissue)

Ribbon

• ribbon
• twine
• raffia
• baker's twine
• string
• lace
• yarn

 Accents Pieces

• snips of greenery
• sprigs of berries
• small Christmas ornaments you don't use anymore
• bells
• shells
• pine cones
• postcards
• doily
• twigs
• feathers
• aluminium foil for a silvery sparkle
• paint chips cut into the shape of Christmas trees ect.

Now, on to the fun. What I have collected and pinned from the wonderful world of the Internet:

Use Buttons

This is a particularly awesome idea for kids and who doesn’t have a box full of spare buttons?

Use Your Feet:

Those feet-reindeer with googly eyes are probably the cutest thing I have ever seen!

Use Tree Clippings

Source: MomSpark

You have to trim the bottom branches off your tree anyway so why not use them in you wrapping? 

Create a Chalkboard Look

Source: Nashville Wraps

Chalkboards are very on trend yet would be unique for Christmas, you can create a chalkboard look and tie it all together with red ribbon! I like creativity this option opens up! If you have kids let them draw some snowmen and mistletoe all over them.

Make them Girly with Doilies

Source: The Yellow Buttercup

I think the kraft paper and doily go together beautifully. Using brown string to tie it all together just completes that pretty, rustic look.

All Natural

Source: Design Sponge

I love this combo of natural accent pieces, a homemade typewriter tag, kraft paper and tied with raffia.

Splatter Paint

Source: Go for the Creative

Not only does it look like snow but you get to re-live your Kindergarten days making it!

Potato Stamp

Source: Lost and Fawned

While you're still in your splatter painting clothes continue down memory lane and potato stamp some butcher paper with Christmas trees!

Feathery Flair

Source: Maggie Pate's Flickr

Real or fake, feathers add flair! These packages also have beautiful tags.

Lady-Like Lace

Source: Living in Simplicity

 Adding a little lace is a pretty accent. Adding lace and ribbon? I'm in love! Simple elegance. I would use a Christmas-y coloured ribbon, though. 

Cookie Cutter Patterns

Source: Restless Oasis

If you have an excess of Christmas-y cookie cutters re-use a couple of them to make wintery designs on your parcels!

 Sheet Music

Source: Vintage with Laces

 I love the look of sheet music as wrapping paper especially for a music lover!

The last, and my favouirte!

Sadly Pinterest had no click-through for this one :(

Well, that's a wrap! Gotta book it!

xoxo JEM

P.S. post your eco-friendly, DIY, recycled and re-useable ideas in the comments! Tweet, Pin & Instragram us too!

A Book Buying Guide for the Bookworms (and maybe even some Non-Bookish Folk) on your List this Holiday Season

Further to our gift card discussion, I thought I'd post a book buying guide for the fast-approaching holiday season. I personally love receiving books as gifts but for some reason I rarely get them in return! You'd think as an English major and bookish nerd people would automatically get me books but perhaps because I've read a lot of books they shy away from choosing one for me? In my opinion, there is nothing more personal than choosing a book for a loved one. If you don't know where to start - start here! Remember, there's this magical thing called a GIFT RECEIPT that you can stick in the cover of the book to ensure that if they have read it they can return the gift and choose something they haven't. I usually wait and confirm that the receiver hasn't read the book before writing a personal inscription in the cover.  The most recent book I received as a gift was Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). I loved this present as I would never have bought it myself but thoroughly enjoyed it and gained a newfound appreciation for Mindy Kaling (I was a clueless Office lover who didn't know she was a major writing force). The book isn't on my list but does come highly recommended, especially for a young woman or aspiring writer of any kind. Kaling is a talented, funny and, despite the title, confident woman to learn from and look up to!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Here at WTD we like to support local bookshops and booksellers but in the guide I have posted images and links to Chapters/Indigo for your reference and discretion.

1.) For a Friend in a Rut – The  Glass Castle – Jeanette Walls

The Glass Castle

If you haven’t read the blog article I wrote after hearing author Jeanette Walls speak at a literary event, read it here. I am a huge fan of her work and my appreciation for The Glass Castle doubled, no, quadrupled after having the chance to meet her in person.  The Glass Castle  is the perfect book for a friend who is in a rut, as many of us twenty-somethings are, because it puts life into perspective while simultaneously providing an unapologetic sense of hope for the future.  Hope is important for many of us right now and this book is also funny, touching and thought provoking.

2.) For your Mother-in-Law – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – Mary Ann Shaffer

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Have you read it? It’s great! I stole it off my mom’s shelf expecting something completely different based solely on my impression of the title but it’s a rich and rewarding read written in the epistolary form that has an upbeat sensibility that I appreciate in literature. Goodreads: “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. Juliet [the protagonist] begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever”. Some reader reviewers on Good Reads find it a little hokey but I truly enjoyed the wholesome, good-feeling vibes Shaffer puts into her writing. In my opinion, it’s a perfect read for your MIL.

3.) For your Literary Friend – Half-Blood Blues - Esi Edugyan

Half Blood Blues

I realize that because this selection is for your literary friend they may have read this book, but if they’re a literary friend they’ve probably read a lot of books. It’s going to be kind of  a shot in the dark to choose something for them no matter what. When in doubt, scan their bookshelves next time you’re over and looking for missing titles. Interestingly, despite its widespread acclaim I’d say that Half-Blood Blues is a novel many of my literary friends haven’t read – and should! This book changed the way I read. It immediately became one of my all times favourites. Edugyan surprised me in many ways and Half-Blood Blues turned into a story I wasn’t expecting and, interestingly, needed to read at the time. Half-Blood Blues reveals a side of war I hadn’t experienced in history or literature and it entranced and enveloped me. Good Reads puts it beautifully: “the best-selling, award-winning Half-Blood Blues is an entrancing, electric story about jazz, race, love and loyalty, and the sacrifices we ask of ourselves, and demand of others, in the name of art”.

4.) For your Eccentrically Eclectic Friend - The Door – Margaret Atwood

The Door

Unfortunately, you can’t give poetry to just anyone in this day and age, but hopefully, like me, you have a friend that truly appreciates the poetic side of life. If they have an appreciation of poetry or Atwood The Door will be an excellent choice. Atwood turned me on to poetry in grade twelve with her poem You Fit into Me (if you haven’t read it – go read it right now) and I’ve loved her poetry (and poetry in general) ever since. I studied The Door in a seminar class with Dionne Brand (get jealous and stay that way – it was a life changing semester) and I highly recommend the collection. As Good Reads explains, The Door: “investigate[s] the mysterious writing of poetry itself, as well as the passage of time and our shared sense of mortality”. As I said, choose the receiver of this gift wisely and it could be the perfect present.

5.) For your Dad – In the Skin of a Lion – Michael Ondaatje 
 

In The Skin of a Lion

My dad’s a reader, but I challenge you to try this book out on yours even if he isn’t. Ondaatje is a true wordsmith and In the Skin of a Lion is enchanting because of the effortless use of storytelling and language.  In the Skin of a Lion is a captivating read because of Ondaatje's use of poetic language and the way the text compels the reader to “figure it out” from the very beginning. In The Skin of a Lion explains Toronto's unspoken past and combines history, mystery and adventure to explore the sinister underside involved in building Canada’s biggest city in the 1920s.  

6.) For Your Aunt or Uncle that you simply can’t Shop For – The Shipping News – Annie Proulx

The Shipping News begins with the slowly imploding life of Quoyle a newspaper press room worker from New York State who relocates to his ancestral home on the coast of Newfoundland with his two daughters after being deserted by his ex-wife Petal. The family’s relocation is the beginning of a mid-life turnaround that allows Quoyle to find his place in the world and what Goodreads calls his “struggle to reclaim his life”. I absolutely love books set on the coast and The Shipping News is possibly the best. A guaranteed crowd pleasing read for any family member you simply can’t shop for.

7.) For your Mom – Latitudes of Melt – Joan Clark

Latitudes of Melt

Okay, now I’m on a Newfoundland kick. Latitudes of Melt is one of my mom’s favourite "finds" aka she found in in my bookshelf. I studied this book in a Can lit course during my Undergrad. Written by the author of An Audience of Chairs, Latitudes of Melt is a mom-pleasing, character driven story about a baby, later re-named Aurora, who is found floating off the coast of Newfoundland after the Titanic sinks. She is adopted and raised by a family in Newfoundland and later raises her own family there. The book explores her entire life until old age when she is finally convinced that she should explore her origins and find out where she came from.

8.) For your Brother or Brother in Law – Homage to Catalonia – George Orwell

Homage to Catalonia

The only book my brother has ever read is 1984. Okay, that’s probably not true but it is the only book he has ever liked, and he only read it because his high school curriculum made him. My parents had two children and our strengths are literally split down the middle; I am an English major who loves reading, writing, art, yoga, animals and nature and my brother in an Engineer who excels in science and math and plays sports… for fun (if you can believe that). I have chosen Homage to Catalonia because of my brother’s lack luster reading resume (his only weak resume, I might add, the kid is a genius). He liked Orwell, I think, because Orwell catches readers off guard and captures their interest before they have a chance to put the book down. Even most non-readers have gotten through Animal Farm and have had to stop and think about it. That’s a pretty amazing feat considering Animal Farm is often read around grade ten when boys are possibly at their most boy-ish. Homage to Catalonia is a lesser known Orwell which depicts his experience in the Spanish Civil War where he served on the Aragon front for a hundred and fifteen days and was at one point shot through the throat in battle. In typical Orwell fashion he replies to the people who said he was the “lucky man to have survived being shot in the throat” that it would be “luckier not to have been shot at all”. This book is rich in history, and although it doesn’t showcase typical wartime action, the politics and strife are evident on every page and I promise the reader will learn a lot (I did!).  

9.) For your Friend who has Read All the Classics – Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys 

Wide Sargasso Sea

Give this book to someone who has read the classics, loves the Brontës and Austen, but also appreciates good contemporary fiction (like us!). Don’t give this book to a classics-snob (I’ve met several of them – it’s not attractive – why are they your friend, anyway?) because they will be an asshole about it. I re-read Jane Eyre before embarking on Wide Sargasso Sea and I loved the entire experience! It gave me a chance to re-fresh on one of my top-five favourite Classics of all time and gave me a breath of fresh air and a new perspective on the story. Rhys explores Antoinette Bertha Cosway, Mr. Rochester’s mysterious captive and “madwoman” in Jane Eyre and crafts a unique and compelling tale set in 1830s Jamaica.

10.) For Anyone - Longbourn - Jo Baker 

Longbourn

I admit, I haven't read Longbourn (yet) but I have already given it to one my best friends. It sounds wonderful, someone described it to be Downton Abbey-esque, so of course I know I'm going to like it. Like Wide Sargasso Sea Longbourn plays with the beloved, tried and true story of Pride and Prejudice. I recommend reading Pride and Prejudice first to refresh, just like I did with Wide Sargasso Sea. In fact, why not give P&P and Longbourn as a gift set? I'm going to go put Longbourn on my wish list now!

In closing, I urge you to give at least one book this holiday season! Use this book buying guide or think up your own (and if you do, make sure to share it with me!). Either way, I know that any book lover and maybe even the oddly non-bookish folk  in your life will appreciate the gesture and maybe even learn something new this holiday season!

Gotta book it,

JEM

Literary Gifts for Every Kind of Bibliophile on your List! Part One.

My grandmother insisted on always getting us kids books for Christmas-- even when our lists outlined My Little Ponies and action figures.  It's not that she was trying to disappoint us; it was her signature, her way of giving us something much more lasting.  She's gone now, but the library she helped me build is still growing.
With Christmas right around the corner, we've got you covered: from booklovers to bookworms, from the kid who "hates" reading to the friend who ONLY reads Harlequin romances, we've got the skinny on over 21 positively charming presents, the kind that says "Love from the English Major."

For the Friend who Reads a ton and Doesn't Need your Help with Books:

1. Gift cards to Chapters, BookDepository or better yet, your local used bookstore.
2. Vintage Dictionary Art: it's the perfect combo of bookish yet not a book.  Combine two passions: the love of words and the love... whatever it is they love!

Available on Etsy by AdamsAleArtPrints

3. If he/she already has a sizeable library, why not an embossing kit?  It's a very personal and thoughtful present.  There is a wide variety of price ranges, from stamps to embossers, so that your friend can label each book in their collection.  It’s also handy for your friend who is constantly lending books- and not getting them back.  I found a great customizable one at Acornsales.com.

For your Boyfriend who Needs to Know Books are NOT scary:

Sorry, why are you dating him?  Just kidding.  Surefire wins for your man-child include:

4. Russel Brand's Booky Wook or Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern (if he wants a laugh)

5. Theo Fleury's Playing With Fire or The Game by Ken Dryden (if he's a hockey fanatic)

6. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes complete series of short stories (if he has a short attention span).  Check out the sweet copy I scored for $14 at the used book store!

7. Or try the great Hunter S Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (if he kind of feels like he should maybe hop on that band wagon.  You know what they say... buy the ticket, take the ride.)

For your Friends who just had a Baby:

Wait, will you even be seeing them this Christmas?  I jest.

8. They NEED a copy of Adam Mansbach's Go the F**k to Sleep.  And if you want to class it up for their baby, might I suggest Little Miss Austen's Pride and Prejudice or classier still, a beautiful hardcover of The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.  THIS JUST IN: Found at IKEA, adorable stuffed badger wearing blue blazer for only $5.99 would go perfectly with WINTW.  Brain. Explodes. 

Pair with a copy of The Wind in the Willows (5$ paperback at Chapter's) and you just made a great $10 baby gift.

For your Knight in Dork's Clothing:

9. A Tolkien Bestiary by David Day

Dune

Persepolis 

10. A legit Harry Potter wand... WB shop has a sick Death Eater one here.

11. Anything autographed

12. Personalized t-shirt or tote bag.  Last year, I got my sister-in-law a tote that says "Team Darcy" and stuffed it with Austen-y things, like candles, tea-cups and biscuits.  Their favourite quotation would serve nicely.  Come to think of it, anyone who is part of a fandom loves fangear.  So related wall decals, laptop/car decals, fridge magnets, dishwasher magnets, teapots, mittens, blankets, scarves etc. are all winners.  My bro just picked up a Doctor Who teapot for his secret santa.  

13. Anything from OutofPrint or Litographs (be warned: not budget friendly).

For Your Sister who just got a new Apartment:

14. Invisible bookshelf, available from Chapters and IKEA, among others.

15. If they own boring billy bookcases or thrifted bookshelves, pretty wallpaper and spray paint to liven them up.  Also works great if given with a coupon for your services in helping with the DIY project.  PS. if doing this in winter, use a tarp.

Stocking Stuffers for Literally Everyone:

16. Adorable magnetic bookmarks.  These are the ones my guy got me from Indigo, but there's a sweet Youtube tutorial on how to make them here.

17. A plant.  Every reading nook needs some greenery.  Go with succulents that don't require much care.  You can even plant succulents in teacups and other non-draining containers (like mugs and terrariums) because they require so little water.  If your friend is a responsible adult, consider trusting them with a boston fern or philodendron. 

18. A Christmas ornament filled with passages of their favourite books.  $10 on Etsy at NovelAdornment.

19. This reading journal from Amazon.

For your Mom:

20. She's probably the most selfless person on your list, so give the gift of reading to a less fortunate child.  Various charities have “reading” gifts: individual books, entire libraries, or reading kits for teachers.  You can make the donation in the name of your friend. Don’t forget- you can always send books to your foster child too!  They are great for shipping! 

21. Magazine subscriptions are underrated. The great thing about subscriptions is that you can lessen the cost by cutting back on the number of copies they receive, and you can usually find great deals online or from coupons- they usually beat the cover price by 40%.  Go for National Geographic or Gardening Life or Maclean's or something that has to do with her hobbies.  And if she complains that they pile up, tell her to donate her read copies to women's shelters or office spaces.

You can also check out this helpful Buzzfeed article, Gifts for Bookworms.

Well, I'm tapped for now, but expect Part Two early next week!

xoxo

JEM