Gift Wrap with Regifting in Mind

Its no secret. You want your gift to be a sentimental favorite. The plain truth is that its not going to be all the time.  Here's a way it can be a year long memory. 

A few years ago I heard a story that saddened me but now, with maturity and an awareness of the importance of recycling, I'm seeing the story differently.  In fact, inspired, I feel a need to share and encourage my readers to do such a simple act of kindness.  A few tips can create not only a Holiday Memory, but also give your gift recipient something intended to be re gifted through the measure of Christmas wrapping.

A teacher in a repressed area of Dallas received Christmas Cards each year from one student in particular. 

He noticed the envelope had an erased name etched into the paper below where the word "Teacher" was written.  Without ever speaking of the notice, he scanned the other cards.  Most of the 22 greetings looked the same.  Later,  the teacher passed out cards to each of his students and their families just as he had every year prior.  The student boldly asked the teacher a question.  "Why do you ALWAYS ruin our Christmas Cards?"  Puzzled, my friend asked him to explain.  The student remarked, "You write our names with an ink pen!"  After a glance around the room at the nodding heads within the class and disappointed faces, he stopped his lesson plan and the students proceeded to teach him.  "You see, in my family, Mama calls it passin' on the joy.  We don't buy gifts.  Mama says cards give joy but only when you give them away.  You caint mark 'em in a way that caint be erased to write a new somebody's name on the JOY CARD." My friend was so touched by the revelation that he started a Christmas Fund to recycle Christmas Cards  and their envelopes each year to give in bundles as gifts to the students.  

In looking through Christmas papers that are pretty, I found that this is where it stops.  Consider wrapping a gift in something that can be reused for the next holiday or special occasion your recipient may have.  Gather fabric remnants from old clothing....

Dip them in Liquid Fabric Starch and lay them flat to dry.  After drying, cut them into slices for ribbon. Don't be too concerned about Christmas bows, as you can see, a simple recycled newspaper medallion, or ornament will give your package a focal point.  Even a favorite flower brooch can be attached to the package and later removed for the recipient to keep or give away!

By cutting a small name tag, you can personalize with a message on the back explaining the background of the elements used. 
Example:

My favorite idea, though, is printing a collage of family (or friend) photos and wrapping a few picture frames, with a request inside the gift stating: feel free to share these memories in the form of another gift or online! 

Courtesy of shttp://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2010/12/family-photos.htmlure

Thanks for reading.  Please comment and share your ideas on HOW TO SPREAD THE JOY through re gifting ideas!