In Japan, cloths called furoshiki serve as an elegant and reusable alternative to wrapping paper. Almost any size or type of fabric or fleece -- from your craft closet or a store's bargain bin -- will work. For detailed directions on how to fold and tie your own furoshiki, click here.

Be sure to check out our other eco-friendly ideas for a Happy Green Holiday.

Materials

• Fabric
• Needle and thread or fabric glue

• Pinking shears

Instructions

1. We used two pieces of fabric sewn back-to-back to form a reversible swatch (adhering the pieces with fabric glue works too), and printed cotton trimmed with pinking shears.

Snappy wraps from FamilyFun

Made from a clean candy or nut tin, this toy drum is great for keeping the lid on a special surprise--the latest Beanie Baby, for instance, or a bag of shiny new marbles--slated for a sibling or best friend.

Cover the tin with plain paper and glue the overlapping edges in place. (The height of the paper should be the same as the height of the tin. To figure the width, wrap ribbon or string around the can, measure its length and then add an inch.) Glue on pieces of ribbon or stick on pieces of colored tape to create a zigzag design around the can and borders around the top and bottom. Or you can draw on a design with colored markers. To finish it off with a bang, top the lid with painted chopsticks or colored pencils for drumsticks.

Here's a creative alternative to wrapping up a Mother's Day present for Grandma this year. Instead of using gift wrap, have your child turn an empty canister into a decorative, reusable gift holder. They're especially great for presenting homemade treats, candies, or even rolled-up artwork or letters.

Materials

• Clean, empty cardboard canister
• Glue
• Construction paper

• Card stock
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. To make one, you'll need a clean, empty cardboard canister (the kind with a lid, such as an oatmeal or potato chip container). Remove the lid, then have your child use a glue stick to cover the outside of the canister with colorful scrapbook or construction paper. Help her glue on decorative shapes from colored card stock, letting them stick out from the canister for a 3-D effect and adding other decorative elements, if she likes (we used buttons for flower centers and eyes). Allow the glue to dry.

2. Place your gift in the canister, then put on the lid. For a decorative top, trace around a plate or other round object onto a piece of wrapping paper or scrapbook paper to create a circle about 3 inches wider than the lid, and cut it out. Scrunch the paper circle over the top of the canister, adding a dab of glue to stick it to the lid, then tie on a pretty ribbon bow.

Put the finishing touch on Truffles for Teacher or other homemade thank-you goodies with these whimsical wrapping ideas.

Materials

• CHALKBOARD BAG:
• Black construction paper
• Glue
• Colored card stock
• Small paper gift bag
• Chalk
• Candy wrappers (available at craft supply stores)
• TREAT BOX
• Early writer's paper (we used printed scrapbook paper)
• Small lidded cardboard box

• Glue
• Mini paper or foil baking cups
• Marker
• PENCIL TUBE
• Pretzel rod cello bag
• Plastic tubing
• Card stock (white and pink)
• Tacky glue
• 1 1/4-inch-wide fluorescent light guard (found in hardware stores)
• Yellow cellophane

Instructions

1. Chalkboard Bag: Glue a small rectangle of black construction paper to a slightly larger rectangle of colored card stock (ours measures 2 by 3 inches). Glue the chalkboard onto a small paper gift bag, then write your message with chalk, as shown. Wrap the truffles in candy wrappers (available at craft supply stores) and place them in the bag.

2. Treat Box: Trim a sheet of early writer's paper (we used printed scrapbook paper) to cover the top and sides of a box lid, then center the lid atop the paper and glue it in place. Snip the corners of the paper to form four tabs and glue the paper over the edges of the lid. Place the truffles in mini paper or foil baking cups, then into the box. Use a marker to write a greeting on the lid, as shown.

3. Pencil Tube: Place the truffles in a pretzel rod cello bag, then slip them into this whimsical holder that's fashioned from plastic tubing and card stock.

Snappy wraps from FamilyFun

Perhaps the most instant and inexpensive of gift wraps is in your kitchen drawer: a recycled bakery bag or a brown paper lunch bag. Not only can it make a stylish package for treats like flavored popcorn or gourmet coffee, but also it is great for disguising CDs, cassette tapes or other distinctively shaped objects.

Fold down the top of the bag 2 inches or so from the edge. With a hole punch, make a hole through all the layers of the folded portion 1/2 inch down from the crease and about an inch in from one side. Make a matching hole on the opposite side of the bag. Open the bag and insert the gift (wrap food in plastic first). Then refold the top, thread ribbon through the holes and tie a fancy bow. Finally, slip a candy cane or lollipop between the bow and the bag.