DIY Paper Bag Wrapping Paper

In the words of Broad City: Reduce Reuse Rihanna.

Scott's birthday was earlier this month, and I had several books as presents. As a book-lover myself, I overestimate the excitement others experience when receiving books as gifts. But I think he liked them. Here are the books I chose, if you're in the market for some gifts or light reading:

1:  Blood, Bones, & Butter

Photo source: thirdstreetbooks.com

This book is great for the aspiring chef. A memoir reviewed as funny, quirky, and uplifting it promises to give a hesitant cook a kick in the buns. The author owns the restaurant Plum in New York, so as part of the gift, you can include a meal at the restaurant once your loved one finishes the memoir--if you're feeling extra generous, or doubt that they'll finish the book otherwise.

2:  What Color is Your Parachute?

Photo Source: www.amazon.com

This guide will provide a road map for a recent grad, or anyone stuck in a rut. Updated every year, it includes how to search for a job in the digital era, use Google in your favor, among hundreds of other tips and useful charts.

3: Shake

Photo Source: www.masonshaker.com

Written by two young guys from Brooklyn, this book provides recipes for cocktails that are fun, simple, and inventive. If you want to go the extra mile for this gift, you can purchase the mason-shaker pictured on the cover so your loved one can start shaking immediately. 

4: The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear

Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org

I couldn't resist including this book in the stack. This is my favorite book, which may seem odd. And this book is odd. Written by a German cartoonist, it follows many of the adventurous lives of Captain Bluebear sprinkled with the talented artist's drawings. This book always inspires me to be more creative and to think outside the box. In my opinion, it's a must-read. 

Now that you know what I was giving, it's time I showed you how I got these gifts ready for receiving. I didn't have any wrapping paper on hand, and I'm loathe to leave the apartment if I don't have to, so I started scavenging around the kitchen for possible gift-wrapping tools. I stumbled upon some brown paper grocery bags and knew I hit the jackpot. We'd stock-piled dozens of them, too guilty to toss them, and too optimistic to think we'd do anything but recycle them. I finally found a way to reuse them.

Step 1: Gently tear apart every part of the bag that's glued together

This is generally at the bottom of the bag, and along one seam on the back. Try to pull the sides of the bag that are glued together apart without damaging the rest of the bag. 

Step 2:  Lay the bag flat and cut

You'll be surprised how much material you have to work with. To wrap all my books, I only used one entire bag, and about a quarter of a second. If there are any logos, put those face up, so that when you finish wrapping, only the plain brown side shows. 

Step 3: Wrap normally and bask in your glory

After you rip open the bag so it lies flat, the process is the same as with normal store-bought wrapping paper. So cut, tape, wrap and tada!!! You've got some classy, artsy, instagram-worthy presents, all with no more damage to the environment than you'd committed already. Now wrap away!!!