When you unwrap a gift, be it Christmas, birthday, or special occasion, do you gingerly take your time preserving the paper as best you can, or do you bust into the gift like a 5 year old?
I remember when I was very young, my family always got the biggest kick out of watching us kids opening Christmas presents like a tornado. Bows and wrapping paper flying everywhere! I also remember when I was about 8 years old watching my great aunt open her Christmas gifts with such care. When she FINALLY got her gift unwrapped, you could hardly tell the wrapping paper had even been used! She would then in turn save the wrapping, and reuse it for future Christmas gifts. (This is also one of the women who had a profound influence upon me concerning quilting!) I decided right then and there, I would become a Christmas wrap "scrapper."
Here is the proof!
This box contains years and years of recycled gift wrap! It probably dates back at least 20 years! It is chocked full of beautiful Christmas gift wrap in various shades and designs. It's fairly heavy, and it is where I shop for gift wrap when I need it!
Here is a little deeper in the box.......
And, deeper still............
Am I alone here? Surely I am not the only one that does this? PLEASE tell me I am not the only one that does this! LOL And all the while I am wrapping, or sewing these days, this is what I am listening to..........
Vintage Christmas albums played on my Grandmother's old stereo!
Here are three of my favorites from my childhood.
OK, so now for some serious business.......
It was Clue #5 for Easy Street on Friday, and the minute I got the clue, I was down in my sewing room working on it, and finishing it in record time!
This..........
turned into these!
There has been some discussion on Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville blog about the name of these units, but, I suggested they be called "Up on the Housetop" blocks considering it is almost Christmas!
Hmmmmmm???????? I wonder?????
I will be travelling to my parent's home for Christmas and will be gone for the next few days. So I would like to extend my most heartfelt gratitude for every blogger/quilter I have encountered so far along my blogging journey. I hope you all have the Merriest of Christmas'!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Merry Christmas!
Wrap scrapper no. Chipmunks ultimate fan YES! I even remember putting the Chipmunks on my record player back in college before our dormitory RA came through for room inspection. I vote for your version of part 5 too! Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to bogland. You will find a wealth of info and encouragement...
ReplyDeleteI too am having a blast with easy street
I saved the paper and the bows if they were not damaged or made from very good quality.
ReplyDeleteSome paper I bought and it never served as wrap, because they were made as a poster, so that's what they became; I had them frame.
We have nice paper or fabric bags that are re-usable all year long. If the receiver is a quilter, we wrap the gift with a fat quarter and ribbons... that double the gift.
Merry Christmas!
Carole Y from Canada
LOL; I am not a wrap saver, but my father tediously folds and refolds tissue paper every year. Always comical.
ReplyDeleteYour colors are FANTABULOUS! Like sunshine :)
I can't wait to get back home from Christmas travel so I can get tearing into step #5.
Merry Christmas.
I saved the paper and the bows if they were not damaged or made from very good quality.
ReplyDeleteSome paper I bought and it never served as wrap, because they were made as a poster, so that's what they became; I had them frame.
We have nice paper or fabric bags that are re-usable all year long. If the receiver is a quilter, we wrap the gift with a fat quarter and ribbons... that double the gift.
Merry Christmas!
Carole Y from Canada
Hey Kevin, lovely to see the oldies - LP's and wrapping paper. I am doing my wrapping today with newspaper (recycle-able, I just made up that word) from the Christmas issue of the Globe and Mail, the kids barely draw a breath in the time it takes to unwrap anything. Although I am sure one little girl may notice Justin Bieber on her wrapping. Love those little "up on the rooftops". Merry Christmas wishes to your family.
ReplyDeleteI don't save the wrapping paper, but I do save the TISSUE PAPER and gift bags! Yes, I smooth and fold the tissue paper for reuse. I used to throw the torn pieces away until my MIL said she keeps them to use as "stuffing" around gifts in boxes...you know the tissue paper you wad up to provide padding. Since then I have even saved the torn pieces. :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
not a wrap saver, but I do save tissue, bags and bows. I like your Easy Street colors!
ReplyDeleteNo, don't save the wrapping paper, but I have a very nice collection of gift bags.
ReplyDeleteLove your Step 5 , I think you may be on to something with your layout.
I have done both. I use to line my dresser drawers as my grandmother did with the lighter color wrapping paper. After moving several times I stopped collecting it. I do save the gift bags and sometimes the tissue. It can be ironed out. This is the first year in about 4yrs that I purchased wrapping paper. My grandson lives here now so we have to do Christmas the old fashion way. I am glad! It was much more fun than as an empty nester. A two year old can really put the spark back into living!
ReplyDeleteLove your colors and your block design. Happy Holidays
Aileen from FL
We used to save the wrapping paper, but not now. I try to wrap in fabric, teatowels or reusable bags these days. The Easy Street units look great. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeletemy older generation relatives would do that, even so mach as getting a knife to slice the tape so they wouldn't rip the paper. I think it goes back to the recession era when money was tight and you didn't waste anything. Nowadays we are a use it and throw it away society.
ReplyDeletePlus the paper was heavier and nicer then. Some of them today rip if you just look at them funny.
DeleteI save more things than I need to, so it's sort of a good feeling to know that while I have the option to save the paper, I don't. I hold on to bags, ribbon & bows. I haven't needed to buy wrapping paper or bows for a couple of years now. Stocking up at the day after Christmas sales a few years back did pay off. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWay to go! I love your colors!
ReplyDeleteI don't actually save the wrapping paper but some of my boxes I have used repeatedly- probably for at least 15 years or so...
LOVE LOVE the colour combination and YES - I save gift bags which we reuse over and over. Not so much with the paper.
ReplyDeleteI save bags but.....have to admit I'm one of those who rip open the paper :) Love the colors in your Easy Street and great block!
ReplyDeleteYour mystery looks great..I don't save the wrapping..I am frugal in some ways but not that one...way to recycle!
ReplyDeleteWe tear into the paper and then smush it into balls, and end up throwing it at each other. I think I like your way better!!
ReplyDeleteHi Kevin! Hope you had a great Christmas! I can't help it...I tear into the gifts! It brings back childhood memories and we love to wade through all the boxes and wrap after the whole gift-giving is finished!
ReplyDeleteI'm working on Bonnie Hunters Easy Street too and I just wanted to tell you that I love your choice of colors. I've been noticing those oranges/yellows!!
Hello Kevin! I'm loving how your Easy Street clues are turning out, your colors are really playing beautifully together. Tomorrow Bonnie will post Clue #7... I can hardly believe we've been through that many already.
ReplyDeleteAnd to answer your question, I just tear into my gifts. And yes, I recycle the paper afterwards. :)
Kevin, I was hoping you were done with your Easy Street quilt top, so I would know what mine was going to look like. It appears you are gone too. I am going to focus the next few nights on the blocks, and plan to get something together and a picture posted. Can't wait to see yours!!
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