Sustainable Christmas - wrapping

This year I wanted to avoid buying wrapping paper. Most stuff is terrible quality this time of year, anyway. It's hard to keep it from tearing, getting covered in sticky tape, and all wrinkled.

Small things I just wrapped in brown paper and jute string with a little bit of red ribbon.

However for larger family gifts I've got another tactic - fabric wrapping.

I found some really pretty Christmas tea towels at Spotlight. Now, this is wapping you can re-use an unlimited number of times - immediately!

Pram amuser

When T was small he loved it when I hung little things to play with across his pram. But you don't have to go out and buy something. If you finger-knit or crochet a length of yarn you can string that across, and then tie little toys to it.

Small dolls are lovely for this.

I've been going to a Steiner doll-making group for a few weeks, and the women make these tiny little dolls, with bodies like little bags, from scrap fabric, and heads made out of stretch hemp or old jersey t-shirt material. You can make lots in a small amount of time, then tie them all together in a row - perfect for a pram amuser!

I found an online tutorial for similar dolls here

At my group though they make em even simpler - just a small bag of some left-over fabric.

If you use different textures for each doll and different coloured wool hair and things they will all have great individuality!