This post is submitted by guest writer, Tara Alley.

It’s estimated that we throw away approximately 4 million tons of wrapping paper a year. 4 MILLION TONS. Can you believe that? This year, I’m vowing to make a return to recycling paper and to trying my hand at some “alternative” methods of wrapping. If you’re with me on this one, keep reading. Some basic ideas include: using newspaper comics (recyclable, fun, quirky, entertaining), jars and baskets (always have a second use after opening!), a fun fabric (especially ideal for the sewer…) re-use some old wallpaper, draw your own artwork (becomes a gift in itself), stamp a fun pattern on recycled paper, and re-use brown garbage bags.

However, for those of you who crave a little more adventure, a little more “you” and a little more process, this is for you: Make Your Own.  Yes, that’s right, we’re going to make our own brown paper, and then when we’re done, you can use as is, stamp it, draw on it, crumple it up, you name it. This is the ultimate way to recycle and cut down on more paper consumption this Christmas season.

First, you will need to gather the following:
Paper scraps (tissue paper, paper, light cardboard, magazines)
Rolling pin
Sponge
Towel
Coffee
Deckle (two wood frames with a screen stapled to one, a picture frame works as well)

1) Pull out your coffee makers and make a pot of steaming coffee (don’t drink it all yourself…)
2) Tear up scrap paper into small pieces, no bigger than 1 inch
3) Put paper into blender along with warm water at a ratio of two cups paper to three cups water
4) Add one part coffee to blender, more or less for deeper/lighter coloring
5) Blend completely!
Voila!  You have pulp!
6) Pour all pulp into your sink, add more warm water, and submerge deckle in the water  (The bottom frame with screen goes underneath, the pulp should be resting on the screen with the second frame on top.)
7) Shake off excess water
8) Lay a piece of felt or towel on top frame, tip over and transfer the pulp to the absorbent material
9) Use a sponge to soak up water
10) Place another towel on top and use a rolling pin to push out any lingering drops
(You get the idea… no water is good water!)
11) Allow the sheet of paper to dry
12) Peel off towel

And there you have it, a sheet of paper! You can finish by ironing for an extra smooth feel. I recommend doing 4 or 5 at a time and then taping them together into one large sheet before you begin wrapping. If you have extra-small boxes, you might be able to get away with just one or two sheets.

Now you have classic brown paper. If you’ve got any calligraphy skills, try writing neat lines of a favorite holiday saying, or perhaps even writing something about the recipient… Endless possibilities!

Since my writing is best done with a keyboard, I plan on decorating mine with real greenery sprigs and some gold ribbon. A classic, elegant red ribbon would complement this really nicely too. I will also be making all of my gift cards out of this paper, how fun?!

Whatever you do, have some fun with it, and take some pride in knowing that you aren’t contributing to the 4 million tons of wrapping paper that everyone else is.

Author Tara Alley is a freelance writer native to Montana. Now living in Orange County, CA, she is working and writing for Coffee Home Direct. You can reach her at: tara[at]coffeehomedirect.com