Creative Recycling of the Ordinary: Whimsical Gift Packaging

Long before recycling... re-purposing... and reusing became popular...

we have harvested nylon/plastic netting...saving them from the landfill.

We store them in a pretty apothecary jar on the counter-top.

Sometimes we use them as-is...

other times, we paint them to create whimsical gift packaging...

This Bean Soup Mix is prettily packaged inside a recycled fast-food cup...

(it has been cleaned out with bleach & water...allowed to dry...then painted)...

and then wrapped in re-cycled netting.


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We originated this idea in our first book...

Frugal Luxuries

(page 230).

Below, you'll find the actual excerpt with detailed instructions on how to

make this environmentally friendly, easy, project.

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WHIMSICAL GIFT PACKAGING

You Will Need:

Spray paint [I try to minimize my use of spray paint & either buy it at yard sales or use a sponge brush and leftover latex paint from other projects around the house]
One large, clean drinking cup (like one from a fast-food restaurant)
Nylon netting (from store-bought onion or garlic)
Raffia or other coordinating ribbon
A small piece of masking paper or newsprint

To Make:

Over the masking paper, spray-paint the netting. [Or sponge paint, one side at a time, allow to dry between sides.] Allow the netting and paper to dry thoroughly. Crumple the paper and put it loosely into the bottom of the cup. (This will raise your gift item so that it makes a better presentation.) Next, put your gift (I use homemade three bean soup or homemade gourmet coffee) into the cup and netting then tie it with a raffia bow.

This beautiful package will stand alone as a small hostess gift (you can put cookies or candies inside instead of soup or coffee) or as part of a larger gift basket.

Take from Frugal Luxuries, by Tracey McBride. Published by Bantam Books, 1997.