Introduction: Recycled Gift Wrapping

About: Olá. I like to construct things... and sometimes destroy some...

Every Christmas lots of good paper goes to waste on present wrappings.
Most of this paper can't be reused because is ripped, bend or has tape in it.
This instructable shows a fun way to create a new gift wrap, recycling any kind of paper (or opaque bendable material). Enjoy!

Step 1: Tools and Materials

You will need a ruller, scissors, a precision cutter, a stick of glue, and a surface to cut.
You can use any kind of paper or bendable material such as fabrics, junk mail, magazines, catalogs, or flyers. The limit is your imagination. Pay attention to the size of the gift your are wrapping and the theme you are going for.

Step 2: Measuring the Paper

Take some pages and put them in a cross with the gift in the middle.
This will give you the idea of the weaved square you will create and you can see if it fits your gift.

Step 3: Weaving the Paper

Cut your pages in stripes with about 1 inch.
Put them side by side intercalating with other pages so you create a nice effect, until you have the full length of the page you are using. Confirm with the size of your gift.
Put paper tape to fixate your stripes.
Start weaving the stripes passing one up and one down perpendicular to the glued paper stripes.
Continue weaving the stripes inverting the order, passing one down and one up and so on, until you reach the bottom.
Put paper tape in the last row.
Now you must have a paper weaved square.
Remove the top tape carefully.
Glue the loose ends on the first row.
Then glue on the sides, one by one.
Glue the ends on the bottom, removing the tape.
Finish by flipping the page and glue the missing spots.


Step 4: Wrapping the Gift

Place your gift over, oblique to the weaved paper. 
Thi way you will create a nice effect and use less paper.
Role the paper around your gift.
Glue the corner.
Cut the excess of paper.
Tuck in and glue the bottom.
Repeat the procedure with the top bending the ends inside.

Step 5: Finishing

Know that you have done the wraping we will finish it with a bow.
Do a loop and glue the end together leaving an inch in both ends.
Press the loop with your finger and glue it toghether.
Here you have it. It's so beautiful intriguing that people will notice all the work you've done and will forget to tear up your surprise.

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