"One mom claims, âWrapping paper is a scam.â If you havenât already wrapped your giftsâunless youâre an unwrapped gifts kind of familyâthere may be another alternative. The unwrapped vs. wrapped Christmas gifts debate can set people into a frenzy, but one mom has sparked another conversation worth havingâcan you forgo paper gift wrap altogether?
A mom who goes by the TikTok handle, @tiny_waste shared how she wraps her Christmas giftsâwith fabric. So, âthe way you wrap your giftsâ debate continues. Do you wrap your gifts with traditional wrapping paper, or should you start the new tradition of wrapping them in reusable fabric year after year? Her holiday wrapping hack is dividing the internet with thousands of comments either supporting or against the idea.
The Viral Video of Wrapping Gifts With Fabric
The countdown until the holidays has fully set in. Iâll say weâre pretty much there. While I was searching for ways to wrap gifts in my search engine, I stumbled across @tiny_wasteâs video sharing that she found a âwhole assortmentâ of adorable holiday flannels from JOANN Fabric and Crafts for 60 percent off.
Her gift wrapping hack works like this. She says, âInstead of wasting your hard-earned cash on wrapping paper that will be thrown away immediately after use, wrap your presents with cloth that can be used every year.â She cuts her fabric into a variety of different sizes, mostly into 30 by 30 inch and some 20 by 20 inch squares. You then simply tie the fabric around each gift, and voila! Youâre done wrapping. Each person gets their own designated pattern of fabric around their gifts, and you donât find out which one is yours until Christmas morning.
Itâs worth noting that using fabric for gift wrap is not a new concept. The Japanese tradition of furoshikiâwrapping things in a single piece of clothâhas been around for over 1200 years. But it may be one youâll want to try this holiday seasonâor maybe not. The comments on @tiny_waste show quite the divide.
Why People Are Supporting Fabric Gift Wrapping
It Is Easy to Do
This hack is really easy. It first caught my attention because I think it looks cute, and I love a good Christmas fabric pattern. TikTok user @katiebug1390 suggested another way to use the leftover scraps by saying, âI love this idea! hear me out what it you gifted the kids a quilt from all the fabric scraps over the years when they turn 18.â
It Is an Alternative to Wrapping Paper
If youâre a parent, you may feel like @tonitannerscott, who commented, âI love this! I hate wrapping paper!â Thereâs a love-hate relationship with doing the labor of wrapping gifts. This might be an easy alternative that takes out all the extra time cutting and taping something that is bound to be torn up in two seconds.
Not All Wrapping Paper Is Recyclable
Before you toss all your wrapping paper into the recycle bin this year, know that not all wrapping paper is recyclable. Gift wrap that has metallic, shiny, and glittery material in it needs to go into the regular trash bin.
Why People Are Not Fans of This Gift Wrapping Hack
Wrapping Paper Is a Family Tradition
With this hack, @tiny_waste points out that instead of her husband walking around with a trash bag to pick up everyoneâs garbage, they have a Christmas storage bin ready to go so the fabric can be stored right away. One TikTok user, @awayintheshadows, made light of the debate, saying, âYeah but what will my dad do on Christmas if heâs not shaking the trash bag at people for their wrapping paper trash? đ€â This may be a funny core memory of your childhood holiday festivities.
The Joy of Tearing Wrapping Paper
So many people commented on how tearing up wrapping paper brings so much joy to Christmas morning. âRipping paper off is so much more satisfying,â said @sevastra22. It may be a little therapeutic after managing the mental load of the holidays.
People Claim Wrapping Paper Is Inexpensive
People are also questioning the idea, like @lexigrey023, who asked, âDoes this save you THAT much money?! Fabric is way more expensive and [what] if a piece gets lostâŠâ Other parents left comments saying, âI bought a huge roll of wrapping paper from Samâs Club for $9.99. It will last 2-3 years. Itâs not a scam đâ and âPaper is $1 a roll. I can find that in my couch.â
Final Thoughts
I will admit, I think the look of the fabric gift wrap hack looks pretty. Plus, as a nostalgic person, I love the idea of turning all the fabric into a quilt when my kids get older. But despite the cute aesthetic, room for less waste, and that this idea reeled me in with the nostalgia factor⊠thereâs something about a good riiiiiiiiip to wrapping paper đ«Ł. So, which team of holiday gift wrapping are you on?
Patty Schepel, Editorial Intern
As the editorial intern, Patty works with The Everymomâs team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When sheâs not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathonsâshe ran one 16 weeks pregnantâtraveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.