Furoshiki - Japanese art of cloth gift wrapping

This is such a great idea.

This is a pdf file from a Japanese government site discouraging paper waste. A good idea in itself, but also a cool way to wrap packages. Let's face it, Hallmark only has so many wrapping paper options, and when you go to a group gift-giving event, like a shower or birthday party, it's a given that there will be more than a few look-alike gifts. And nice wrapping paper can be expensive. It would be cheaper to use unusual and colorful fabric scraps. And if you root around thrift stores or the remnant table at fabric stores, you can come up with some pretty neat pieces, often much larger than would be available in even the biggest paper roll. While you're at it, look through the clearance table for unusual buttons and other notions to glue to hang tags. When tossing out old clothes even Goodwill won't want, scavenge all buttons, zippers, elastic, etc. that could be recycled for giftwrap.

Though, I can see this seriously getting out of hand.