Environmental-Friendly Christmas Shopping

It's never too early to start your holiday shopping. When you're on summer vacation and you see something that reminds you of someone, maybe that's a good present for their next birthday or Christmas? One of the best gifts you can give is experiences or your time. If this is not an option, the following are some great ideas.

1. Metal straws - plastic straws are horrible for our environment. If you have people you need small gifts for (i.e. teachers, babysitters, house cleaners, etc), buy metal straws in bulk and split into smaller packages for everyone. If you get them in pouches or cases, even better - they can be kept in purses whenever needed in restaurants or drive-thrus.
2. Homemade napkins - If you have a little time to make gifts, how about a set of homemade napkins? You could pick out a fabric color that matches their decor if you're really motivated. Or buy Christmas fabric so they will have festive holiday napkins. Or, if you want to emphasize enviro-friendly, use fabric scraps you already have around the house. Hem them for clean edges, or cut and wash for rough edges. Fold them and wrap with ribbon. 
3. Shopping bags - if you are like me and have lots, perhaps include this with another gift (or use with a food gift basket).
4. Sew gift bags - This requires a bit of time, but it's the gift that keeps on giving. Bonus points if you use fabric you have on hand. Make variety packs: big, small, rectangle, square, etc. If you're like me and like to buy after Christmas, buy fabric and start making gift bags to give next year.
5. Food - another great way to not give STUFF is to give food. Make a themed gift basket with things they like (i.e. popcorn, bbq, chocolate, coffee, ice cream sundae's)
6. Reusable sandwich bags or wraps - especially families who pack lunches, can use these. I have found wraps tricky to sew, so prefer to buy them. But if you have a good sewing machine, you just need a heavy-duty needle, outer fabric, liner fabric and velcro. Here's one example of sewing instructions: https://www.sisterswhat.com/2019/07/diy-reusable-sandwich-bag-wraps.html
7. Homemade greeting cards - If you have children who love to draw or paint, turn their art into greeting cards. Grandparents love these! I buy large quantities of blank greeting cards and either draw/paint directly on them or glue photographs to the front. Leaving the inside blank makes them more 
8. Homemade heating pad - You can buy millet in bulk and sew a long, rectangle of fabric and fill with millet. This heating pad just requires a minute in the microwave. 

I will keep adding to this list, so check back again later! 

What else can you think of to share with others? Please comment so we can all have even more ideas :)