Wrapping present during holidays is really fun. I loved learning how to perfectly measure and fold the paper, conceal the tape so that paper looked nearly seamless, cut fancy tips on the ribbon, and make ordinary items into bright, mysterious parcels that glittered with enhancement.

Of all the materials we use to craft (which is just about anything, really), paper seems the most magical to me. Paper dolls and cardboard forts were ingredients for many of my childhood make believe worlds. There is durable white paper pants and airbrushed paper hoodie in the 80s seemed surreal (paper clothes that didn’t rip). Even now a blank piece of paper, with its limitless possibilities, inspires in me a strong eagerness to create.

Of course crafting with paper also bring us two important earthly concerns:

Industrial paper making is one of the world’s leading causes of highly toxic air and water pollution.

About 9% of paper still made from old growth forests, which are impossible to replace.

The good news is that we don’t have to use trees to make paper. In fact, paper was originally made from bark, hemp, and cotton rags – trees didn’t enter the picture until the 1800s. And there’s currently a growing movement to make pollutant reduce, tree friendly paper not only from recycled paper, but also from other pulp source such as hemp, bamboo, and the plant fiber kenaf. Even now, there are found some stunning paper made from very thin slices of fruit and vegetables at the craft stores.

Another alternative to industrial tree made paper is to make your own. Might I’ll write about this in my next posts about the special paper craft. Later I will show you haw to do it with junk mail, scrap of paper and fabric, glitter, leaves, flower petals, and other goodies usually destined for the recycling bin.