Gift-wrapping the green way

Not just for fish anymore. We enlivened a black-and-white page with greetings cut from magazines attached to two wide bands of hot pink grosgrain ribbon and a band of pick-stitched black-and-white ribbon through the middle.  (Joel Koyama/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

A paper grocery bag makes a great, natural background for a handful of backyard twigs nestled on a bed of chartreuse reindeer moss.  (Joel Koyama/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

The book jacket from an oversized coffee-table book of botanical drawings made a lush covering. We cut another drawing from the flyleaf of the cover and pasted it on cardboard for a spot to label the gift.  (Joel Koyama/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

This old poster, printed with large flowers on each side, made for an exuberantly colorful wrap. We made a tag from a gerbera daisy cut from one end of the poster and pasted to a wide band of striped ribbon.  (Joel Koyama/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

Purchased for pennies at a rummage sale, old maps have color to spare. We used sections of its border to create contrasting bands, a good spot to record the “to” and “from” info. Three headbands form color-coordinated “ribbons,” a bonus gift for the recipient.  (Joel Koyama/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

A stack of old music books, purchased at an occasional sale for $4.50, will wrap more than a tree’s worth of presents. The ribbon holds tiny ornaments, a gift in themselves.  (Joel Koyama/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)

The wrinkles on this oft-recycled copper tissue paper add texture. A pine cone strapped on with a reusable wire star garland imparts a woodsy look.  (Joel Koyama/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)