Finally, a Good Idea from Real Simple

Today’s tip from Real Simple is actually not half bad. I know, finally! But it also means that they do actually have it in them and is also why I still religiously subscribe to this magazine.

“Given up gambling? A playing card is a winning stand-in for a gift tag. Numbers 2 to 10 are fun for kids’ birthdays; the king and queen of hearts are perfectly suited as valentines. (Use a permanent marker to write your message.)”

While I still don’t think a recovering gambling addict should be saving playing cards, for those of us who don’t have a full deck or want to spruce up some plain craft paper, this is a pretty clever and fun idea and one that doesn’t take up that much space.

I actually save my holiday cards for a similar purpose. It drives me crazy to spend a lot of money on wrapping paper every year, only to have it ripped apart two seconds later, but I can’t stand the cheap stuff. The paper tears before you have a chance to get it off the roll and usually tears if anybody actually touches the present. So depending on the years’ fortunes, I either pony up for the good stuff for the grown-ups and cheap out for the kids.

When I’m being industrious I buy a good roll of thick craft paper — surprisingly affordable and has tons of craft use if you’ve got kids — and then spruce up the paper with the front part of the old holiday cards. The only trouble is that photo cards have become ubiquitous these days, so fewer people are sending decorative cards at the holidays. Next year I will probably need to supplement my holiday card gift wrap with some old paint chips — another Real Simple new use for an old thing — now if only I had contemplated painting a green, red or gold room!