Make a Christmas memory mobile and comedy photo gift tags

I don't like gift wrap.  I think it's all the waste of trees, energy and time.  I put off buying it, waiting for a greener, simpler solution to hit me each year. Then at the last minute, having procrastinated so long, I am forced to buy reams of the tackiest stuff imaginable.

So this year I thought I would put the effort into the tags. The gifts can go in recycled brown paper or bags, or perhaps, and I have been building up to this one for a few years, in old newspaper and magazines.  I have a friend who can pull this trick off beautifully, pasting together bits of magazine and newspaper to create gift wrap that is also a work of art.

Here's my first attempt, made with The Observer review section and some string from an Able and Cole veg box. The luggage tags are from WH Smith and the photos were printed 5x8cm, 8 shots to an A4 page of photo paper. If like me, you are forever taking pictures of random things, you'll probably have loads of shots you can use from last Winter.

For the last couple of years we have made Nigella's Christmas biscuits and given them to family.  I found some pictures of the kids making them, so this year, if I get organised, these little packages may have labels too.

I had fun making these tags, looking back over last year's Christmas photos, reflecting on traditions and family jokes and creating the captions.  I had to include the microwaveable Veggie Christmas dinner my husband bought me in the corner shop. I think they would also make a nice Christmas memory mobile. A little art gallery of Christmas memories that you can add to each year:

Of course you could use the labels as place markers and have a caption competition....then each year you add to the memory mobile.

I feel like a proper grown up, I have invented my own family Christmas tradition.

There's another Christmas photograph display idea on the Kodak site.  And i vlogged on Saturday about turning your family photos into puppets.

I also love this printable red box template, my children love making and decorating boxes with stickers, or glue and glitter.  It's the perfect size for a few chocolate coins or sweets, or for little presents. Also available in blue.

There's a great Christmas photocraft Challenge with a chance to win Kodak printers and cameras over at the Kodak Printer Projects site.  All you need is a photo and a suggestion for a Christmas craft idea.

This is a sponsored post in association with Britmums and Kodak.