Ever been in the midst of wrapping a pile of presents when you run out of wrapping paper? Here's a quick and ecological fix — grab your newspapers from the recycle bin and put them to good use.

Then, complement the black and white broadsheets with a brightly colored ribbon — red works especially well. And, if you're wrapping children's gifts, the comics are your best bet. The shortcut will save you time, money and a trip to the store.