I was just wondering some uses for used wrapping paper. It feels so wasteful throwing it all out.

we would open packages carefully so as not to damage it too much. We recycled bows as well. Leftover gift wrap can also be good for crafts. I don't like to throw it out either! Now we try to use something like a gift bag that's easier to reuse. Happy Holidays! Regards, Elaine

Gift wrap, heavier stock flyers, old calendar pages and more can be run through the shredder and make great fill for shipping packages.  If you sell on eBay, Amazon and the like, it saves $$ and resources instead of using packing peanuts.

I'll add a note here.  If the wrapping paper is really beautiful I cover a box that can be reused another time.  If you have ribbon that can fit into the box, include that as well and it saves time looking for matching ribbon and bows.

Origami

I save the big pieces and wrap smaller gifts the next year.

Also good for wrapping books for mailing, and it doesn't have to look as pristine for that as for another gift. Some folks turn it inside out, some don't.  Most wrapping paper is slightly stuff & the decorations often give it just a little water resistance (don't expect it to survive a puddle but it'll help if the mail next to it is damp).   Also makes the receiver smile when they unwrap it.

I found somewhere this past year how to make paper bows, and I cut the used wrapping paper and made some. I even taught my 6 yo nephew how to do it, despite his mother thinking he couldn't, and he made 3 decent, not perfect but still beautiful, bows. I greatly prefer them to the chintzy bought ones.

Please be mindful of wrapping books in gift paper as sometimes the ink will come off on the books if it gets even slightly damp. If you do choose to use gift wrap then always use plastic first to protect the book.

bookmarks... laminated of course  ; D

I actually collect vintage gift wrap!  I use it to wrap special gifts.  But I also use it for scrap booking.

I'm tryign to switch to gift bags so we can reuse them, rather than wrapping paper.  It'd be easier if the folks we exchanged gifts with were more cooperative about it (even within the family).  Once we stop traveling for the holidays (and having to pack presents in a small car) I expec it to be easier to use more bags.

  It's a side-answer to your question, but it avoids the problem in the first place.