CARDS
Hundreds of thousands of trees die to supply the two billion holiday cards (and envelopes) that are mailed each year. Why not go tree-free? Options include:

• Choose 100% post-consumer waste recycled cards or those made from alternatives to virgin paper such as sugarcane, hemp, and coffee. There are even recycled cards embedded with seeds. Cover with dirt and a little water, and flowers grow!
• Make cards from those you've received in the years past or from would-be-trash such as mint-tins, small boxes or anything else that inspires you. You also buy tree-free paper stock (we love Mr. Ellie Pooh) to make somewhat conventional cards that leave trees alone.
• Go digital with e-cards, or do like the Obama family and send video-cards.

GIFTS
From toothbrushes to vacations, savvy gift givers give green. Here are a few green-hot gifts that the people on your list and your mother (Earth, that is) will love.

• On the go reusables – KleanKanteen reusable water bottles, ChicoBag compactable shopping bags and To-Go Ware.
• EcoTech gifts such as a bamboo LCD TV, solar gadget chargers or "zero impact" messenger bags from the Northwest's Brenthaven or made from reclaimed tires from Seattle's Alchemy Goods.
• Funky green gifts like Branch's felt bowl or recycled glass pitcher, a cork cuff bracelet, or pull-top bags.
• Organic and all-natural toys for the wee-ones on your list are an absolute must. Try LaLa Natural's cherry and maple teethers or A Toy Garden's weighted Sweet Pea doll.

• Gifts of yourself – your time and talent – no wrapping required. Write a song, clean some gutters or knit a toy. Don't have any talents? Take a no-cost course such as soap making from Seattle Free School and surprise your loved ones with your new craft.
• Charitable gifts to organizations working hard to make the world a better place are truly gifts that keep on giving. Looking for a Seattle area non-profit that could use a bit of green this holiday season? Try Treeswing. Their mission is to reverse the childhood obesity trend through programs like Jump Up! (which will provide a jump rope to every kindergartener in the Seattle school system).
• EcoLuxurious gifts may come with a hefty price, but, really, who can put a price on saving the Earth? Try Schimmel Art, made entirely from trash, custom jewelry from GreenKarat, or a stay-cation at a local eco-lodge. A gift certificate from Puget Sound Solar or Seattle's InHarmony landscaping design might also be the ticket. Or how about a visit from Seattle's eco-design guru, Amy Woidke, who can spruce up your space without costing the Earth a penny.

WRAPPING
Wrapping with virgin paper is so passé. Why not wrap in reusable cloth instead? If every American went paper-free for just three gifts, we'd save a collective 47,000 football fields worth of wrapping paper. Buy eco-fabulous cloth wraps online or make your own from fabric remnants you already own or can acquire used. You can also wrap your gifts in gifts such as scarves, table cloths, kitchen towels, baby blankets, etc. Easy, chic and green!


Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and the authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Celebrations, Holidays and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.NET.