The gifts are purchased and you're feeling pretty good about holding the line on your holiday budget this year. But you still have one major Christmas chore to complete: the wrapping of the gifts.

It's a time-consuming venture, for certain. But it can also be expensive. And then there are the costs to the environment.

Last year, I wrote about how I used old maps, tattered sheet music and hand-sewn drawstring bags to wrap gifts. Click HERE to read about my frugal gift-wrapping ways and see photos of the finished projects. There's even a bow made out of expired coupons.

This year, I've got 10 more ideas for completely free gift wrap, which I found while browsing the virtual bulletin board Pinterest. (Click HERE if you'd like to access the links to these and other DIY gift-wrap projects.) All of these projects can be completed without spending a dime and they'll help you tread more lightly on the planet, a double play in my book.

You're on your own for the time involved.

Great new printble coupons have surfaced on the Internet, including a high-value Huggies coupon, a rare coupon on eggs and a fun coupon on holiday wrapping paper perfect for children's gifts.

The coupons won't last long so if you're interested, print them before they disappear:

If you can stand the thought of shopping for next year's holidays, now is the time to score deep discounts on Christmas and Hanukkah items.

Between now and mid-January, prices on everything from artificial Christmas trees to Hanukkah gelt will be marked down drastically. Right now, most items are 50 percent to 60 percent off. But as the days go by, the discounts will get deeper -- as high as 90 percent, in some cases.

I know some shoppers who haunt the aisles of Target and the drug stores just waiting for those 90 percent off signs to go up.

Here are a couple of hints to get the most bang for your clearance buck:

I always like to say I'm frugal, not cheap.

I absolutely don't mind spending on things that are worthwhile. Items that are long-lasting, high-quality, much-needed or long-desired.

But things that are tossed in the trash almost immediately after buying or using -- not so much.

Things like wrapping paper.

I used to wrap on the cheap by purchasing my giftwrap at 90 percent off clearance after the holidays. That saved me plenty of money, for sure.

But what I really wanted was giftwrap that was easy on the wallet AND easy on the environment.

I thought I'd share a few ideas I've come up with -- in hopes of saving you a few dollars and the planet a few trees.