I remember one year my sister in law wrapped everything in brown paper. I thought this was odd since it was so un-traditional. However, with the "go-green" era, you can use some raffia or velvet burgundy ribbons to dress up your package. You can also use raffia to tie candy canes on your packages

You can ue fabric from old clothes such as jeans or t-shirts with a pretty pattern - assuming that you can't use them anymore! Colorful pages from magazines are also great.

Old posters are great too!

we bought a huge lot of old maps on ebay for cheap, and everyone loves receiving their gifts wrapped in them - they're great conversation starters!

I really enjoy using recycled catalogs. The paper is shiny and colorful but you will need a fair amount of tape to make it work. check out http://abmatik.blogspot.com/2006/12/recycled-wrapping.html

ckilgore's comment reminds me of what I did for an annerversary present one year. I wrapped my wife's present in paper towels and then scribbled all over it made up song lyrics, intentionally corny, in a black sharpee. She totally dug it and kept the wrapping, even though I'm pretty sure we both don't remember what was inside.

Well, for this one you still have to buy something, but it's a lot cheaper. If you get those big rolls of brown kraft paper, you can decorate it all you want with whatever art materials you have around the house. One year, before I had kids, I hand drew all sorts of stuff on kraft paper and everyone had personalized paper. Ooooh, fancy. But time consuming. Now that I have kids I can let them scribble all over it and use that.

We save the pretty gift bags with fancy handles and reuse for years. Quick, easy, cheap.