I know exactly what you are talking about but dont really have an answer for you. I try to be ecofriendly and have moved to craft paper which I decorate, or cloth which I reuse. Newspaper is also great for this purpose.

For my kids, when they were young my mum used fabric- sheets, tablecloths, once a shower curtain. These would get used over and over again as would the strings and ribbons that hold it together.

There are some ginormous rolls here:

http://www.papermart.com/children-gift-wrapping-papers/id=61968#61968

But my goodness, they're expensive!

That said, isn't it ALL expensive these days? I usually use gift bags, but then feel compelled to add the tissue and occasionally some kind of little decorative "extra" (ribbon curls, tassle, etc.) to the bag, and that adds a fairly significant amount onto the cost of the gift. And of course, then there's the card ... I know none of this stuff is really MANDATORY, but I think most of us have been made to feel that somehow it really IS.

Best gift wrap I've ever used is the Sally Foster stuff schools sell for fundraisers.

Not sure how you can buy it, though, another way. I don't see a Web site for it. It's really great stuff, though.

I've bought large rolls of good quality wrapping paper at Michael's. It wasn't with the regular gift wrap, but in the paper craft section. For some reason I think the rolls were all solid colors.

I do try to be eco-friendly, in that I reuse ribbon and wrap where appropriate. Newspaper doesn't work, since I only view them online these days. Fabric is a neat idea, but it's become so expensive, I would want it back after the kids opened their gifts (non of their parents sew).

Tibb, the Hallmark Christmas wrap I buy at Sam's is like the fundraiser paper! Thick, glossy, double-sided. $10 for a giant roll, though :)

I will take a look at Micheals and see what they have in the craft paper section, maire_cate. I had not thought of looking there.

Jen, I did find PaperMart in my search, but those prices seem crazy compared to what I'm used to paying. If I don't find anything more reasonable, I will go ahead and order from them, just for the convenience. I just hate spending that much on paper I've not been able to see in person.

Try Container Store....if there's one near you.

Thanks, Joanie! I don't have one locally, but I did take a look on their website. Lots of selection, but I don't see any large rolls.

Between my two kids, I give a lot of birthday presents to other kids. I have switched over to inexpensive reusable bags for giving presents. I mostly buy them at daiso. For .Christmas within our family I switched to reusable cloth gift bags that I bought on etsy. Bonus is that "wrapping" now takes less than a minute and I never have to look for the scotch tape.

I have four kids. Thankfully, they are beyond the age of going to birthday parties non-stop, but I finally just started buying gift bags at the dollar store. Solid color gift bags come in a 2-pack for a dollar. My kids could then decorate with stickers or draw pictures, etc, if they wanted to. I keep a few on hand. However, whenever possible I save and reuse the gift bags that my kids receive. I actually feel better about doing that, recycling, than using paper that is just going to get tossed out most of the time. I must admit though, a nicely wrapped gift (MIL takes great care in wrapping gifts she sends for us) is fun to receive. But I don't think at your grandchildren's ages, they are admiring the paper. ;). I do agree that those large rolls of Christmas paper at Sam's Club are awesome and you are right, much better quality than what is typically available for birthday occasions.

Maybe you can just get solid red or green at Sam's? Or even solid blue paper they will be stocking for Hannukah? I do try to keep some 'pretty' paper in the hose for when I need a fancier gift and I only keep solid or stripes, no theme wrapping. That way it can be changed up with the ribbon and decorations.

At their ages, gifts are big and oddly shaped. Gift bags just don't cut it, nor do those teeny rolls with just 5' of paper on them. Maybe I'll just use the Christmas wrap for everything. Make it my trademark ;)

Stripes or solids would be work, then I can dress em up with lots of ribbon. Some of my reversible Christmas paper did actually have a side wasn't too Christmas-y. I wish they would do that with all of them.

Costco is selling Holiday wrap right now and some of it could definitely be all-purpose.

The quality can't be beat!

I'll bet it's the same Hallmark paper I get at Sam's! I'll have to go take a look :)

Hobby Lobby has nice THICK Christmas paper. I have never bought birthday paper there.

The school fund raisers were the best! I used to still buy from my neighbors after my kids aged out.

I would see if any neighbors have kids in elementary school and mark your calendar when they do the fund raising for next year if you missed it for this year.

I really like the solid gift wrap paper from Paper Source along with their satin ribbons. Wonderful color combinations and perfect for any occasion. Great quality, too!

http://www.papersource.com/color/Solid-Color-Wrapping-Paper-Rolls/3650.030/404.html

I always have a giant roll of glossy white butcher paper on hand that I get at a local supply house. It comes in various weights and widths. I use it all year long with gorgeous ribbons. For the holidays all white wrapping with themed wired ribbon is so pretty. Nashville Wraps has great ribbons and bags, making it so easy to jazz up the glossy white paper!

http://www.nashvillewraps.com/

ETA: and it's made in America

Butcher paper sounds like a great idea! Is it available in a 30" width? I'll look around and see if I can find some.

Ooh, look what I just found! Premium Glossy Fadeless Rolls 48" x 12' in lots of colors. A couple of rolls of that, some glossy white butcher paper, lots of pretty ribbon, and I should be set :)

Although 12' isn't much, huh?

We have a huge roll of butcher paper I bought to cover picnic tables for park birthday parties. It has seen us through covering five tables each for three parties and a bazillion art projects as well, with a lot of paper left. I imagine it comes in different weights, but ours is somewhat see through.

I get it from TJ Maxx. The rolls are decent size (not giant, but I can't remember the exact measurement). It's double sided, thick, and glossy. I think it's less than $3 per roll.

I have bought Sally Foster online after my grandkids stopped selling it. Love it but iirc it is a narrower width & shorter than some of the giant rolls available. Still great heavy paper. I can't stand flimsy wrapping paper.

We have tooooo much gift wrap. Awhile back I switched us to non-occasion-specific wrapping paper and that has helped some. We have red, gold, gold print, silver, and green peacock print. Like 4kids4us, we recycle gift bags. I'd also like to get into reusable cloth bags like crl_.

Errant_gw, you can buy giant Christmas-print plastic bags around the holidays for large and unwieldy gifts. Maybe someone markets a non-occasion-specific version? I've thought about repurposing sheets into giant gift bags.

bj's also has some enormous rolls of wrapping paper...

i must say, i save the sunday comics and use that to wrap a lot of (family) gifts!

As much as I don't like to shop there, Hobby Lobby does have nice thick wrapping paper and I think the roll is fairly long. I have purchased it in the past and even considered it for papering the back of bookshelves.