Decorating
How to Make Your Own Wrapping Paper
Keep it simple this Christmas by using household supplies to create beautifully wrapped gifts
Christmas is undoubtedly a magical time of year, but it can also be a costly one, so I’m going to show you how to wrap your gifts with bits and pieces you can find around the house or on your local high street. There’s no need for fancy gift wrap when you have a roll of brown kraft paper.
The first wrapping idea involves polka dots and vibrant red berries to create a classically festive look – perfect for stacking under the tree – while the second is quick and simple, but wonderfully nostalgic at the same time. Let’s get started.
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The first wrapping idea involves polka dots and vibrant red berries to create a classically festive look – perfect for stacking under the tree – while the second is quick and simple, but wonderfully nostalgic at the same time. Let’s get started.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
What you’ll need
- A sheet of kraft paper
- A pair of scissors
- A pencil with a rubber tip
- An old tin of white paint
- A black ribbon
- Red berries and a gift tag
1 Take your old tin of white paint and use the lid as a makeshift paint dish. Dip the rubber tip of your pencil into the paint, shake off the excess, then press it onto the kraft paper to create a white dot.
2 Create a line of polka dots along the edge of the paper. Leave a space of about 4cm between each dot. There’s no need to measure this, just guess – it actually looks better if the dots are a little uneven.
3 Once your first row is complete, move about a couple of centimetres above and start again. This time, begin the row in between the dots below, not directly above. Continue until the entire sheet is covered in staggered rows of white polka dots.
4 Leave the sheet to dry for roughly two hours and then wrap neatly around your gift.
5 Grab your festive red berries (or, if you can’t get berries, a sprig of greenery such as eucalyptus), black ribbon and your choice of gift tag. Try to choose a small gift tag, as this look is all about the fun polka dots.
6 Take your length of ribbon and, from the top of the box, bring the ribbon down underneath, intertwine there and then bring back to the top of the box. Tie one knot.
7 Place your stem on top of the ribbon and then, with your gift tag, tie a bow over the berries to secure.
Hey presto! You have a beautifully wrapped gift that manages to use old paint from under the stairs and foraged berries. Result!
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What you’ll need
1 Print off an old picture of your present recipient – if you can find one of them as a child, it’s extra adorable. Normal paper will work fine for this – photography paper will be too shiny. Cut out the picture and leave to the side.
- A sheet of kraft paper
- A pair of scissors
- A photo of the present recipient
- Black ribbon and twine
1 Print off an old picture of your present recipient – if you can find one of them as a child, it’s extra adorable. Normal paper will work fine for this – photography paper will be too shiny. Cut out the picture and leave to the side.
2 Take your sheet of kraft paper and neatly wrap the present. Pop the picture into the centre of the gift, then lay the black ribbon over the picture.
3 Cut some twine – this should be the same length as the ribbon. Arrange the twine so it sits in the centre of the black ribbon, then wrap around the gift and tie in a bow on top.
So, with the help of a little printer ink and twine, you’ve just created a beautifully wrapped gift that will no doubt fill the receiver with glee and lots of memories.
These wrapping techniques will take a little longer than usual, but they’re so worth the extra effort and make festive gifting all the more special.
Tell us…
Do you have any wrapping tips of your own? Please share them in the Comments.
These wrapping techniques will take a little longer than usual, but they’re so worth the extra effort and make festive gifting all the more special.
Tell us…
Do you have any wrapping tips of your own? Please share them in the Comments.
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