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Step 1
Choose a porous paper that has a fibrous texture so that the colors from paint, ink and other materials you apply will be absorbed. Papers with a shiny appearance typically aren't absorbent and often resist being imprinted.
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Step 2
Use an ink pad and leaf or pressed flower to imprint paper you want to use for gift wrapping. Evenly press either side of the leaf or flower into the ink pad using a paper towel or scrap paper. Lift it from the pad with tweezers and place it on the paper you want to imprint. Cover the leaf or flower with a clean piece of scrap paper and firmly press all parts of it onto the wrapping paper without allowing it to shift.
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Step 3
Create multicolor botanical prints on wrapping paper with markers. Simply use markers to color a leaf or pressed flower with as many colors as you want and firmly press the colored leaf or flower onto the wrapping paper to imprint it. Note that some markers dry faster than others, so you may have to work quickly to transfer the colors to the wrapping paper.
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Step 4
Consider that watercolors also can be used to color plant material used for botanical gift wraps. For best results, first lightly brush the back of a leaf or flower petal with soapy water before painting it with your chosen watercolor and pressing it onto the paper you want to imprint.
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Step 5
Affix a selection of leaves on a piece of scrap paper in a pattern that appeals to you. Lay the paper you want to imprint on top of the leaves, and firmly rub crayons or colored pencils across the top of the paper to create an impression of your leaf pattern. You'll achieve better imprints with this technique by using leaves that have thicker stems and intricate edges.
