How to Make Gift Wrap

Making gift wrap and then wrapping presents with it is a fun way to personalize gifts. Particularly if you are giving a gift on behalf of a young child who may not have actually selected the present, wrapping that item with gift paper clearly made by the child himself is a perfect way to give that gift some additional meaning to the recipient while also providing a great creative opportunity for your little one. Homemade gift wrap can be much less expensive than store-bought wrapping paper, and making it can be a project that is worth hours of imaginative fun. Read on to learn how to make gift wrap.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large roll of white paper (at least 3 inches across)
• Markers
• Paint
• Glitter glue
• Other art supplies (optional)
• Tape
• Large rock

1. Roll the white paper out. You should have at least 5 feet of paper spread out on the floor to work on. Tape the loose end down to prevent tearing and use a rock to keep the end attached to the roll in place.

2. 
   Line drawings can help kids get started.

   Draw a big design. You may need to help your child with this part. Children tend to focus on small areas rather than thinking big, so painting some big flowers, writing "Happy Birthday" or putting down some other simple, guiding design will help them fill up the entire area of the paper.

3. Let your child draw. It is quite possible for this activity to last for hours since the canvas is so large. Do not guide them too much, as you want the pictures and the wrapping paper to be an expression of your child rather than of what you think wrapping paper should look like.

4. Add accents. Use glitter glue or other art supplies to dress up the paper and give it some pizazz.

5. Let the wrapping paper dry for at least three hours. You can tape it to the wall to keep it out of the way and give your child more blank paper to work on on the floor if you wish. Then, wrap away.

Tips & Warnings

• You can decorate packages that have already been wrapped with silk flowers or stickers to liven up the paper a little more.
• Trace your child's body onto a big piece of paper and let them wrap the package with their picture.