How to Make Wrapping Paper

Making your own wrapping paper is a way to add a more unique and personal feel to your gifts. Making wrapping paper is a great project for the entire family or for kids in a classroom setting. Traditional wrapping paper bought from the store is pretty and colorful, but there are things around the house that you can use to wrap gifts. Using nontraditional items to wrap presents gives the gifts a more homey feel, and it is knowledge children can use for years to come. There are many different nontraditional items you can choose from for making wrapping paper.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Recycle old maps. With the way the world is constantly changing---new roads and buildings are constantly popping up---you could have many maps at home that are outdated. You can also get free maps from local community agencies. Use these maps as fun and funky wrapping paper. This is a great idea for birthdays or housewarming gifts.

2. Use plain brown paper bags. Use craft items and markers to dress up the bags with your own designs. Children can decorate them any way they like.

3. Use plain white paper. Find colorful and fun pictures in old magazines to cut out. Tape or glue the pictures all over the white paper, or situate them to best fit your design. Children can make snowflakes out of metallic craft paper and glue them to the white paper for great Christmas wrapping paper.

4. Use old fabric. Cutting an old jersey or other piece of discarded clothing is another unconventional way to wrap presents. You can even cut pieces of different items to sew together. Other fabric wraps are napkins, handkerchiefs and scarves.

5. Photocopy antique and family photographs to use as wrapping paper. Make a collage of special moments to wrap a gift for a special occasion. For instance, if you want to wrap a gift for a 50th wedding anniversary, make a collage of photos from their first date and wedding day all the way through their 50 years together.

Tips & Warnings

• Other wrapping paper ideas are newspaper, wallpaper, old sheet music, completed coloring pages from a kids coloring book and tulle.

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[kims3003]

on 8/10/2009 great article