DIY Gift Wrap

Be patient when making your first batch of homemade gift wrap.

Creating your own gift wrap is a creative touch when gift giving. Using common crafting supplies and even some household supplies, such as wallpaper, you can customize your gift wrap for the season, occasion or celebration. You may even save money and recycle common household goods during the process. Making your own gift wrap is moderately easy and in addition to the required supplies, using a flat, dry table and a comfortable chair are essential.

Things You'll Need

• Stamps
• Colored ink
• Large sheets of burlap wrap
• Large sheets of white craft paper
• Stencils
• Glitter
• Glue
• Sheets of hard cardboard
• Plain wallpaper
• Long table
• Comfortable chair
• Cotton swabs
• Crafters glue (clear, if possible)
• Sharpie markers
• Pens
• Pencils

Instructions

Burlap Paper Style Wrap

1. Place your craft supplies on a clean, dry table. Lay out the burlap paper. Using scissors, cut off a piece to your desired length. Ideally, cut the paper in sheets of gift wrap the same size. The sizing you choose will depend on your gift wrapping needs.

2. Pick up a stamp (craft stores carry crafting stamps for all seasons, holidays and occasions) and dip it in your choice of colored ink. Continue stamping the paper until it resembles the pattern and style you like. Let the sheet of paper sit for one hour---this lets the ink fully dry.

3. Roll each sheet of gift wrap and tie it with a ribbon or elastic. Store it in a cool, dry place until you are ready for gift wrapping.

Wallpaper Gift Wrap

1. Cut your desired length of wallpaper from the roll. Wallpaper makes ideal gift wrap because the embossing and detail adds a decorative touch when gift giving. Adding your own touch to the wallpaper provides a polished finish.

2. Place a stencil on the wallpaper and using a pencil, draw the shape. Take a cotton swab and gently place a small amount of craft glue on the stencil area. Keep the glue within the perimeter of the shape.

3. Shake glitter onto the glue. Let the glue dry for 20 minutes. Blow the remaining glitter off the page.

White Gift Wrap Paper

1. Cut your desired amount of white plain paper from the paper roll. Place four paper weights in the corners.

2. Cut circles, using a stencil, out of the cardboard sheets. Cut an assortment of different shapes and sizes. Place glue on the back of each circle, with a cotton swab, and add the dots to the paper.

3. Let the paper dry for one hour. Using a sharpie marker, stencil a fancy initial on each dot. You can make your own monogrammed paper.

References

• Creative Card Making; Paula Pascal; 2005