Wrapping Paper
Difficulty: Very Easy
Average User Rating:
Parental supervision is recommended
Even crafters as young as 1 year can participate in making wrapping paper. Older kids can also get in on the fun by stenciling the shapes onto the butcher's paper. The result is a fun and informal pattern that everyone has a hand in creating.
What you'll need:
- Tempera or poster paint
- Butcher Paper (I get it from Smart & Final Iris for a HUGE roll)
- Precut sponges in various shapes, or cut your own from regular sponges.
How to make it:
- If cutting your own sponges, pick a simple shape such as a star, holly leaf, berry, etc. and cut a regular kitchen sponge to shape.
- Pour paint onto saucer or other flat item.
- Spread butcher paper (I use white) out on flat surface.
- Dip sponge in paint, making sure to cover entire surface and sponge off excess.
- Stamp sponge 2-4 times over surface of paper.
- Reapply paint and repeat.
- You can sprinkle glitter over the wet painted paper for extra pizzazz.
Tips:
- For tiny people, I usually let them free paint with a large brush instead of sponges and then sprinkle the glitter.
- The same idea can be used to make the gift tags and/or cards!
- Any other kind of paper can be substituted. Brown packing paper or grocery bags are one idea.
- At Christmas, I make my own using a star and gold paint.
- Another variation for new baby gift wrap is to use pastel-colored paints and make feet prints. Fold your hand into a fist with your thumb at the top and pinky at the bottom. Use your hand to stamp the foot shape and then use your fingertip to stamp the toes!
