Marbled Paper(Ages 6-14)
Use this paint and shaving cream marbling technique to create vibrant, memorable wrapping paper. While the example shown is a colorful rainbow, you can create a more festive holiday look by using different seasonal colors!
Cute Animal Wrapping(Ages 8-16)
Let our friends at A Beautiful Mess show you how to transform your gifts into adorable, attention grabbing animals using colorful cardstock or sturdy construction paper!
Gingerbread House Gift Bags(Ages 9-18)
Giving out gift cards, cash, or other small goodies this year? Spice up your smaller gifts with this adorable gingerbread house gift bag made using white-out paint and twine. Thanks to the talented folks at Craftberry Bush for this creative and cozy concept!
Stenciled Gift Boxes & Wrapping Paper(Ages 9-18)
Create your own unique gift boxes & patterned wrapping paper using stencils and paint! You can find stencils and silk screens at your nearest craft store or go online to find the perfect design. You can rely on the stencils and paints recommended by our friends at Design Improvised or create your own designs to work with!
Suminagashi Water-Dyed Paper(Ages 4-12)
Suminagashi is a Japanese art where you create your art on water first before transferring it to paper. It is beautiful, very relaxing, and can be used to create your own stylish wrapping paper!
Rhinestone Gift Wrap(Ages 7-18)
Let our friends at Alice and Lois show you how to create dazzling rhinestone wrapping paper!
Hand Lettered Wrapping Paper(Ages 10-18)
Do you have a talented calligrapher in the family? Recruit them to help you create this beautiful hand lettered wrapping paper from our friends at Lemon Thistle or embrace chaos and let the kids doodle their own messages for friends and family!
Money Balloons(Ages 2-18)
Why put cash in an envelope when you could stash it inside a confetti-filled balloon instead? Yes, technically this idea from the folks at Sugar and Charm has nothing to do with wrapping paper, but it's such a great way to glam up a cash gift that we just had to include it!
8 Beautiful Ways to Make Your Own Wrapping Paper
Last December, I nearly fainted in a Target holiday aisle when I saw how much a half-roll of glossy wrapping paper cost. This year, we're taking a stand against the holiday industrial complex by sharing our favorite ways to make your own beautiful wrapping paper at home. Dye your own paper using a Japanese water painting technique, use calligraphy to transform old grocery bags into bespoke wrapping paper for friends and family, or wow your kids with shiny, rhinestone-bedazzled gifts and cast off the shackles of Big Wrapping Paper once and for all!