How To Make Your Own Wrapping Paper

Are you looking for a craft project for the holidays? It's fun and easy to make your own wrapping paper from your own creative design. I had a great time last year with my granddaughter when we made our own Santa Claus wrapping paper. Here's what you need in order to do it:

Butcher paper
Water based craft paint and paintbrushes
A pencil or pen
Christmas stencils or scrapbook stamps
Glitter!!

The best paper to use is butcher paper. Butcher paper is a crafting paper that you can buy in a craft store. You can also use brown paper bags from the grocery store or old wrapping paper (use the side with no design).

Choose a work area somewhere in your house. I chose my dining room table since it's very large. Cover your work space with newspapers.

Cut the butcher paper into the sizes that you want. When you buy the paper by the roll, the corners tend to want to roll up. Weigh the corners down with something heavy (we used rocks) so the paper stays in place and the corners don't roll into your paint.

Choose a design or design idea. You can lay out the design to preview it or practice on a sheet of plain paper before you start the actual work. If you're using stencils you can practice first if you prefer.

When you've planned your design, lay your stencil(s) on the butcher paper and carefully trace it. Stencil the entire area before you begin painting.

Now you can start to paint. If you're using stamps it's easier to apply the paint to the stamp with a paintbrush instead of trying to dip the stamp into the paint. Don't apply the paint very heavily since it may smear when applying.

Now for the part that the kids can't wait to get to.....apply your glitter. Glitter must always be applied before the paint dries.

Allow your paper to dry fully and WOW!, you've got your own Christmas wrapping paper. You can also make your own name tags to match.

Have a great time creating your own wrapping paper. Happy holidays to you!