How much do you spend on wrapping paper – in cost? – in time? When did the act of wrapping a gift become so much more, requiring fancy papers and decorative ribbons? A couple of years ago I decided to use up my stash of white lacy ribbons together with lengths of brightly coloured ribbon to lay on top of the lace. And I bought rolls of plain brown parcel paper as the best background to my efforts.  This year, inspired by something I’d read, I decided to ‘print’ my own wrapping paper. I originally planned to carve out a print block from half a potato, then realised that my sponge saucepan scourers would be much easier to cut. I already had some tubes of acrylic paint and a couple of rolls of brown parcel paper. 

How to print your own gift wrap.

You need:

• Plain parcel paper
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Paint palette
• Sponge scourers
• Scissors
• Roller or smooth sided jar

Instructions:

1. Cut shape from sponge scourers e.g. star, Christmas tree
2. Squeeze paint onto palette
3. If paint is thick, thin with a little water so that it is easy to spread on the sponge “print block”
4. Coat the print block with paint then press down on the paper
5. Carefully lift the block and press down again. 
6. Instead of pressing with fingers, roll over print block with roller (or jar)
7. After about 3 pressings, re-coat the block with more paint
8. Repeat until the paper is covered and set aside to dry.

The best colours to use with brown parcel paper is red or green. Yellow is too pale.

Follow